Practice Milestone
Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
Taking this practice test is a stress-free way to find out if you are ready for the Milestone 3 assessment. You
can print it out and test yourself to discover your strengths and weaknesses. The answer key is at the end of
this Practice Milestone.
1.
Which of the following statements best describes race?
a.) Race is a classification that has roots in
science.
b.) Race is essentially the same as
ethnicity.
c.) Race is a construct created by and imposed on
people.
d.) Race is a biologically determined
category.
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
2.
Why is assimilation unavailable to most Black or Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) in the United States?
a.)
Because they cannot shed the physical features that are used to racialize them and bar them from the
privileges of whiteness.
b.)
Because it is still legal for schools and other public facilities and services to discriminate on the basis of
race.
c.)
Because the norms and values of whites in the United States are too different from those of Black or
Indigenous communities.
d.) Because of the "one drop" rule, which still determines who can be considered white and who
cannot.
3.
What was the significance of the Page Act of 1875?
a.) It was the first federal law to close the borders to a defined immigrant
group.
b.) It sought to curtail the arrival of Roman Catholic immigrants to the U.S.
c.) It encouraged a wave of immigration from the Scandinavian
countries.
d.) It closed the U.S. borders to all immigrants from Latin
America.
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
4.
According to functionalists, what statement is most accurate about religion?
a.) Its purpose is to justify unequal social
structures.
b.) It is primarily a force for peace in
society.
c.) It is an irrational belief that is harmful to
society.
d.) It depends on society for its significance and
value.
5.
Which of the following best describes what it means to be "intersex"?
a.) To have a gender that is different from the sex you were assigned at
birth.
b.) To have a feeling of a great discomfort with your primary or secondary sex
characteristics.
c.) To have a gender that corresponds to the sex you were assigned at
birth.
d.) To have a set of primary sex characteristics that do not fit binary sexual
distinctions.
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
6.
Which of the following is considered the first agent of gender socialization?
a.) Family
b.) Peer groups
c.) Schools
d.) Mass media
7.
Which statement is true of how the feminist movement in the United States has changed over time?
a.) It is now focused on achieving the goals outlined in the Declaration of Rights and
Sentiments.
b.) It now argues that sexism is the most insidious form of discrimination faced by women
worldwide.
c.) It now amplifies a greater variety of voices and includes a broader spectrum of social
critiques.
d.)
It has abandoned the concept of intersectionality and now advances the notion of a universal
womanhood.
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
8.
Which of the following is true of the present-day sexual culture in the United States?
a.) Most American youths believe sex should not be experienced before
marriage.
b.) Sex education is not required to be taught in all public schools in the United
States.
c.) Sexual assault victims are readily believed without being dismissed or
doubted.
d.) Sex education in schools has decreased the number of teen pregnancies to almost
zero.
9.
Which theoretical perspective considers sexuality and sexual orientation through the lens of power
differentials?
a.) Functionalism
b.) Queer theory
c.) Symbolic interactionism
d.) Conflict theory
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
10.
People in the top strata of society have:
a.) Most of the burdens and
goods.
b.) The fewest burdens and the greatest access to
goods.
c.) The least access to both burdens and
goods.
d.) The most burdens and the least access to
goods.
11.
In the World Bank's approach to global stratification, what type of nation is most likely to be experiencing
capital flight and deindustrialization?
a.) Middle-income
b.) Negative-income
c.) Low-income
d.) High-income
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
12.
Peter lives in a closed society. He plans to marry someday.
Which of the following will be the strongest determinant of who he marries?
a.) His social position
b.) His appearance
c.) His work
ethic
d.) His intelligence
13.
Which example illustrates a society with low status consistency?
a.) Rick has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. He is able to afford a high standard of
living.
b.) Melissa was born into a wealthy family. She drives a luxury car and lives in a
mansion.
c.) Stacey is a college professor. She takes the bus to work because she cannot afford a
car.
d.) Thomas works at an animal shelter. He lives in an expensive city and has a low standard of
living.
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
14.
The majority of the lower class in the United States is comprised of __________.
a.) the underclass
b.) the unemployed
c.) "blue collar"
workers
d.) the working
poor
15.
Unemployment data collected since 1972 shows that unemployment is not distributed evenly across the U.S.
population.
Select the answer that correctly reflects how unemployment is distributed across the U.S. population.
a.) Hispanics tend to have a higher rate of unemployment than
Blacks.
b.) Less educated workers tend to have a higher rate of unemployment than more educated
ones.
c.) Whites tend to have a higher rate of unemployment than
Hispanics.
d.) Women tend to have a significantly higher rate of unemployment than
men.
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
16.
Which of the following would be an area of focus for functionalist theorists who study social stratification?
a.) The subjective nature of
poverty.
b.) The oppression of the working
class.
c.) The social purpose that stratification
serves.
d.) Why people engage in conspicuous
consumption.
17.
A social movement in support of an ideology like white supremacy is what type?
a.) Alternative
b.) Redemptive
c.) Revolutionary
d.) Reformative
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
Answer Key
Question Answer
Concept: Sociological Foundation of Race
Rationale:
1
c
Race is a social construct because it is not based on biology or science; rather, it is a
system of categorization that was invented by man. It refers to physical differences that
a particular society considers significant, such as skin color.
Concept: Race in the USA
Rationale:
Assimilation occurs when a person adopts many of the norms and values of a
2
a
community and integrates into it. While assimilation has always been a path to
whiteness for immigrants of European descent, the same has not been true for Black or
Indigenous people of color in the U.S. because they lack the one thing that can't be
acquired through assimilation: white skin and European features.
Concept: Immigration and Immigrants
Rationale:
3
a
In 1875, the nation passed its first federal immigration law, the Page Act of 1875, which
effectively ended hundreds of years of open borders. This racist law outlawed the
immigration of Chinese contract laborers, the immigration of all Asian women, and all
people considered to be convicts in their own countries.
Concept: Religion in America
Rationale:
4
d
Functionalists contend that religion serves several functions in society. These functions
can be positive and cohesive or they can be harmful and destructive. Regardless,
functionalists believe that religion depends on society for its existence, value, and
significance.
Concept: Social Construction of Gender
5
d
Rationale:
The term "intersex" refers to any individual who physically or physiologically does not fit
binary sexual distinctions.
Concept: Gender Socialization and Roles
6
a
Rationale:
The family is the first agent of socialization.
Concept: Patriarchy, Sexism, and Feminism
Rationale:
7
c
Political feminism has evolved from a movement led by middle class, Western,
cisgender, white women focused on achieving the right to vote to a more critical,
inclusive, and encompassing critique of inequality.
Concept: Sexuality and Sexual Orientation
Rationale:
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
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b
Compared to its Western counterparts, especially European countries, the United
States tends to be fairly conservative in its sexual attitudes. While other wealthy
industrialized countries require sex education, sex education is not required in all public
school curricula in the United States. There is also sharp disagreement over the type of
sex education that should be taught.
Concept: Theories of Sexuality
Rationale:
9
d
Conflict theorists study sexuality as an area in which power differentials are present and
where dominant groups actively work to promote their worldview as well as their
economic interests.
Concept: Social Stratification
Rationale:
Social stratification is the structured ranking of groups in society in a hierarchical
10
b
fashion. Those in the top strata of any society have the fewest burdens, or conditions
that make life more difficult, such as discrimination, poverty, poor health or nutrition, or
housing instability. They also have the greatest access to goods, like money, resources,
education, employment, or legal protections.
Concept: Global Stratification
Rationale:
11
d
High-income nations are defined by the World Bank as having a gross national income
of at least around $12,500 per capita. These countries face two major economic issues:
capital flight and deindustrialization.
Concept: Systems of Stratification
Rationale:
12
a
A closed system is a stratification system that accommodates little change in social
position and is typically based on ascribed status. Therefore, Peter's social position will
be a stronger determinant of who he marries than his personal qualities. He will most
likely marry someone who occupies the same social position.
Concept: Key Concepts in Stratification
Rationale:
13
c
Societies with low status consistency display variability in an individual's rank among
income, education, and occupation. Because Stacey's professional status is much
higher than her income, she illustrates low status consistency.
Concept: Class in the USA
Rationale:
The bulk of the lower class is comprised of the working poor, or people who are
14
d
working at full-time jobs but are still poor by the standards of relative poverty. The
lower class also includes the underclass, which is a smaller percentage. "Blue collar"
workers are generally included in the lower, middle, or working class, although they
may easily move down the socio-economic ladder in times of economic downturn.
Concept: Work and Unemployment
Rationale:
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Embracing Diversity and Collaboration — Practice Milestone 3
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b
Unemployment data since 1972 consistently show a higher rate of unemployment
among less educated workers than among more educated ones.
Concept: Theoretical Perspectives on Stratification
Rationale:
16
c
Functionalist theorists focus on the social purposes and benefits of social inequality.
Conspicuous consumption and the subjective nature of poverty are focuses for
symbolic interactionists, while the oppression of the working class is a focus for conflict
theorists.
Concept: Changing Society
Rationale:
17
c
According to sociologist David Aberle's system of categorizing social movements, a
social movement in support of white supremacy would be a revolutionary movement
because it seeks radical, comprehensive change to the social structure.
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