Question 1

Sanjay studies global hunger,particularly in Bangladesh,China,the Democratic Republic of the Congo,Ethiopia,India,Indonesia,and Pakistan.Why might she focus specifically on these countries?
A)Hunger does not affect other countries significantly.
B)Each of these countries are highly developed and rapidly addressing food insecurity.
C)These countries have the same cultural practices around food.
D)Foreign aid to these countries has all but stopped.
E)Two-thirds of people who go hungry every day live in these countries.

Accepted Answer

Two-thirds of people who go hungry every day live in these countries, making them particularly important to study and address in terms of global hunger.

Question 2

Nate notes that it can be deceptive to talk about how the global standard of living has steadily risen over the last thirty years.Why might he hold that position?
A)The global standard of living has actually fallen over the last thirty years.
B)The global standard of living obscures the widening wealth gap between rich and poor countries and fails to account for the fact that some poorer countries have actually seen a decrease in standard of living over the last couple of decades.
C)The global standard of living has stagnated over the last thirty years.
D)Sociologists cannot measure things like "standards of living" in a meaningful way that has descriptive power.
E)An analysis of standards of living should go back at least one hundred years to have any accuracy.

Accepted Answer

While it is true that the global standard of living may have risen overall, this measure can obscure some of the disparities between rich and poor countries. In addition, some poorer countries may have actually seen a decrease in their standard of living over the past few decades, meaning that the picture is not as straightforward as a simple upward trend.

Question 3

More than 40 percent of all urban residents in developing countries live in:
A)squats
B)occupied factories
C)slums
D)government housing
E)urban farms

Accepted Answer

According to the United Nations, over 40 percent of all urban residents in developing countries live in slums, characterized by inadequate access to basic services such as water, sanitation, and healthcare. Squats, occupied factories, government housing, and urban farms are not as prevalent as slums for urban residents in developing countries.

Question 4

The textbook cites all of the following as problems associated with rapid economic growth in East Asia EXCEPT:
A)the violent repression of labor and civil rights
B)terrible factory conditions
C)a highly exploited increasingly female workforce
D)the rise of methamphetamine addiction
E)widespread environmental degradation

Accepted Answer

The rise of methamphetamine addiction is not mentioned in the textbook as a problem associated with rapid economic growth in East Asia. A, B, C, and E are all cited as problems.

Question 5

If Sandra notes that the average income in the world has gone up over the last few decades to show the progress humanity has made,what evidence might a sociologist give to contradict her?
A)The average income has actually declined.
B)The average income has fluctuated consistently over the years.
C)The average income has stagnated for the last three decades.
D)Americans have worked harder than the rest of the people in the world over the last few decades.
E)Despite a rise in average global income, there is still huge inequality between people in high-income nations and the rest of the world.

Accepted Answer

Despite an increase in global average income, there is still a significant gap between people in high-income countries and the rest of the world. Income inequality is a significant issue, and looking only at the average income obscures the disparities that still exist. Furthermore, economic growth is not necessarily an indicator of overall progress or development, and there may be negative consequences associated with it, such as environmental degradation or increased social inequality. Therefore, while Sandra's statement is technically accurate, it does not fully capture the complexities and nuances of economic and social progress.

Question 6

According to the text,all of the following are contributing factors to food shortages and hunger throughout the globe EXCEPT:
A)the unsustainable, largely vegetarian diets of most of the world
B)internal warfare
C)the AIDS epidemic
D)drought
E)the inability to pay for new technologies that would increase food production

Accepted Answer

The text mentions unsustainable diets as a factor, but specifically states that they are largely vegetarian, therefore indicating that it is not the only or main contributing factor to food shortages and hunger. The other options listed (warfare, AIDS epidemic, drought, inability to pay for technology) are all identified in the text as contributing factors.

Question 7

The global standard of living has done what during the last thirty years,according to the text?
A)rapidly increased
B)slowly increased
C)rapidly decreased
D)slowly decreased
E)remained stagnant

Accepted Answer

The answer of The global standard of living has done...

Question 8

According to the text,all of the following are true about people living in low-income countries EXCEPT:
A)People living in low-income countries tend to have inadequate health facilities compared to people living in high-income countries.
B)People living in low-income countries tend to have higher literacy rates than people in high-income countries.
C)People living in low-income countries often lack proper sanitation.
D)People living in low-income countries often must drink polluted water.
E)People living in low-income countries are more likely to suffer from starvation than people in high-income countries.

Accepted Answer

The text lists characteristics of people living in low-income countries, such as inadequate health facilities, lack of proper sanitation, and limited access to clean water. However, it does not mention that people living in low-income countries tend to have higher literacy rates than people in high-income countries. In fact, the opposite may be true, as low-income countries often struggle to provide education opportunities for their citizens. Therefore, option B is the only option that is not true about people living in low-income countries according to the text.

Question 9

Sociologists cite all of the following as reasons for the recent economic advances of the East Asian newly industrializing economies (NIEs)EXCEPT:
A)Most were part of colonial situations that, while imposing many hardships, also helped to pave the way for economic growth.
B)The East Asian region benefited from a long period of world economic growth between the 1950s and the mid-1970s.
C)Economic growth in this region took off at the high point of the cold war, when the United States and its allies, in erecting a defense against communist China, provided generous economic aid that fueled investment in such new technologies as transistors, semiconductors, and other electronics, which contributed to the development of local industries.
D)Dictatorial controls allowed for smoothly run, centrally planned economies that eschewed democratic planning as well as market mechanisms.
E)Many of the East Asian governments followed strong policies that favored economic growth: keeping labor costs low, encouraging economic development through tax breaks and other economic policies, and offering free public education.

Accepted Answer

The sociologists did not cite dictatorial controls as a reason for the recent economic advances of the East Asian newly industrializing economies (NIEs). All of the other options were cited as reasons.

Question 10

Selma studies countries where fertility rates are much higher than the rest of the world.She is likely studying __________ countries.
A)high-income
B)highly homogenous
C)middle-income
D)complete hunter-gatherer
E)low-income

Accepted Answer

Low-income countries tend to have higher fertility rates due to factors such as lower levels of education and access to contraception, higher child mortality rates, and cultural norms that value larger families.

Question 11

In 2008,nearly 200 million children under age five in poor countries were stunted by a lack of nutrients in their food.More than 90 percent of those children live in:
A)South America and Asia
B)Africa and South America
C)North America and Africa
D)Africa and Asia
E)Asia and North America

Accepted Answer

According to the given information, nearly 200 million children under age five in poor countries were stunted by a lack of nutrients in their food, and more than 90 percent of those children live in Africa and Asia. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 12

Stefano suggests that it is problematic to analyze poverty in developing countries from the perspective of dominant racial,ethnic,and religious groups while ignoring subordinate racial,ethnic,and religious groups.Why might he hold this position?
A)Sociological studies are never done from the perspective of dominant groups.
B)Focusing on subordinate groups yields more accurate results in sociological studies.
C)Poverty is often at least a partial result of belonging to subordinate racial, ethnic, and religious groups in these countries.
D)Studies of dominant groups account for the smallest numbers of people and, therefore, yield nongeneralizable results.
E)All groups are subordinate in low-income countries.

Accepted Answer

Poverty is often the result of systemic discrimination and exclusion, which can be experienced by subordinate racial, ethnic, and religious groups in many low-income countries. Ignoring these factors can lead to an incomplete understanding of the root causes of poverty in these settings. Focusing on the experiences of subordinate groups is necessary for a more nuanced and comprehensive analysis of poverty in developing countries.

Question 13

Bidya wonders if the best way to improve the lives of the world's poor people in low-income countries is to write a book about her studies of them and distribute it in low-income countries.Why might she be worried about that?
A)Rates of literacy among the world's poor are much lower than among wealthier people.
B)Studies of poor populations are always colonizing and paternalistic.
C)Books are not helpful ways of spreading important analysis.
D)People living in low-income countries are much more likely to read high literature.
E)Only people in high-income countries can solve poverty.

Accepted Answer

Rates of literacy among the world's poor are much lower than among wealthier people, so it is unlikely that a book would be an effective means of reaching and improving the lives of those living in poverty.

Question 14

Magda's family is poor and lives in a low-income nation.One day,she becomes very ill.Magda's family would likely prefer her to be seen by medical personnel in France rather than her home country for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
A)Low-income countries generally suffer from inadequate health facilities.
B)Hospitals and clinics rarely serve the poorest people in low-income countries.
C)People in low-income countries often lack proper sanitation.
D)There are no doctors in low-income countries.
E)People in low-income countries tend to have weakened health and immune systems and, thus, medical facilities might house more infected persons.

Accepted Answer

It is not true that there are no doctors in low-income countries. While the distribution of medical personnel may be uneven, there are still doctors and other trained medical professionals working in many low-income nations.

Question 15

Jian Mei explains in her work that philosophy led to economic development in many of East Asia's newly industrializing economies.She is likely referring to:
A)the role of Confucianism in encouraging obedience, loyalty, and thrift
B)the ways that Zen stresses letting go of emotion
C)how Christianity spread to East Asia through European missionaries
D)the development of world religions from Zoroaster
E)the enforced atheism of communist China and its stress on the importance of money

Accepted Answer

Confucianism emphasizes strong moral values, hard work, and respect for authority. These values have been credited with contributing to the economic development and success of many East Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Question 16

According to the text,market-oriented theories of global inequality assume that the best possible economic consequences will result if:
A)the state heavily regulates the corporate sector
B)individuals are free-uninhibited by any form of governmental constraint-to make their own economic decisions
C)cooperative enterprises replace privately owned businesses to create egalitarian markets
D)the public is provided with free access to public education
E)markets are carefully regulated by competent politicians

Accepted Answer

Market-oriented theories of global inequality believe that individuals making their own economic decisions without government intervention will result in the best economic consequences. This approach emphasizes free-market capitalism and minimal government interference in economic affairs.

Question 17

Chantelle notes that the HIV/AIDS epidemic contributes to food shortages in some countries.Why might this be the case?
A)HIV-infected food passes on the virus.
B)Money that could be spent on food is spent on medications.
C)The virus kills many working-age adults who might otherwise contribute to food production.
D)The epidemic pushes scientists out of those countries into nations where they can conduct food research without worrying about it.
E)The epidemic has sparked a general strike throughout many of these nations, which has contributed to a lack of harvesting.

Accepted Answer

The HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately affects working-age adults. This means that many people who would otherwise contribute to food production and agriculture are unable to do so. This can lead to food shortages in affected countries. Option A is incorrect because HIV is not spread through food. Option B is also incorrect because there may be other factors contributing to food shortages besides money spent on medication. Option D is not directly related to the effects of the epidemic on food shortages. Option E is also incorrect because a general strike would likely have a much broader range of causes and reasons for occurring.

Question 18

James lives in a country that has a mostly agricultural economy and has only recently begun to industrialize.He lives in a __________ country.
A)high-income
B)highly homogenous
C)middle-income
D)complete hunter-gatherer
E)low-income

Accepted Answer

The description of a primarily agricultural economy and recent industrialization suggests a low-income country, as these typically have a lower level of economic development and industrialization compared to high-income countries.

Question 19

Christopher concludes a journal article he has written with this sentence: "This irony points out that hunger is probably not a problem of production; it is a problem of distribution." What irony is Christopher likely referring to?
A)There really is not enough food to go around.
B)Food production has been steadily increasing, often in countries experiencing widespread hunger.
C)The gendered nature of hunger disproportionately affects men.
D)While often seen as a privileged group, poor whites constitute the largest segment of hungry people in the world.
E)Even large chunks of wealthy people suffer from the effects of famine.

Accepted Answer

The sentence suggests that there is an irony in the fact that hunger continues to be a problem even though there is enough food being produced. This suggests that the irony Christopher is referring to is related to the fact that even though food production has been increasing, hunger persists, highlighting that distribution, rather than production, is the main issue.

Question 20

Pepe believes that we need to consider more than just natural forces,such as natural disasters,when we talk about global inequality.Why might he have that analysis?
A)Social forces also play a factor in why large groupings of people go without food.
B)Sociologists have a responsibility to document how God has punished certain groups of people.
C)Considering only natural forces does not take into account the power of positive and negative thinking in terms of people's structures of opportunity.
D)Pepe must be a Marxist, because only Marxists try to catalog factors for inequality that are not naturally occurring.
E)Pepe understands that natural forces do not affect global hunger.

Accepted Answer

Pepe believes that social forces also play a role in global inequality, specifically in terms of food insecurity. This suggests that factors such as poverty, economic systems, and political structures are also at play, rather than solely relying on natural forces such as natural disasters.

Quiz 8: Global Inequality

Sanjay studies global hunger,particularly in Bangladesh,China,the Democratic Republic of the Congo,Ethiopia,India,Indonesia,and Pakistan.Why might she focus specifically on these countries?

Nate notes that it can be deceptive to talk about how the global standard of living has steadily risen over the last thirty years.Why might he hold that position?

More than 40 percent of all urban residents in developing countries live in:

The textbook cites all of the following as problems associated with rapid economic growth in East Asia EXCEPT:

If Sandra notes that the average income in the world has gone up over the last few decades to show the progress humanity has made,what evidence might a sociologist give to contradict her?

According to the text,all of the following are contributing factors to food shortages and hunger throughout the globe EXCEPT:

The global standard of living has done what during the last thirty years,according to the text?

According to the text,all of the following are true about people living in low-income countries EXCEPT:

Sociologists cite all of the following as reasons for the recent economic advances of the East Asian newly industrializing economies (NIEs) EXCEPT:

Selma studies countries where fertility rates are much higher than the rest of the world.She is likely studying __________ countries.

In 2008,nearly 200 million children under age five in poor countries were stunted by a lack of nutrients in their food.More than 90 percent of those children live in:

Stefano suggests that it is problematic to analyze poverty in developing countries from the perspective of dominant racial,ethnic,and religious groups while ignoring subordinate racial,ethnic,and religious groups.Why might he hold this position?

Bidya wonders if the best way to improve the lives of the world's poor people in low-income countries is to write a book about her studies of them and distribute it in low-income countries.Why might she be worried about that?

Magda's family is poor and lives in a low-income nation.One day,she becomes very ill.Magda's family would likely prefer her to be seen by medical personnel in France rather than her home country for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Jian Mei explains in her work that philosophy led to economic development in many of East Asia's newly industrializing economies.She is likely referring to:

According to the text,market-oriented theories of global inequality assume that the best possible economic consequences will result if:

Chantelle notes that the HIV/AIDS epidemic contributes to food shortages in some countries.Why might this be the case?

James lives in a country that has a mostly agricultural economy and has only recently begun to industrialize.He lives in a __________ country.

Christopher concludes a journal article he has written with this sentence: "This irony points out that hunger is probably not a problem of production; it is a problem of distribution." What irony is Christopher likely referring to?

Pepe believes that we need to consider more than just natural forces,such as natural disasters,when we talk about global inequality.Why might he have that analysis?