Question 1

According to the textbook,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

Accepted Answer

The statement "the unsustainable, largely vegetarian diets of most of the world" is not a contributing factor to food shortages and hunger, rather it is the meat-heavy diets in some countries that can contribute to food shortages through inefficient use of resources. Internal warfare, the AIDS epidemic, and drought are all recognized as major contributing factors to global hunger and food shortages.

Question 2

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) Two-thirds of people who go hungry every day live in these countries.
C) These countries have the same cultural practices around food.
D) Foreign aid to these countries has all but stopped.

Accepted Answer

Sanjay focuses on these countries because they have a high percentage of people who go hungry every day. Two-thirds of the world's chronically hungry people live in these countries, making them the most affected by hunger.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

According to the United Nations, over 40 percent of the urban population in developing countries live in "unplanned, informal or slum settlements" which are characterized by poor quality housing, lack of basic services, and insecurity of tenure. Therefore, the best choice is B) slums.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Pepe's belief suggests that he recognizes the role of social and societal factors in creating and perpetuating global inequality. Therefore, choice A is the best option as it directly mentions the influence of social forces on access to food and resources. Choices B and C offer potential explanations for Pepe's belief, but they are less directly related to the issue of global inequality and food insecurity. Choice D is not a valid option, as it directly contradicts Pepe's stated belief.

Question 5

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 almost 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) All groups are subordinate in low-income countries.

Accepted Answer

Poverty is often caused by factors such as discrimination, marginalization, and lack of access to resources that are based on one's race, ethnicity, or religion. Therefore, it is essential to consider the experiences and perspectives of subordinate racial, ethnic, and religious groups when analyzing poverty in developing countries. Doing so can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the structural causes of poverty and inform more effective poverty reduction strategies.

Question 6

Modernization theory argues that:
A) state-run economies are most efficient for creating modernized countries
B) low-income countries must preserve their traditional cultures to develop
C) high-income countries have a responsibility to give free resources to low-income countries
D) low-income societies can develop economically only if they give up their traditional ways and adopt modern economic institutions,technologies,and cultural values that emphasize savings and productive investment

Accepted Answer

Modernization theory asserts that low-income countries can only develop economically if they abandon their traditional ways and embrace modern economic institutions, technologies, and cultural values that favor savings and productive investment. This theory emphasizes the importance of capitalist economic systems, scientific progress, and Western-style cultural values in achieving development.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that people living in low-income countries often lack access to basic health care services and facilities, and that health outcomes in these countries tend to be poor. Therefore, option A is incorrect.

Question 8

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 enforced atheism of communist China and its stress on the importance of money

Accepted Answer

Confucianism, a philosophy and ethical system that emphasizes the importance of education, benevolence, and moral behavior, played a significant role in the economic development of East Asia's newly industrializing economies. Its emphasis on thrift, hard work, and the importance of education helped to shape a strong work ethic among the population, while its focus on obedience and loyalty helped to create stable and cooperative societies.

Question 9

Alyssa is a fierce advocate for indigenous rights and ways of life.Why might she be critical of the modernization theory of development?
A) Modernization theory typically suggests that traditional societies must abandon their traditional ways and embrace modern economic institutions.
B) Modernization theory suggests that the state should run the economy,which leaves no place for indigenous involvement.
C) Modernization theory treats indigenous people like noble savages who have all the correct answers to life's problems.
D) Modernization theory focuses too much on the role of women in economic development,and indigenous communities already have prescribed roles for women.

Accepted Answer

Alyssa is a fierce advocate for indigenous rights and ways of life. Modernization theory typically suggests that traditional societies must abandon their traditional ways and embrace modern economic institutions, which may not be compatible with indigenous ways of life. Therefore, Alyssa might be critical of such a theory.

Question 10

In 2011,more than 100 million children under age five were underweight.The majority of those children live in:
A) sub-Saharan Africa
B) South America
C) North America
D) southern Asia

Accepted Answer

According to UNICEF, the majority of underweight children under the age of five live in southern Asia, with India having the largest number of undernourished children in the world.

Question 11

Modernization theorist W.W.Rostow viewed economic growth as going through several stages,which he likened to the journey of an airplane.All of the following are stages in his theory EXCEPT:
A) traditional stage
B) takeoff to economic growth
C) drive to technological maturity
D) investment in the arts

Accepted Answer

Investment in the arts is not a stage in Rostow's theory of economic growth. The other stages are part of his theory, including the traditional stage, takeoff to economic growth, and drive to technological maturity.

Question 12

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.

Accepted Answer

The HIV/AIDS epidemic can kill many working-age adults who would otherwise contribute to food production, thus leading to food shortages. This is because those who are infected may become too ill to work or may die prematurely, leaving fewer people to cultivate crops or livestock. Additionally, money that could be spent on food is often diverted to medical expenses, which can further exacerbate food shortages. HIV-infected food does not pass on the virus, and the epidemic is unlikely to push scientists out of affected countries.

Question 13

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) Although often seen as a privileged group,poor whites constitute the largest segment of hungry people in the world.

Accepted Answer

The irony that Christopher is likely referring to is that even though food production has been increasing, there are still large numbers of people experiencing hunger. This suggests that the problem is not one of production, but rather one of distribution.

Question 14

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) a highly exploited,increasingly female workforce
C) the rise of methamphetamine addiction
D) widespread environmental degradation

Accepted Answer

The textbook cites A, B, and D as problems associated with rapid economic growth in East Asia. The rise of methamphetamine addiction is not mentioned as a problem associated with rapid economic growth in the region.

Question 15

Bidya wonders whether 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.According to the text,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 almost always colonizing and paternalistic.
C) Books are not helpful ways of spreading important analysis.
D) Only people in high-income countries can solve poverty.

Accepted Answer

The text states that "Rates of literacy among the world's poor are much lower than among wealthier people," which suggests that distributing a book may not be the best way to reach and help people in low-income countries.

Question 16

Keynesian economists begin with the assumption that the state should regulate economic policy for everyone's benefit.Why might sociologists who use market-oriented theories be critical of this idea?
A) They believe that markets without state interference lead to the best economic outcomes.
B) Market-oriented theorists think that the state should control all markets.
C) They think that higher taxation rates for the poor are the best way to curb welfare provisions.
D) They believe that markets should be abolished in favor of a planned economy.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists who use market-oriented theories believe that markets function best when left alone by the state and that intervention can actually worsen economic outcomes. They argue that government intervention can distort market signals, create inefficiencies, and discourage innovation. Therefore, they may be critical of the Keynesian approach that begins with the assumption that the state should regulate economic policy for everyone's benefit.

Question 17

Salvatore studies the debate around universal health care in the United States.He prefers economic theories that suggest that the best possible outcomes in health care happen when the government does not interfere in economic decisions.Lorenzo prefers what theory or set of theories?
A) dependency theories
B) state-centered theories
C) world-systems theory
D) market-oriented theories

Accepted Answer

Lorenzo prefers market-oriented theories, which argue that the best outcomes in health care are achieved when the market is free to make economic decisions without government intervention.

Question 18

According to the textbook,market-oriented theories of global inequality assume that the best possible economic consequences will result if:
A) competent politicians carefully regulate markets
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

Accepted Answer

Market-oriented theories of global inequality assume that free market forces are the best way to allocate economic resources and stimulate economic growth. This means that individuals are free to make their own economic decisions without any form of government intervention or constraints. Competent politicians may play a role in regulating markets to prevent monopolies, fraud, and other forms of market failures. However, the emphasis is on the private sector and individual initiative to create wealth and reduce poverty. Cooperative enterprises and public education may also have a role to play in creating a more fair and just economy, but they are not the main focus of market-oriented theories of global inequality.

Question 19

Sociologists cite all of the following as reasons for the recent economic advances of the east Asian emerging economies EXCEPT:
A) Most were part of colonial situations that,although imposing many hardships,also helped pave the way for economic growth.
B) 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.
C) Dictatorial controls allowed for smoothly run,centrally planned economies that eschewed democratic planning as well as market mechanisms.
D) 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 statement "Dictatorial controls allowed for smoothly run, centrally planned economies that eschewed democratic planning as well as market mechanisms" is not a valid reason for the recent economic advances of the east Asian emerging economies. In fact, many of these economies have shifted towards more democratic and market-oriented systems in recent years, and the success of the region's economies cannot be solely attributed to authoritarian regimes.

Question 20

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.

Accepted Answer

There are doctors in low-income countries, although they may be scarce and face challenges such as inadequate resources and training. Therefore, the reason that Magda's family would prefer her to be seen by medical personnel in France is not because there are no doctors in low-income countries.

Quiz 8: Global Inequality

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

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?

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

Pepe believes that we need to consider more than just natural forces,such as natural disasters,when we talk about global inequality.Which answer best explains why he might have that belief?

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?

Modernization theory argues that:

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

Alyssa is a fierce advocate for indigenous rights and ways of life.Why might she be critical of the modernization theory of development?

In 2011,more than 100 million children under age five were underweight.The majority of those children live in:

Modernization theorist W.W.Rostow viewed economic growth as going through several stages,which he likened to the journey of an airplane.All of the following are stages in his theory EXCEPT:

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

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?

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

Bidya wonders whether 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.According to the text,why might she be worried about that?

Keynesian economists begin with the assumption that the state should regulate economic policy for everyone's benefit.Why might sociologists who use market-oriented theories be critical of this idea?

Salvatore studies the debate around universal health care in the United States.He prefers economic theories that suggest that the best possible outcomes in health care happen when the government does not interfere in economic decisions.Lorenzo prefers what theory or set of theories?

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

Sociologists cite all of the following as reasons for the recent economic advances of the east Asian emerging economies EXCEPT:

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: