SOC 220 Exam 2 Questions and Answers Latest Update 2025-2026
Which of the following sociological perspectives would most likely state that social inequality is
necessary and inevitable? - Answers Functionalism
We have a lot of _______ mobility in the U.S., but not a lot of _______. - Answers geographic; class
The term "the American Dream" comes from: - Answers the popular historian, James Truslow
Adams
If we define social mobility as moving from one quintile of income to another: - Answers social
mobility is a zero-sum game (if one person moves up, another person has to move down)
In the Brand New You documentary, they reported that audience members typically felt
_________ of watching shows like The Swan. - Answers ashamed
What do people refer to when they talk about the "reflexive self?" - Answers that you can see
your "self" from the outside and reflect on what you find
When was the term "American Dream" coined? - Answers 1931
In what year was the first public "personal makeover" done? - Answers 1936
What do reality shows make contestants give up to access this version of the American Dream?
- Answers privacy
Holding all else equal, upward mobility in the U.S. is greatest for: - Answers white individuals
What kind of norms and values do personal makeover shows enforce as the most desirable? -
Answers white, middle class
Greater education: - Answers increases one's chances of being upwardly mobile
Social mobility is best defined as ______. - Answers the movement from one social class to
another
Ben's family was very poor growing up but was considered middle class by the time he reached
the age of 18. This is an example of ______. - Answers social mobility
In the Brand New You documentary, they cited a study that found that _______ % of personal
makeover tv show candidates were non-white. - Answers 25
When do reality shows fail to capture the audience? - Answers when the contestants don't seem
"authentic"
Which of the following is NOT a general message that personal makeover shows are making
claims about? - Answers that homosexuality is immoral
, In general, sociologists' writings about the American Dream are: - Answers critical
Efforts to measure U.S. mobility rates across history find that: - Answers there has always been
some social mobility, but the U.S. is not an outlier in this effect
What do personal makeover shows focus on as the central problem that needs to be fixed? -
Answers the self
If our friends, family, and teachers continually tell us that we are clever, then we are likely to see
ourselves as clever. This is an example of what sociological perspective? - Answers symbolic
interactionism
What kinds of television programs were extremely popular after WWI and WWII in the U.S.? -
Answers misery programs
What demographic group dominates landlords in Desmond's (2012) article? - Answers men
Why does the family at the beginning of the A House Divided documentary lose their home? -
Answers the landlord decides not to renew their lease
How many homeless people does the A House Divided documentary report live in New York City?
- Answers 60,000
Why do millionaires and billionaires from around the world buy apartments they don't live in in
NYC? - Answers they treat them as offshore investments
Which of the following is NOT a structural factor that leads to black women living in poor, black
neighborhoods being disproportionately evicted? - Answers landlords prefer evicting women
over men because they see men as breadwinners who are supporting their families
In what city does Desmond (2012) study eviction? - Answers Milwaukee
Which of the following is NOT a reason why Desmond (2012) found landlords were likely to
dislike renting to adults with children? - Answers having children in a building makes it less
attractive to other potential renters
How does Desmond (2012) argue that eviction and incarceration are similar? - Answers they are
both consequential to the reproduction of poverty in poor black communities
In the A House Divided documentary, how much in returns per year to investors make on new
projects in NYC? - Answers 20%
Which of the following is NOT a way that Desmond (2012) found that renters made quick cash
to pay their bills when emergency expenses came up? - Answers sell their car
What population did Desmond (2012) focus on in his study of eviction? - Answers urban poor
Which of the following sociological perspectives would most likely state that social inequality is
necessary and inevitable? - Answers Functionalism
We have a lot of _______ mobility in the U.S., but not a lot of _______. - Answers geographic; class
The term "the American Dream" comes from: - Answers the popular historian, James Truslow
Adams
If we define social mobility as moving from one quintile of income to another: - Answers social
mobility is a zero-sum game (if one person moves up, another person has to move down)
In the Brand New You documentary, they reported that audience members typically felt
_________ of watching shows like The Swan. - Answers ashamed
What do people refer to when they talk about the "reflexive self?" - Answers that you can see
your "self" from the outside and reflect on what you find
When was the term "American Dream" coined? - Answers 1931
In what year was the first public "personal makeover" done? - Answers 1936
What do reality shows make contestants give up to access this version of the American Dream?
- Answers privacy
Holding all else equal, upward mobility in the U.S. is greatest for: - Answers white individuals
What kind of norms and values do personal makeover shows enforce as the most desirable? -
Answers white, middle class
Greater education: - Answers increases one's chances of being upwardly mobile
Social mobility is best defined as ______. - Answers the movement from one social class to
another
Ben's family was very poor growing up but was considered middle class by the time he reached
the age of 18. This is an example of ______. - Answers social mobility
In the Brand New You documentary, they cited a study that found that _______ % of personal
makeover tv show candidates were non-white. - Answers 25
When do reality shows fail to capture the audience? - Answers when the contestants don't seem
"authentic"
Which of the following is NOT a general message that personal makeover shows are making
claims about? - Answers that homosexuality is immoral
, In general, sociologists' writings about the American Dream are: - Answers critical
Efforts to measure U.S. mobility rates across history find that: - Answers there has always been
some social mobility, but the U.S. is not an outlier in this effect
What do personal makeover shows focus on as the central problem that needs to be fixed? -
Answers the self
If our friends, family, and teachers continually tell us that we are clever, then we are likely to see
ourselves as clever. This is an example of what sociological perspective? - Answers symbolic
interactionism
What kinds of television programs were extremely popular after WWI and WWII in the U.S.? -
Answers misery programs
What demographic group dominates landlords in Desmond's (2012) article? - Answers men
Why does the family at the beginning of the A House Divided documentary lose their home? -
Answers the landlord decides not to renew their lease
How many homeless people does the A House Divided documentary report live in New York City?
- Answers 60,000
Why do millionaires and billionaires from around the world buy apartments they don't live in in
NYC? - Answers they treat them as offshore investments
Which of the following is NOT a structural factor that leads to black women living in poor, black
neighborhoods being disproportionately evicted? - Answers landlords prefer evicting women
over men because they see men as breadwinners who are supporting their families
In what city does Desmond (2012) study eviction? - Answers Milwaukee
Which of the following is NOT a reason why Desmond (2012) found landlords were likely to
dislike renting to adults with children? - Answers having children in a building makes it less
attractive to other potential renters
How does Desmond (2012) argue that eviction and incarceration are similar? - Answers they are
both consequential to the reproduction of poverty in poor black communities
In the A House Divided documentary, how much in returns per year to investors make on new
projects in NYC? - Answers 20%
Which of the following is NOT a way that Desmond (2012) found that renters made quick cash
to pay their bills when emergency expenses came up? - Answers sell their car
What population did Desmond (2012) focus on in his study of eviction? - Answers urban poor
