Social Stratification Assessment

Which of the following describes an open stratification system?

• People are given their status at birth.

• People remain at the same status level throughout their life.

• People move between strata.

• People change position within a caste but cannot move to a higher caste.

What tends to be the most important factor in determining prestige in the United States?

• Power

• Occupation

• Social status

• Family background

About what portion of the wealth in the United States is controlled by the richest 1 percent of the population?

• Almost half

• Exactly one-fourth

• Less than one third

• More than two-thirds

A person's socioeconomic status (SES) is determined by income,

• Education level, occupational prestige, and place of residence.

• Popularity, education level, and social class.

• Caste, social status, and ethnicity.

• Age, gender, and race.

Which of the following is not well explained by conflict theory?

• Not everyone in a society has equal access to resources.

• Positions that offer higher rewards are not always more important.

• Not everyone is suited for every position in society.

• none of these

Conflict theorists see competition over scarce resources as

• A survival function for simple societies.

• A necessary feature of the social structure.

• Unimportant in society.

• The cause of social inequality.

Which of the following synthesizes conflict theory and functionalist theory?

• Each approach complements the other and explains specific aspects of stratification.

• People spend years learning a skill because the reward is high.

• The theories of stratification are incorrect and need revising.

• Children of wealthy parents go to the best colleges.

By which method are individuals in a community asked to rank other community members based on what they know of their characters and lifestyles?

• Objective

• Subjective

• Prestigious

• Reputational

What is a major difference among social classes in the United States?

• Talent

• Income

• Age

• Gender

To which social class does an owner of a small business generally belong?

• Lower middle class

• Upper middle class

• Working class

• Underclass