Political Science 11
- 1.
A plebiscite is
- A.
Proposed constitutional convention to update the Constitution.
- B.
A law that grants ex-felons the right to vote.
- C.
A parliamentary system to replace the current system of separation of powers.
- D.
A popular vote on national policy issues.
Correct Answer
D. A popular vote on national policy issues. -
- 2.
Regarding the impact of the public in American national decision-making, the founders wanted
- A.
A system in which the public elected most officeholders
- B.
A system legitimated by the public but also protected from the possible dangers of the public's power.
- C.
A system responsive to the fluctuations in public opinion.
- D.
Senators elected by the public and the president elected by the Senate.
Correct Answer
B. A system legitimated by the public but also protected from the possible dangers of the public's power. -
- 3.
Public opinion not only should matter but does matter in American politics because
- A.
The public pays close attention to public policy making.
- B.
The public votes on the basis of well-informed policy views.
- C.
politicians and the media act as if it matters.
- D.
the media is diligent in keeping the public well-informed.
Correct Answer
C. politicians and the media act as if it matters. -
- 4.
One advantage of direct contact between elected officials and the public versus the use of public opinion polls is that direct contact
- A.
Allows Congress to talk to more people collectively than pollsters talk to when taking polls.
- B.
Makes it less likely that certain public concerns will be overlooked.
- C.
Is always more accurate than a poll.
Correct Answer
B. Makes it less likely that certain public concerns will be overlooked. -
- 5.
The portion of the population selected to participate in a poll is known as the
- A.
Sample.
- B.
Deliberative group.
- C.
Focus group.
- D.
Population.
Correct Answer
A. Sample. -
- 6.
The relationship between sample size and sampling error is
- A.
The smaller the sample, the smaller will be the sampling error.
- B.
The larger the sample, the smaller will be the sampling error.
- C.
Sampling size and sampling error are related only if the poll contains sampling bias.
- D.
The wording of the poll questions will determine sampling error.
Correct Answer
B. The larger the sample, the smaller will be the sampling error. -
- 7.
When politicians try to determine public opinion by listening to their supporters and friendly interest groups, they are likely to face the problem of
- A.
Erroneous data.
- B.
Sample bias.
- C.
Push polling.
- D.
Straw men polling.
Correct Answer
B. Sample bias. -
- 8.
Unscientific polls that are often conducted by newspapers and politicians to determine who is ahead in a political race are called _______ polls.
- A.
Straw
- B.
Interest
- C.
Tracking
- D.
Exit
Correct Answer
A. Straw -
- 9.
With respect to constructing survey questions, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT
- A.
The order in which questions are asked can change the results.
- B.
Surveys tend to underestimate the racial tolerance of the American people.
- C.
Questions should not be ambiguous.
- D.
Respondents are often willing to give opinions on subjects about which they know little or nothing.
Correct Answer
B. Surveys tend to underestimate the racial tolerance of the American people. -
- 10.
Sampling error refers to
- A.
The number of mistakes made by a pollster.
- B.
A situation in which question wording biases the results.
- C.
mistakes made in the recording of responses in a poll.
- D.
A number that indicates within what range the results of a poll are accurate.
Correct Answer
D. A number that indicates within what range the results of a poll are accurate. -
- 11.
Today, the most likely cause of sampling bias in polls is
- A.
When a person is picked for the sample and he or she cannot be contacted or refuses to participate
- B.
When a person is picked for the sample and he or she cannot be contacted or refuses to participate. the overrepresentation of the middle class in modern polls.
- C.
When a person is picked for the sample and he or she cannot be contacted or refuses to participate. when a person is picked for the sample and he or she cannot be contacted or refuses interviewers' reluctance to go into "bad" neighborhoods.
- D.
The pollsters' own biases
Correct Answer
A. When a person is picked for the sample and he or she cannot be contacted or refuses to participate -
- 12.
One concern about question wording in polls is that the person being sampled will be unfamiliar with a subject and thereby
- A.
Never participate in a poll again
- B.
Refuse to answer the question.
- C.
Be unlikely to finish the polling session.
- D.
Give responses based on cues picked up from the context of the interview or the question.
Correct Answer
D. Give responses based on cues picked up from the context of the interview or the question. -
- 13.
Benchmark polls
- A.
Are good ways to track how a candidate is doing throughout the campaign.
- B.
Are instrumental in designing campaign strategy.
- C.
Allow pundits to analyze voting on Election Day.
- D.
Have caused the public to question the accuracy of polls
Correct Answer
B. Are instrumental in designing campaign strategy. -
- 14.
Americans voter turnout for national elections is:
- A.
the highest among industrialized nations.
- B.
About average among industrialized nations.
- C.
The lowest, or among the lowest, among industrialized nations.
- D.
Consistently in third place among industrialized nations.
Correct Answer
C. The lowest, or among the lowest, among industrialized nations. -
- 15.
Benchmark polls and tracking polls are two types of
- A.
Campaign polls
- B.
National polls
- C.
Push polls
- D.
Exit polls.
Correct Answer
A. Campaign polls -
- 16.
Americans tend to be
- A.
Very knowledgeable about politics.
- B.
Not very knowledgeable about politics.
- C.
knowledgeable about office holders, but not knowledgeable about issues.
- D.
Knowledgeable about the political system, but not knowledgeable about issues or candidates.
Correct Answer
B. Not very knowledgeable about politics. -
- 17.
Regarding tolerance, Americans are generally
- A.
Supportive of general issues such as free speech but less supportive when asked to extend rights to unpopular groups.
- B.
Very intolerant.
- C.
Less tolerant the more educated they are.
- D.
Extremely tolerant of all different viewpoints.
Correct Answer
A. Supportive of general issues such as free speech but less supportive when asked to extend rights to unpopular groups. -
- 18.
Which of the following is NOT an argument put forth by the textbook’s authors concerning the relationship between education and tolerance?
- A.
The higher the level of education, the more tolerance people tend to demonstrate on surveys.
- B.
Some observers argue that elites are the protectors of our democratic values. Some observers argue that elites are the protectors of our democratic values. Education may be related to knowing the right answers rather than actually being more tolerant.
- C.
In many ways, less educated people are more tolerant than educated people.
- D.
Some observers argue that elites are the protectors of our democratic values.
Correct Answer
C. In many ways, less educated people are more tolerant than educated people. -
- 19.
Compared to other industrialized nations, the United States ranks _____ in voter participation.
- A.
Near the bottom
- B.
In the top quarter
Correct Answer
A. Near the bottom -
- 20.
The process of socialization
- A.
Teaches us tolerance for the political values of other nations.
- B.
Trains us to support and obey the existing political system.
- C.
Teaches us to think independently and critically
Correct Answer
B. Trains us to support and obey the existing political system. -
- 21.
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the textbook as an agent of socialization?
- A.
The family
- B.
The Internet
- C.
Social groups
Correct Answer
B. The Internet -
- 22.
The sharp decline in trust in government among the public in the 1960s and 1970s is used by the authors to show the effects on political socialization of
- A.
The family.
- B.
Groups.
- C.
Political and social events
Correct Answer
C. Political and social events -
- 23.
Which of the following pairs of items concerning socialization is not linked properly?
- A.
Preschool years; nationalism
- B.
The media; socialization by major political and social events
- C.
The media; ideological orientation
- D.
Groups; the spiral of silence
Correct Answer
C. The media; ideological orientation -
- 24.
The textbook does NOT argue that self-interest plays which of the following roles in affecting public opinion?
- A.
It is a source of division in public opinion.
- B.
Self-interest is a source of agreement in public opinion.
- C.
Self-interest is one of several factors affecting opinions.
- D.
Many people express opinions that seem to run counter to concerns over self-interest.
Correct Answer
B. Self-interest is a source of agreement in public opinion. -
- 25.
Which of the following statements concerning the roles of ideology and partisanship in shaping public opinion is NOT true?
- A.
Most people filter their perceptions of reality through their ideological and partisan attitudes.
- B.
Over the past few decades the relationship between the ideological beliefs of individuals and their partisanship has grown closer.
- C.
Much of the current division in American politics can be expressed in ideological or partisan terms.
- D.
Most Americans are too moderate or nonpartisan for these concepts to have much influence on them.
Correct Answer
D. Most Americans are too moderate or nonpartisan for these concepts to have much influence on them. -
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Mar 07, 2013Quiz Edited by
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