Sociology Practice Questions – Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (Families and Households)
HOW TO USE: To make sure you are picking exam questions randomly, in no certain order
based of ability or preference, use a random number generator with the number on the side of
the questions. Then answer the question in the allotted time (handwritten), that the number
correlates too. Then give it to the sociology teacher to mark and give feedback on. Highlight the
ones that you have done so you don’t repeat yourself.
10 Marks
1) Outline and explain two ways in which government policies may affect family structure
2) Outline and explain two ways in which an ageing population may have led to policies
that affect families and households today.
3) Outline and explain two ways in which changing childbearing patterns may have
influenced gender roles and relationships within families and households.
4) Outline and explain two reasons for changes in the size of families and households in
the last 50 years or so.
5) Outline and explain two social policies or laws that have affected the position of children
in the family.
10 Marks (with source)
1) ITEM: There have been a number of demographic changes since 1900. Life expectancy
has increased and therefore several generations of a family may be alive at the same
time. Also, people now have fewer children.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two ways in which demographic trends since
1900 may have affected the nature of childhood in the United Kingdom today.
2) ITEM: Many marriages now end in divorce. This often creates lone-parent families and
single person households. Serial monogamy has also become a common pattern, with
many divorced people remarrying.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two ways in which changing patterns of marriage
and divorce have affected the experience of childhood.
3) ITEM: A popular view is that childhood is a fixed, universal, biological stage of physical
and psychological immaturity that is common to all human beings. Everyone will pass
through it on the way to biological maturity and adulthood. However, evidence shows
that what counts as childhood, what experiences children undergo and what roles they
play, are far from universal.
Applying Material from Item C, analyze two arguments against the view that childhood
is a fixed, universal stage.
, 4) ITEM: Domestic violence accounts for up to a quarter of all recorded violent crimes.
Victims are more likely to be female and offender's male: domestic violence is linked to
gender roles in patriarchal society. However, not all women are equally likely to suffer
domestic violence. Victims- both male and female- are more likely to belong to
disadvantaged social groups and live under difficult circumstances.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two reasons for patterns of domestic violence.
5) ITEM: Globalisation involves the growing inter-connectedness between countries
through increased travel opportunities. It enables more freedom of choice in terms of
lifestyles and personal relationships. Globalisation may influence families and
households.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two ways in which globalisation may influence
families and households.
6) ITEM: Capitalist society is based on a wealthy capitalist class exploiting the labor of
propertyless working class in order to extract a profit. However, to obtain their profit,
capitalists must sell what has been produced and this requires people who are willing to
buy it. For capitalism to continue, the proletariat must be persuaded to accept their
exploitation. Capitalists also need to retain control of their wealth in order to maintain
their privileged position.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two functions that the family may perform for
capitalism
7) ITEM: The different cultural traditions, migration patterns and economic circumstances
of different minority ethnic groups are reflected in the ethnic differences in family and
household patterns seen in the United Kingdom today. These include differences in the
proportions of people from different ethnic groups who live in single person, nuclear
family, lone-parent and extended family households.
Applying Material from Item B, analyze two reasons for ethnic differences in the family
and household patterns.
8) ITEM: According to the individualization thesis, the greater individual choice has
transformed family and intimate relationships. Unlike in the past, when individuals’ lives
were governed by tradition, today both men and women are free to make their own
choices about relationships, sexuality and so on, following their own self-interest. Class,
gender and family structures no longer limit our choices.
Applying material from Item B, analyze two criticisms of the individualization thesis
20 Marks (with source)
HOW TO USE: To make sure you are picking exam questions randomly, in no certain order
based of ability or preference, use a random number generator with the number on the side of
the questions. Then answer the question in the allotted time (handwritten), that the number
correlates too. Then give it to the sociology teacher to mark and give feedback on. Highlight the
ones that you have done so you don’t repeat yourself.
10 Marks
1) Outline and explain two ways in which government policies may affect family structure
2) Outline and explain two ways in which an ageing population may have led to policies
that affect families and households today.
3) Outline and explain two ways in which changing childbearing patterns may have
influenced gender roles and relationships within families and households.
4) Outline and explain two reasons for changes in the size of families and households in
the last 50 years or so.
5) Outline and explain two social policies or laws that have affected the position of children
in the family.
10 Marks (with source)
1) ITEM: There have been a number of demographic changes since 1900. Life expectancy
has increased and therefore several generations of a family may be alive at the same
time. Also, people now have fewer children.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two ways in which demographic trends since
1900 may have affected the nature of childhood in the United Kingdom today.
2) ITEM: Many marriages now end in divorce. This often creates lone-parent families and
single person households. Serial monogamy has also become a common pattern, with
many divorced people remarrying.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two ways in which changing patterns of marriage
and divorce have affected the experience of childhood.
3) ITEM: A popular view is that childhood is a fixed, universal, biological stage of physical
and psychological immaturity that is common to all human beings. Everyone will pass
through it on the way to biological maturity and adulthood. However, evidence shows
that what counts as childhood, what experiences children undergo and what roles they
play, are far from universal.
Applying Material from Item C, analyze two arguments against the view that childhood
is a fixed, universal stage.
, 4) ITEM: Domestic violence accounts for up to a quarter of all recorded violent crimes.
Victims are more likely to be female and offender's male: domestic violence is linked to
gender roles in patriarchal society. However, not all women are equally likely to suffer
domestic violence. Victims- both male and female- are more likely to belong to
disadvantaged social groups and live under difficult circumstances.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two reasons for patterns of domestic violence.
5) ITEM: Globalisation involves the growing inter-connectedness between countries
through increased travel opportunities. It enables more freedom of choice in terms of
lifestyles and personal relationships. Globalisation may influence families and
households.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two ways in which globalisation may influence
families and households.
6) ITEM: Capitalist society is based on a wealthy capitalist class exploiting the labor of
propertyless working class in order to extract a profit. However, to obtain their profit,
capitalists must sell what has been produced and this requires people who are willing to
buy it. For capitalism to continue, the proletariat must be persuaded to accept their
exploitation. Capitalists also need to retain control of their wealth in order to maintain
their privileged position.
Applying material from Item C, analyze two functions that the family may perform for
capitalism
7) ITEM: The different cultural traditions, migration patterns and economic circumstances
of different minority ethnic groups are reflected in the ethnic differences in family and
household patterns seen in the United Kingdom today. These include differences in the
proportions of people from different ethnic groups who live in single person, nuclear
family, lone-parent and extended family households.
Applying Material from Item B, analyze two reasons for ethnic differences in the family
and household patterns.
8) ITEM: According to the individualization thesis, the greater individual choice has
transformed family and intimate relationships. Unlike in the past, when individuals’ lives
were governed by tradition, today both men and women are free to make their own
choices about relationships, sexuality and so on, following their own self-interest. Class,
gender and family structures no longer limit our choices.
Applying material from Item B, analyze two criticisms of the individualization thesis
20 Marks (with source)
