Chapter Sixteen: Structural Sources of Social Change: Economic and Demographic
Immigrants from _____ countries have had to confront considerable hostility and suspicion since the terrorist
acts of September 11, 2001.
a. Muslim
b. Latin American
c. Eastern European
d. all
Learning Objective: LO 16.2: Critique the idea that immigrants are a threat to society.
Topic/Concept: The New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q16.2.31
The chapter argues that immigration can be understood as an act of _____, because people make a choice to
leave all they know behind in order to come to a new place for economic opportunity or to flee repression.
a. folly
b. human agency
c. terrorism
d. hubris
Learning Objective: LO 16.2: Critique the idea that immigrants are a threat to society.
Topic/Concept: The New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q16.2.32
Which term refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture of another group, losing their
original identity?
a. Immigration
b. Acculturation
c. Assimilation
d. Socialization
Learning Objective: LO 16.2: Critique the idea that immigrants are a threat to society.
Topic/Concept: The New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.2.33
In Conflict and Order, 14th edition
Peter, a third-generation Mexican American, goes by this name instead of his birth name (Pedro) because he
does not speak Spanish and just finds it easier. He works as an architect and is married to a young woman of
Korean descent who only speaks Korean with her parents. As a member of an ethnic minority whose life is no
different from his White peers, Peter can be considered
a. an illegal immigrant.
b. socialized.
c. diverse.
d. assimilated.
Learning Objective: LO 16.2: Critique the idea that immigrants are a threat to society.
Topic/Concept: The New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q16.3.34
In 1900 about one in 25 residents of the United States was 65 years and older. By 2030, that ratio will likely be
around one in _____ residents, with more people over 65 than under 18.
a. 5
b. 10
c. 12
d. 20
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.3.35
Up until the 20th century, the United States was a youthful nation. What has changed that situation?
a. The nation is now more than 200 years old.
b. A falling birthrate combined with greater longevity.
c. Immigration is mostly among people age 50 or older.
d. The birthrate is rising thanks to modern technology.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q16.3.36
Chapter Sixteen: Structural Sources of Social Change: Economic and Demographic
There are several categories of elderly people, due in part to the fact that old people in our society are living
longer. People age 85 and older fall into the category of the
a. young-old.
b. middle-old.
c. old-old.
d. older than old.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q16.3.37
Henry is a healthy baby boy who was just born today. Based on current projections, his chance of living to be
100 is
a. highly unlikely.
b. about one in 200.
c. practically guaranteed.
d. about fifty-fifty.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q16.3.38
Because life expectancy is about five years more for women than men, older women outnumber older men by a
ratio of
a. three to two.
b. four to five.
c. 10 to one.
d. 20 to one.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.3.39
In Conflict and Order, 14th edition
About _____ of elderly women and _____ of elderly men live alone in the United States.
a. 40%; 19%
b. 55%; 42%
c. 75%; 68%
d. 91%; 60%
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.3.40
Women’s greater longevity, the social norm for men to marry younger women, and the traditional Social
Security bias against women combine to create two problems for elderly women: _____ and _____.
a. remarriage; excess income
b. boredom; health problems
c. isolation; poverty
d. job security; injuries
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q16.3.41
Currently, the largest racial–ethnic group among the elderly in the United States is
a. Asian Americans.
b. Latinos.
c. African Americans.
d. Whites.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.3.42
On average, life expectancy for an African American is about _____ years than for a White person the same
age.
a. four fewer
b. four more
c. 40 fewer
d. 40 more
Chapter Sixteen: Structural Sources of Social Change: Economic and Demographic
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.3.43
Marilyn and Carolyn are both retirees from Detroit, Michigan. Marilyn has decided that she is fed up with
winter and is moving to Phoenix, Arizona. Carolyn is going to stay in Detroit. Based on the chapter, which of
the following statements is most likely to be true?
a. Marilyn is older than Carolyn.
b. Marilyn is more affluent than Carolyn.
c. Marilyn requires more public assistantce than Carolyn.
d. Marilyn is less affluent than Carolyn.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q16.3.44
Personal income is usually reduced by one-third to one-half after retirement. Research shows that in old age,
the poor get _____ and the affluent _____.
a. not much poorer; increase their economic advantage
b. somewhat poorer; get much poorer
c. poorer; maintain their economic advantage
d. richer; lose their economic advantage
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q16.3.45
The higher probability of older African Americans being poor is a direct consequence of their
a. cultural unwillingness to care for the elderly.
b. unwillingness to pay into the Social Security Administration.
c. failure to plan.
d. cumulative disadvantages over a life span.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
In Conflict and Order, 14th edition
TB_Q16.3.46
Social Security is a(n) _____ tax, meaning it takes a larger percentage from people with the lowest incomes.
a. regressive
b. progressive
c. agressive
d. adjustable
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q16.3.47
What is defined as the proportion of the population who are workers compared to the proportion not working?
a. Ratio scale
b. Dependency ratio
c. Nominally unemployed
d. Chronically employed
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q16.3.48
The elderly make up about 13% of the U.S. population, and consume _____ of all health care in the United
States.
a. about a quarter
b. more than one-third
c. almost half
d. 89%
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.3.49
Chapter Sixteen: Structural Sources of Social Change: Economic and Demographic
Financed by payroll taxes, premiums paid by recipients, and a government subsidy, _____ automatically
entitles everyone to hospital insurance, home health care, and hospice care through this program.
a. Medicaid Part B
b. Medicaid Part A
c. Medicare Part B
d. Medicare Part A
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q16.3.50
Currently, the elderly account for around 20% of the voting public. By 2038, they are projected to make up
_____ of the electorate.
a. almost 60%
b. at least half
c. more than one-third
d. only about 15%
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Essay Questions
TB_Q16.1.51
Discuss the three major turning points in human history mentioned in the chapter that transformed society.
Learning Objective: LO 16.1: Understand how globalization and the economy affect individual workers.
Topic/Concept: Globalization and the Structural Transformation of the Economy
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q16.1.52
In Conflict and Order, 14th edition
Discuss the effects of increasing economic globalization.
Learning Objective: LO 16.1: Understand how globalization and the economy affect individual workers.
Topic/Concept: Globalization and the Structural Transformation of the Economy
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q16.2.53
Compare and contrast the situation in America in which unauthorized immigrants are forbidden from holding
jobs with the practice of outsourcing or offshoring jobs to other countries.
Learning Objective: LO 16.2: Critique the idea that immigrants are a threat to society.
Topic/Concept: The New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q16.3.54
Discuss demographic trends related to aging in the United States. How do gender and race factor into the issues
of an aging population?
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Chapter Sixteen: Structural Sources of Social Change: Economic and Demographic
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q16.3.55
Discuss the ways that Social Security disadvantages women.
Learning Objective: LO 16.3: Explain the consequences for society as the elderly population increases.
Topic/Concept: The Aging Society
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It