Question 1

Those who believe that the culture of poverty theory explains why most people are in poverty would favor which of the following anti-poverty programs?
A)subsidized housing
B)universal healthcare
C)welfare-to-work programs
D)food stamps
E)direct cash aid

Accepted Answer

Those who believe in the culture of poverty theory argue that poverty is the result of personal behaviors, attitudes, and values that are passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, they would favor anti-poverty programs that focus on changing individual behavior, such as welfare-to-work programs that offer job training and support services to help people escape poverty. Subsidized housing and food stamps provide more direct financial assistance, while universal healthcare and direct cash aid may be seen as more universal or broad-based solutions that do not specifically target behaviors associated with poverty.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of what Pierre Bourdieu refers to as cultural capital?
A)the ability to pay for cultural events such as art museums, opera companies, and symphony orchestras that charge for admission
B)parents paying for school tutoring
C)parents reading to their children and encouraging them to do well in school
D)learning more than one language
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Cultural capital refers to non-financial social assets that promote social mobility, such as education, intellect, style of speech, dress, or physical appearance. Parents reading to their children and encouraging them to do well in school is an example of cultural capital as it involves the transmission of knowledge and educational values.

Question 3

According to the sociologist Charles Murray,there are groups among the poor that do not enter the labor market and rely on government interventions,which undermines self-help and personal ambition.He says that these poor are part of:
A)the unambitious culture
B)the dependency culture
C)the least-motivated poor
D)the poverty problem
E)the structural poor

Accepted Answer

The term "dependency culture" refers to a phenomenon in which individuals or groups rely on government intervention rather than self-help and personal ambition. According to Charles Murray, some of the poor belong to this group, failing to enter the labor market and instead relying on government interventions. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 4

In addition to Social Security,__________ has/have helped to lift many of the elderly out of poverty.
A)food banks
B)Meals on Wheels
C)unemployment
D)Medicare
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people over 65 and those with certain disabilities. It helps to cover medical expenses and has helped many elderly individuals stay healthy and financially stable. Food banks and Meals on Wheels may provide important assistance, but they are not solely responsible for lifting individuals out of poverty. Unemployment benefits are typically only available to those who are actively seeking work and not relevant to retired individuals.

Question 5

Although official estimates show that relatively few elderly people live in poverty,these statistics may not be accurate because:
A)they do not consider the large number of elderly people who go hungry
B)they do not consider the large number of elderly people who live alone
C)they do not consider the high cost of medical care
D)they do not consider the high cost of rent
E)they do not consider the high number of social services used by the elderly

Accepted Answer

Official estimates may not accurately reflect poverty among the elderly because they often do not account for the high cost of medical care, which can significantly impact their financial situation.

Question 6

Those who believe that poverty results from structural factors beyond the control of individuals would see which of the following as a source of poverty?
A)unequal distribution of educational resources
B)lack of universal healthcare
C)growing income inequality
D)all of the above
E)none of the above.

Accepted Answer

Those who believe that poverty results from structural factors beyond the control of individuals recognize that poverty is not just a result of personal choices or behavior, but also systemic and societal issues such as unequal distribution of educational resources, lack of universal healthcare, and growing income inequality. These factors limit opportunities for individuals and contribute to the perpetuation of poverty.

Question 7

Of those who are currently in poverty in the United States,how many are working?
A)50 percent
B)25 percent
C)90 percent
D)none
E)5 percent

Accepted Answer

Approximately 25 percent of those in poverty in the United States are working, often in low-wage or part-time jobs that do not provide enough income to lift them above the poverty line.

Question 8

What is meant by the phrase "feminization of poverty"?
A)the fact that women are more likely to not marry until they find a rich man
B)the fact that a majority of the poor are women
C)the notion that women are not as likely to pursue education or other skill development and end up in lower paying jobs
D)the idea that women do not work as hard as men and are therefore more likely to be poor
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

The phrase "feminization of poverty" refers to the trend where a majority of those living in poverty are women. This is due to various factors such as wage disparities, lack of access to education and job opportunities, and caregiving responsibilities.

Question 9

If a person believes that people are poor because they have been socialized into a set of values,beliefs,and norms that result in behavior that leads to poverty,then that person is said to believe which of the following theories of poverty?
A)culture of poverty
B)structural poverty
C)value poverty
D)dependency poverty
E)poverty of the mind

Accepted Answer

The belief that poverty is a result of cultural values, beliefs and norms is referred to as the "culture of poverty" theory. This theory suggests that people who are poor have learned values and behaviors that keep them in a cycle of poverty, even when opportunities for escape are available. Structural poverty theory suggests that poverty is driven by economic and social structures such as institutional discrimination, lack of access to education or resources, and limited job opportunities. Value poverty, dependency poverty, and poverty of the mind are not commonly used terms to describe theories of poverty.

Question 10

When a person moves from one position in a class structure to a nearly identical position,the person is said to experience:
A)short-range downward mobility
B)long-range downward mobility
C)declining mobility
D)across-position mobility
E)bi-position mobility

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a person moves from one position...

Question 11

Child poverty rates in the United States are:
A)relative to the poverty rates of men
B)the highest in the world
C)the lowest in the industrialized world
D)the highest in the industrialized world
E)almost nonexistent

Accepted Answer

The answer of Child poverty rates in the United States...

Question 12

At the beginning of her sophomore year of high school,Janis's family cannot afford to buy her new clothes and shoes or enough supplies for school.Janis feels poor compared to her classmates who can afford these things.Janis experiences:
A)absolute poverty
B)relative poverty
C)downward mobility
D)exchange mobility
E)upward mobility

Accepted Answer

Janis is experiencing relative poverty because her perception of poverty is based on a comparison with her classmates who have more resources than she does. This type of poverty is based on a comparison with others within the same society or community. Absolute poverty refers to a lack of basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. Downward mobility and upward mobility refer to changes in social status or class, and exchange mobility refers to a situation where individuals or groups move up or down the social ladder but the overall distribution of wealth and status remains the same. None of these apply to Janis's situation.

Question 13

When a person does not have adequate resources to maintain his or her health,such as enough food to eat,the person is said to be in:
A)absolute poverty
B)relative poverty
C)downward mobility
D)exchange mobility
E)the poverty line

Accepted Answer

Absolute poverty refers to a situation where a person lacks the resources necessary for survival, such as food, shelter, and basic healthcare. This type of poverty is often measured by the poverty line, which is a threshold income level below which individuals are considered to be living in poverty. Relative poverty, on the other hand, refers to a situation where individuals have a lower standard of living compared to the average in their society. Downward mobility and exchange mobility are concepts related to social mobility, which refer to changes in social status over time.

Question 14

In the United States,the largest concentrations of poverty are found in:
A)rural areas
B)inner cities
C)the South and Southwest
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

While poverty can be found in all areas of the United States, the largest concentrations of poverty are found in a combination of rural areas, inner cities, and the South and Southwest regions of the country. Therefore, option D is the best answer.

Question 15

About one-third of children in poverty live in:
A)households headed by single fathers
B)households headed by single mothers
C)rural areas
D)urban areas
E)households with three or more children

Accepted Answer

According to research, about two-thirds of children in poverty live in households headed by single mothers. This is due to various factors such as lower pay for women, lack of access to childcare, and difficulty in finding stable employment.

Question 16

According to Pierre Bourdieu,working-class parents are just as interested in their children's education as middle- and upper-class parents,but they lack the __________ to help their children experience social mobility.
A)social capital
B)cultural capital
C)tuition capital
D)educational capital
E)language capital

Accepted Answer

Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital suggests that working-class parents may not have the same cultural resources, such as knowledge of arts, literature, and language, that are valued in the educational system. Therefore, they may lack the cultural capital to help their children experience social mobility. Social capital (A) refers to the networks and relationships that people have, tuition capital (C) and educational capital (D) are not commonly used terms in Bourdieu's theory, and language capital (E) could be a form of cultural capital but is not the best answer in this context.

Question 17

Downward mobility is when:
A)retired people stop receiving Social Security
B)the whole economy declines and all people see a decline in their income
C)when a person chooses a lower occupation than they are qualified for
D)when a person's income, wealth, or status is lower than his or her parents
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Downward mobility refers to a situation where a person's income, wealth, or social status is lower than that of their parents. Therefore, option D is the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because retired people continue to receive Social Security benefits, and the benefits do not decrease after they retire. Option B is incorrect because the economy can decline, but not all people will experience a decline in their income. Option C is incorrect because choosing a lower occupation does not necessarily mean downward mobility; it can be a personal preference or a lifestyle choice.

Question 18

How does the government determine the poverty line?
A)It multiplies the cost of an adequate, nutritious diet by three.
B)It multiplies the cost of an average household's rent by three.
C)It calculates the average cost of living in each of four regions of the United States and divides that number by the average cost of rent in those places.
D)Since the cost of living varies across the country, it calculates the cost of living in each region and determines a poverty line for each U.S.region.
E)It is based on how much a person would make per year if the person made the federal minimum wage.

Accepted Answer

The government determines the poverty line by multiplying the cost of an adequate, nutritious diet by three, based on the assumption that food costs should represent about one-third of a family's budget.

Question 19

The income of most elderly people is dependent on:
A)their part-time jobs
B)money from their children
C)pensions
D)Social Security
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Social Security is the primary source of income for the majority of elderly people, followed by pensions. Part-time jobs or money from their children may contribute, but are not the main sources of income.

Question 20

In which of the following countries is the poverty rate the highest?
A)Germany
B)Norway
C)United States
D)Sweden
E)Japan

Accepted Answer

According to 2020 World Bank data, the poverty rate in the United States is 10.5%, which is higher than any of the other countries mentioned. Germany has a poverty rate of 6.9%, Norway has a poverty rate of 3.7%, Sweden has a poverty rate of 3.4%, and Japan has a poverty rate of 15.6%.

Quiz 7: Stratification, Class, and Inequality

Those who believe that the culture of poverty theory explains why most people are in poverty would favor which of the following anti-poverty programs?

Which of the following is an example of what Pierre Bourdieu refers to as cultural capital?

According to the sociologist Charles Murray,there are groups among the poor that do not enter the labor market and rely on government interventions,which undermines self-help and personal ambition.He says that these poor are part of:

In addition to Social Security,__________ has/have helped to lift many of the elderly out of poverty.

Although official estimates show that relatively few elderly people live in poverty,these statistics may not be accurate because:

Those who believe that poverty results from structural factors beyond the control of individuals would see which of the following as a source of poverty?

Of those who are currently in poverty in the United States,how many are working?

What is meant by the phrase "feminization of poverty"?

If a person believes that people are poor because they have been socialized into a set of values,beliefs,and norms that result in behavior that leads to poverty,then that person is said to believe which of the following theories of poverty?

When a person moves from one position in a class structure to a nearly identical position,the person is said to experience:

Child poverty rates in the United States are:

At the beginning of her sophomore year of high school,Janis's family cannot afford to buy her new clothes and shoes or enough supplies for school.Janis feels poor compared to her classmates who can afford these things.Janis experiences:

When a person does not have adequate resources to maintain his or her health,such as enough food to eat,the person is said to be in:

In the United States,the largest concentrations of poverty are found in:

About one-third of children in poverty live in:

According to Pierre Bourdieu,working-class parents are just as interested in their children's education as middle- and upper-class parents,but they lack the __________ to help their children experience social mobility.

Downward mobility is when:

How does the government determine the poverty line?

The income of most elderly people is dependent on:

In which of the following countries is the poverty rate the highest?