Chapter 4 Practice Test

1. Americans think it very important that everyone should be

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Economically equal.
Politically equal.
Both politically and economically equal.
Neither politically nor economically equal
Political equal if economically advanced.

2. Which of the following is not among the important elements in the American view of the political
system?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Civic duty
Individualism
Equality of opportunity
Democracy
Equality of condition

3. Scholars infer the existence of political culture by observing

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

The kinds of books Americans read.

The political choices Americans make.
The slogans Americans respond to
The speeches Americans hear.
All of the above.

4. The Civil War provides an illustration of

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Political behavior inconsistent with personal values.

A radical rejection by the Confederacy of the constitutional order.
How governments cannot last long without internal conflict.
The conflict between existing constitutional values and institutional values.
The persistence of shared beliefs about how a democratic regime ought to be organized.

5. One important piece of evidence that Americans have believed themselves bound by common
values and common hopes has been
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

That free elections could indeed be conducted.

Their hostile attitudes toward free speech.
Their use of the word Americanism
The importance of the frontier in American history.
Their tendency toward idealism.

6. When a 1924 study in Muncie, Indiana, was repeated in 1977, it found that 1977 respondents
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Judged those who failed more harshly.

Were more sympathetic with failure.
Had about the same attitudes as 1924 respondents.
Were more critical of those who had great wealth.
Were much more desirous of material success.

7. Compared with people in other democracies, Americans are particularly preoccupied with
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Elections.
The assertion of rights.
Social harmony.
Institutions
Equality.

8. Compared with Americans, the Japanese are more likely to

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Emphasize the virtues of individualism and competition in social relations.

Reach decisions through discussion rather than the application of rules.
Emphasize the virtue of treating others fairly but impersonally, with due regard for their rights.
See conflict as a means of getting to know and understand the psyche of other people.
Rely on individual decision making rather that decisions made by groups.

9. The classic study of political culture by Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba concluded Americans:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Were generally much like the citizens in four other nations.

Exhibited little that could be described as culture.
Had a stronger sense of civic duty than citizens in other nations.
Had a stronger sense of civic competence than citizens in other nations.
Had a stronger sense of civic duty and competence than citizens of other nations.

10. Almond and Verba found some degree of similarity between citizens of the U.S. and citizens of
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Germany
Great Britain
Italy
Mexico
Sweden

11. A 1985 study by Sidney Verba and Gary Orren compared the views of trade union and political
party leaders in the United States and
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Germany
Great Britain
Italy
Mexico
Sweden

12. Which statement is incorrect?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

In the 1830s, Tocqueville was amazed at how religious Americans were.

The average American is more likely to believe in God that the average European.
Religious revival movements of the 1700s transformed political life in the colonies.
Today, America is less religious than most European countries.
Candidates for national office in most contemporary democracies rarely mention religion.

13. According to the text, the notion that religious organizations that deliver social services deserve to
receive government funding
a. Was criticized by Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election.
b. Was criticized by George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential election.
c. Was favored, in 2000, by three-quarters of Americans.

d. Is more acceptable in other nations than it is in America.

e. Is not popular among African Americans who are Democrats.
14. The American preoccupation with assertion and maintenance of rights has imbued the daily
conduct of U.S. politics with
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Irregular sensitivity.
A willingness to compromise at great costs.
A lack of concern about the larger issues of politics.
A kind of adversarial spirit
Confusion.

15. While there has been no established religion in the U.S., there has certainly been a dominant
religious tradition. That tradition can best be described as
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Catholicism
Protestantism
Protestantism, especially Lutheranism
Protestantism, especially Puritanism
None of the above

16. Which of the following statements about class-consciousness in America is true?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

It has been relatively unimportant.

It powerfully affects attitudes.
It is particularly salient among the unemployed.
It implies an ideology of class struggle.
It steers the campaigns of most presidential candidates.

17. The culture war is basically a conflict over

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Economic issues.
Foreign affairs.
International norms.
Differing religious ideologies.
Private and public morality.

18. America has always had cultural conflicts, but they have acquired special importance today as a
result of
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

A growing number of traditionalists.

An increasing gap between the haves and have-nots.
The decline of political parties.
A growing number of progressives and the rise of the news media.
Conflict between Catholic, Protestant and Jewish leaders.

19. The increase in cynicism toward our government has been specifically directed at
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Officials and policies.

The system of government itself.
The Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence.
Capitalism in America.

20. When people feel that they have a say in what the government does, that public officials will pay
attention to them, and that politics is understandable, they have a sense of political
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Trust
Tolerance
Efficacy
Legitimacy
Reciprocity

21. Which is a correct description of trends in the political efficacy of Americans from the mid-1960s to
today?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Internal efficacy has dramatically increased.

External efficacy has dramatically increased.
Internal efficacy and external efficacy have dramatically increased.
Internal efficacy appears to be in decline while external efficacy has remained the same.
Internal efficacy appears to be the same while external efficacy appears to be in decline.

22. A study of national opinion y Herbert McClosky and Alida Ball concluded:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Americans are generally more tolerant than their community leaders.

Americans do not support freedom of worship for extremist religious groups.
Community leaders tend to be more tolerant than the average American.
Americans have become increasingly tolerant.
Americans opposed nonviolent protests on college campuses.

23. The McClosky and Ball study provided evidence that _______ were particularly tolerant of
controversial political activities.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Ministers
Lawyers
Public administrators
Teachers
The Police

24. Judgments about political tolerance should be made with caution because
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Americans rarely have a clear idea of what is meant by the word tolerance.
There is actually very little reliable data on the topic.
There is so very little intolerance in the world.
No nation is completely tolerant of every kind of political activity.
One persons intolerance is another persons civic concern.