Social Stratification and Mobility MCQs 2026

Social stratification refers to

1. AA temporary crowd formation✓
2. BA process of socialization✓
3. CHierarchical ranking of groups in society✓
4. DA method of data collection✓

An ascribed status is a status that is

1. AAssigned at birth or involuntarily✓
2. BEarned through education✓
3. CChosen after employment✓
4. DBased only on income✓

An achieved status is one that is mainly

1. AInherited from parents✓
2. BAcquired through effort or performance✓
3. CFixed by birth forever✓
4. DGiven by caste alone✓

A caste system is most strongly marked by

1. AFree occupational choice✓
2. BHigh social mobility✓
3. CTemporary political roles✓
4. DHereditary rank and endogamy✓

A class system differs from a caste system because it is generally

1. AMore open to social mobility✓
2. BBased only on ritual purity✓
3. CCompletely closed by birth✓
4. DUnrelated to economic position✓

According to Karl Marx, social classes are primarily based on

1. AAge categories✓
2. BReligious rituals✓
3. CRelation to the means of production✓
4. DLanguage differences✓

Max Weber analyzed stratification through class, status and

1. AKinship✓
2. BParty✓
3. CReligion only✓
4. DClimate✓

In Weberian sociology, a status group is mainly based on

1. AFactory ownership only✓
2. BBiological age✓
3. CRandom sampling✓
4. DSocial honour and prestige✓

In Weberian analysis, party refers mainly to

1. AFamily descent✓
2. BOrganized power in social action✓
3. CReligious ceremony✓
4. DBirth order✓

In Marxist theory, the bourgeoisie are those who

1. AOwn the means of production✓
2. BSell labour for wages only✓
3. CHave no property at all✓
4. DReject all industry✓

In Marxist theory, the proletariat mainly refers to people who

1. AOwn factories✓
2. BControl the state directly✓
3. CLive without work✓
4. DSell their labour power for wages✓

The Davis-Moore thesis argues that stratification

1. AIs always caused by colonialism✓
2. BHas no social function✓
3. CHelps fill important positions in society✓
4. DEnds all competition✓

Melvin Tumin criticized the Davis-Moore thesis mainly for ignoring

1. ABarriers that prevent talent from developing✓
2. BThe existence of occupations✓
3. CThe need for social roles✓
4. DThe fact of population growth✓

Social mobility means

1. AMovement of goods in markets✓
2. BMovement of persons or groups between strata✓
3. CMigration across borders only✓
4. DA form of crowd behaviour✓

Vertical mobility involves

1. AChanging residence only✓
2. BMoving within the same rank✓
3. CMovement up or down the hierarchy✓
4. DLearning a new language✓

Horizontal mobility is best shown by

1. AA worker becoming company owner✓
2. BA rich family losing all property✓
3. CA peasant entering nobility✓
4. DA teacher moving to a similar school post✓

Intergenerational mobility compares social position between

1. AParents and children✓
2. BTwo offices in one firm✓
3. CNeighbours of the same age✓
4. DMembers of one classroom✓

Intragenerational mobility refers to mobility

1. ABetween ethnic groups only✓
2. BAcross three generations✓
3. CWithin a person's own lifetime✓
4. DOnly through marriage✓

Upward mobility occurs when a person

1. AMoves to a similar job✓
2. BMoves to a higher social position✓
3. CLeaves school early✓
4. DLoses occupational status✓

Downward mobility means movement to

1. AA lower social position✓
2. BA similar rank✓
3. CA different city only✓
4. DA new friendship group✓

Structural mobility is caused mainly by

1. APersonal hobbies✓
2. BBirth order✓
3. CInterview schedules✓
4. DChanges in the economy or occupational structure✓

Circulation mobility refers to

1. ABiological circulation✓
2. BPeople exchanging positions within a stable structure✓
3. COnly rural migration✓
4. DA caste ritual✓

An open stratification system is one in which

1. ARank is fixed only by birth✓
2. BMobility is impossible✓
3. CMovement between strata is relatively possible✓
4. DMarriage rules decide every job✓

A closed stratification system is one that

1. AHas no ranking at all✓
2. BRewards only merit✓
3. CEncourages occupational choice✓
4. DSeverely restricts social mobility✓

Social inequality means unequal distribution of

1. AValued resources and opportunities✓
2. BOnly weather conditions✓
3. CRandom questionnaire items✓
4. DBiological instincts✓

The term life chances is strongly associated with

1. AAuguste Comte✓
2. BMax Weber✓
3. CHerbert Spencer✓
4. DTalcott Parsons only✓

Prestige in stratification refers to

1. AAmount of rainfall✓
2. BOnly physical strength✓
3. CSocial respect and honour✓
4. DA sampling method✓

Power is commonly defined in sociology as the ability to

1. ACarry out one's will despite resistance✓
2. BAvoid all conflict✓
3. CMeasure income only✓
4. DReject social action✓

Classical elite theory is especially associated with

1. AG. H. Mead and Cooley✓
2. BDurkheim and Parsons✓
3. CMalthus and Ricardo✓
4. DVilfredo Pareto and Gaetano Mosca✓

The concept of the power elite is most closely linked with

1. ARobert Merton✓
2. BC. Wright Mills✓
3. CEmile Durkheim✓
4. DBronislaw Malinowski✓

Absolute poverty refers to

1. ALack of political party membership✓
2. BBeing less rich than neighbours✓
3. CInability to meet basic survival needs✓
4. DA temporary change of job✓

Relative poverty is measured by comparing people with

1. AAncient empires only✓
2. BBiological standards✓
3. CLaboratory results✓
4. DThe normal living standard of their society✓

The feminization of poverty means that

1. AWomen form a disproportionate share of the poor✓
2. BOnly men experience unemployment✓
3. CPoverty has no gender pattern✓
4. DAll women belong to one class✓

The glass ceiling refers to

1. AA formal caste council✓
2. BInvisible barriers to higher advancement✓
3. CA type of rural housing✓
4. DA method of observation✓

Social closure means

1. AOpening all occupations equally✓
2. BEnding every group boundary✓
3. CMeasuring only income✓
4. DRestricting access to opportunities and rewards✓

Status inconsistency occurs when a person

1. AHas no social position✓
2. BBelongs to one family only✓
3. CRanks high on one dimension and low on another✓
4. DRefuses all mobility✓

Meritocracy is a system in which rewards are ideally based on

1. ABirth alone✓
2. BAbility and achievement✓
3. CCaste purity✓
4. DKinship seniority✓

Equality of opportunity means that people should have

1. AFair chances to compete for positions✓
2. BIdentical incomes in every job✓
3. CNo education system✓
4. DOnly inherited occupations✓

An estate system is historically associated with

1. APurely open competition✓
2. BModern online work only✓
3. CLegally defined feudal ranks✓
4. DAbsence of land rights✓

Slavery as a stratification system is based on

1. AFree labour contracts✓
2. BOpen class competition✓
3. CPurely voluntary service✓
4. DOwnership of persons as property✓

Apartheid in South Africa was a system of

1. AInstitutionalized racial segregation✓
2. BPure merit-based selection✓
3. CComplete classlessness✓
4. DVoluntary migration✓

Exogamy means marriage

1. AOnly within caste✓
2. BOnly within class✓
3. COutside one's group✓
4. DWithout family approval✓

Social mobility is commonly measured through changes in

1. AWeather and climate✓
2. BFavourite foods✓
3. CBlood groups✓
4. DOccupation, education or income✓

Occupational prestige refers to

1. ANumber of workers only✓
2. BSocial evaluation of an occupation✓
3. CLength of daily commute✓
4. DType of questionnaire used✓

The phrase social ladder is commonly used to describe

1. AA hierarchy of higher and lower positions✓
2. BOnly biological evolution✓
3. CA survey scale for attitudes✓
4. DA religious ritual✓

Gender stratification means unequal ranking based on

1. AOnly age categories✓
2. BVillage size✓
3. CGender and sex-related roles✓
4. DInterview length✓

Ethnic stratification occurs when hierarchy is organized around

1. AEthnic or racial group membership✓
2. BOnly taste in music✓
3. CRandom numbers✓
4. DLaboratory performance✓

Credentialism refers to reliance on

1. AKinship rituals✓
2. BPhysical strength alone✓
3. CVillage residence✓
4. DFormal qualifications for allocating positions✓

Cumulative advantage means that

1. AAdvantages disappear immediately✓
2. BEarly advantages tend to build over time✓
3. COnly poor groups gain power✓
4. DEvery society is classless✓

Sustainable reduction of stratification typically requires

1. Apolicy on education, taxation, labor rights and anti-discrimination enforcement✓
2. Bignoring institutional power completely always✓
3. Crelying on folklore without structural reform✓
4. Dbanning all social research on inequality✓

Ascribed stratification differs from achieved stratification because ascribed rank is

1. Aalways earned through competitive exams only✓
2. Bchanged daily by fashion choices alone✓
3. Cassigned by birth or fixed characteristics rather than individual accomplishment✓
4. Dunrelated to family or ethnicity ever✓

Relative deprivation theory explains unrest when

1. Aabsolute poverty is absent always and expectations irrelevant✓
2. Bpeople feel disadvantaged compared to reference groups✓
3. Ceveryone is satisfied regardless of comparison✓
4. Dmobility has no psychological dimension ever✓

Proletarianization means

1. Aall workers become capitalists always✓
2. Bfeudal lords gain more land without labor✓
3. Cmobility ends in post-industrial society completely✓
4. Dmiddle strata lose autonomy and resemble wage workers✓

Power elite (Mills) refers to

1. Aall citizens sharing equal decision power always✓
2. Binterconnected leaders dominating corporate, state and military institutions✓
3. Conly local village headmen without national reach✓
4. Dstudents in universities exclusively✓

Caste-like endogamy pressures in South Asia can

1. Aguarantee complete open mobility always✓
2. Beliminate all family influence on marriage✓
3. Climit marriage across group boundaries and reinforce stratification✓
4. Dexist only in Western Europe historically✓

Upward intergenerational mobility in CSS exams context often links to

1. Aeducation, civil service entry and professional credentials✓
2. Bhereditary caste assignment only✓
3. Crandom lottery without study or merit✓
4. Dban on rural residents from urban jobs always✓

Tokenism involves

1. Afull democratic representation of all groups always✓
2. Babolishing all diversity policies everywhere✓
3. Cguaranteed proportional wealth for every ethnicity✓
4. Dsymbolic inclusion of minorities without real power sharing✓

Social exclusion refers to

1. Amarginalization from full participation in economic, social and political life✓
2. Bcomplete integration of all groups always✓
3. Conly temporary fashion trends among youth✓
4. Dmandatory membership in all clubs by law✓

Feminization of poverty suggests

1. Amen are always poorer in every country without exception✓
2. Bwomen disproportionately experience poverty worldwide✓
3. Cgender has no effect on economic vulnerability✓
4. Dpoverty affects only elderly men globally✓

Status inconsistency occurs when

1. Aall dimensions align perfectly always✓
2. Bmobility is illegal in open societies✓
3. Ca person's rankings on class, status or power diverge✓
4. Donly caste systems show any variation✓

Interlocking directorates illustrate how

1. Aworkers control all multinational firms always✓
2. Bmobility is impossible among executives✓
3. Csmall farmers dominate global finance exclusively✓
4. Dcorporate elites connect through shared board memberships✓

Income inequality is often measured by the

1. AGini coefficient ranging from 0 (equality) toward 1 (inequality)✓
2. Bliteracy rate of primary schools only✓
3. Cnumber of languages spoken nationally✓
4. Dtotal population count without distribution✓

Prestige occupational rankings in Pakistan often elevate

1. Aonly manual scavenging without exception always✓
2. Bunpaid household labor as highest honor universally✓
3. Cprofessions such as physicians, engineers and senior civil servants✓
4. Drandom occupations without social evaluation✓

Conflict theorists criticize functionalist stratification theory for

1. Aoveremphasizing class struggle excessively in all texts✓
2. Bignoring how elites use power to maintain privilege✓
3. Cdenying any role of institutions whatsoever always✓
4. Dsupporting only caste systems globally✓

Davis and Moore functionalist thesis argues stratification

1. Aonly produces conflict without any social function✓
2. Beliminates all incentives for work entirely✓
3. Cabolishes prestige differences completely✓
4. Dsorts talented individuals into important roles and motivates performance✓

Social mobility in industrial societies tends to be

1. Azero for all persons in every country✓
2. Bgreater than in rigid caste societies though still constrained✓
3. Cunlimited for everyone without barriers always✓
4. Dhigher in caste than in class systems always✓

In Pakistan, feudal landownership historically influenced

1. Aurban industrial unions exclusively without agriculture✓
2. Bcomplete equal distribution of farmland to all families always✓
3. Crural power relations and limited peasant mobility✓
4. Dabsence of any class differences in villages✓

Colonialism contributed to stratification by

1. Aextracting resources and imposing racial and economic hierarchies✓
2. Bequalizing global wealth without exploitation✓
3. Celiminating ethnic identity worldwide instantly✓
4. Dgranting identical life chances to all colonies always✓

Slavery as a stratification system treats persons as

1. Afree wage laborers with contracts always✓
2. Bcitizens with equal voting rights✓
3. Creligious leaders with high honor only✓
4. Dproperty without full legal personhood✓

Estate systems in feudal Europe divided society into

1. Anobility, clergy and commoners with legal privileges✓
2. Bopen class based on stock market income only✓
3. Ccaste determined solely by ritual pollution rules in India exclusively as global model✓
4. Dperfectly equal citizenship without rank✓

Patriarchy is a system in which

1. Awomen control all state institutions always✓
2. Bmen hold primary authority in political, economic and familial spheres✓
3. Cgender equality is fully achieved everywhere✓
4. Dfamily decisions are made only by children✓

Gender stratification means

1. Aidentical treatment of all genders in every society always✓
2. Bonly biological differences without social pattern✓
3. Cunequal access to resources and power based on gender✓
4. Dabsence of any gender roles historically✓

Glass ceiling describes

1. Atransparent promotion based solely on merit always✓
2. Bphysical architecture of office buildings only✓
3. Clegal quotas guaranteeing instant equality everywhere✓
4. Dinvisible barriers blocking women and minorities from top positions✓

Underclass refers to

1. Apersistently poor groups marginalized from mainstream economic life✓
2. Bthe top income earners in society✓
3. Cuniversity professors with tenure always✓
4. Dmobile elites rotating globally each year✓

Working class typically sells

1. Acapital and owns large corporations always✓
2. Bonly sacred religious offices by birth✓
3. Cmanual or routine labor for wages✓
4. Dstocks without working for income ever✓

Middle class occupations often include

1. Alandless manual laborers only in all societies✓
2. Bprofessionals, managers and skilled white-collar workers✓
3. Chereditary priests in a caste system exclusively✓
4. Dunpaid domestic work without market wage always✓

A ruling class or elite controls

1. Ano resources and no influence ever✓
2. Bonly ceremonial titles without power✓
3. Cequal shares of wealth with all citizens always✓
4. Ddisproportionate political and economic power in society✓

Absolute poverty means inability to meet

1. Aslightly less luxury than billionaires✓
2. Bminimum subsistence needs for survival✓
3. Cfewer cars than neighbors in wealthy suburbs✓
4. Dlower prestige occupation only without hardship✓

Relative poverty compares individuals to

1. Afixed global calorie counts only without context✓
2. B prehistoric subsistence exclusively✓
3. Cliving standards prevailing in their own society✓
4. Dincome of the richest person on earth alone✓

The poverty line is used to identify

1. Ahouseholds lacking income for basic needs✓
2. Bthe wealthiest one percent only✓
3. Call middle-class professionals always✓
4. Dpersons with advanced university degrees✓

Social reproduction (Bourdieu) explains how

1. Aeach generation starts with identical opportunities always✓
2. Bmobility eliminates all inequality permanently✓
3. Ceducation never reflects class interests✓
4. Dadvantaged families pass privileges to children through habitus and schooling✓

Cultural capital (Bourdieu) includes

1. Aknowledge, tastes and credentials conferring social advantage✓
2. Bonly cash savings in banks✓
3. Cfactory machinery owned by firms✓
4. Dlegal statutes printed by government✓

Meritocracy ideology claims

1. Astatus is always ascribed at birth only✓
2. Brewards follow individual talent and effort fairly✓
3. Cmobility never occurs in modern societies✓
4. Dpower is unrelated to education always✓

Life chances refer to

1. Aprivate thoughts without material consequences✓
2. Bonly religious beliefs without resources✓
3. Copportunities to fulfill needs and achieve well-being✓
4. Dgenetic traits unrelated to social position✓

Socioeconomic status (SES) typically combines

1. Aonly height and weight measurements✓
2. Blanguage spoken at birth exclusively✓
3. Crandom lottery numbers each year✓
4. Dincome, education and occupational prestige✓

Exchange mobility means

1. Asome rise while others fall, leaving overall inequality unchanged✓
2. Beveryone moves upward simultaneously✓
3. Csociety has no stratification afterward✓
4. Donly intergenerational data are invalid✓

Structural mobility occurs when

1. Aone individual works harder alone without social change✓
2. Ba person changes hobbies but not occupation✓
3. Cbroad economic or demographic shifts move many people up or down✓
4. Dmobility impossible in all industrial societies✓

Intragenerational mobility tracks

1. Aonly parents and grandparents historically✓
2. Ban individual's rank change over their own lifetime✓
3. Cmobility of corporations without people✓
4. Dgenetic changes across generations✓

Intergenerational mobility compares

1. Aone person's jobs within a single year only✓
2. Bmobility between countries without hierarchy✓
3. Cchanges in fashion without economic effect✓
4. Dsocial position of children relative to their parents✓

Horizontal mobility refers to

1. Afrom poverty to elite wealth always✓
2. Bmovement between positions at roughly the same social level✓
3. Cfrom child to adult status only✓
4. Dfrom caste to caste in a rigid system✓

Vertical mobility means movement

1. Abetween jobs at the same prestige level only✓
2. Bwithin one's household chores exclusively✓
3. Cup or down the socioeconomic hierarchy✓
4. Dbetween neighborhoods without status change✓

An open class system allows

1. Asome mobility through achievement and economic change✓
2. Bzero movement between strata ever✓
3. Cmarriage rules fixed at birth always✓
4. Doccupations inherited legally without exception✓

Max Weber argued stratification involves

1. Aonly caste without class or power✓
2. Bincome alone with no honor or politics✓
3. Cbiological race as the sole dimension always✓
4. Dclass, status and party as distinct but related dimensions✓

Karl Marx viewed class struggle as driven by

1. Aconflict between owners of capital and wage laborers✓
2. Bharmony among all occupational groups always✓
3. Creligious rituals exclusively✓
4. Dstatus honor without economic relations✓

Power in stratification means

1. Apolite manners in folkways only✓
2. Bthe ability to impose one's will despite resistance✓
3. Cshared language without influence✓
4. Drandom luck without social organization✓

Status refers to

1. Aonly ownership of factories without reputation✓
2. Blegal citizenship documents exclusively✓
3. Csocial honor, prestige and esteem attached to a position✓
4. Dgeographic latitude of residence alone✓

Caste systems are characterized by

1. Acomplete open mobility based on merit always✓
2. Bclass based solely on current income alone✓
3. Ctemporary roles chosen each year freely✓
4. Dascribed, rigid and hereditary rank with restricted marriage✓

Social class primarily concerns

1. Aeconomic position based on wealth, income and occupation✓
2. Bsacred versus profane categories only✓
3. Cage grading in schools exclusively✓
4. Dlinguistic accent without material resources✓