CHAPTER 1: The Environment of Texas Politics
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. According to the 2010 census, the population of Texas is approximately
a. 5 million.
b. 17 million.
c. 25 million.
d. 37 million.
ANS: C REF: 2 NOT: factual
2. Among the 50 states, Texas currently ranks __________ in population.
a. first
b. second
c. third
d. fifth
ANS: B REF: 2 NOT: factual
3. The process that involves conflict by groups seeking to influence public policy, is referred to
as
a. politics.
b. public policy.
c. government.
d. justice.
ANS: A REF: 2 NOT: conceptual
4. “A public institution that is authorized to allocate values in a society” defines
a. politics.
b. public policy.
c. government.
d. justice.
ANS: C REF: 2 NOT: conceptual
5. According to Karen O’Conner, “the process by which policy decisions are made” includes
a. legislative actions.
b. court proceedings.
c. lobbying activities.
d. All of the above are true.
ANS: D REF: 2 NOT: conceptual
6. Which statement defines the concept of public policy?
a. It is set in motion by the media.
b. It rarely involves conflict.
c. It is of no importance to most citizens.
d. It often involves governmental and nongovernmental groups.
ANS: D REF: 3 NOT: conceptual
7. When the Texas legislature increases the tax on cigarettes, it is implementing
a. public policy.
b. a federal mandate.
c. justice.
d. regulatory authority.
, ANS: A REF: 3 | 4 NOT: applied
8. The “values, attitudes, traditions, habits, and general behavioral patterns that develop over
time and shape the politics of a particular region,” is referred to as
a. political culture.
b. political socialization.
c. political economics.
d. political geography.
ANS: A REF: 4 NOT: conceptual
9. According to Professor Daniel Elazar, the political culture of Texas is
a. individualistic.
b. individualistic and traditionalistic.
c. moralistic and traditionalistic.
d. moralistic and individualistic.
ANS: B REF: 5–8 NOT: conceptual
10. The approximate land area of Texas, in square miles, is
a. 167,000,000.
b. 267,000.
c. 65,000.
d. 949.
ANS: B REF: 9 NOT: factual
11. Of the 50 states, Texas ranks __________ in land area.
a. first
b. second
c. fifth
d. tenth
ANS: B REF: 9 NOT: factual
12. Houston is situated in the
a. Gulf Coastal Plains.
b. Interior Lowlands.
c. Great Plains.
d. Basin and Range Province.
ANS: A REF: 10 NOT: factual
13. Which of the following is true regarding the Interior Lowlands region of Texas?
a. It is the greenest region of the state.
b. It is home to the state’s chief petrochemical industries.
c. It includes Dallas and Fort Worth.
d. It is mostly known for its large-scale cotton and grain production.
ANS: C REF: 11 NOT: factual
14. Cotton production in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains is possible because of
a. a substantial increase in rainfall there since 1950.
b. the development of hybrid strains that require minimal water.
c. the Ogallala Aquifer.
d. water brought from the Gulf of Mexico.
ANS: C REF: 11 NOT: factual
15. The only region of Texas classified as mountainous is the
, a. Basin and Range Province.
b. Gulf Coastal Plains
c. Great Plains.
d. Interior Lowlands.
ANS: A REF: 11 NOT: factual
16. The interior lowlands of Texas includes the cities of
a. San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
b. Houston, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and Austin.
c. Wichita Falls, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas.
d. Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, and Wichita Falls.
ANS: D REF: 11 NOT: factual
17. The origin of Texas cattle ranching can be traced to
a. Mayor Walter McAllister and his comments in a documentary titled, “Hunger in
America.”
b. Samuel Maverick and the Knights of the Golden Circle.
c. John “Rip” Ford and the slave-owning class that existed before the Civil War.
d. Gregorio de Villalobos and the Spanish-Moorish cattle brought from Spain to Mexico.
ANS: D REF: 12 NOT: conceptual
18. In 2011, land-based industries in Texas experienced record financial losses as a result of
a. increased taxes.
b. a drought.
c. immigration.
d. fraud.
ANS: B REF: 12–14 NOT: factual
19. Which of the following land-based industries have been influential in the development of
Texas?
a. Cotton, cattle, and oil
b. Cattle, oil, and real estate speculation
c. Mining, cattle, and oil
d. Manufacturing, oil, and cotton
ANS: A REF: 12–15 NOT: conceptual
20. The development of which industry transformed Texas from a predominantly agricultural
culture into an industrial society?
a. Cotton
b. Cattle
c. Steel
d. Oil
ANS: D REF: 14 NOT: conceptual
21. In the 1980s and 1990s, population shifts in Texas
a. were much different than the national pattern.
b. indicated movement from rural to urban areas.
c. showed movement from suburbs to cities.
d. revealed movement primarily toward areas dependent on oil and agriculture.
ANS: B REF: 16 NOT: applied
22. Which of the following statements regarding the population of Texas is false?
, a. The state population has grown at a rate faster than the national average.
b. Urbanization has occurred.
c. During the twentieth century the state shifted from an urban to a rural society.
d. Texas is experiencing suburbanization on a very large scale.
ANS: C REF: 16 | 17 NOT: applied
23. Migration of people from rural regions to cities is referred to as
a. appropriation.
b. metropolitanization.
c. absorption.
d. urbanization.
ANS: D REF: 17 NOT: conceptual
24. Approximately what percent of Texans currently live in metropolitan areas?
a. 20 percent
b. 51 percent
c. 69 percent
d. 85 percent
ANS: D REF: 17 NOT: conceptual
25. Prior to the Civil War, more than one-half of the Anglo residents in Texas had migrated from
a. Southern states.
b. Mexico.
c. California.
d. New England.
ANS: A REF: 18 NOT: factual
26. According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, which of the following is the about percentage of
individuals that identify themselves as Hispanic/Latino in the state of Texas?
a. 45%.
b. 38%.
c. 11.5%.
d. 4%.
ANS: B REF: 18 NOT: factual
27. German immigrants to Texas opposed slavery and the Confederacy, and as a result voted
__________ against secession in 1861.
a. 40 percent or higher
b. 50 percent or lower
c. 35 percent or lower
d. 61 percent or lower
ANS: A REF: 18 NOT: factual
28. Before the Civil War, the hill country west and north of San Antonio was settled by
a. Mexican immigrants.
b. German immigrants.
c. Irish immigrants.
d. Anglo immigrants.
ANS: B REF: 18 NOT: factual
29. Which group of the population in Texas is growing most rapidly?
a. Hispanic/Latino
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. According to the 2010 census, the population of Texas is approximately
a. 5 million.
b. 17 million.
c. 25 million.
d. 37 million.
ANS: C REF: 2 NOT: factual
2. Among the 50 states, Texas currently ranks __________ in population.
a. first
b. second
c. third
d. fifth
ANS: B REF: 2 NOT: factual
3. The process that involves conflict by groups seeking to influence public policy, is referred to
as
a. politics.
b. public policy.
c. government.
d. justice.
ANS: A REF: 2 NOT: conceptual
4. “A public institution that is authorized to allocate values in a society” defines
a. politics.
b. public policy.
c. government.
d. justice.
ANS: C REF: 2 NOT: conceptual
5. According to Karen O’Conner, “the process by which policy decisions are made” includes
a. legislative actions.
b. court proceedings.
c. lobbying activities.
d. All of the above are true.
ANS: D REF: 2 NOT: conceptual
6. Which statement defines the concept of public policy?
a. It is set in motion by the media.
b. It rarely involves conflict.
c. It is of no importance to most citizens.
d. It often involves governmental and nongovernmental groups.
ANS: D REF: 3 NOT: conceptual
7. When the Texas legislature increases the tax on cigarettes, it is implementing
a. public policy.
b. a federal mandate.
c. justice.
d. regulatory authority.
, ANS: A REF: 3 | 4 NOT: applied
8. The “values, attitudes, traditions, habits, and general behavioral patterns that develop over
time and shape the politics of a particular region,” is referred to as
a. political culture.
b. political socialization.
c. political economics.
d. political geography.
ANS: A REF: 4 NOT: conceptual
9. According to Professor Daniel Elazar, the political culture of Texas is
a. individualistic.
b. individualistic and traditionalistic.
c. moralistic and traditionalistic.
d. moralistic and individualistic.
ANS: B REF: 5–8 NOT: conceptual
10. The approximate land area of Texas, in square miles, is
a. 167,000,000.
b. 267,000.
c. 65,000.
d. 949.
ANS: B REF: 9 NOT: factual
11. Of the 50 states, Texas ranks __________ in land area.
a. first
b. second
c. fifth
d. tenth
ANS: B REF: 9 NOT: factual
12. Houston is situated in the
a. Gulf Coastal Plains.
b. Interior Lowlands.
c. Great Plains.
d. Basin and Range Province.
ANS: A REF: 10 NOT: factual
13. Which of the following is true regarding the Interior Lowlands region of Texas?
a. It is the greenest region of the state.
b. It is home to the state’s chief petrochemical industries.
c. It includes Dallas and Fort Worth.
d. It is mostly known for its large-scale cotton and grain production.
ANS: C REF: 11 NOT: factual
14. Cotton production in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains is possible because of
a. a substantial increase in rainfall there since 1950.
b. the development of hybrid strains that require minimal water.
c. the Ogallala Aquifer.
d. water brought from the Gulf of Mexico.
ANS: C REF: 11 NOT: factual
15. The only region of Texas classified as mountainous is the
, a. Basin and Range Province.
b. Gulf Coastal Plains
c. Great Plains.
d. Interior Lowlands.
ANS: A REF: 11 NOT: factual
16. The interior lowlands of Texas includes the cities of
a. San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
b. Houston, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and Austin.
c. Wichita Falls, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas.
d. Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, and Wichita Falls.
ANS: D REF: 11 NOT: factual
17. The origin of Texas cattle ranching can be traced to
a. Mayor Walter McAllister and his comments in a documentary titled, “Hunger in
America.”
b. Samuel Maverick and the Knights of the Golden Circle.
c. John “Rip” Ford and the slave-owning class that existed before the Civil War.
d. Gregorio de Villalobos and the Spanish-Moorish cattle brought from Spain to Mexico.
ANS: D REF: 12 NOT: conceptual
18. In 2011, land-based industries in Texas experienced record financial losses as a result of
a. increased taxes.
b. a drought.
c. immigration.
d. fraud.
ANS: B REF: 12–14 NOT: factual
19. Which of the following land-based industries have been influential in the development of
Texas?
a. Cotton, cattle, and oil
b. Cattle, oil, and real estate speculation
c. Mining, cattle, and oil
d. Manufacturing, oil, and cotton
ANS: A REF: 12–15 NOT: conceptual
20. The development of which industry transformed Texas from a predominantly agricultural
culture into an industrial society?
a. Cotton
b. Cattle
c. Steel
d. Oil
ANS: D REF: 14 NOT: conceptual
21. In the 1980s and 1990s, population shifts in Texas
a. were much different than the national pattern.
b. indicated movement from rural to urban areas.
c. showed movement from suburbs to cities.
d. revealed movement primarily toward areas dependent on oil and agriculture.
ANS: B REF: 16 NOT: applied
22. Which of the following statements regarding the population of Texas is false?
, a. The state population has grown at a rate faster than the national average.
b. Urbanization has occurred.
c. During the twentieth century the state shifted from an urban to a rural society.
d. Texas is experiencing suburbanization on a very large scale.
ANS: C REF: 16 | 17 NOT: applied
23. Migration of people from rural regions to cities is referred to as
a. appropriation.
b. metropolitanization.
c. absorption.
d. urbanization.
ANS: D REF: 17 NOT: conceptual
24. Approximately what percent of Texans currently live in metropolitan areas?
a. 20 percent
b. 51 percent
c. 69 percent
d. 85 percent
ANS: D REF: 17 NOT: conceptual
25. Prior to the Civil War, more than one-half of the Anglo residents in Texas had migrated from
a. Southern states.
b. Mexico.
c. California.
d. New England.
ANS: A REF: 18 NOT: factual
26. According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, which of the following is the about percentage of
individuals that identify themselves as Hispanic/Latino in the state of Texas?
a. 45%.
b. 38%.
c. 11.5%.
d. 4%.
ANS: B REF: 18 NOT: factual
27. German immigrants to Texas opposed slavery and the Confederacy, and as a result voted
__________ against secession in 1861.
a. 40 percent or higher
b. 50 percent or lower
c. 35 percent or lower
d. 61 percent or lower
ANS: A REF: 18 NOT: factual
28. Before the Civil War, the hill country west and north of San Antonio was settled by
a. Mexican immigrants.
b. German immigrants.
c. Irish immigrants.
d. Anglo immigrants.
ANS: B REF: 18 NOT: factual
29. Which group of the population in Texas is growing most rapidly?
a. Hispanic/Latino
