Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure and Crime

Multiple Choice

3.1 In 1968, the __________ Commission warned that “our Nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.”

a. Duvall c. Kerner

b. Ways and Means d. Wickersham

ANS: C

REF: 99

LO: 1

3.2 The supply-side economic policies of the 1980s were referred to as:

a. voo-doo economics c. conservative fantasies

b. Reaganomics d. business hand-outs

ANS: B

REF: not in the chapter

LO: 5

3.3 How much a person or family earns in any given period is called:

a. wealth c. median net worth

b. income d. economic index

ANS: B

REF: 101

LO: 3

3.4 One important trend in American economic inequality is the growth of the very poor —a group some analysts call ______ ______ in the past 30 years

a. an under class c. a middle class

b. a working class d. a lower class

ANS: A

REF: 107

LO: 2

3.5 In 2009, the median household income in the United States for African American families was only __ percent of white Americans.

a. 13 c. 73

b. 63 d. 43

ANS: B

REF: 100

LO: 1

3.6 The official unemployment rate is __________ for teenagers than for adults.

a. much lower c. slightly lower

b. much higher d. slightly higher

ANS: B

REF: 104

LO: 4

3.7 The official unemployment rate does not count:

a. workers who are trying hard to find work

b. part-time workers who want, but can’t find, full-time jobs.

c. workers who dropped out of high school

d. workers who have a spouse that works

ANS: B

REF: 104

LO: 4

3.8 Thomas Shapiro argues that “_______ is a frightful conveyor and transmitter of inequality.”

a. racism c. inheritance

b. sexism d. wealth

ANS: C

REF: 102

LO: 3

3.9 Official arrest data indicate that involvement in crime peaks at:

a. 18 for violent crimes and 20 for property crimes.

b. 20 for violent crimes and 22 for property crimes.

c. 18 for violent crimes and 16 for property crimes.

d. 16 for violent crimes and 18 for property crimes.

ANS: C

REF: 104

LO: 4

3.10 The peak years of criminal activity are for people between the ages of _____ and _____.

a. 14, 21 c. 12, 21

b. 14, 24 d. 14, 26

ANS: B

REF: 104

LO: 4

3.11 The federal government first developed an official definition of poverty in _____.

a. 1968 c. 1966

b. 1962 d. 1964

ANS: D

REF: 104

LO: 1

3.12 The most disturbing aspect of the poverty data is the number of __________ living below the poverty line.

a. African Americans c. children

b. Native Americans d. families

ANS: C

REF: 105

LO: 1

3.13 In 2007, the top 1 percent owned 34.6 percent of the wealth, the next 19 percent owned ___ percent and the “bottom” 80 percent (that is, most Americans) owned only __ percent

a. 50.5, 15 c. 60.5, 5

b. 40.5, 25 d. 30.5, 35

ANS: A

REF: 103

LO: 1

3.14 Sociologists and psychologists generally agree that __________ is the primary unit for transmitting values to children.

a. school c. the peer group

b. television d. the family

ANS: D

REF: 106

LO: 4

3.15 The growth of political and civil rights did not necessarily address _________ inequality.

a. economic c. political

b. educational d. occupational

ANS: A

REF: 120

LO: 5

3.16 Which of the following is NOT part of a community’s social structure?

a. The spatial distribution of the population.

b. The rate of population fluctuations.

c. The composition of local neighborhoods.

d. Patterns of interaction within and between neighborhoods.

ANS: D

REF: 109

LO: 4

3.17 American metropolitan communities are characterized by strong patterns of:

a. economic interdependence. c. residential segregation.

b. industrial bases. d. commercial/retail bases.

ANS: C

REF: 109

LO: 1

3.18 The African American unemployment rate has been consistently about ___ the white rate.

a. the same as

b. three times

c. half

d. twice

ANS: D

REF: 103

LO: 3

3.19 ________ involves rejection of society’s goals and established means of achieving them, as well as an attempt to create a new society based on different values and goals.

a. Rebellion c. Retreatism

b. Withdrawal d. Innovation

ANS: A

REF: 114

LO: 4

3.20 Historically, many property owners in the North adopted restrictive covenants that prohibited the sale of property to:

a. Asians. c. Hispanics.

b. African Americans or Jews. d. Answers a, b and c are correct.

ANS: B

REF: 109

LO: 2

3.21 The practice by banks and savings and loan companies of refusing to offer mortgages in poor and minority neighborhoods was known as:

a. redlining. c. low-listing.

b. blacklisting. d. a “screenout.”

ANS: A

REF: 109

LO: 2

3.22 ________ involves rejection of both the goals and accepted means of achieving them.

a. Rebellion c. Retreatism

b. Withdrawal d. Innovation

ANS: C

REF: 114

LO: 4

3.23 The term secondary labor market refers to:

a. the population segment holding down two or more jobs to make ends meet.

b. the distinction between skilled workers and those with no or limited skills.

c. public sector and private sector employment opportunities.

d. available low-paying jobs with limited fringe benefits and uncertain prospects for the future.

ANS: D

REF: 108

LO: 4

3.24 ________ involves acceptance of society’s goals but rejection of the accepted means of attaining them.

a. Rebellion c. Retreatism

b. Withdrawal d. Innovation

ANS: D

REF: 114

LO: 4

3.25 ________ theory holds that the administration of criminal justice reflects the unequal distribution of power in society.

a. Routine activity c. Conflict

b. Culture conflict d. Social disorganization

ANS: C

REF: 118

LO: 4

True/False

3.26 Reaganomics was also known as “voo-doo” economics.

a. True b. False

ANS: B

REF: not in the chapter

LO: 5

3.27 Official arrest data indicate that involvement in violent crime peaks at 18 years of age.

a. True b. False

ANS: A

REF: 104

LO: 4

3.28 The peak years of criminal activity are for people between the ages of 14 and 24.

a. True b. False

ANS: A

REF: 104

LO: 4

3.29 Social and cultural capital have huge implications for individuals, their status in life, their prospects for the future, and also their likelihood of becoming criminals.

a. True b. False

ANS: A

REF: 106

LO: 4

3.30 A person’s network of friends, relationships, and other contacts is called cultural capital.

a. True b. False

ANS: B

REF: 106

LO: 4

3.31 The gap between the very richest Americans and most Americans in terms of both annual income and total wealth has actually been shrinking over the last few decades.

a. True b. False

ANS: B

REF: 103

LO: 1

3.32 Among both African Americans and Hispanics, then, there is a greater gap between the middle class and the poorest than at any other time in our history.

a. True b. False

ANS: A

REF: 122

LO: 1

3.33 Historically, many property owners in the North adopted restrictive covenants that prohibited the sale of property to African Americans or Jews.

a. True b. False

ANS: A

REF: 109

LO: 5

3.34 Social disorganization theory holds that the administration of criminal justice reflects the unequal distribution of power in society.

a. True b. False

ANS: B

REF: 118

LO: 4

3.35 Innovation involves rejection of society’s goals and established means of achieving them, as well as an attempt to create a new society based on different values and goals.

a. True b. False

ANS: B

REF: 114

LO: 4

Fill-In

3.36 The supply-side economic policies of the 1980s were referred to as __________.

ANS: Reaganomics

REF: not in the chapter

LO: 5

3.37 The official unemployment rate does not count workers in the “__________ economy” who are paid in cash.

ANS: underground

REF: 104

LO: 1

3.38 The unemployment rate for African American teens in September 2010 was almost __ percent, creating what some call a “national crisis.”

ANS: 50

REF: 104

LO: 1

3.39 The most disturbing aspect of the poverty data is the number of __________ living below the poverty line.

ANS: children

REF: 105

LO: 1

3.40 The growth of political and civil rights did not necessarily address _________ inequality.

ANS: economic

REF: 120

LO: 5

3.41 The __________ labor market includes low-paying jobs with limited fringe benefits and uncertain prospects for the future.

ANS: secondary

REF: 108

LO: 1

3.42 The practice by banks and savings and loan companies of refusing to offer mortgages in poor and minority neighborhoods was known as __________.

ANS: redlining

REF: 109

LO: 1

3.43 Historically, many property owners in the North adopted restrictive covenants that prohibited the sale of property to African Americans or __________.

ANS: Jews

REF: 109

LO: 1

3.44 African Americans made significant progress relative to whites in the ________, but since then according to the National Research Council, “the economic status of blacks relative to whites has, on average, stagnated or deteriorated.’’

ANS: 1950s and 60s

REF: 100

LO: 2

3.45 __________ theory holds that the administration of criminal justice reflects the unequal distribution of power in society.

ANS: Conflict

REF: 118

LO: 4

Essay

3.46 Explain the difference between income and wealth.

ANS:

REF: 100

LO: 3