Global Inequality - Practice Quiz

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  • 1/15 Questions

    Maya is a 12-year-old girl living in Thailand. She is homeless, and often does not know where she will sleep or when she will eat. We might say that Maya lives in _________ poverty.

    • Subjective
    • Absolute
    • Relative
    • Global
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About This Quiz

This quiz explores global inequality through sociological theories including modernization and dependency theories. It assesses understanding of economic disparities, cultural biases, and the impact of globalization on different nations. Relevant for learners interested in social sciences and global issues.

Global Inequality - Practice Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    In an American town, a mining company owns all the stores and most of the houses. They sell goods to the workers at inflated prices, offer house rentals for twice what a mortgage would be, and make sure to always pay the workers less than needed to cover food and rent. Once the workers are in debt, they have no choice but to continue working for the company, since their skills will not transfer to a new position. This most closely resembles:

    • Child slavery

    • Chattel slavery

    • Debt slavery

    • Servile marriage

    Correct Answer
    A. Debt slavery
    Explanation
    The given scenario describes a situation where the mining company exploits its workers by creating a cycle of debt that forces them to continue working for the company. The workers are paid less than what is required to cover their basic needs, and they are charged inflated prices for goods and housing. This is a form of debt slavery, as the workers are trapped in a state of indebtedness and have no other viable options for employment due to the specific skills required for the job.

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  • 3. 

    A ____________ perspective theorist might find it particularly noteworthy that wealthy corporations improve the quality of life in peripheral nations by providing workers with jobs, pumping money into the local economy, and improving transportation infrastructure.

    • Functional

    • Conflict

    • Feminist

    • Symbolic interactionist

    Correct Answer
    A. Functional
    Explanation
    A functional perspective theorist would find it particularly noteworthy that wealthy corporations improve the quality of life in peripheral nations by providing workers with jobs, pumping money into the local economy, and improving transportation infrastructure. The functional perspective focuses on how different parts of society work together to maintain stability and order. In this case, the wealthy corporations are seen as playing a functional role in society by providing employment opportunities and contributing to economic development, which ultimately improves the quality of life for individuals in peripheral nations.

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  • 4. 

    Mike, a college student, rents a studio apartment. He cannot afford a television and lives on cheap groceries like dried beans and ramen noodles. Since he does not have a regular job, he does not own a car. Mike is living in:

    • Global poverty

    • Absolute poverty

    • Subjective poverty

    • Relative poverty

    Correct Answer
    A. Relative poverty
    Explanation
    Relative poverty refers to a situation where an individual or group lacks the resources or income compared to the average population in their society. In this case, Mike's inability to afford a television, his reliance on cheap groceries, and not owning a car indicate that he has fewer resources and a lower income compared to the average college student. Thus, he is experiencing relative poverty.

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  • 5. 

    Faith has a full-time job and two children. She has enough money for the basics and can pay her rent each month, but she feels that, with her education and experience, her income should be enough for her family to live much better than they do. Faith is experiencing:

    • Global poverty

    • Subjective poverty

    • Absolute poverty

    • Relative poverty

    Correct Answer
    A. Subjective poverty
    Explanation
    Faith is experiencing subjective poverty. Subjective poverty refers to the perception of being poor based on an individual's own standards and expectations, rather than on objective measures of poverty. In this case, Faith feels that her income should be sufficient for her family to live better, indicating that her perception of poverty is based on her personal expectations and aspirations.

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  • 6. 

    Slavery in the pre-Civil War American South most closely resembled

    • Chattel slavery

    • Debt bondage

    • Relative poverty

    • Peonage

    Correct Answer
    A. Chattel slavery
    Explanation
    Chattel slavery is the correct answer because it closely resembles the type of slavery that existed in the pre-Civil War American South. Chattel slavery refers to a system where enslaved individuals are treated as property and can be bought, sold, and owned by others. This system was prevalent in the American South, where enslaved people were considered legal property and had no rights or freedoms. Debt bondage, relative poverty, and peonage may have existed to some extent during this time, but they do not accurately capture the nature of slavery in the American South.

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  • 7. 

    If a sociologist says that nations evolve towards more advanced technology and more complex industry as their citizens learn cultural values that celebrate hard work and success, she is using _______ theory to study the global economy.

    • Modernization theory

    • Dependency theory

    • Modern dependency theory

    • Evolutionary dependency theory

    Correct Answer
    A. Modernization theory
    Explanation
    The sociologist in this question is using modernization theory to study the global economy. Modernization theory suggests that nations develop and progress as their citizens adopt cultural values that emphasize hard work and success. This theory views technological advancement and industrialization as key indicators of a nation's development. It posits that societies evolve from traditional to modern forms through a process of cultural change and economic development.

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  • 8. 

    France might be classified as which kind of nation?

    • Global

    • Core

    • Semi-peripheral

    • Peripheral

    Correct Answer
    A. Core
    Explanation
    France might be classified as a core nation because it is a highly developed country with a strong economy, advanced infrastructure, and a high standard of living. Core nations are typically the most industrialized and technologically advanced countries that dominate the global economy and have significant political and cultural influence. France's status as a core nation is further supported by its membership in organizations like the G7 and its position as one of the world's largest economies.

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  • 9. 

    A sociologist who focuses on the way that multinational corporations headquartered in core nations exploit the local workers in their peripheral nation factories is using a _________ perspective to understand the global economy.

    • Functional

    • Conflict theory

    • Feminist

    • Symbolic interactionist

    Correct Answer
    A. Conflict theory
    Explanation
    The sociologist is using a conflict theory perspective to understand the global economy because conflict theory focuses on the power struggles and inequalities that exist within society, particularly between different social groups. In this case, the sociologist is examining how multinational corporations from core nations exploit local workers in peripheral nation factories, which involves a conflict between the interests of the corporations and the well-being of the workers. Conflict theory helps to highlight the systemic inequalities and exploitation that occur within the global economy.

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  • 10. 

    One flaw in dependency theory is the unwillingness to recognize _______.

    • That previously low-income nations such as China have successfully developed their economies and can no longer be classified as dependent on core nations

    • That previously high-income nations such as China have been economically overpowered by low-income nations entering the global marketplace

    • That countries such as China are growing more dependent on core nations

    • That countries such as China do not necessarily want to be more like core nations

    Correct Answer
    A. That previously low-income nations such as China have successfully developed their economies and can no longer be classified as dependent on core nations
    Explanation
    Dependency theory argues that low-income nations are dependent on core nations for economic development. However, the given answer suggests that this theory fails to recognize that previously low-income nations like China have successfully developed their economies and are no longer dependent on core nations. This highlights a flaw in the theory's assumption that dependency is a permanent state for all nations.

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  • 11. 

    A sociologist working from a symbolic interaction perspective would:

    • Study how inequality is created and reproduced

    • Study how corporations can improve the lives of their low-income workers

    • Try to understand how companies provide an advantage to high-income nations compared to low-income nations

    • Want to interview women working in factories to understand how they manage the expectations of their supervisors, make ends meet, and support their households on a day-to-day basis

    Correct Answer
    A. Want to interview women working in factories to understand how they manage the expectations of their supervisors, make ends meet, and support their households on a day-to-day basis
    Explanation
    A sociologist working from a symbolic interaction perspective would want to interview women working in factories to understand how they manage the expectations of their supervisors, make ends meet, and support their households on a day-to-day basis. This perspective focuses on how individuals interact and interpret symbols in their social interactions, and how these interactions shape their understanding of the world. By interviewing women in factories, the sociologist can gain insights into the meanings and symbols they use to navigate their work and personal lives, shedding light on the social dynamics and inequalities present in their experiences.

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  • 12. 

    In the past, the United States manufactured clothes. Many clothing corporations have shut down their American factories and relocated to China. This is an example of:

    • Conflict theory

    • OECD

    • Global inequality

    • Capital flight

    Correct Answer
    A. Capital flight
    Explanation
    The relocation of clothing corporations from the United States to China represents capital flight. Capital flight refers to the movement of capital (in this case, factories and manufacturing operations) from one country to another in search of lower labor costs, favorable regulations, or other economic advantages. In this scenario, the clothing corporations have shut down their American factories and moved them to China, indicating a shift of capital and production away from the United States. This phenomenon is often driven by the desire to reduce costs and increase profitability.

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  • 13. 

    Dependency theorists explain global inequality and global stratification by focusing on the way that:

    • Core nations and peripheral nations exploit semi-peripheral nations

    • Semi-peripheral nations exploit core nations

    • Peripheral nations exploit core nations

    • Core nations exploit peripheral nations

    Correct Answer
    A. Core nations exploit peripheral nations
    Explanation
    Dependency theorists argue that global inequality and stratification occur because core nations exploit peripheral nations. Core nations, which are typically wealthier and more developed, dominate and exploit peripheral nations through economic and political means. They extract resources and labor from peripheral nations while keeping them dependent on their economic and political systems. This exploitation perpetuates the underdevelopment and poverty of peripheral nations, contributing to global inequality.

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  • 14. 

    If a sociologist points out that core nations dominate the global economy, in part by creating global interest rates and international tariffs that will inevitably favor high-income nations over low-income nations, he is a:

    • Functionalist

    • Dependency theorist

    • Modernization theorist

    • Symbolic interactionist

    Correct Answer
    A. Dependency theorist
    Explanation
    A dependency theorist would argue that core nations dominate the global economy by creating global interest rates and international tariffs that benefit high-income nations over low-income nations. This theory focuses on the unequal power dynamics between wealthy and developing nations and how the global economic system perpetuates this inequality. Dependency theorists believe that the economic development of low-income nations is hindered by the dependency on and exploitation by more powerful nations. They critique the modernization theory's belief in linear progress and argue that true development can only be achieved by challenging the existing global economic order.

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  • 15. 

    One flaw in modernization theory is the unwillingness to recognize _________.

    • That semi-peripheral nations are incapable of industrializing

    • That peripheral nations prevent semi-peripheral nations from entering the global market

    • Its inherent ethnocentric bias

    • The importance of semi-peripheral nations industrializing

    Correct Answer
    A. Its inherent ethnocentric bias
    Explanation
    Modernization theory is flawed because it fails to acknowledge its own inherent ethnocentric bias. This means that the theory is based on the assumption that Western societies are superior and that other nations should strive to emulate them. This bias overlooks the unique histories, cultures, and contexts of non-Western nations, which may require different paths to development. By ignoring this bias, modernization theory undermines its own validity and effectiveness in understanding and addressing global development challenges.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Mar 31, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Dwessler
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