Sociology and Societal Change Quiz 1

What is the definition of a society according to the text?

• A group of people who share a history and a tradition

• A group of people who share a government and a currency

• A group of people who share a language and a religion

• A group of people who share a culture and a territory

What was the major concern in hunting and gathering societies?

• Social inequality

• Technological innovation

• Material surplus

• Food

Which type of society saw the first human settlements and the accumulation of material surplus?

• Hunting and gathering societies

• Pastoral societies

• Horticultural societies

• Agrarian societies

What marked a fundamental change in the organization of society in industrial societies?

• Specialization and technological advances

• Capital-based economy

• Universal public education

• Decreasing importance of the family

What was the defining change in postindustrial societies?

• Decrease in specialization

• Shift from an economy based on raw materials to an economy based on information

• Shift from an economy based on information to an economy based on raw materials

• Decrease in urbanization

According to Marx, what is required for large-scale social change?

• Revolution

• Ideas

• Underlying social structure

• Technological change

What did Max Weber focus on as the major transition in society?

• Ideas

• Underlying social structure

• Revolution

• Technology

According to Durkheim, what is the transition from mechanical to organic solidarity a result of?

• Technological change

• Revolution

• Ideas

• Underlying social structure

What did Lenski focus on as the main source of societal change?

• Technology

• Conflict and revolution

• Underlying social structure

• Ideas

What are some new problems that technology has brought us according to the text?

• Pollution and global warming

• Decreasing inequality

• Peaceful and just societies

• Fundamental societal problems solved by technology