Chapter 3 Reading Questions

chapter 3 Reading Questions 3.1 What Is Culture? 1. The terms _________________ and ______________ are often used interchangeably but have nuances that differentiate them. a. imperialism and relativism b. culture and society c. society and ethnocentrism d. ethnocentrism and xenocentrism 2. The American flag is a material object that denotes the United States of America; however, there are certain connotations that many associate with the flag, like bravery and freedom. In this example, what are bravery and freedom? a. Symbols b. Language c. Material culture d. Nonmaterial culture 3. The belief that one’s culture is inferior to another culture is called: a. Ethnocentrism b. Nationalism c. Xenocentrism d. Imperialism 4. Rodney and Elise are U.S. students studying abroad in Italy. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. When Rodney’s host brother introduces himself and kisses Rodney on both cheeks, Rodney pulls back in surprise. Where he is from, unless they are romantically involved, men do not kiss one another. This is an example of: a. culture shock b. imperialism c. ethnocentrism d. xenocentrism 5. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. Likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. Music and laughter are examples of: a. Relativism b. Ethnocentrism c. Xenocentrism d. Universalism 3.2 Elements of Culture 8. A nation’s flag is: a. A symbol b. A value c. A culture d. A folkway 9. The existence of social norms, both formal and informal, is one of the main things that inform ___________, otherwise known as a way to encourage social conformity. a. Values b. Sanctions c. social control d. Mores 10. The biggest difference between mores and folkways is that a. mores are primarily linked to morality, whereas folkways are primarily linked to being commonplace within a culture b. mores are absolute, whereas folkways are temporary c. mores refer to material culture, whereas folkways refer to nonmaterial culture d. mores refer to nonmaterial culture, whereas folkways refer to material culture 11. The notion that people cannot feel or experience something that they do not have a word for can be explained by: a. Linguistics b. Sapir-Whorf c. Ethnographic imagery d. Bilingualism 12. Cultural sanctions can also be viewed as ways that society: a. Establishes leaders b. Determines language c. Regulates behavior d. Determines laws 3.3 Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change 15. An example of high culture is ___________, whereas an example of popular culture would be ____________. a. Dostoevsky style in film; “American Idol” winners b. medical marijuana; film noir c. country music; pop music d. political theory; sociological theory 16. The Ku Klux Klan is an example of what part of culture? e. Counterculture f. Subculture g. Multiculturalism h. Afrocentricity 17. Modern-day hipsters are an example of: i. Ethnocentricity j. Counterculture k. Subculture l. high culture 18. Your eighty-three-year-old grandmother has been using a computer for some time now. As a way to keep in touch, you frequently send emails of a few lines to let her know about your day. She calls after every email to respond point by point, but she has never emailed a response back. This can be viewed as an example of: m. cultural lag n. innovation o. ethnocentricity p. xenophobia 19. Some jobs today advertise in multinational markets and permit telecommuting in lieu of working from a primary location. This broadening of the job market and the way that jobs are performed can be attributed to: a. cultural lag b. innovation c. discovery d. globalization 20. The major difference between invention and discovery is: a. Invention is based on technology, whereas discovery is usually based on culture b. Discovery involves finding something that already exists, but invention puts things together in a new way c. Invention refers to material culture, whereas discovery can be material or theoretic, like laws of physics d. Invention is typically used to refer to international objects, whereas discovery refers to that which is local to one’s culture 21. That McDonald’s is found in almost every country around the world is an example of: a. Globalization b. Diffusion c. culture lag d. xenocentrism 3.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Culture 25. A sociologist conducts research into the ways that Hispanic American students are historically underprivileged in the U.S. education system. What theoretical approach is the sociologist using? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism 26. The Occupy Wall Street movement of 2011 grew to be an international movement. Supporters believe that the economic disparity between the highest economic class and the mid to lower economic classes is growing at an exponentially alarming rate. A sociologist who studies that movement by examining the interactions between members at Occupy camps would most likely use what theoretical approach? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism 27. What theoretical perspective views society as having a system of interdependent inherently connected parts? a. Sociobiology b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism 28. The “American Dream”—the notion that anybody can be successful and rich if they work hard enough—is most commonly associated with which sociological theory? a. Sociobiology b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism