Chapter 1 The Social and Economic Environment of Texas Politics
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Compared to the 1940s, the population of Texas is now __________.
a. more urbanized
b. much smaller
c. more concentrated in rural areas
d. less diverse
Answer: a
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.1
Topic: Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Assess major challenges facing Texas in the twenty-first century.
Page Reference: 4
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. Systems for structuring conflict and creating a process for the expression of competing
interests are called __________.
a. businesses and the economy
b. religious hierarchies
c. politics and government
d. security apparatuses
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.2
Topic: Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Assess major challenges facing Texas in the twenty-first century.
Page Reference: 3
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. Political environment refers to __________.
a. systems for structuring conflict and creating a process for the expression of competing
interests
b. the context in which political institutions operate
c. individuals’ general attitudes about the proper role of government in society
d. a method for determining who gets what, when, and how
Answer: b
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.3
Topic: Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Assess major challenges facing Texas in the twenty-first century.
Page Reference: 5
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
4. Political myths __________.
a. are usually constructed by minority groups in society
, b. offer interpretations of alternative future paths for public policy
c. are rooted in political culture and are used to explain common historical and cultural
experiences
d. typically serve to undermine the values and beliefs held by individuals
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.4
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 5
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
5. Which best describes the role of the battle of the Alamo in Texas’s political myths?
a. It revealed the importance of government provision for the common defense.
b. It showed the dangers of frontier settlement in areas with indigenous populations.
c. It showed the uniqueness of a political order that included independence.
d. It set a precedent that the federal government can never intervene in the affairs of Texas.
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.5
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 6
Skill Level: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
6. The Texas frontier experience helps perpetuate the myth of __________.
a. dependence on governmental assistance
b. land as wilderness and land as garden
c. communalism in the face of threats from outsiders
d. invincibility in the face of overwhelming odds
Answer: b
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.6
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 6
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
7. Individualism, such as the rugged cowboy, symbolizes a political culture that __________.
a. expects the government to always act in the interests of the common good
b. exhibits a high degree of dependence on government to solve its problems
c. features a strong belief in self-reliance
d. expects government to provide for its poorest citizens
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.7
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
,Page Reference: 6
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
8. Why have the Texas myths primarily been the myths of Anglos and not of other groups?
a. Anglos were the primary writers of history and therefore, the history reflects the Anglo
worldview.
b. Other groups have refused to take part in the political, social, and economic development
of Texas.
c. In the interest of self-preservation, other groups have kept their myths to themselves.
d. Texas law has forbidden the teaching of diverse historical perspectives.
Answer: a
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.8
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
9. The population growth and political and economic gains of Hispanic, African American, and
other non-Anglo groups since the 1970s __________.
a. is likely to have no enduring effects on Texas’s political mythology
b. has led to the reinforcement of dominant mythology created by the white population
c. means that some aspects of contemporary mythology will be challenged and revised
d. is responsible for the creation of the myth of rugged individualism
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.9
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
10. The settlers coming to Texas during western expansion primarily represented which two
political subcultures?
a. moralistic and traditionalistic
b. moralistic and individualistic
c. individualistic and paternalistic
d. traditionalistic and individualistic
Answer: d
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.10
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 8
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
11. Political culture is often defined as __________ that give order and meaning to the political
process.
, a. economic beliefs and goals
b. political party affiliations
c. religious ideals
d. a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments
Answer: d
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.11
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
12. Political culture __________.
a. is a widely held view about common historical and social experiences
b. helps explain why Texans are so supportive of government efforts to provide a broad
range of services
c. includes attitudes about the proper role of government, its relationship government to its
citizens and who should govern
d. is a system for structuring conflict and creating a process for the expression of competing
interests
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.12
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
13. Which political subculture is most supportive of widespread public participation in politics?
a. traditionalistic
b. moralistic
c. personalistic
d. communalistic
Answer: b
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.13
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 9
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
14. Why does the individualistic subculture hold that government should be limited?
a. Government exists strictly for utilitarian reasons and to ensure stability in a society.
b. Government should never be trusted and accordingly its roles should be limited.
c. Individuals can look out for themselves more effectively than the government can.
d. Government has a corrupting influence on a population as a whole.
Answer: a
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.14
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 8
Skill Level: Analyze It
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Compared to the 1940s, the population of Texas is now __________.
a. more urbanized
b. much smaller
c. more concentrated in rural areas
d. less diverse
Answer: a
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.1
Topic: Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Assess major challenges facing Texas in the twenty-first century.
Page Reference: 4
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. Systems for structuring conflict and creating a process for the expression of competing
interests are called __________.
a. businesses and the economy
b. religious hierarchies
c. politics and government
d. security apparatuses
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.2
Topic: Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Assess major challenges facing Texas in the twenty-first century.
Page Reference: 3
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. Political environment refers to __________.
a. systems for structuring conflict and creating a process for the expression of competing
interests
b. the context in which political institutions operate
c. individuals’ general attitudes about the proper role of government in society
d. a method for determining who gets what, when, and how
Answer: b
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.3
Topic: Challenges of the Twenty-First Century
Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Assess major challenges facing Texas in the twenty-first century.
Page Reference: 5
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
4. Political myths __________.
a. are usually constructed by minority groups in society
, b. offer interpretations of alternative future paths for public policy
c. are rooted in political culture and are used to explain common historical and cultural
experiences
d. typically serve to undermine the values and beliefs held by individuals
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.4
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 5
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
5. Which best describes the role of the battle of the Alamo in Texas’s political myths?
a. It revealed the importance of government provision for the common defense.
b. It showed the dangers of frontier settlement in areas with indigenous populations.
c. It showed the uniqueness of a political order that included independence.
d. It set a precedent that the federal government can never intervene in the affairs of Texas.
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.5
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 6
Skill Level: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
6. The Texas frontier experience helps perpetuate the myth of __________.
a. dependence on governmental assistance
b. land as wilderness and land as garden
c. communalism in the face of threats from outsiders
d. invincibility in the face of overwhelming odds
Answer: b
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.6
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 6
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
7. Individualism, such as the rugged cowboy, symbolizes a political culture that __________.
a. expects the government to always act in the interests of the common good
b. exhibits a high degree of dependence on government to solve its problems
c. features a strong belief in self-reliance
d. expects government to provide for its poorest citizens
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.7
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
,Page Reference: 6
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
8. Why have the Texas myths primarily been the myths of Anglos and not of other groups?
a. Anglos were the primary writers of history and therefore, the history reflects the Anglo
worldview.
b. Other groups have refused to take part in the political, social, and economic development
of Texas.
c. In the interest of self-preservation, other groups have kept their myths to themselves.
d. Texas law has forbidden the teaching of diverse historical perspectives.
Answer: a
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.8
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
9. The population growth and political and economic gains of Hispanic, African American, and
other non-Anglo groups since the 1970s __________.
a. is likely to have no enduring effects on Texas’s political mythology
b. has led to the reinforcement of dominant mythology created by the white population
c. means that some aspects of contemporary mythology will be challenged and revised
d. is responsible for the creation of the myth of rugged individualism
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.9
Topic: The Myths of Texas’s Political Culture
Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Describe the political myths used to define and interpret the
political culture of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate
10. The settlers coming to Texas during western expansion primarily represented which two
political subcultures?
a. moralistic and traditionalistic
b. moralistic and individualistic
c. individualistic and paternalistic
d. traditionalistic and individualistic
Answer: d
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.10
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 8
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
11. Political culture is often defined as __________ that give order and meaning to the political
process.
, a. economic beliefs and goals
b. political party affiliations
c. religious ideals
d. a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments
Answer: d
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.11
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
12. Political culture __________.
a. is a widely held view about common historical and social experiences
b. helps explain why Texans are so supportive of government efforts to provide a broad
range of services
c. includes attitudes about the proper role of government, its relationship government to its
citizens and who should govern
d. is a system for structuring conflict and creating a process for the expression of competing
interests
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.12
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 7
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
13. Which political subculture is most supportive of widespread public participation in politics?
a. traditionalistic
b. moralistic
c. personalistic
d. communalistic
Answer: b
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.13
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 9
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
14. Why does the individualistic subculture hold that government should be limited?
a. Government exists strictly for utilitarian reasons and to ensure stability in a society.
b. Government should never be trusted and accordingly its roles should be limited.
c. Individuals can look out for themselves more effectively than the government can.
d. Government has a corrupting influence on a population as a whole.
Answer: a
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.14
Topic: The Political Culture of Texas
Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Compare and contrast the political subcultures of Texas.
Page Reference: 8
Skill Level: Analyze It
