Social Problems questions

Question: Which of the following is an example of a nosocomial disease?

Answer Options:
A. acquiring Giardia while drinking from a stream during a camping trip
B. acquiring Listeria after eating at a public restaurant
C. acquiring MRSA after touching a locker door handle after an already infected individual did so
D. developing a Pseudomonas respiratory infection during a recent visit to the hospital

Answer: D. developing a Pseudomonas respiratory infection during a recent visit to the hospital

Question: The Social Security system is a pay-as-you-go arrangement where contributions by today’s workers are paid out to yesterday’s retirees. If part of today’s contributions go into private retirement accounts, they cannot be paid out. To make up the shortage, the government would have to borrow massive amounts of money. Hence, Social Security privatization would cause a huge increase in the federal deficit.

Answer Options:
a. Nonargument.
b. Argument; conclusion: If part of today’s contributions … cannot be paid out.
c. Argument; conclusion: Social security privatization … federal deficit.
d. Argument; conclusion: The Social Security System … to yesterday’s retirees.
e. Argument; conclusion: To make up the shortage … massive amounts of money.

Answer: c. Argument; conclusion: Social security privatization … federal deficit.

Question: There are two approaches to the development and testing of hypotheses: inductive and deductive. In the inductive method, the scientist gathers empirical data and from it arrives at a generalization. The inductive method proceeds from specific observations to a general conclusion. Using a deductive method, a scientist develops a general idea about a phenomenon, performs experiments, and from them makes specific predictions that can be tested again.
— Robert Leo Smith and Thomas M Smith, Ecology and Field Biology, 6th edition

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: The inductive method … to a general conclusion.
b. Argument; conclusion: There are two approaches … inductive and deductive.
c. Nonargument.
d. Argument; conclusion: using a deductive method … can be tested again.
e. Argument; conclusion: In the inductive method … at a generalization.

Answer: b. Argument; conclusion: There are two approaches … inductive and deductive.

Question: Cats can see in the dark because they have a special mirror—like layer of cells behind their retina called the tapetum lucidum. When light passes through the retina, it is reflected back through it by this layer of cells, and this provides additional stimulation to the retina’s light receptors.

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: This provides additional … light receptors.
b. Argument; conclusion: When light passes through … by this layer of cells.
c. Argument; conclusion: They have a special … tapetum lucidum.
d. Argument; conclusion: Cats can see in the dark.
e. Nonargument.

Answer: e. Nonargument.

Question: The U.S. is the largest single market in the world in terms of national income. It represents roughly 25 percent of the total world market for all products and services. Thus, U.S. companies that wish to achieve maximum growth potential must “go global” because 75 percent of the world market potential is outside their home country.
— Warren J. Keegan and Mark C. Green, Global Marketing

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: U.S. companies that wish … must “go global.”
b. Argument; conclusion: It represents … products and services.
c. Argument; conclusion: 75 percent of the world market … home country.
d. Nonargument.

Answer: a. Argument; conclusion: U.S. companies that wish … must “go global.”

Question: Over the past decade, many graffiti artists have moved away from painting their signatures in the familiar wide-style lettering (a practice known as “tagging”). Instead, they make their mark with pictograms. Thus, a Belgian artist known as Plug appends large, cartoon electric plugs to machines in public places, while Cha, an academy-trained painter, adorns the walls of Barcelona with Picasso-influenced cats.
— Tristan Manco, Street Logos

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: Cha, an academy-trained … Picasso-influenced cats.
b. Argument; conclusion: Instead, they make their mark with pictograms.
c. Argument; conclusion: Over the past decade … (a practice known as “tagging”).
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: A Belgian artist known as Plug … in public places.

Answer: d. Nonargument.

Question: Sugar never spoils or gets moldy because it has an extremely low moisture content. This low moisture content dehydrates and kills microorganisms that might cause mold, and it impedes chemical changes that could cause spoilage.

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: This low moisture content … that might cause mold.
b. Argument; conclusion: Sugar never spoils or gets moldy.
c. Argument; conclusion: It impedes chemical changes that could cause spoilage.
d. Argument; conclusion: It has an extremely low moisture content.
e. Nonargument.

Answer: e. Nonargument.

Question: Contrary to the assurances of the fast food industry, most fast foods are loaded with fat grams. For example, KFC’s Chunky Chicken Pot Pie has 42 fat grams, a Double Whopper with Cheese has 65, and an order of Mucho Grande Nachos has an incredible 82 fat grams.

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: An order of Mucho Grande Nachos … 82 fat grams.
b. Nonargument.
c. Argument; conclusion: Most fast foods are loaded with fat grams.
d. Argument; conclusion: KFC’s Chunky Chicken Pot Pie has 42 fat grams.
e. Argument; conclusion: A Double Whopper with Cheese has 65.

Answer: c. Argument; conclusion: Most fast foods are loaded with fat grams.

Question: Education in the United States is a system in crisis. Compared to their Asian and European counterparts, American students are poor academic performers, especially in sciences and in mathematics. Despite having received an education, millions of adults are functionally and culturally illiterate. Educational funding has been cut dramatically, and many school facilities are in dangerous states of disrepair.
— Michael P. Soroka and George J. Bryjak, Social Problems: A World at Risk

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: Education in the United States is a system in crisis.
b. Argument; conclusion: Despite having received … culturally illiterate.
c. Argument; conclusion: Compared to their Asian … sciences and in mathematics.
d. Argument; conclusion: Educational funding … dangerous states of disrepair.
e. Nonargument.

Answer: a. Argument; conclusion: Education in the United States is a system in crisis.

Question: The Social Security system is a pay-as-you-go arrangement where contributions by today’s workers are paid out to yesterday’s retirees. If part of today’s contributions go into private retirement accounts, they cannot be paid out. To make up the shortage, the government would have to borrow massive amounts of money. Hence, Social Security privatization would cause a huge increase in the federal deficit.

Answer: c. Argument; conclusion: Social security privatization … federal deficit.

Question: There are two approaches to the development and testing of hypotheses: inductive and deductive. In the inductive method, the scientist gathers empirical data and from it arrives at a generalization. The inductive method proceeds from specific observations to a general conclusion. Using a deductive method, a scientist develops a general idea about a phenomenon, performs experiments, and from them makes specific predictions that can be tested again.

Answer: b. Argument; conclusion: There are two approaches … inductive and deductive.

Question: Cats can see in the dark because they have a special mirror—like layer of cells behind their retina called the tapetum lucidum. When light passes through the retina, it is reflected back through it by this layer of cells, and this provides additional stimulation to the retina’s light receptors.

Answer: e. Nonargument.

Question: The U.S. is the largest single market in the world in terms of national income. It represents roughly 25 percent of the total world market for all products and services. Thus, U.S. companies that wish to achieve maximum growth potential must “go global” because 75 percent of the world market potential is outside their home country.

Answer: a. Argument; conclusion: U.S. companies that wish … must “go global.”

Question: Over the past decade, many graffiti artists have moved away from painting their signatures in the familiar wide-style lettering (a practice known as “tagging”). Instead, they make their mark with pictograms. Thus, a Belgian artist known as Plug appends large, cartoon electric plugs to machines in public places, while Cha, an academy-trained painter, adorns the walls of Barcelona with Picasso-influenced cats.

Answer Options:
a. Argument; conclusion: Cha, an academy—trained … Picasso-influenced cats.
b. Argument; conclusion: Instead, they make their mark with pictograms.
c. Argument; conclusion: Over the past decade … (a practice known as “tagging”).
d. Nonargument.
e. Argument; conclusion: A Belgian artist known as Plug … in public places.

Answer: e. Argument; conclusion: A Belgian artist known as Plug … in public places.

Question: Sugar never spoils or gets moldy because it has an extremely low moisture content. This low moisture content dehydrates and kills microorganisms that might cause mold, and it impedes chemical changes that could cause spoilage.

Answer: b. Argument; conclusion: Sugar never spoils or gets moldy.