Verified Test Bank Ch3 Culture

Sociology: Brief, 13e (Schaefer)

Chapter 3 Culture

1) Anthropologist Horace Miner's description of the body ritual among the Nacirema is used to show

A) cultural differences in what is considered "beautiful."

B) the effects of media on a person's body image.

C) the ability to learn something new about society.

D) how cultural sociology has evolved over the years.

2) The totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior is known as

A) culture.

B) society.

C) socialization.

D) social structure.

3) A fairly large number of people who live in the same territory, are relatively independent of people outside it, and participate in a common culture are referred to as a

A) culture.

B) society.

C) folkway.

D) argot.

4) A society

A) is a dependent group that owes allegiance to a larger group.

B) is the largest form of human group.

C) contains several different cultures.

D) contains one subculture and many cultures.

5) ________ consists of all objects and ideas within a society.

A) Argot

B) Culture

C) Folkways

D) Inventions

6) General customs and practices that are found in every culture are called

A) cultural integration.

B) cultural diffusion.

C) cultural universals.

D) cultural relativism.

7) In his research, George Murdock determined which of the following to be a cultural universal?

A) War

B) Astronomy

C) Funeral ceremonies

D) Mathematics

8) Which of the following is considered a cultural universal?

A) Athletic sports

B) War

C) Money restrictions

D) Education

9) The tendency to assume that one's own culture and way of life represent the norm or are superior to all others is called

A) culture shock.

B) cultural relativism.

C) ethnocentrism.

D) value stability.

10) Which of the following is an example of an ethnocentric belief?

A) Viewing Middle Eastern countries as developed and equal counterparts

B) Acknowledging that the child-rearing practice of African cultures are successful

C) Being repelled by the American practice of living in a household with dogs and cats

D) Appreciating the Hindu religion's belief that cows are sacred

11) An American traveling abroad observes locals eating chocolate-covered crickets. She expresses disgust to her traveling companions. She is exhibiting

A) xenocentrism.

B) ethnocentrism.

C) cultural relativism.

D) monophobicism.

12) An American traveling abroad observes locals eating chocolate-covered crickets. While she does not partake in this "treat" herself, she does not judge the practice. She is exhibiting

A) xenocentrism.

B) ethnocentrism.

C) cultural relativism.

D) monophobicism.

13) Ethnocentrism is the tendency to assume that one's own culture and way of life represent the norm or are superior to all others. In this way, ethnocentrism fosters cohesion in a group. This observation would best reflect which sociological perspective?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Feminist perspective

14) A U.S. sociologist receives a grant to study racial and religious prejudice among the people of southeast Asia. The sociologist makes a serious and unbiased effort to evaluate the norms, values, and customs of these groups in light of the distinctive cultures of which they are a part. This is an example of

A) xenocentrism.

B) ethnocentrism.

C) cultural relativism.

D) cultural deconstruction.

15) Which of the following concepts employs the kind of value neutrality in scientific study that Max Weber saw as being so important?

A) Xenocentrism

B) Cultural integration

C) Cultural relativism

D) Ethnocentrism

16) Sociobiology is the systematic study of

A) the social structure within the animal kingdom.

B) the interactions between humans and higher animal forms.

C) the social bases of biological behavior.

D) how biology affects human social behavior.

17) In its extreme form, sociobiology suggests that

A) all behavior is the result of genetic or biological factors.

B) social interactions play a role in shaping people's conduct.

C) human nature is not affected by the genetic composition of a group of people.

D) there is no biological basis for social behavior.

18) Which sociological perspective suggests that language and symbols offer a powerful way for a subculture to feel cohesive and maintain its identity?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Feminist perspective

19) An argot is a specialized language used by members of a subculture. Doctors and nurses, for example, have developed a language system that is not easily understood by patients but enables medical professionals to communicate more easily, rapidly, and precisely with one another. Which sociological perspective is likely to emphasize the value of this specialized medical language?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Feminist perspective

20) Language is an important component of

A) diffusion.

B) cultural capital.

C) cultural universals.

D) material culture.

21) Gestures, facial expressions, and other visual images all fall within the category of

A) nonverbal communication.

B) mores.

C) cultural capital.

D) formal norms.

22) In the study of language, which sociological perspective suggests that gender-related language reflects the traditional acceptance of men and women into certain occupations?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Feminist perspective

23) An abstract system of word meanings and symbols for all aspects of culture is called

A) a material culture.

B) sanctioning.

C) language.

D) an argot.

24) Which sociological perspective would argue that subcultures often emerge because the dominant society has unsuccessfully attempted to suppress a practice regarded as improper, such as the use of illegal drugs?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Feminist perspective

25) Facing forward in an elevator can be considered a(n)

A) informal norm.

B) formal norm.

C) more.

D) sanction.

26) In American society, we often formalize norms into

A) folkways.

B) mores.

C) laws.

D) values.

27) A law is ________.

A) a norm governing everyday social behavior, the violation of which raises comparatively little concern

B) an informal norm that is deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society

C) a form of governmental social control

D) a penalty or reward for conduct concerning a social norm

28) The established standards of behavior maintained by a society are referred to as

A) symbols.

B) sanctions.

C) norms.

D) argots.

29) Informal norms are ________.

A) norms governing everyday social behavior, the violation of which raises comparatively little concern

B) deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society

C) made by a government for a society, interpreted by the courts, and backed by the power of the state

D) None of these answers is correct.

30) Norms that are generally understood but not precisely recorded are known as

A) mores.

B) sanctions.

C) informal norms.

D) formal norms.

31) While attending a prestigious lecture at a New York City museum, Bob noisily belches several times and grossly picks his nose. He is violating

A) mores.

B) laws.

C) informal norms.

D) formal norms.

32) Mores are

A) norms governing everyday social behavior, the violation of which raises comparatively little concern.

B) norms that are deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society.

C) norms that are made by government for society, interpreted by the courts, and backed by the power of the state.

D) norms that are made by a few individuals are often considered unnecessary.

33) Norms governing everyday behavior, the violation of which raises comparatively little concern, are known as

A) mores.

B) cultural universals.

C) folkways.

D) laws.

34) Collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, and proper, as well as bad, undesirable, and improper, are known as

A) values.

B) folkways.

C) mores.

D) sanctions.

35) According to sociologist Robin Williams, which of the following is considered an American value?

A) Effectiveness

B) Equality

C) Frugality

D) Supremacy of faith

36) According to research, the proportion of students who cheat is often higher among

A) elementary school students.

B) middle school students.

C) high school students.

D) college students.

37) Which of the following is considered a negative, informal sanction?

A) Demotion

B) Jail sentence

C) Humiliation

D) Expulsion

38) John is pulled over by a police officer for speeding on the Pennsylvania turnpike. He is given a fine of $120.00 and sent on his way. The fine is considered a

A) more.

B) sanction.

C) norm.

D) law.

39) Penalties and rewards for conduct relating to a social norm are known as

A) folkways.

B) mores.

C) values.

D) sanctions.

40) Which of the following is an example of a positive, formal sanction?

A) Salary bonus.

B) Demotion.

C) Smile.

D) Frown.

41) A Girl Scout works hard on a difficult project, and when she has completed her work, she is given a badge that she can wear on her uniform. This is an example of

A) a sanction.

B) replication.

C) a more.

D) a typology.

42) A worker is frequently late, takes extended "coffee breaks," and makes numerous mistakes while working on important tasks. As a result of poor performance, the worker is fired. This is an example of

A) a sanction.

B) a law.

C) cultural diffusion.

D) replication.

43) What term refers to the polarization of society over controversial cultural elements such as abortion, religious expression, gun control, and sexual orientation?

A) Cultural shock

B) Culture war

C) Subcultures

D) Contracultures

44) Psychologist Shalom Schwartz researched values in more than 60 countries and found which of the following values widely shared?

A) Benevolence

B) Holding grudges

C) Disloyalty

D) Power

45) A subculture is

A) a segment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of customs, rules, and traditions that differs from the pattern of the larger group.

B) a large number of people who live in the same territory, are relatively independent of people outside it, and participate in a common culture.

C) the totality of learned, socially transmitted behavior.

D) a specialized language that is used by members of a group.

46) The employees of Indian call centers can be considered ________.

A) a subculture

B) a counterculture

C) a dominant culture

D) a material culture

47) In the U.S., professional gamblers, Armenian Americans, teenagers, and nudists are all examples of

A) cultures.

B) countercultures.

C) subcultures.

D) contracultures.

48) The use of the terms "g-man," "honey boat," and "airmail" by sanitation workers in New York is an example of

A) an argot.

B) a taboo.

C) linguistics.

D) nonverbal language.

49) Indigenous Brazilian groups that were once nomadic are now

A) nomadic fisherman.

B) living as equals in Brazilian society.

C) confined to reservations.

D) transitioning to the new Brazil.

50) Which sociological perspective maintains that the laws of a society are created by the groups in power and help those groups maintain their superior status?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Global perspective

51) A dominant ideology is

A) a set of cultural beliefs that help to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests.

B) a subculture that rejects societal norms and values and seeks an alternative lifestyle.

C) a specialized language used by members of a group or subculture.

D) None of these answers is correct.

52) Which sociological perspective argues that the most powerful groups and institutions control wealth, property, and the means of producing beliefs about reality through religion, education, and the media?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Global perspective

53) An ultraconservative militia group, such as the Ohio Defense Force, is an example of

A) dominant culture.

B) counterculture.

C) material culture.

D) dominant ideology.

54) Countercultures thrive amongst

A) the young.

B) the elderly.

C) females only.

D) the working class.

55) Discovery is the

A) combination of existing cultural items into a form that did not previously exist.

B) process of introducing new elements into a culture.

C) process of making known or sharing the existence of an aspect of reality.

D) process by which cultural items spread to different groups.

56) Invention is the

A) combination of existing cultural items into a form that did not previously exist.

B) process of introducing new elements into a culture.

C) process of making known or sharing the existence of an aspect of reality.

D) process by which a cultural item is spread from group to group or society to society.

57) Communism, the Episcopalian religion, and the microwave oven are all examples of

A) diffusion.

B) innovation.

C) invention.

D) discovery.

58) Diffusion is the

A) combination of existing cultural items into a form that did not previously exist.

B) process of introducing new elements into a culture.

C) process of making known or sharing the existence of an aspect of reality.

D) process by which a cultural item is spread from group to group or society to society.

59) English-speaking people in the U.S. commonly use words whose origins are from various African, Asian, and non-English-speaking European cultures. This is an example of

A) nonmaterial culture.

B) cultural diffusion.

C) cultural shock.

D) cultural relativity.

60) Given that cultural diffusion could upset the stability of a society, which perspective is most likely to argue that most cultures resist new cultural components that do not fit comfortably into their social system?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Feminist perspective

61) According to a May 2017 national survey, which of the following racial/ethnic groups considers health care to be one of the most important issues facing the nation?

A) African Americans

B) Asian Americans

C) Latino(a)s

D) Native Americans

62) Which of the following is a criticism of globalization?

A) It creates a notion of cultural domination of the developing nations by the more affluent nations.

B) It helps nations take their place in the world of commerce and brings in income.

C) It helps people stay connected via the communications revolution.

D) It gives nations access to knowledge that can improve living standards and save lives.

63) George Ritzer's concept of "the McDonaldization of society" refers to the

A) placement of a McDonald's franchise in every community with more than 5,000 inhabitants by the year 2010.

B) domination of numerous sectors of societies throughout the world by principles initially used by fast-food restaurants.

C) existence of a fast-food franchise in countries throughout the world.

D) placement of a McDonald's franchise in every community with more than 5,000 inhabitants, and the domination of numerous sectors of societies throughout the world by principles initially used by fast food restaurants.

64) The physical or technological aspects of our daily lives are called

A) norms.

B) material culture.

C) nonmaterial culture.

D) values.

65) Nonmaterial culture

A) is more resistant to change than material culture.

B) is less resistant to change than material culture.

C) changes at the same pace as material culture.

D) does not change once it has been created.

66) A basketball arena, an airliner, a slice of pizza, and a television set can all be considered examples of

A) xenocentrism.

B) nonmaterial culture.

C) material culture.

D) argot.

67) A new Ford Explorer can be considered

A) material culture.

B) nonmaterial culture.

C) an argot.

D) substance culture.

68) The ways of using objects, as well as customs, beliefs, philosophies, governments, and patterns of communication is referred to as

A) material culture.

B) nonmaterial culture.

C) an argot.

D) substance culture.

69) Culture lag is

A) the totality of learned, socially transmitted behavior.

B) viewing people's behavior from the perspective of one's own culture.

C) the physical or technological aspects of our daily lives.

D) a period of maladjustment during which the nonmaterial culture is still adapting to new material conditions.

70) Culture lag occurs because people in most societies are

A) less likely to resist change to their material culture.

B) less likely to resist change to their nonmaterial culture.

C) more likely to modify cultural universals.

D) less likely to change their folkways.

71) Culture shock is

A) the act of viewing people's behavior from the perspective of one's own culture.

B) the feeling of surprise that is experienced when people witness cultural practices different from their own.

C) being unaware of the existence of other cultures.

D) a set of beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests.

72) Beth, who has lived all her life in an affluent neighborhood in New York City, travels to Africa and is introduced to living in a dirt-floored hut while she works digging canals for a service trip. It is safe to say she is experiencing

A) cultural relativity.

B) cultural diffusion.

C) culture shock.

D) cultural integration.

73) A member of a rural Indian tribe in Central America who moves to a large city, such as Mexico City, will probably experience

A) cultural relativity.

B) cultural diffusion.

C) culture shock.

D) cultural integration.

74) Bilingualism is the use of two or more languages

A) in all sectors of public and private life.

B) in particular settings, such as workplaces or educational facilities, treating each language as equally legitimate.

C) only in educational settings.

D) only in workplaces.

75) The belief that conformity to a single language helps to unify members of a society reflects which sociological perspective?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Global perspective

76) "Attacks on bilingualism represent an ethnocentric point of view." This statement best reflects the views of which sociological perspective?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Feminist perspective

77) The statement "Attempts to create bilingualism in the U.S. represent a case of subordinated language minorities seeking opportunities for self-expression" reflects the views of which sociological perspective?

A) Functionalist perspective

B) Conflict perspective

C) Interactionist perspective

D) Global perspective

78) Which of the following is an example of an ethnocentric view of bilingualism?

A) Efforts to introduce a constitutional amendment declaring English as the nation's official language

B) Efforts to establish the proper form for bilingual programs

C) Efforts to mandate the instruction of children who are not fluent in English

D) Efforts to maintain English as a Second Language programs in schools with a majority of immigrant children

79) Cultural universals are common beliefs or practices found in every society.

80) The combination of turning existing cultural items into a form that did not exist before is referred to as innovation.

81) Viewing people's behavior from the perspective of their own culture is known as cultural relativism.

82) Sociobiology is founded on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

83) The feminist perspective holds that gender-related language contributes to the traditional acceptance of men and women entering certain occupations.

84) Nonverbal communication is the same in all cultures.

85) Wearing two different-colored socks and a tie that does not match the shirt with which it is being worn are examples of violations of folkways and informal norms.

86) In a culture, virtually all citizens follow the same set of norms and values.

87) Severe sanctions serve to punish those who violate informal norms.

88) The polarization of society over controversial cultural elements is referred to as a culture war.

89) Benevolence is a value that is widely shared around the world.

90) From a functionalist perspective, the social significance of the dominant ideology is that a society's most powerful groups and institutions control the means of producing beliefs about reality through religion, education, and the media.

91) Interactionists maintain that social stability requires a consensus and the support of a society's members.

92) Even within a single nation, certain segments of the populace develop cultural patterns that differ from the patterns of the dominant society.

93) Countercultures thrive among the elderly, especially the baby boomer generation of the 1960s.

94) Protestantism and democracy are examples of innovation.

95) Diffusion can work through a variety of means, such as exploration and the influence of mass media.

96) The use of two languages in a particular setting is referred to as multilingualism.

97) Federal policy has always been supportive of bilingualism efforts in the United States, and thus, provides a significant portion of funding to support those efforts at the local level.

98) Define the term ethnocentrism and discuss why functionalists and conflict theorists disagree over the utility of ethnocentrism.

99) Define and discuss symbols. Identify one symbolic monument (e.g. the September 11th, 2001 memorial). Explain what the monument symbolizes.

100) Identify the various types of social norms and give an example of each. Describe the various sanctions associated with violations of the various social norm types.

101) Define the term globalization and describe how it affects culture today. Give an example to support your answer.

102) Discuss the McDonaldization of society. How does it relate to globalization?

103) Social scientists claim that it is not easy to identify a core culture in the United States. Why is this so?

104) Discuss countercultures. What are they and why do they happen? Provide one example of a counterculture.

105) Explain the differences among innovations, discoveries, inventions, and diffusion. Give examples of each to clarify the differences.

106) Define bilingualism. What are the policy implications of bilingualism in the United States?

107) Discuss bilingualism in relation to the sociological perspectives.