Assignment

Question 1

The main point of disengagement theory is that:
seniors want to be independent like everyone else.
society remains orderly by disengaging aging people from positions of responsibility.
seniors do not require as much care as most people think they do.
seniors want to remain active.

Question 2

Poverty rates among African American and Hispanic elders in the United States are:
about the same as among elderly, non-Hispanic whites.
two to three times higher than among elderly, non-Hispanic whites.
ten times higher than among elderly, non-Hispanic whites.
lower than among elderly, non-Hispanic whites.

Question 3

Which country has the most permissive law involving physician-assisted suicide in the world?
the United States
the Netherlands
Russia
Japan

Question 4

Most caregiving to older people in the United States is provided by:
the staff at nursing homes.
hospital staff.
women, typically daughters and wives.
senior friends and neighbors.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the living arrangements of the elderly in the United States is correct?
Most men live with spouses; women are about equally likely to live with a spouse or to live alone.
Most men live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities; most women live alone.
Most women live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities; most men live alone.
Most men and women live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities.

Question 6

In general, seniors with higher incomes:
have more health problems than people with lower incomes.
assess their health in better terms than people with lower incomes.
have the same level of health as people with lower incomes.
die earlier due to high consumption of rich foods.

Question 7

The concept "old-age dependency ratio" refers to:
the ratio of children to elderly people.
the ratio of elderly women to elderly men.
the ratio of working-age adults to non-working elderly people.
the ratio of people over age sixty-five to those under forty.

Question 8

The poverty rate among people over the age of sixty-five is:
above the national average.
the same as the national average.
below the national average.
almost zero, since people receive Social Security.

Question 9
Activity theory draws on:
the social-conflict approach.
the structural-functional approach.
the symbolic-interaction approach.
the sociobiology approach.

Question 10

Since 1960, the poverty rate among the U.S. elderly:
has dropped sharply.
has fluctuated up and down.
has remained stable.
has gone up.

Question 11

Which category of the U.S. population is showing the greatest labor-force increase in terms of percentage?
white men
Hispanic women
white women
African American women

Question 12

The postindustrial economy is defined by:
the spread of factories.
mass production of goods and services.
manufacturing of raw materials.
service work and computer technology.

Question 13

Which of the following concepts refers to a political and economic system that combines a mostly market-based economy with extensive social welfare programs?
capitalism
socialism
welfare capitalism
communism

Question 14

The concept "primary labor market" refers to:
jobs that provide extensive benefits to workers.
jobs typically taken by teenagers.
jobs that require no particular training or experience.
jobs that offer little pay and low security.

Question 15

The concept "oligopoly" refers to:
any corporation with more than $1 billion in sales.
the largest company in a particular field.
domination of a market by a few producers.
a large company operating in all three economic sectors.

Question 16
Which of the following statements about the Information Revolution is NOT correct?
There was a shift from making tangible products to generating ideas.
There was a shift from mechanical skills to literacy skills.
There was a shift from farming to turning raw materials into products.
There was a shift from working in factories to working almost anywhere.

Question 17
In the United States about what share of the population aged sixteen and older is in the paid labor force?
one-fifth
one-third
two-thirds
nine-tenths

Question 18

Which social institution is widely considered to have the greatest effect on society as a whole?
the family
the economy
the political system
religion

Question 19

Which of the following countries best exemplifies a system of state capitalism?
the United States
Great Britain
Australia
Japan

Question 20

Read the four descriptions below. Which of them DOES NOT apply to a profession?
having theoretical knowledge of a field
working for a large, well-established company
having authority over clients
professing a community, rather than an individual, orientation.