Introduction to sociology

1. According to the textbook, what is the definition of discrimination? A) Unfair treatment of people based on some social characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, or sex B) The sense of community that derives from the cultural heritage of people with common ancestry C) A program designed to include members of minority groups where they had previously been excluded D) The belief that a certain trait, behavior, or attitude characterizes all members of a group 2. According to the textbook, what is the definition of ethnicity? E) Unfair treatment of people based on some social characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, or sex F) The sense of community that derives from the cultural heritage of people with common ancestry G) A program designed to include members of minority groups where they had previously been excluded H) The belief that a certain trait, behavior, or attitude characterizes all members of a group 3. According to the textbook, what is institutional racism? I) Individual expression of racist attitudes or behaviors J) Laws, customs, and practices that maintain racial inequalities in a society K) Rigidly held, unfavorable attitudes about members of a different group L) A situation in which an institution, such as a church or school, is the victim of racism 4. According to the textbook, what is the definition of personal racism? M) Individual expression of racist attitudes or behaviors N) Laws, customs, and practices that maintain racial inequalities in a society O) Rigidly held, unfavorable attitudes about members of a different group P) A situation in which an individual person is the victim of racism 5. According to the textbook, what is the definition of prejudice? Q) Individual expression of racist attitudes or behaviors R) Laws, customs, and practices that maintain racial inequalities in a society S) Rigidly held, unfavorable attitudes about members of a different group T) A situation in which an individual person is the victim of racism 6. According to the textbook, what is the definition of race? U) Individual expression of racist attitudes or behaviors V) The sense of community that derives from the cultural heritage of people with common ancestry W) The belief that humans are subdivided into distinct groups that can be ranked as superior or inferior X) People labeled and treated as similar because of some common biological traits 7. According to the textbook, what is racial transparency? Y) The belief that a certain trait, behavior, or attitude characterizes all members of a group Z) Racism expressed subtly through feelings of discomfort, which result in avoidance [) The belief that humans are subdivided into distinct groups that can be ranked as superior or inferior ) The tendency for the race of a society’s majority to be normative and unremarkable 8. According to the textbook, what is the definition of racism? ]) The belief that a certain trait, behavior, or attitude characterizes all members of a group ^) Racism expressed subtly through feelings of discomfort, which result in avoidance _) The belief that humans are subdivided into distinct groups that can be ranked as superior or inferior `) The tendency for the race of a society’s majority to be normative and unremarkable 9. According to the textbook, what is the definition of stereotype? a) The belief that a certain trait, behavior, or attitude characterizes all members of a group b) Rigidly held, unfavorable attitudes about members of a different group c) The belief that humans are subdivided into distinct groups that can be ranked as superior or inferior d) Unfair treatment of people based on some social characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, or sex 10. According to the textbook, what is quiet racism? e) The belief that a certain trait, behavior, or attitude characterizes all members of a group f) Racism expressed subtly through feelings of discomfort, which result in avoidance g) The belief that humans are subdivided into distinct groups that can be ranked as superior or inferior h) The tendency for the race of a society’s majority to be normative and unremarkable 11. Cross-cultural research about race demonstrates that: i) race is biologically determined. j) racial categories vary across cultures and over time. k) racial categories are universal. l) racial categories within a society do not change. 12. According to the hypodescent rule, racially-mixed people: m) can identify themselves as the racial category they prefer. n) are always assigned the status of the subordinate group. o) are always assigned the status of the dominant group. p) can choose multiple racial categories on the census form. 13. A Miami restaurant was sued for its policy of adding an automatic 15% tip to the bills of black customers, a practice that was instituted because, according to the owner, “ Blacks don’t tip well. ” This is an example of which kind of racism? q) Quiet racism r) Institutional racism s) Symbolic racism t) Personal racism 14. The label “ model minority” placed on Japanese and Chinese immigrants reflects: u) their accepting attitude in the face of injustices such as being interned during World War II. v) college administrators’ desire to admit greater numbers of Japanese and Chinese students. w) their high median levels of educational and income attainment. x) the lack of discrimination experienced by these minorities in American society. 15. What is the definition of a panethnic label? y) A derogatory term referring to an ethnic group z) A general term referring to diverse subgroups {) A nonoffensive term preferred by members of an ethnic group |) A term used to refer to all human beings 16. A picture of a white person holding a razor blade and arguing with a black person was shown to people for a split second. Over half of the respondents said that the black man was holding the razor against the white man’s throat. This is an example of: }) prejudice. ~) discrimination. ) racial transparency. ) ethnocentrism. 17. The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain was recently forced to change its practices after it was accused of seating black customers separately from whites, seating black customers after whites who had arrived later, and providing poor service to blacks. Which type of racism is this? ) Quiet racism ) Symbolic racism ) Institutional racism ) Personal racism 18. Law enforcement agencies have been criticized for detaining, questioning, and searching “ Arab-looking” men in airports, bus stations, and train stations in the aftermath of 9/11. These practices are an example of: ) prejudice. ) discrimination. ) stereotyping. ) racial profiling. 19. According to the textbook, what is affirmative action? ) Unfair treatment of people based on some social characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, or sex ) The sense of community that derives from the cultural heritage of people with common ancestry ) A program designed to include members of minority groups where they had previously been excluded ) The belief that a certain trait, behavior, or attitude characterizes all members of a group 20. According to the textbook, what is the definition of pay equity? ) Subordination of women that is part of the everyday workings of social institutions. ) A society that gives higher prestige and value to women than to men. ) The practice of treating people as objects. ) The idea that jobs that are of equal importance and require equal training should be paid equally. 21. According to the textbook, what is the definition of matriarchy? ) A society that gives higher prestige and value to women than to men. ) A system of beliefs that asserts the inferiority of one sex. ) A society that gives higher prestige and value to men than to women. ) Subordination of women that is part of the everyday workings of social institutions. 22. According to the textbook, what is the definition of patriarchy? ) A society that gives higher prestige and value to women than to men. ) A system of beliefs that asserts the inferiority of one sex. ) A society that gives higher prestige and value to men than to women. ) Subordination of women that is part of the everyday workings of social institutions. 23. In Saudi Arabia, men hold all political and economic power. Even though women may attend universities and have careers, they are not allowed to vote or drive. This is an example of: ) A patriarchy. ) A matriarchy. ) An oligarchy. ) Pay equal. 24. The proportion of young girls who are concerned about their weight has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. A sociological explanation for this phenomenon is: ) the prevalence of unattainable images of women in the media. ) the lack of exercise among America’s youth. ) increasing public awareness of anorexia and other eating disorders. ) the movement of women into the paid labor force. 25. How domestic labor is typically divided between men and women? ) Men are more likely to do daily chores such as cooking. ) Men are more likely to do weekly or irregular chores such as mowing and repairs. ) Men do more housework than women. ) Men and women equally divide daily and weekly tasks. 26. How would sociologists describe sex segregation in corporations? ) Men and women move up the corporate ladder at the same rates. ) More men move up the corporate ladder than women. ) More women move up the corporate ladder than men. ) More men are at the lower end of the job market. 27. According to the textbook, what is the definition of cultural diffusion? ) A situation in which elements of culture spread from one group or society to another ) A situation in which rapid change or traumatic events have disrupted social norms ) The creation of new objects or technology that has the potential to change the society ) A situation in which people utilize resources to create social change 28. A group of Harvard students spontaneously conducted a sit-in in the university president’s house to demand higher wages for the school’s blue-collar workers. This is an example of: ) Anomie. ) Cultural diffusion. ) A social movement. ) Globalization. 29. A movement among plus-size college women, known as the “ Big and Beautiful Women’s Movement, ” has formed to attempt to encourage sororities to accept members regardless of size. Such action among the college women is an example of a(n): ) countermovement. ) revolutionary movement. ) reform movement. ) cultural diffusion. 30. According to the textbook, the upper class is a group of people who: ) work for minimum wage or are chronically unemployed. ) have a moderate level of income and prestige, such as electricians, clerical workers, and salespeople. ) have an intermediate level of wealth, income, and prestige, such as managers, small business owners, and professionals. ) have high income and prestige, such as owners of large corporations and members of prestigious families. 31. According to the textbook, what is the definition of the middle class? ) People who work for minimum wage or are chronically unemployed. ) People who have a moderate level of income and prestige, such as electricians, clerical workers, and salespeople. ) People who have an intermediate level of wealth, income, and prestige, such as managers, small business owners, and professionals. ) People who have high income and prestige, such as owners of large corporations and members of prestigious families. 32. According to the textbook, what is the definition of the lower class? ) People who work for minimum wage or are chronically unemployed. ) People who have a moderate level of income and prestige, such as electricians, clerical workers, and salespeople. ) People who have an intermediate level of wealth, income, and prestige, such as managers, small business owners, and professionals. ) People who have high income and prestige, such as owners of large corporations and members of prestigious families. 33. According to the textbook, what is the definition of false consciousness? ) A belief system that protects the lower classes from unemployment and exploitation ) A belief system that harms the lower classes and protects the powerful classes from protest and revolution ) Beliefs that are considered irrational or deviant in one’s society ) The belief that one is conscious when one is not 34. Social mobility refers to: ) the movement of people from one social class to another. ) immigration of people from different societies. ) the interaction between people of various socioeconomic backgrounds. ) migration of people from one region to another. 35. According to the textbook, what is the definition of the near-poor? ) Individuals or families whose earnings are between 100% and 125% of the poverty line ) An individual’s economic position compared with the living standards of the majority in the society ) The percentage of people whose income falls below the poverty line ) The amount of yearly income a family requires to meet its basic needs 36. According to the textbook, what is the definition of relative poverty? ) Individuals or families whose earnings are between 100% and 125% of the poverty line ) An individual’s economic position compared with the living standards of the majority in the society ) The percentage of people whose income falls below the poverty line ) The amount of yearly income a family requires to meet its basic needs 37. According to the textbook, what is the definition of the poverty rate? ) Individuals or families whose earnings are between 100% and 125% of the poverty line ) An individual’s economic position compared with the living standards of the majority in the society ) The percentage of people whose income falls below the poverty line ) The amount of yearly income a family requires to meet its basic needs 38. According to the textbook, what is the definition of absolute poverty? ) The process of expanding economic markets by invading and establishing control over a weaker country and its people ) The inability to afford the basic necessities of life ) The belief that poor people develop a unique value structure to deal with their lack of success ) One’s economic position as compared with the majority of one’s society 39. According to the textbook, what is the “ culture of poverty” thesis? ) The belief that those who succeed in society are those who work the hardest and have the best abilities ) The process of expanding economic markets by invading and establishing control over a weaker country and its people ) The inability to afford the minimal requirements for sustaining a reasonably healthy existence ) The belief that poor people develop a unique value structure to deal with their lack of success 40. The sociological perspective that argues “ social inequality is necessary” is called: ) Social conflict. ) Symbolic interactionist. ) Ideology. ) Structural functionalist. 41. The largest class in American society is the: ) upper class. ) middle class. ) working class. ) lower class. 42. What do sociologists call it when people acting in their short-term self-interest create longer-term social problems? ) Rationalization ) Calculability ) An aligning action ) A social dilemma 43. The “ free-rider” problem occurs when: ) people fail to get help in an emergency because they think other witnesses will do it. ) individuals keep their personal desires hidden in order to be accepted by the group. ) people refuse to contribute to a common resource when the resource is free. ) common resources exist, but no one is willing to do his individual part to conserve those resources. 44. According to the textbook, what is a hierarchy of authority? ) The specialization of different people or groups in different tasks ) The subdivision of jobs into specific tasks requiring less-skilled employees ) A large hierarchical organization governed by formal rules and having specific job descriptions ) A pyramid-shaped structure with a few powerful positions at the top and many virtually powerless positions at the bottom 45. According to the textbook, what is the definition of a social dilemma? ) The process by which the characteristics and principles of the fast food restaurant come to dominate other areas of social life ) The specialization of different people or groups in different tasks ) Potential for a society’s long-term ruin because of individuals’ tendency to pursue their own short-term interests ) Social institutions, organizations, groups, statuses and roles, values, and norms that add order to our lives 46. The McDonaldization of society has resulted in what sociologically significant outcome? ) People eat more expensive food that is less nutritious. ) Social life is more homogeneous, more rigid, and less personal. ) Service workers are more satisfied with their jobs. ) We have a wider variety of products to choose from in restaurants. 47. Division of labor means that: ) the working classes are unable to agree about important issues. ) work is designed so that tasks can be done by any available worker. ) job descriptions carefully lay out the responsibilities of each employee. ) people have too many tasks to do to become proficient at any of them. 48. What term did Weber use to describe his fear that bureaucracies would become both dehumanizing and pervasive in society? ) The division of labor ) The tragedy of the commons ) McDonaldization