Sociology Test: Trivia Questions!
Sociology is society's knowledge, human social behavior, social interaction, and cultural surrounding. It is a science that uses several empirical investigation methods and critical analysis—the subject matter range from micro-level studies of society to macro-level analyses. Take this quiz to test your knowledge about sociology.
- 1.Despite inflation and other factors, why has income in Canada increase?
- A.
There are more workers.
- B.
Workers are more productive.
- C.
Workers are more educated.
- D.
Workers have a better work ethic
- 2.According to the text, which of the following includes all the factors that can be used to explain income inequality?
- A.
Natural talent + effort + developed skills + assets and money
- B.
Natural talent + effort + social network + assets and money + physical characteristics
- C.
Natural talent + social network + social capital + assets and money
- D.
Natural talent + effort + developed skills + social capital + cultural capital
- 3.What is the main disagreement regarding the definition of poverty?
- A.
Whether to base it on consumption or debt
- B.
Whether to define it in absolute or abstract terms
- C.
Whether to define it in absolute or relative terms
- D.
Whether to base it on income or socioeconomic status
- 4.What do statistics from around the world indicate about global inequality?
- A.
Poverty is found mainly in the northern hemisphere
- B.
Adjusting spending habits in wealthy countries wouldn't be enough to provide basic health and nutrition for everyone in the world
- C.
The average income of citizens in highly industrialized countries is much greater than that of citizens in developing coutnries
- D.
The income gap between wealthy and poor nations have been stable over the last few decades
- 5.What did Marx fail to take into account when he predicted that the gap between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat would lead to the eventual overthrow of the bourgeoisie?
- A.
The growth of authoritarian governments
- B.
That factory owners would invest profits into working conditions
- C.
That workers would resist technological developments that improve profits
- D.
The emergence of a large heterogeneous middle class of high-income workers and professionals
- 6.Which of the following would be the best critique of the functional theory of stratification?
- A.
Unions are dysfunctional
- B.
Many people inherit wealth
- C.
The concept of importance in occupations is faulty
- D.
Functionally unimportant jobs have more prestige
- 7.What are the four main ways that semiperipheral countries differ from peripheral countries?
- A.
Substantial foreign investment, support for authoritarian governments, mounting debt, and economic development
- B.
Type of colonialism, state policy, social structure, and geopolitical position
- C.
State policy, mounting debt, geopolitical location, and resource access
- D.
Colonial development, historical structures, foreign investment, and natural resources
- 8.Which theory suggests that countries remain poor because they have not acquired new ideas, technology, and institutions?
- A.
Conflict
- B.
Modernization
- C.
Dependency
- D.
Postmodern
- 9.The factory workers were working long hours for very little pay, although they knew that the company was making record-breaking profits. When the management announced that a reduction in pay was necessary to keep the factory open, the workers were so angry that they staged a protest and refused to let anyone into the building. Whose social theory was reflected in this protest?
- A.
Davis and Moore
- B.
Weber
- C.
Marx
- D.
Rostow
- 10.Sheena purchased a clothing factory and spent her savings on upgrading the sewing machines and buying top-quality cloth to make high-fashion clothing. What would Marx say she invested in?
- A.
Bourgeoisie class
- B.
Means of production
- C.
Proletariat mode of ownership
- D.
Mode of production
- 11.Country A receives millions of dollars, mostly to build infrastructure like roads, from Country B. Country B is Country A's largest trading partner. Country B is most interested in Country A's abundant natural resources, like oil and minerals. According to dependency theorists, which method of gaining political control over another country is this example most representative of?
- A.
Geopolitical position
- B.
Support for authoritarian government
- C.
Mounting debt
- D.
Substantial foreign investment
- 12.Davis and Moore would argue that doctors, plumbers, judges, janitors, construction workers, and housekeepers are all necessary for a functioning society. Which necessary feature found in all societies do they believe that these many professions point to?
- A.
Training
- B.
Class conflict
- C.
Technological complexity
- D.
Inequality
- 13.Samira and Sandeep discuss poverty and social stratification in Canada after their sociology class one day. They both acknowledge that Canada is a class-divided country, and wish that wasn't the case. They don't believe that being in a state of poverty will motivate people to work hard. Based on this description, which statement best describes Samira and Tandeep's opinions?
- A.
They are mostly representative, except that most Canadians disagree that we live in a class-divided society
- B.
They are representative of most Canadians
- C.
They are not representative of most Canadians
- D.
They are representative of highly-educated Canadians
- 14.Why is geopolitical position an important factor in the development of semiperipheral countries?
- A.
Foreign funds are injected into the economy by political allies
- B.
It signals to former colonizers that the former colony can be economically independent
- C.
Geopolitical position is closely tied to social programs
- D.
Social stratification is determined by foreign investment
- 15.Seoyoung and her cousin discuss why so many developing countries continue to stay in a state of poverty. Seoyoung's cousin believes that developing countries have not been innovative enough and should adopt industrialized nations' ways. Seoyoung recognizes this kind of argument from her sociology class. Which theory is Seoyoung's cousin using?
- A.
Modernization
- B.
Dependency
- C.
Conflict
- D.
Stratification
- 16.Which of the following includes actions such as raised eyebrows, harsh stares, corrective nudges, gossiping, and shaming?
- A.
Mores
- B.
Non-effectivec sanction
- C.
Symbols of moral panic
- D.
Informal punishments
- 17.Which statement might be said about crimes such as prostitution and illegal drug use?
- A.
They are caseload crimes
- B.
They are examples of victimless crimes
- C.
They are major parts of the crime index
- D.
They are frequently included in the major crime indexes
- 18.Travis Hirschi argues that a set of ties binds young people to the conventional world, and when those ties are weak, deviance and crime occur. What is this theory known as?
- A.
Labelling theory
- B.
Control theory
- C.
Routine activities theory
- D.
Strain theory
- 19.According to conflict theorists, what is the determining factor in the definitions of crime and deviance and the distribution of punishment?
- A.
The access to power
- B.
The pace of social change
- C.
The social controls in place
- D.
The strength of religion as a constraining force
- 20.Jeremy's gang wanted him to help rob a variety store. However, Jeremy refused and left the gang. Jeremy's parents had worked hard all their lives to afford him opportunities for his future, and if he participated in the robbery and got caught, he would never be able to face his parents again. According to the text, what is the basis of this deterrence to crime?
- A.
Control theory
- B.
Activity theory
- C.
Strain theory
- D.
Differential association theory
- 21.According to your text, which statement best explains the ability of humans to perpetrate atrocities against their own kind?
- A.
We are biologically predisposed to violence
- B.
It is in the nature of groups and bureaucracies
- C.
Group hatred is an empirical and historical fact
- D.
Humans are animals by nature
- 22.Which statement best reflects Max Weber's perspective of bureaucracies?
- A.
They are the least efficient type of secondary group
- B.
They are the most efficient type of secondary group
- C.
They are a force destructive to social solidarity
- D.
They contribute to social solidarity
- 23.According to Ferdinand Tonnies, what did a "society" consist of?
- A.
Intimate and emotionally intense ties
- B.
Relationships connected by self-interest
- C.
A community of extended families
- D.
Rural local and small villages
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