Test Bank For Social Problems, 15th edition
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
A. Multiple Choice
1. As the number of the elderly increases, the divide between the older population and workers who support the
old with payroll taxes will have both racial and generational dimensions because the elderly will be overwhelmingly
__________.
A) Black
B) Asian
C) Hispanic
D) White
Answer: D
Page Reference: 2
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
2. In the underdeveloped world, conflicts over scarce resources will __________.
A) increase
B) decrease
C) stay the same
D) fluctuate
Answer: A
Page Reference: 4
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
3. The United States, with about 4.2 percent of the world’s population, consumes about 17 percent of the world’s
__________.
A) food
B) energy
C) water
D) timber
Answer: B
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
4. The widening inequality gap has resulted in a diminished __________.
A) underclass
1
,Test Bank For Social Problems, 15th edition
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
B) lower class
C) middle class
D) upper class
Answer: C
Page Reference: 2
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
5. Almost all the growth in the world’s population by 2050 will occur among the __________.
A) poorest nations
B) wealthiest nations
C) democratic nations
D) industrialized nations
Answer: A
Page Reference: 4
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
6. Which type of new technology has shifted labor demand to high-level skills, hurting low- and middle-income
workers and increasing income inequality?
A) Printing
B) Steam engine
C) Television
D) Artificial intelligence
Answer: D
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
7. The U.S. economy has undergone a dramatic shift to a(n) __________.
A) digital economy
B) industrial economy
C) informal economy
D) service economy
Answer: A
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
2
,Test Bank For Social Problems, 15th edition
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
8. Population increases lead to __________.
A) less traffic congestion
B) more landfills
C) less suburban sprawl
D) more alternative energy sources
Answer: B
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
9. The __________ nature of social problems illustrates that social problems vary by time, place, and definition.
A) economic
B) objective
C) political
D) subjective
Answer: D
Page Reference: 6
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
10. The actions that violate the norms of a social organization or society are referred to as __________.
A) social problems
B) deviant behavior
C) recidivism
D) person-blame
Answer: B
Page Reference: 7
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
11. The __________ nature of social problems describes the notion that societal conditions harm certain segments
of the population.
A) economic
B) objective
C) political
D) subjective
Answer: B
Page Reference: 5
3
, Test Bank For Social Problems, 15th edition
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
12. According to the text, __________ often escape criticism and are rarely identified as social problems.
A) institutions
B) criminals
C) the mentally ill
D) school dropouts
Answer: A
Page Reference: 8-9
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
13. Which of the following is a danger associated with relying on public opinion to define social phenomena as
social problems?
A) It may increase focus on intuitions as the source of social problems.
B) It may divert attention from problems within the existing social order.
C) It may overlook conditions that are detrimental to the rich.
D) It may overlook individual responsibility.
Answer: B
Page Reference: 6
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Analyze It
14. The nations of Western Europe, Scandinavia, and Canada have generous welfare policies for their citizens
because they __________.
A) are monarchies
B) have high tax rates
C) restrict the freedoms of their citizens
D) are communist nations
Answer: B
Page Reference: 8
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Social Problems in Global Perspective
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
15. As a result of extensive and universal social services, the social welfare states have __________ than the United
States.
A) higher infant mortality rates
4
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
A. Multiple Choice
1. As the number of the elderly increases, the divide between the older population and workers who support the
old with payroll taxes will have both racial and generational dimensions because the elderly will be overwhelmingly
__________.
A) Black
B) Asian
C) Hispanic
D) White
Answer: D
Page Reference: 2
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
2. In the underdeveloped world, conflicts over scarce resources will __________.
A) increase
B) decrease
C) stay the same
D) fluctuate
Answer: A
Page Reference: 4
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
3. The United States, with about 4.2 percent of the world’s population, consumes about 17 percent of the world’s
__________.
A) food
B) energy
C) water
D) timber
Answer: B
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
4. The widening inequality gap has resulted in a diminished __________.
A) underclass
1
,Test Bank For Social Problems, 15th edition
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
B) lower class
C) middle class
D) upper class
Answer: C
Page Reference: 2
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
5. Almost all the growth in the world’s population by 2050 will occur among the __________.
A) poorest nations
B) wealthiest nations
C) democratic nations
D) industrialized nations
Answer: A
Page Reference: 4
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
6. Which type of new technology has shifted labor demand to high-level skills, hurting low- and middle-income
workers and increasing income inequality?
A) Printing
B) Steam engine
C) Television
D) Artificial intelligence
Answer: D
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
7. The U.S. economy has undergone a dramatic shift to a(n) __________.
A) digital economy
B) industrial economy
C) informal economy
D) service economy
Answer: A
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
2
,Test Bank For Social Problems, 15th edition
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
8. Population increases lead to __________.
A) less traffic congestion
B) more landfills
C) less suburban sprawl
D) more alternative energy sources
Answer: B
Page Reference: 3
Learning Objective: 1.1 Understand the major social trends facing Americans and their potential consequences.
Topic/A-head: An Introduction to Social Issues
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
9. The __________ nature of social problems illustrates that social problems vary by time, place, and definition.
A) economic
B) objective
C) political
D) subjective
Answer: D
Page Reference: 6
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
10. The actions that violate the norms of a social organization or society are referred to as __________.
A) social problems
B) deviant behavior
C) recidivism
D) person-blame
Answer: B
Page Reference: 7
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
11. The __________ nature of social problems describes the notion that societal conditions harm certain segments
of the population.
A) economic
B) objective
C) political
D) subjective
Answer: B
Page Reference: 5
3
, Test Bank For Social Problems, 15th edition
Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
12. According to the text, __________ often escape criticism and are rarely identified as social problems.
A) institutions
B) criminals
C) the mentally ill
D) school dropouts
Answer: A
Page Reference: 8-9
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
13. Which of the following is a danger associated with relying on public opinion to define social phenomena as
social problems?
A) It may increase focus on intuitions as the source of social problems.
B) It may divert attention from problems within the existing social order.
C) It may overlook conditions that are detrimental to the rich.
D) It may overlook individual responsibility.
Answer: B
Page Reference: 6
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Defining Social Problems
Skill Level: Analyze It
14. The nations of Western Europe, Scandinavia, and Canada have generous welfare policies for their citizens
because they __________.
A) are monarchies
B) have high tax rates
C) restrict the freedoms of their citizens
D) are communist nations
Answer: B
Page Reference: 8
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
Topic/A-head: Social Problems in Global Perspective
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
15. As a result of extensive and universal social services, the social welfare states have __________ than the United
States.
A) higher infant mortality rates
4
