Question 1

According to the textbook,which of the following statements best describes old-style terrorism?

Accepted Answer

Old-style terrorism aims to establish states in areas where nations do not have control of the territory's state apparatus. This often involves political and nationalist goals, rather than simply seeking to kill as many people as possible or restructuring world society.

Question 2

Max spends most of his time in the house taking care of his children and his sister's children.He cooks for them,takes them to school,and keeps an eye on them when they get out of school in the afternoons and in the summertime.In exchange for this help,his sister lends his family an extra apartment she has in her multifamily home.What is the term that sociologists use to refer to this kind of transaction?

Accepted Answer

This type of transaction is referred to as an informal economy, which involves the exchange of goods and services without the involvement of formal institutions or contracts. In this case, Max is providing childcare and cooking services in exchange for the use of his sister's extra apartment, without any legal contracts or agreements.

Question 3

What author's most famous work,The Wealth of Nations,opens with a description of the division of labor in a pin factory?

Accepted Answer

Adam Smith's most famous work, The Wealth of Nations, does indeed open with a detailed description of the division of labor in a pin factory. This description serves as a springboard for Smith's discussion of the advantages of specialization and the benefits of free trade.

Question 4

U.S.military spending today:

Accepted Answer

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2019 the United States spent $732 billion on its military, which is greater than the combined military spending of the next 15 countries, including Russia and China. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect as the collapse of communism did not result in a lower military spending for the US. Option B is incorrect as the US military spending is higher than both Russia and China. Option D is also incorrect as Chinese military spending is significantly lower than that of the US.

Question 5

Many sociologists argue that large numbers of Americans are dissatisfied with the U.S.political system today because:

Accepted Answer

Many sociologists argue that the large dissatisfaction with the US political system is due to the uneven distribution of wealth generated by the capitalist economy. While the US economy is generating more wealth than any other type of economic system, the benefits of this wealth are not being equally shared among the population, leading to feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction with the political system.

Question 6

Miriam is a sociologist who has great faith in the U.S.political system.She subscribes to the theory that continual processes of bargaining among numerous groups representing different interests influence government policies in a democracy.Miriam's ideas could best be described as:

Accepted Answer

Miriam's ideas align with the pluralist theory, which holds that power is not concentrated in a small group but rather it is distributed among multiple groups representing different interests that influence government policies through negotiation and compromise. This theory supports the idea of a functioning democracy with diverse voices and perspectives. The other options (A, C, and D) do not align with Miriam's beliefs.

Question 7

Eugenia has worked in the same company for 15 years repairing icemakers.She drives from town to town in a few counties in California and sees to the maintenance of the machines that her company has in different supermarkets,convenience stores,and gas stations.Although her company manufactures other machines,she only repairs the icemakers that they make.What term would sociologists use to describe the specialization of Eugenia's work tasks?

Accepted Answer

Eugenia's work tasks are specialized in repairing only one type of machine, which is an example of division of labor.

Question 8

A terrorist attack on a major metropolitan area in an industrialized society kills thousands of people.Investigators establish with certainty that the aim of the attack was to kill as many people as possible.According to the textbook,which of the following statements is most likely to be true?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the terrorists had the aim of killing as many people as possible suggests that they had global geopolitical aims rather than specific religious or ideological motivations. The attack is also unlikely to be classified as old-style terrorism, which is typically associated with political grievances and is less indiscriminate in its targeting. As for whether the terrorists will be caught and tried, this cannot be determined solely from the information given.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true,according to C.Wright Mills in The Power Elite?

Accepted Answer

C. Wright Mills argues that those in power, including those in politics, the economy, and the military, come from similar social backgrounds and often have personal connections. This idea is referred to as the power elite. The other options are not supported by Mills' work.

Question 10

Jennifer works in a factory that manufactures microwave ovens.During her eight-hour shift,she tightens four screws on each unit that passes on an assembly line belt.She performs this task on more than 1,500 microwave ovens per day.Her work is an example of whose innovation in industry?

Accepted Answer

Jennifer's work is an example of the assembly line method of manufacturing developed by Henry Ford, which involved breaking down the production process into smaller, simpler tasks, and having workers specialize in performing one specific task repeatedly. This method increased efficiency and productivity, making it possible to produce large quantities of goods at a lower cost.

Question 11

What term do sociologists use to describe the use of science and machinery to achieve greater productive efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists use the term "technology" to describe the use of science and machinery to achieve greater productive efficiency.

Question 12

What term refers to carrying out tasks that require mental and physical effort,with the objective of the production of goods and services that cater to human needs?

Accepted Answer

Work refers to the exertion of physical and mental effort in order to produce goods and services that meet human needs. Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, power refers to the ability to exert influence or control over others, and authority refers to the right to make decisions or enforce rules. While all of these concepts may be related to work, only work directly refers to the production of goods and services through physical and mental effort.

Question 13

Stan just turned 18 years old.His parents are both 55 years old.Stan's father expresses continuing trust in government,but Stan and his mother are highly suspicious of government.According to the textbook,which of the following statements is most likely to be true?

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that older individuals are more likely to vote than younger ones. Additionally, there is a correlation between trust in government and voter turnout, with those who trust the government more being more likely to vote. Therefore, it is likely that Stan's father, who trusts the government, is more likely to vote than his mother or Stan. The other choices are not supported by the information given.

Question 14

Sally has a well-paying job and is a voter who is more interested in being able to say what she thinks freely on the Internet than any other single issue.Some sociologists would describe her attitude as an example of:

Accepted Answer

The shift in political values in democratic nations from scarcity values to postmaterialist values refers to the idea that as societies become more affluent, people's values shift from being solely focused on economic concerns to also valuing non-economic issues such as individual freedom and self-expression. Sally's desire to be able to say what she thinks freely on the Internet reflects this postmaterialist value of individual freedom of expression.

Question 15

Frederick works in a university,studying the extent to which individuals depend on others to produce many or most of the goods they need to sustain their lives.He is struck by the fact that many people could not survive in the modern world because they simply do not have the knowledge to carry out certain basic tasks,such as growing food.The process that Frederick studies is known to sociologists as:

Accepted Answer

Frederick is studying the extent to which individuals depend on others to produce many or most of the goods they need to sustain their lives. This process is known as economic interdependence. Option A, class conflict, refers to the struggle between classes in society over resources and power. Option B, scarcity society, refers to a society in which resources are limited and there is a constant struggle to obtain them. Option D, informal economy, refers to economic activities that are not regulated by the government and are often not included in official statistics. None of these options capture the specific process that Frederick is studying.

Question 16

Laura is a researcher who studies technological and economic change.Her work shows clearly how forces of global economic competition are changing the nature of the work we do.What term do sociologists use to describe the process she studies?

Accepted Answer

Globalization refers to the process of economic, cultural, and political integration across nations and regions, which can lead to changes in the nature of work and economic structures. Laura's research on how global economic competition is changing the nature of work aligns with the concept of globalization.

Question 17

Joseph Schumpeter argued that:

Accepted Answer

Joseph Schumpeter's theory of democracy revolves around the idea that democracy is not about giving the majority what they want, but about how effective and responsible the government is. He believed that the real power lies in the hands of the elites who are able to influence the government, and that the people must hold the elites accountable for their actions. Therefore, option B is the correct choice.

Question 18

President Dwight David Eisenhower,who had been supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe in World War II,warned in his presidential farewell address:

Accepted Answer

President Eisenhower warned of the danger of the "military-industrial complex," referring to the collaboration between the military and the defense industry in perpetuating a state of war and the potential negative effects on democracy and civil liberties. He did not mention terrorism, Cuba, or the sustainability of a two-party system.

Question 19

In 1908,who designed his first auto plant at Highland Park,Michigan,to manufacture only one product,thereby allowing the introduction of specialized tools and machinery designed for speed,precision,and simplicity of operation?

Accepted Answer

Henry Ford was the one who designed his first auto plant at Highland Park, Michigan, to manufacture only one product, the Model T, which allowed him to introduce specialized tools and machinery designed for speed, precision, and simplicity of operation.

Question 20

Premodern,as opposed to modern,systems of production were based above all on:

Accepted Answer

Premodern systems of production were primarily based on agriculture, with most people working in farming and relying on the land for their livelihood. Heavy industry, advanced technology, and communication technology were not yet developed or widely used in premodern times.

Quiz 13: Politics and Economic Life