Question 1

While the average income of __________ households has been increasing,that of __________ households has been declining in the last decade.
A)black and Latino; white
B)lower class; middle class
C)white; black and Latino
D)Latino; black
E)black; Latino

Accepted Answer

According to the sentence, the income of white households has been increasing while that of black and Latino households has been declining. Option C correctly represents this statement. The other answer choices either do not include both black and Latino households or have incorrect income groups.

Question 2

Which of the following occupations is LEAST likely to be held by a lower-middle-class individual?
A)police officer
B)nurse
C)school teacher
D)upper-level manager
E)sales person

Accepted Answer

Upper-level managers typically earn a salary above the lower-middle-class range, and therefore are less likely to be held by a lower-middle-class individual. Police officers, nurses, school teachers, and salespersons are all occupations that can be held by individuals in the lower-middle-class.

Question 3

Who among the following is most likely to experience intergenerational mobility?
A)the child of a high school teacher
B)the child of two university professors
C)the child of the CEO of a large corporation
D)the child of a school janitor
E)the child of a university groundskeeper

Accepted Answer

The answer of Who among the following is most likely...

Question 4

Inequality and the gap between rich and poor have been steadily growing in the United States.The richest 20 percent has __________ of the total income,while the poorest 20 percent has __________ of the total income.
A)50 percent; 3 percent
B)3 percent; 50 percent
C)25 percent; 25 percent
D)30 percent; 30 percent
E)20 percent; 20 percent

Accepted Answer

According to the statement, the richest 20 percent has the highest percentage of total income, which is 50 percent, and the poorest 20 percent has the lowest percentage of 3 percent. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. The other options either have the same percentage or the opposite percentage of what is mentioned in the statement.

Question 5

Researchers of social mobility,including Peter Blau and Otis Dudley Duncan in the 1960s and William Sewell and Robert Hauser in the 1980s,have shown that:
A)educational attainment has a great deal to do with ultimate social status
B)the family's social status has little to do with social mobility
C)social position is not inherited, but solely achieved
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Researchers have shown that educational attainment plays a significant role in determining one's social status. This suggests that individuals from lower socio-economic statuses can achieve social mobility through education. The other options are not accurate as family social status and inherited position have both been shown to have an impact on social mobility.

Question 6

Intergenerational mobility is best described as when:
A)a person achieves a different class position than the one he or she was born into
B)a person maintains the same class position as his or her parents or grandparents
C)a person has a different class position from that of his or her parents or grandparents
D)a person achieves a different class position than his or her siblings
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Intergenerational mobility refers to the movement of individuals or families from one social class to another between generations. Therefore, the correct definition is when a person has a different class position from that of his or her parents or grandparents. Option A is partially correct because this is one example of intergenerational mobility. Options B and D are incorrect because they do not involve mobility between generations. Option E is incorrect because the question is asking for the best description of intergenerational mobility.

Question 7

Eddie is a factory worker who makes about $32,000 a year.Eddie's wife,Joan,works part-time as a dental assistant and makes about $15,000.Their combined income is just enough to pay their mortgage and make ends meet.Eddie and Joan are considered to be:
A)lower middle class
B)upper middle class
C)old middle class
D)new middle class
E)working class

Accepted Answer

Eddie and Joan's combined income and their financial situation suggest they are part of the working class, which typically includes individuals with lower income levels and jobs that require manual or low-skilled labor.

Question 8

People in blue-collar occupations,such as plumbers and hotel workers,make up the:
A)lower middle class
B)working class
C)old middle class
D)new middle class
E)upper middle class

Accepted Answer

Blue-collar occupations generally refer to jobs that require physical labor and manual skills, such as plumbers, electricians, mechanics, factory workers, etc. These jobs are typically associated with the working class, who often do not have post-secondary education and may have lower levels of income and social status compared to other classes. Therefore, the best choice is B) working class.

Question 9

Workers in dead-end jobs that pay low wages are most likely found in the:
A)lower class
B)working class
C)lower middle class
D)upper middle class
E)any class, since there are many jobs like this in the United States

Accepted Answer

Workers in dead-end jobs that pay low wages are often stuck in a cycle of poverty and struggle to move up the socioeconomic ladder. These jobs usually do not require advanced education or specialized skills, which means that they offer limited opportunities for career advancement and increased earnings. As a result, workers in dead-end jobs are more likely to belong to the lower class, which is characterized by low income, limited education, and a lack of economic security.

Question 10

A farmer with a high school diploma who makes $115,000 a year,lives in a large home,and drives an expensive car is most likely to be in which class category?
A)upper middle class
B)lower middle class
C)upper class
D)middle class
E)working class

Accepted Answer

The answer of A farmer with a high school diploma...

Question 11

When sociologists examine how far an individual moves up or down the socioeconomic scale in his or her lifetime,they are studying:
A)optimal mobility
B)intergenerational mobility
C)life change
D)intragenerational mobility
E)pangenerational mobility

Accepted Answer

Sociologists studying how far an individual moves up or down the socioeconomic scale in his or her lifetime are analyzing intragenerational mobility, which refers to changes in social position within an individual's own lifetime. This is in contrast to intergenerational mobility (B), which refers to changes in social position between generations, and pangenerational mobility (E), which is not a recognized term in sociology. Optimal mobility (A) and life change (C) are not commonly used terms in the study of social mobility.

Question 12

Working-class children are most likely to do which of the following after graduating from high school?
A)travel around Europe
B)attend a four-year college
C)attend a two-year college
D)immediately start working
E)take the summer off to relax

Accepted Answer

Working-class children are more likely to immediately start working after high school due to financial constraints and the need to support themselves or their families.

Question 13

What factor accounts for racial disparities in wealth and income?
A)lower social and cultural capital
B)education
C)discrimination
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Racial disparities in wealth and income are the result of a combination of factors, including lower social and cultural capital, access to education, and discrimination. Low social and cultural capital can limit opportunities for networking and access to resources. Limited access to education and training opportunities can lead to lower-paying jobs and fewer opportunities for upward mobility. Discrimination, including bias in employment opportunities and unequal treatment under the law, can also contribute to these disparities.

Question 14

Members of the lower middle class today:
A)work at primarily white-collar jobs
B)make up about 50 percent of American households
C)are racially and ethnically diverse
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Members of the lower middle class today work at both blue-collar and white-collar jobs, make up approximately 30 percent of American households, and are racially and ethnically diverse. Therefore, option D - all of the above, is the correct answer.

Question 15

According to sociological studies,the biggest determinant of a person's social mobility is:
A)personality
B)intelligence
C)wealth
D)education
E)income

Accepted Answer

Education is the biggest determinant of a person's social mobility because it opens up opportunities for higher-paying jobs and better social networks. People with higher levels of education tend to earn more money and have better access to resources than those with less education, which can lead to upward social mobility. Additionally, education allows individuals to gain knowledge and skills that can help them adapt to changing economic conditions and navigate complex social environments.

Question 16

Today,the gap between rich and poor in the United States is the largest it has been since:
A)1929 after the stock market crash
B)1970 when the United States started to outsource jobs
C)1947 when the United States started to measure the gap
D)Never; the gap has been getting smaller
E)1990 when technology become an important part of the economy

Accepted Answer

The gap between rich and poor in the United States is currently at the largest it has been since the 1929 stock market crash, and has been steadily increasing since the 1970s. While the government started measuring the gap in 1947, it was not as significant as it is now. The gap has not been getting smaller and the rise of technology in the 1990s did contribute to income inequality, but it is not the sole reason for the current gap.

Question 17

In the U.S.class system,the "poorest of the poor," who are structurally disadvantaged and are least likely to move out of their class position,are called the:
A)poor class
B)lower class
C)left-behind class
D)inner-city class
E)underclass

Accepted Answer

The term "underclass" refers to those who are the most disadvantaged and excluded from mainstream society, often living in impoverished urban areas with limited access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities. This group is also considered to have the lowest social mobility and the least likelihood of moving up the class ladder. Therefore, the underclass is the best choice for the poorest of the poor in the US class system.

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why Latino household income has stagnated and fallen far behind that of white households?
A)a culture of poverty among Latinos that discourages achievement and saving money
B)the large number of immigrants from Mexico and Latin America that are in low-wage jobs
C)high unemployment among Latinos
D)high divorce rate among Latinos
E)none of the above; there is no income gap

Accepted Answer

The large number of immigrants from Mexico and Latin America in low-wage jobs contribute significantly to the income gap between Latino and white households. This is compounded by systemic factors such as discrimination and lack of access to education and employment opportunities. The other options do not provide a sufficient explanation for the income gap.

Question 19

Social mobility refers to:
A)the movement of individuals and groups between class positions
B)the migration of people from the countryside to town
C)the movement of people between caste positions
D)the change in racial/ethnic identification when individuals intermarry
E)the transportation system of a society

Accepted Answer

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals and groups between class positions. It can involve upward or downward movement in terms of income, education, occupation, and social status.

Question 20

The lower class has a higher percentage of __________ than any other class in the United States.
A)bilingual speakers
B)educators
C)men
D)nonwhites
E)children

Accepted Answer

Nonwhites have historically been disproportionately represented in the lower class in the United States. While it's impossible to generalize about the entire lower class, nonwhites are statistically more likely to be economically disadvantaged compared to whites.

Quiz 7: Stratification, Class, and Inequality

While the average income of households has been increasing,that of households has been declining in the last decade.

Which of the following occupations is LEAST likely to be held by a lower-middle-class individual?

Who among the following is most likely to experience intergenerational mobility?

Inequality and the gap between rich and poor have been steadily growing in the United States.The richest 20 percent has of the total income,while the poorest 20 percent has of the total income.

Researchers of social mobility,including Peter Blau and Otis Dudley Duncan in the 1960s and William Sewell and Robert Hauser in the 1980s,have shown that:

Intergenerational mobility is best described as when:

Eddie is a factory worker who makes about $32,000 a year.Eddie's wife,Joan,works part-time as a dental assistant and makes about $15,000.Their combined income is just enough to pay their mortgage and make ends meet.Eddie and Joan are considered to be:

People in blue-collar occupations,such as plumbers and hotel workers,make up the:

Workers in dead-end jobs that pay low wages are most likely found in the:

A farmer with a high school diploma who makes $115,000 a year,lives in a large home,and drives an expensive car is most likely to be in which class category?

When sociologists examine how far an individual moves up or down the socioeconomic scale in his or her lifetime,they are studying:

Working-class children are most likely to do which of the following after graduating from high school?

What factor accounts for racial disparities in wealth and income?

Members of the lower middle class today:

According to sociological studies,the biggest determinant of a person's social mobility is:

Today,the gap between rich and poor in the United States is the largest it has been since:

In the U.S.class system,the "poorest of the poor," who are structurally disadvantaged and are least likely to move out of their class position,are called the:

Which of the following best explains why Latino household income has stagnated and fallen far behind that of white households?

Social mobility refers to:

The lower class has a higher percentage of __________ than any other class in the United States.