, TESTBANK FOR Understanding Social Problems 12th Edition Mooney
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,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
1. When supporters of a political party are entrenched in their party's policies, with no motive to compromise with
opposing political views, this is referred to as
a. the social context.
b. state of the union.
c. a social problem.
d. political partisanship.
ANSWER: d
2. Far-right political systems are often characterized by
a. a strong central authority.
b. an encouragement of civil liberties.
c. limited executive powers.
d. strong checks and balances.
ANSWER: a
3. Which of the following claim to represent "the people" rather than government elites and their political parties?
a. Fascists
b. Communists
c. Populist movements
d. Centrists
ANSWER: c
4. The objective element of a social problem refers to
a. our attitudes about social conditions.
b. the existence of a social condition.
c. the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society.
d. our beliefs about the importance of a condition.
ANSWER: b
5. Given the position of social identity, when someone has unquestioning loyalty to a political ideology or belief, this is
known as
a. political tribalism.
b. social group.
c. anomie.
d. culture.
ANSWER: a
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,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
6. Which of the following best illustrates the subjective element of a social problem?
a. U.S. Census statistics showing the percentage of the U.S. population living in poverty
b. Reports that show the percentage of people who have lost their jobs because of the closing of factories in the
United States
c. The percentage of Americans who believe the availability of child pornography on the Internet is harmful to
society
d. World Health Organization estimates of the number of people in the world who have died of the AIDS virus in
the last five years
ANSWER: c
7. Which of the following best describes trends in media trust and misinformation?
a. In general, younger Americans are more likely to trust news from social media than older Americans.
b. In general, older Americans are more likely to trust news from social media than younger Americans.
c. TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat are considered the most trusted social media platforms.
d. Donald Trump’s Truth Social is the most trusted social media among Democrats.
ANSWER: a
8. Which is the best example of the objective element of a social problem?
a. In 2012, over 650,000 daytime drivers operated an electronic device while driving.
b. Surveyed Americans most frequently selected inequality as the greatest social problem in the world.
c. Some husbands believe they have a right to discipline and control their wives.
d. Europeans are less likely than Asians to consider pollution the greatest social problem in the world.
ANSWER: a
9. Which of the following is an example of a subjective element of a social problem?
a. The poverty rate in the country has been consistently measured at 15% over the past decade.
b. A sociologist collects data on the percentage of people experiencing food insecurity.
c. A politician argues that the increasing wealth gap requires government intervention.
d. A research study finds that pollution levels in urban areas exceed health guidelines.
ANSWER: c
10. Society's structure is made up of
a. the people who share a culture.
b. institutions, social groups, norms, and symbols.
c. beliefs, values, norms, and symbols.
d. institutions, social groups, statuses, and roles.
ANSWER: d
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,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
11. Which of the following illustrates part of the social structure of a society?
a. The health care system
b. A belief in God
c. The value placed on education
d. The primary language used
ANSWER: a
12. The way a society is organized, is called its
a. structure.
b. culture.
c. ethos.
d. sociological imagination.
ANSWER: a
13. An established pattern of relationships constitutes a(n)
a. institution.
b. culture.
c. social complex.
d. social element.
ANSWER: a
14. You have been part of a volunteer organization for several months. While you collaborate on tasks, your interactions
remain formal and focused on your shared mission rather than personal relationships. This group is an example of a:
a. primary group.
b. social institution.
c. secondary group.
d. status group.
ANSWER: c
15. Which of the following is a social group?
a. All of the people in your favorite shopping mall at noon on Saturday
b. People who usually watch NBC Nightly News
c. Your college sociology class
d. Fans of the Yankee baseball team
ANSWER: c
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,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
16. Which of the following is more likely to be found in primary rather than secondary groups?
a. Task-oriented actions
b. Impersonal interactions
c. Intimate relationships
d. Formal statuses and roles
ANSWER: c
17. Which of the following illustrates a primary group?
a. A husband, wife, and child
b. Your sociology class
c. The college or university you are attending
d. Your hometown
ANSWER: a
18. Sociologists refer to the position a person holds in a group as their
a. status.
b. folkway.
c. institution.
d. role.
ANSWER: a
19. Which of the following is an ascribed status?
a. Native American
b. Single parent
c. High school graduate
d. Football player
ANSWER: a
20. Edward is a 26 year old Black man who married his high school sweetheart after they graduated from college. He is
now the father of two children and is employed as a chemical engineer. Which of the following is one of Edward's
achieved statuses?
a. Black
b. Man
c. Chemical engineer
d. Adult
ANSWER: c
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,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
21. What type of status is assigned on the basis of some characteristic or behavior over which the individual has some
control?
a. Ascribed
b. Elementary
c. Achieved
d. Rational
ANSWER: c
22. A nurse interacts differently with doctors, nursing assistants, and patients. This is primarily because
a. everyone is a unique individual.
b. many roles are associated with a specific status.
c. institutions are fluid social structures.
d. of cultural constraints.
ANSWER: b
23. A family teaches their children that education is the key to success and should always be pursued. This perspective
is best categorized as a
a. belief.
b. role.
c. values.
d. sanction.
ANSWER: a
24. Which of the following are norms with a moral basis?
a. Laws
b. Mores
c. Values
d. Beliefs
ANSWER: b
25. Which term refers to ideas about what is desirable in a social setting?
a. Norms
b. Values
c. Roles
d. Beliefs
ANSWER: b
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,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
26. "Violence in movies and on television leads to increased aggression in children." This statement is an example of a
a. belief.
b. value.
c. folkway.
d. more.
ANSWER: a
27. Which of the following serve as guidelines for our behavior and for our expectations of the behavior of others?
a. Beliefs
b. Values
c. Norms
d. Sanctions
ANSWER: c
28. Folkways, laws, and mores are three types of
a. sanctions.
b. norms.
c. values.
d. statuses.
ANSWER: b
29. A parent left their child inside the car on a hot sunny day. The parent
a. violated a more.
b. violated a folkway.
c. underscored a value.
d. performed a sanction.
ANSWER: a
30. Frequently, social conditions are viewed as social problems when
a. the conditions are compatible with closely held values.
b. the conditions are incompatible with closely held values.
c. they do not affect large portions of the population.
d. the conditions benefit only a small group of people.
ANSWER: b
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,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
31. Cheating on a spouse is a violation of a
a. folkway.
b. more.
c. value.
d. belief.
ANSWER: b
32. Which of the following are norms that are formalized and backed by political authority?
a. Folkways
b. Mores
c. Laws
d. Values
ANSWER: c
33. Social consequences for conforming to or violating norms are
a. values.
b. folkways.
c. mores.
d. sanctions.
ANSWER: d
34. A person was caught speeding and given a fine. The fine is an example of a(n)
a. value.
b. folkway.
c. informal sanction.
d. formal sanction.
ANSWER: d
35. An individual talks loudly on their phone during a movie, causing other audience members to sigh, glare, and shush
them. This illustrates
a. values.
b. folkways.
c. informal sanctions.
d. formal sanctions.
ANSWER: c
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, Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
36. A student dieted and worked out, which led to a significant reduction in their size and weight. Which of the following
is an informal positive sanction?
a. They feel much better about themselves than they did before the weight loss.
b. Friends tell them they look great.
c. They lost 25 pounds.
d. They fit into a much smaller size of jeans.
ANSWER: b
37. The neighbors didn't invite Charlotte to the block barbecue because Charlotte's dog is often on the loose, making a
mess on their lawns. Not inviting her is an example of a(n)
a. formal positive sanction.
b. informal positive sanction.
c. formal negative sanction.
d. informal negative sanction.
ANSWER: d
38. During a wedding ceremony, a couple exchanges rings as a sign of their commitment to each other. What are the
rings an example of?
a. Sanction
b. More
c. Folkway
d. Symbol
ANSWER: d
39. Which of the following is an example of an ascribed status?
a. Becoming a company’s CEO after years of hard work
b. Earning a college degree through dedication and study
c. Being elected as the mayor of a city
d. Being born into a financially-advantaged family
ANSWER: d
40. Which of the following conclusions best illustrates the use of the sociological imagination?
a. Jody's parents are getting a divorce because they do not love each other anymore.
b. Helen is not attending college because her parents do not have enough money to pay her expenses.
c. Tony's college failure illustrates problems of inner-city children whose schools inadequately prepare them for
the rigor of college courses.
d. Megan has to request welfare payments because she lost her job.
ANSWER: c
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 8
Important Notes
The file includes the complete test bank, organized chapter by chapter.
A sample of selected pages has been provided for preview.
All available appendices and Excel files (if included in the original resources) are
provided.
We continuously update our files to ensure you receive the latest and most accurate
editions.
New editions are added regularly – stay connected for updates!
✅ Why Buy From Us?
📚 Complete & organized chapter-by-chapter – no missing content, no guessing.
⚡ Instant digital delivery – get your file the moment you pay, no waiting.
📅 Always up to date – we track new editions so you always get the latest version.
💬 Friendly support – real humans ready to help, anytime you need us.
🔒 Safe & secure – thousands of satisfied students trust us every semester.
🛡️Our Guarantees
💰 Money-Back Guarantee: Not satisfied? We offer a full refund – no questions asked.
🔄 Wrong File? No Problem: Contact us and we will replace it immediately with the
correct version, free of charge.
⏰ 24/7 Support: We are always here – reach out anytime and expect a fast response.
Contact Email:
,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
1. When supporters of a political party are entrenched in their party's policies, with no motive to compromise with
opposing political views, this is referred to as
a. the social context.
b. state of the union.
c. a social problem.
d. political partisanship.
ANSWER: d
2. Far-right political systems are often characterized by
a. a strong central authority.
b. an encouragement of civil liberties.
c. limited executive powers.
d. strong checks and balances.
ANSWER: a
3. Which of the following claim to represent "the people" rather than government elites and their political parties?
a. Fascists
b. Communists
c. Populist movements
d. Centrists
ANSWER: c
4. The objective element of a social problem refers to
a. our attitudes about social conditions.
b. the existence of a social condition.
c. the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society.
d. our beliefs about the importance of a condition.
ANSWER: b
5. Given the position of social identity, when someone has unquestioning loyalty to a political ideology or belief, this is
known as
a. political tribalism.
b. social group.
c. anomie.
d. culture.
ANSWER: a
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 1
,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
6. Which of the following best illustrates the subjective element of a social problem?
a. U.S. Census statistics showing the percentage of the U.S. population living in poverty
b. Reports that show the percentage of people who have lost their jobs because of the closing of factories in the
United States
c. The percentage of Americans who believe the availability of child pornography on the Internet is harmful to
society
d. World Health Organization estimates of the number of people in the world who have died of the AIDS virus in
the last five years
ANSWER: c
7. Which of the following best describes trends in media trust and misinformation?
a. In general, younger Americans are more likely to trust news from social media than older Americans.
b. In general, older Americans are more likely to trust news from social media than younger Americans.
c. TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat are considered the most trusted social media platforms.
d. Donald Trump’s Truth Social is the most trusted social media among Democrats.
ANSWER: a
8. Which is the best example of the objective element of a social problem?
a. In 2012, over 650,000 daytime drivers operated an electronic device while driving.
b. Surveyed Americans most frequently selected inequality as the greatest social problem in the world.
c. Some husbands believe they have a right to discipline and control their wives.
d. Europeans are less likely than Asians to consider pollution the greatest social problem in the world.
ANSWER: a
9. Which of the following is an example of a subjective element of a social problem?
a. The poverty rate in the country has been consistently measured at 15% over the past decade.
b. A sociologist collects data on the percentage of people experiencing food insecurity.
c. A politician argues that the increasing wealth gap requires government intervention.
d. A research study finds that pollution levels in urban areas exceed health guidelines.
ANSWER: c
10. Society's structure is made up of
a. the people who share a culture.
b. institutions, social groups, norms, and symbols.
c. beliefs, values, norms, and symbols.
d. institutions, social groups, statuses, and roles.
ANSWER: d
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 2
,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
11. Which of the following illustrates part of the social structure of a society?
a. The health care system
b. A belief in God
c. The value placed on education
d. The primary language used
ANSWER: a
12. The way a society is organized, is called its
a. structure.
b. culture.
c. ethos.
d. sociological imagination.
ANSWER: a
13. An established pattern of relationships constitutes a(n)
a. institution.
b. culture.
c. social complex.
d. social element.
ANSWER: a
14. You have been part of a volunteer organization for several months. While you collaborate on tasks, your interactions
remain formal and focused on your shared mission rather than personal relationships. This group is an example of a:
a. primary group.
b. social institution.
c. secondary group.
d. status group.
ANSWER: c
15. Which of the following is a social group?
a. All of the people in your favorite shopping mall at noon on Saturday
b. People who usually watch NBC Nightly News
c. Your college sociology class
d. Fans of the Yankee baseball team
ANSWER: c
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 3
,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
16. Which of the following is more likely to be found in primary rather than secondary groups?
a. Task-oriented actions
b. Impersonal interactions
c. Intimate relationships
d. Formal statuses and roles
ANSWER: c
17. Which of the following illustrates a primary group?
a. A husband, wife, and child
b. Your sociology class
c. The college or university you are attending
d. Your hometown
ANSWER: a
18. Sociologists refer to the position a person holds in a group as their
a. status.
b. folkway.
c. institution.
d. role.
ANSWER: a
19. Which of the following is an ascribed status?
a. Native American
b. Single parent
c. High school graduate
d. Football player
ANSWER: a
20. Edward is a 26 year old Black man who married his high school sweetheart after they graduated from college. He is
now the father of two children and is employed as a chemical engineer. Which of the following is one of Edward's
achieved statuses?
a. Black
b. Man
c. Chemical engineer
d. Adult
ANSWER: c
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 4
,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
21. What type of status is assigned on the basis of some characteristic or behavior over which the individual has some
control?
a. Ascribed
b. Elementary
c. Achieved
d. Rational
ANSWER: c
22. A nurse interacts differently with doctors, nursing assistants, and patients. This is primarily because
a. everyone is a unique individual.
b. many roles are associated with a specific status.
c. institutions are fluid social structures.
d. of cultural constraints.
ANSWER: b
23. A family teaches their children that education is the key to success and should always be pursued. This perspective
is best categorized as a
a. belief.
b. role.
c. values.
d. sanction.
ANSWER: a
24. Which of the following are norms with a moral basis?
a. Laws
b. Mores
c. Values
d. Beliefs
ANSWER: b
25. Which term refers to ideas about what is desirable in a social setting?
a. Norms
b. Values
c. Roles
d. Beliefs
ANSWER: b
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 5
,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
26. "Violence in movies and on television leads to increased aggression in children." This statement is an example of a
a. belief.
b. value.
c. folkway.
d. more.
ANSWER: a
27. Which of the following serve as guidelines for our behavior and for our expectations of the behavior of others?
a. Beliefs
b. Values
c. Norms
d. Sanctions
ANSWER: c
28. Folkways, laws, and mores are three types of
a. sanctions.
b. norms.
c. values.
d. statuses.
ANSWER: b
29. A parent left their child inside the car on a hot sunny day. The parent
a. violated a more.
b. violated a folkway.
c. underscored a value.
d. performed a sanction.
ANSWER: a
30. Frequently, social conditions are viewed as social problems when
a. the conditions are compatible with closely held values.
b. the conditions are incompatible with closely held values.
c. they do not affect large portions of the population.
d. the conditions benefit only a small group of people.
ANSWER: b
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 6
,Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
31. Cheating on a spouse is a violation of a
a. folkway.
b. more.
c. value.
d. belief.
ANSWER: b
32. Which of the following are norms that are formalized and backed by political authority?
a. Folkways
b. Mores
c. Laws
d. Values
ANSWER: c
33. Social consequences for conforming to or violating norms are
a. values.
b. folkways.
c. mores.
d. sanctions.
ANSWER: d
34. A person was caught speeding and given a fine. The fine is an example of a(n)
a. value.
b. folkway.
c. informal sanction.
d. formal sanction.
ANSWER: d
35. An individual talks loudly on their phone during a movie, causing other audience members to sigh, glare, and shush
them. This illustrates
a. values.
b. folkways.
c. informal sanctions.
d. formal sanctions.
ANSWER: c
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 7
, Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 01 – Thinking about Social Problems
36. A student dieted and worked out, which led to a significant reduction in their size and weight. Which of the following
is an informal positive sanction?
a. They feel much better about themselves than they did before the weight loss.
b. Friends tell them they look great.
c. They lost 25 pounds.
d. They fit into a much smaller size of jeans.
ANSWER: b
37. The neighbors didn't invite Charlotte to the block barbecue because Charlotte's dog is often on the loose, making a
mess on their lawns. Not inviting her is an example of a(n)
a. formal positive sanction.
b. informal positive sanction.
c. formal negative sanction.
d. informal negative sanction.
ANSWER: d
38. During a wedding ceremony, a couple exchanges rings as a sign of their commitment to each other. What are the
rings an example of?
a. Sanction
b. More
c. Folkway
d. Symbol
ANSWER: d
39. Which of the following is an example of an ascribed status?
a. Becoming a company’s CEO after years of hard work
b. Earning a college degree through dedication and study
c. Being elected as the mayor of a city
d. Being born into a financially-advantaged family
ANSWER: d
40. Which of the following conclusions best illustrates the use of the sociological imagination?
a. Jody's parents are getting a divorce because they do not love each other anymore.
b. Helen is not attending college because her parents do not have enough money to pay her expenses.
c. Tony's college failure illustrates problems of inner-city children whose schools inadequately prepare them for
the rigor of college courses.
d. Megan has to request welfare payments because she lost her job.
ANSWER: c
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 8
