Cultural Studies Exam Practice Tests
Course Introduction
Cultural Studies examines the ways in which culture shapes societies, identities, and everyday experiences. It explores the production and consumption of cultural texts including media, literature, art, fashion, and popular culture and analyzes their social, political, and economic impacts. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from sociology, anthropology, history, and critical theory, the course investigates issues such as power, representation, identity, race, gender, class, and globalization. Students will develop skills in critical analysis, cultural critique, and understanding how meanings are constructed and contested within various cultural contexts.
Recommended Textbook
Social Science An Introduction to the Study of Society 15th Edition by Elgin F. Hunt
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
21 Chapters
1154 Verified Questions
1154 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/1610 Page 2
Chapter 1: Social Science and Its Method
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31930
Sample Questions
Q1) The Enlightenment established the "three humiliations" of human beings. These include:
A) the earth is the center of the universe.
B) we are not creatures of nature like other animals.
C) humans cannot guide or direct social change.
D) our reasoning ability is subject to passions and subconscious desires.
Answer: D
Q2) Social scientists have more difficulty than physical scientists in being objective. This means that social science is much less scientific than is physical science.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Geography has practical applications related to trade patterns, settlement of populations, and aggression and acquisition.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: Human Origins
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31931
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is NOT discussed a reason human beings are unique?
A) Only humans can think and reason.
B) Only humans can communicate with others by means of language.
C) Only humans have a genome completely unique from all other species.
D) Only humans use tools.
Answer: C
Q2) Darwin saw evolution as a rapid process with sudden abrupt changes.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) What is the difference between the punctuated equilibrium and gradual change theories of evolution?
Answer: Punctuated equilibrium states that evolution is a stop and go process marked with periods of sudden change followed with long periods of no change. Gradual theories of evolution are different in that they see evolution as a gradual and steady process. Graphed, gradual theories would look like a straight line, while punctuated equilibrium looks like a staircase.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
4
Chapter 3: Origins of Western Society
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31932
Sample Questions
Q1) Throughout the Renaissance values such as education, religion, and obedience to God were:
A) eliminated.
B) maintained.
C) discovered for the first time.
D) unknown.
Answer: B
Q2) During the Middle Ages religion began to lose its influence in people's lives.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Feudal estates are associated with which kind of authority?
A) a president
B) a lord
C) a democracy
D) a citizens' communal government
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 5
Chapter 4: Society, Culture, and Cultural Change
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31933
Sample Questions
Q1) Technological development begins:
A) without human influence.
B) without reference to previous technologies.
C) exactly the same way in all societies.
D) with discovery and invention
Q2) The cultural change which made it possible to record human knowledge was the invention of:
A) the wheel.
B) the arch.
C) writing.
D) stone tools.
Q3) Cultural alternatives define the degree to which a culture is internally consistent and homogeneous.
A)True
B)False
Q4) A group of people does not necessarily constitute a society.
A)True
B)False
Q5) What factors contribute to the stability of culture? How do these factors help to give continuity to ways of living?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Geography, Demography, Ecology, and Society
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31934
Sample Questions
Q1) Large and rapid increases in population in the developing areas of the world often occur:
A) and lower standards of living.
B) with only positive economic consequences.
C) and reduce the danger of food shortages.
D) without social consequences.
Q2) Some fear a serious deterioration of the biological quality of the human population because:
A) intelligent individuals will choose careers over family leaving the less advantaged and less educated to bear the majority of children.
B) the birth rates are declining meaning the chances of healthy offspring is decreasing.
C) the birth rates are increasing meaning the available talent of a society is being spread more thinly.
D) of the limited interchange between people with different enough genes.
Q3) China has the largest population of any country with about 1.3 billion people.
A)True B)False
Q4) What is geography? What questions does geography consider?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 6: Technology and Society
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31935
Sample Questions
Q1) Both the technology and economic activity of a society are entirely determined by the extent to which various natural resources are available.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The process of canning foods was initially motivated by a desire for increased military success.
A)True B)False
Q3) John Gorrie was a doctor trying to help patients with malaria when he invented the first air conditioner.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Potential technological developments in the future are limited only by the imagination.
A)True B)False
Q5) Most scientists are now convinced that global warming is not taking place. A)True B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 8
Chapter 7: Psychology, Society, and Culture
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31936
Sample Questions
Q1) People with an IQ of less than 80 are considered retarded.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The humanist approach emphasizes actions in shaping behavior rather than the mind.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Recent discussions of the nature/nurture debate have tended to emphasize the:
A) enormous importance of nurture and the environment.
B) complex interaction between the two.
C) inheritability of most intellectual behaviors.
D) importance of socialization reversals.
Q4) Freud's Oedipus complex received much:
A) widespread support because people found it easy to accept.
B) praise from the general public.
C) positive reaction from all psychologists.
D) publicity and aroused widespread opposition.
Q5) The behavioralist approach focuses on thought as the determinant of behavior.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 8: The Family
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31937
Sample Questions
Q1) An extended family consists of only two generations.
A)True
B)False
Q2) A group of persons closely related by marriage, blood, or some other bond is called the:
A) horde.
B) troop.
C) family.
D) state.
Q3) The average number of children per family in the U.S. has been:
A) increasing since 1800.
B) dropping most recently.
C) very stable since 1800.
D) constant over the last four generations.
Q4) A woman's ability to plan her pregnancies has:
A) not changed family life.
B) no relationship to family life.
C) revolutionized family life.
D) changed gender roles but not family life.
Q5) What is the future of the family?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Religion
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31938
Sample Questions
Q1) In 2008 the entire Jewish population of the world was about:
A) 900 million.
B) 500 million.
C) 13.5 million.
D) 6.5 million.
Q2) Religious beliefs usually support custom and tradition.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Islam, like Judaism, is a religion based on divine revelation.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Islam spread from Spain to the Philippines between the:
A) second century to the fourth century.
B) first century to the third century.
C) twelfth century to the fourteenth century.
D) seventh century to the eighteenth century.
Q5) What is the future of religion? Will religion continue to play a crucial role in society? Consider faith and the problems of religious institutions.
Q6) What are the central beliefs of two of the five major religions of the world?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 11
Chapter 10: Education
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31939
Sample Questions
Q1) The school structure of the U.S. is quite different from what is traditional in most countries.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What is the dual nature of the U.S. educational system? How does the educational system attempt to accomplish both objectives?
Q3) In 2012, U.S. education cost over:
A) 1 billion dollars.
B) 10 billion dollars.
C) 700 billion dollars.
D) 1.1 trillion dollars.
Q4) Uri Treisman's research work with black college math majors showed:
A) the unimportance of institutional structure in the math program.
B) the important role of ability in math program success.
C) the importance of collaborative learning in increasing the percentage of black math majors.
D) that there were many more black math majors at the University of Texas than any other group of people.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: Social and Economic Stratification
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
53 Verified Questions
53 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31940
Sample Questions
Q1) The people of every society can always be divided into groups.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What is the experience for those immigrating to the U.S. to work in the unskilled labor market?
A) They find there are no unskilled jobs available for immigrant laborers.
B) They rapidly move into the American middle class because their wages are so high.
C) They usually return to their native countries because they can't survive here on such low wages.
D) They make good money because our "low-wage" jobs are "high-wage" jobs for them.
Q3) People in a community who are somewhat similar in their economic status, their attitudes and beliefs, their educational attainments, their ways of living, the regard in which others hold them, and their power are called a(n):
A) neighborhood.
B) social class.
C) hierarchy.
D) peer group.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 13
Chapter 12: Stratification, Minorities, and Discrimination
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31941
Sample Questions
Q1) Myrdal states that the race problem in the U.S. is a:
A) simple problem.
B) black problem.
C) white problem.
D) disappearing problem.
Q2) In 1986 the mandatory retirement age was:
A) eliminated for most occupations.
B) lowered to 65.
C) raised to 70.
D) lowered to 55 for most occupations.
Q3) A group of people who identify with each other on the basis of common ancestry and cultural heritage is called a(n):
A) census group.
B) urban network.
C) migrant unit.
D) ethnic group.
Q4) Ethnic divisions in Bosnia and Rwanda in the 1990s led to the tragic slaughter of large numbers of people.
A)True
B)False
Page 14
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 13: The Functions and Forms of Government
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31942
Sample Questions
Q1) What are the primary functions of government? How do these functions help in better understanding what government is?
Q2) The belief in the rule of elite whose members have special abilities is called fascism.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Of all institutions of social control, government is the least inclusive.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Justice means:
A) the same things to all people.
B) different things to different people.
C) some are entitled to more than others.
D) inequality is the way of life.
Q5) In early 2000s about 20 percent of the countries of the world were autocracies.
A)True
B)False
Q6) The Magna Carta is a document that helps enforce the power of autocracies.
A)True
B)False
Page 15
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 14: Governments of the World
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31943
Sample Questions
Q1) The storming of the Bastille in 1789 began the:
A) American Revolution.
B) Prussian Invasion.
C) French Revolution.
D) Italian Independence Movement.
Q2) Mexico's Lazaro Cardenas redistributed almost fifty million acres of land from rich landlords to peasants.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A formal and constitutionally binding expression of preference in favor of the prime minister by the French parliament is called:
A) a censure motion.
B) an excommunication.
C) an impeachment.
D) a vote of confidence.
Q4) Saudi Arabia has no written constitution.
A)True
B)False
Q5) What is the Russian Federation? How is power divided in the Russian government?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 15: Democratic Government in the United States
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31944
Sample Questions
Q1) In the 2008 election, Senator Barack Obama promised to abide by the limits and accept federal money but then not to accept the money when he discovered he could raise more money through private donations.
A)True
B)False
Q2) A two-party system seldom shows sharp and clear-cut differences in program or principle.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Roughly estimated, there are approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. who could be considered the political and economic elite of our society.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Evaluate the democratic political process in the United States. What are the major elements and problems in the U.S. political process? Consider parties, elections, elites, pressure groups and the military-industrial complex.
Q5) What are the four major constitutional principles of the U.S. government? Why and how is each principle important?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 17
Chapter 16: The Organization of Economic Activities
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31945
Sample Questions
Q1) Soviet-style socialism was abandoned because:
A) soviet-style economies delivered too many goods.
B) new technologies gave the soviet-style economies an advantage.
C) a strong national consensus was maintained by the economy.
D) socialist economies were significantly lagging behind capitalist economies.
Q2) Which of the following is NOT a determination that an economy must perform?
A) The kinds of goods to be produced.
B) The amount of each good to be produced.
C) The resources that are to be allocated to its output.
D) The storage of the goods for those who are to enjoy them.
Q3) Economic goods are the objects of our economic wants and are the things that:
A) are constant in supply.
B) money can buy.
C) are never scarce.
D) are always impossible to place a price on.
Q4) As people moved into the city, the economic situation evolved into the mercantilist system, in which farming was favored over manufacturing or processing.
A)True
B)False
Q5) What were the reasons Soviet-style socialism was abandoned?
Page 18
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 17: The Economy, Government, and Economic Challenges Facing the United States
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31946
Sample Questions
Q1) Macroeconomic policies of government concern:
A) individuals.
B) only large states.
C) only general welfare as a whole.
D) only some parts of the larger economy.
Q2) Fluctuations in aggregate output are often called:
A) business cycles.
B) steady states.
C) events.
D) developments.
Q3) Economics alone provides a relatively easy answer to economic issues in the United States and there is little to be done politically.
A)True
B)False
Q4) One of the most controversial forms of government involvement in the economy is through microeconomics.
A)True
B)False
Page 19
Q5) Describe the problem facing the U.S. Social Security system.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 18: International Political Relations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31947
Sample Questions
Q1) England was one of the first nations-states.
A)True
B)False
Q2) During the century that followed the Congress of Vienna (1815), a fairly effective:
A) balance of power existed with no wars.
B) balance of terror existed because of the constant world wars.
C) balance of power was maintained.
D) peace persisted with no power adjustments.
Q3) Ideologues are individuals who:
A) can tolerate many different ideas.
B) can study ideologies in an objective manner.
C) are interested in the study of all ideologies but cannot decide which one is the best.
D) are so fixated on certain ideologies that they cannot reasonably examine opposing ideas.
Q4) Of all the sources of power, political power is the most important.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 20
Chapter 19: International Economic Relations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
56 Verified Questions
56 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31948
Sample Questions
Q1) In 1947, most Western nations agreed to a mutual effort to reduce trade barriers through the:
A) North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
B) Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
C) Security Council of the United Nations.
D) General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs.
Q2) After World War II, the Western world went on a modified gold standard.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In the mid-1990s, GATT was replaced by the:
A) Reciprocal Trade Group (RTG).
B) International Commerce Circle (ICC).
C) World Trade Organization (WTO).
D) Global Corporation Group (GCG).
Q4) Why do countries place restrictions on international trade? What are tariffs and import quotas? What are the arguments for and against protective tariffs?
Q5) The IMF has helped stabilize foreign exchange rates.
A)True B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 21
Chapter 20: The Political Economies of Developing Countries
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31949
Sample Questions
Q1) The Chinese one-child policy has been very successful in rural areas.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The largest and most populous country in the world is:
A) India.
B) the U.S.
C) Brazil.
D) China.
Q3) What is a developing country? What are the differences between a developed and developing country?
Q4) Today China is the world's fastest growing economy.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Maintenance of your idealism and love of your country is unimportant advice to an advisor to a developing country.
A)True
B)False
Page 22
Q6) What advice would you give to a potential leader of a developing country? What advice can you offer to help manage or solve the six major problems facing developing countries?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 23
Chapter 21: International Institutions and the Search for Peace
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/31950
Sample Questions
Q1) The United Nations officially sanctioned war against Iraq.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In 2011, the U.S. contribution or assessment toward paying for the United Nation's budget was about:
A) 22 percent.
B) 35 percent.
C) 15 percent.
D) 9 percent.
Q3) The UN Security Council is composed of twenty-five nations.
A)True
B)False
Q4) All of the following countries are permanent members of the UN Security Council EXCEPT:
A) the United Kingdom.
B) Germany.
C) Russia.
D) the United States.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 24
Q5) What are the causes of war? How have people and nation-states attempted to maintain peace?