Civics - Public Opinion and the Media Vocabulary Practice Quiz

What is the process by which people form their political values and attitudes?

• agents of socialization

• opinion makers

• political socialization

• exit poll

Answer explanation

Political values and attitudes are formed through the process of political socialization, where individuals acquire beliefs and opinions about politics from various sources.

What is a survey of voters, taken as they leave the polling place, to predict the winners on Election Day?

• random sample

• opinion makers

• political socialization

• exit poll

Answer explanation

An exit poll is a survey of voters taken as they leave the polling place to predict the winners on Election Day.

What is the sum of many individual opinions, beliefs, or attitudes about a public person or issue?

• opinion poll

• scientific sampling

• benchmark poll

• margin of error

Answer explanation

An opinion poll is the sum of individual opinions, beliefs, or attitudes about a public person or issue. It represents the collective sentiment of a population.

What is the deliberate shading of information about a person or an event in an attempt to influence how it is reported in the media?

• news media

• on-the-record conversation

• mass media

• spin

Answer explanation

Spin is the deliberate shading of information to influence media reporting. It is a tactic used to manipulate public perception.

What is mudslinging?

• Building a "mud" or your political opponent's secrets and threatening to release them.

• The act of throwing mud at opponent's political posters

• Making malicious and damaging statements about someone

• Throwing actual mud at someone

Answer explanation

Mudslinging refers to making malicious and damaging statements about someone. It involves spreading negative information to harm the reputation of the target.

What is a political party?

• A political party is a type of social club for politicians

• A political party is a group of people who gather to discuss politics but do not have any specific goals

• A political party is a term used to describe a group of people who work against each other in politics

• A political party is an organized group of people who have the same political ideology and work together to achieve political goals.

Answer explanation

A political party is an organized group of people with the same political ideology, working together to achieve political goals.

What is media bias?

• A form of government censorship

• A type of news used in government

• A method of preserving food

• Unfair or unbalanced presentation of news and information

Answer explanation

Media bias refers to the unfair or unbalanced presentation of news and information.

What is public policy?

• Personal beliefs and values about the public.

• Private agreements between individuals to solve public problems.

• Laws, regulations, and actions taken by government to address public issues

• Business strategies and decisions that impact the public.

Answer explanation

Public policy refers to laws, regulations, and actions taken by the government to address public issues. It is the correct choice as it encompasses the actions and decisions made by the government to solve public problems.

What is an absentee ballot?

• A ballot that is used for local elections only where federal campaign laws are absent.

• A type of ballot only used for early voting in primary elections.

• A ballot used for selecting multiple candidates who may be absent from political conversation.

• A vote cast by someone who is unable to attend the official polling station on election day

Answer explanation

An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable to attend the official polling station on election day.

What are glittering generalities in political campaigns?

• Specific and logical words or phrases used in political campaigns

• Complex and confusing words or phrases used in political campaigns

• Vague and emotionally appealing words or phrases used in political campaigns

• Bland and unemotional words or phrases used in political campaigns

Answer explanation

Glittering generalities in political campaigns refer to vague and emotionally appealing words or phrases used to persuade voters. They create positive associations without providing specific details. This choice accurately describes glittering generalities.