Practice for Exam 2: Introductory Sociology, Spring 2013 Sample questions Socialization 1. In Sociological terms, which of the following is a symbol? a. a hug d. all of the above b. “please” and “thank you” e. none of the above c. a smiley face in a text message :) 2. Little Lance is five years old and just attended his first day of kindergarten. When he returns home, he “plays school” with his younger sister. As part of this play activity, Lance pretends to be his teacher. According to George Herbert Mead, Lance is in which stage of development? a. the preparatory stage c. the play stage b. the imitative stage d. the game stage 3. In the nature versus nurture debate, which position do social scientists take? a. Environmental factors are more important than biological inheritance in human development. b. Biological inheritance is more important than environmental factors in human development. c. They acknowledge the significance of the interaction between nature and nurture in shaping human development, but tend to come down more strongly on the side of nurture. d. Biological factors are irrelevant in human development. e. none of the above 4. In Sociological terms, the “self” is: a. the distinct identity that sets us apart from others. b. a child’s awareness of the attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole. c. a child’s awareness of the attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of the people who are most important in his or her life. d. a person’s typical patterns of attitudes, needs, characteristics, and behavior. e. none of the above. 5. In class, your fellow student, Nikita, offered details about a fundraiser for the CU Timmy Foundation, a group sending medical supplies to Ecuador. She suggested that taking a Valentine’s date to the fundraiser would demonstrate your commitment to causes of social justice and equality. Bob was listening. He wants Mary to think he is firmly dedicated to social justice, so they are attending the fundraising dinner on his first date with Mary. He really likes her and hopes she’ll agree to a second date. Bob’s behavior is an example of: a. anticipatory socialization d. idealization of the other. b. impression management. e. none of the above c. a total institution Social Structure and Interaction 6. In Sociological terms, which of the following statements about rites of passage is TRUE? a. College graduates often celebrate at graduation ceremonies by hurling their graduate hats skyward. b. All segments of American society celebrate the arrival of adulthood with the same rites of passage. c. People in all societies experience adolescence between the ages of 15 and 17. d. All of the above. e. None of the above. 7. In Sociological terms, the act of studying before the exam is part of a student’s: A. ascribed status D. role strain B. social role E. none of the above C. master status 8. In Sociological terms, which of the following is FALSE with regard to reference groups? A. Reference groups serve a normative function by setting and enforcing standards and beliefs. B. Reference groups serve a comparison function by serving as a standard against which people measure themselves and others. C. Reference groups are always in‐groups. D. Within the course of our lives, we shift reference groups as we take on different statuses. E. We are often influenced simultaneously by several reference groups. 9. Jan, Randy, and Terry are science majors, and when they graduate from college, they find jobs as a nurse, a midwife, and a hospital administrator, respectively. These new positions are examples of: A. statuses. C. groups. B. social roles. D. social networks. 10. Elaine is a clinical sociologist who practices marriage and family therapy. She is also a college professor. One of her current students asks her if she can make an appointment for a therapy session. Elaine tells the student that she will refer her to a colleague because she feels that holding therapy sessions with a student might create: A. role strain. D. status displacement. B. role conflict. E. none of the above. C. role exit. Sample short answer questions: How is that your financial status be either ascribed OR achieved (discuss both)? __________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Please give an example of a rite of passage that has not been used in lecture or textbook. In your example, be sure to describe WHY it is an example of a rite of passage. __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Sample Matching Resocialization Midlife crisis Karl Marx Total institution Agent of socialization Emile Durkheim
Degradation ceremony ___________________ Judith is a 45 year old woman with a successful career, a happy marriage and a lovely daughter. Still, she’s anxious. ___________________ The family ___________________ Jack was stripped of his clothing just as he entered the prison Answers 1. D 2. C 3. C 4. A 5. B 6. A ‐‐ I realize questions like this (and #8 below) are particularly challenging since you have to sort through all the possible answers and determine what’s true/false. Still, do this systematically – working through each statement and perhaps marking the test form. You can do it. There are only two chapters as part of this exam – so you’ll run into some questions like this as they allow for demonstration of depth of understanding. 7. B 8. C 9. A 10. B Short answer Financial status can be inherited, thereby ascribed. On the other hand, financial status can be achieved as it is within the individual’s power to change such as through intense effort at a high‐paying job. A baby shower can be considered a rite of passage as it symbolizes transition from one life stage to another as the individual moves into the social status of parent. BE SURE YOUR ANSWERS GIVES AN EXAMPLE AND ILLUSTRATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERM THROUGH THE EXAMPLE – SEE HERE INCLUSION OF THE MOVEMENT INTO NEW SOCIAL STATUS WITHIN THE EXAMPLE. Matching – Midlife crisis Agent of socialization Degradation ceremony