Question 1

Which of the following best describes the sociological understanding of race?

Accepted Answer

Race is a social construct, not a biological fact.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the five characteristics of minority groups as described by Wagley and Harris (1958)?

Accepted Answer

Voluntary group membership

Question 3

Which scenario best illustrates scapegoat theory?

Accepted Answer

A dominant group blames a subordinate group for economic downturns and directs aggression toward them.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of institutional racism?

Accepted Answer

Redlining, where banks refuse mortgages in minority neighborhoods.

Question 5

What is the main difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Accepted Answer

Prejudice refers to beliefs and attitudes, while discrimination refers to actions.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes color-blind racism?

Accepted Answer

Ignoring race and failing to recognize the social realities of minority groups.

Question 7

Which historical event is an example of expulsion as an intergroup relation?

Accepted Answer

The forced relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps during WWII.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of amalgamation?

Accepted Answer

Intermarriage between different racial groups resulting in a new, blended group.

Question 9

According to functionalist theory, what is one function of racism in society?

Accepted Answer

It strengthens the bonds of the dominant group by ostracizing minorities.

Question 10

Which theory suggests that prejudice is embedded in our culture and reinforced through everyday interactions and media?

Accepted Answer

Culture of prejudice theory

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the concept of white privilege?

Accepted Answer

Unearned advantages received simply because one is perceived as white.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of de jure segregation?

Accepted Answer

Jim Crow laws enforcing separate facilities for Black and White Americans.

Question 13

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of pluralism?

Accepted Answer

A society where multiple cultures coexist and retain their unique identities.

Question 14

Which Supreme Court case declared that segregated schools were a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Accepted Answer

Brown v. Board of Education

Question 15

Which sociological theory focuses on the struggles between the white ruling class and racial and ethnic minorities?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory

Question 16

Which of the following is a real-world example of the model minority stereotype?

Accepted Answer

Assuming all Asian Americans achieve high educational and socioeconomic success without protest.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes intersection theory?

Accepted Answer

It examines how race, class, gender, and other attributes combine to shape individual experiences.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of assimilation?

Accepted Answer

A minority group giving up its language and traditions to adopt those of the dominant culture.

Question 19

Which of the following is a historical example of genocide?

Accepted Answer

The Holocaust during World War II.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the contact hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Intergroup contact under equal status and common goals can reduce stereotypes and prejudice.

Race and Ethnicity: Structured Study Notes for Introduction to Sociology

Study Guide - Practice Questions