Multiple Choice
Identify the
letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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Which is generally
LEAST important in determining a person's political beliefs and attitudes? a. | media | c. | family | b. | age | d. | peers | | | | |
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2.
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Political
socialization takes place a. | when children are indoctrinated | c. | only in schools and homes | b. | informally in civics and government
classes | d. | both formally and informally | | | | |
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3.
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Which is NOT a
purpose of interest groups? a. | They help citizens explain their views on policies to public
officials | c. | They give specialized and detailed information to
officials | b. | They help cover up corruption and incompetence in
government. | d. | They help bridge the gap between the citizen and
government. | | | | |
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4.
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Which is NOT
generally true of those who are called liberals? a. | They support social welfare programs to assist the poor and
disadvantaged | c. | They support the expansion of the role of the national
government | b. | They believe the national government should look out for the interests
of the individual against the majority | d. | They favor increased defense spending | | | | |
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5.
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An important
business interest group is a. | the Chamber of Commerce | c. | the AFL-CIO | b. | Common Cause | d. | the NRA | | | | |
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6.
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Which is NOT an
example of political socialization in school? a. | civics education classes | c. | watching the TV news with parents | b. | celebrating national
holidays | d. | learning the Pledge of Allegiance and patriotic
songs | | | | |
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7.
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Some researchers
have determined that the great motivator of public opinion is a. | self-reliance | c. | self-concept | b. | self-interest | d. | socio-economic status | | | | |
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8.
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The complex
process by which one acquires political attitudes and beliefs is called a. | political socialization | c. | indoctrination | b. | acculturation | d. | polling | | | | |
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9.
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Interest groups
are sometimes criticized because a. | they rely on techniques of persuasion | c. | they represent such few interests | b. | some lobbyists use unethical
means | d. | they provide too much information to
officials. | | | | |
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10.
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While political
parties tend to be more centrist and moderate, interest groups a. | have no influence on policies or political
actions | c. | always seek to accomodate the political
center | b. | tend to be further to the right | d. | can be more extremist | | | | |
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11.
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When each person
within the entire population being polled has an equal chance of being chosen, it is called a
... a. | biased poll | c. | straw poll | b. | random sample | d. | weighted sample | | | | |
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12.
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Those on the
extreme left who do not wish to work within the established political process to achieve their goals
are generally called a. | reactionaries | c. | libertarians | b. | radicals | d. | fascists. | | | | |
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13.
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Both Ralph Nader
and Candy Lightner entered the political arena by a. | writing political books | c. | organizing an interest group. | b. | winning public office | d. | starting minor political parties | | | | |
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14.
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Those who find
their political views in between liberals and conservatives are generally called a. | radicals | c. | independents | b. | moderates | d. | reactionaries | | | | |
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15.
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In a public
opinion poll, the groups of people who are typical of the general population are
called a. | electorate | c. | references. | b. | subjects. | d. | samples. | | | | |
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16.
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Lobbying is
directed at a. | city
councils | c. | administrative agencies | b. | all of the these | d. | Congress | | | | |
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17.
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Which is NOT true
of public opinion polls? a. | Polls can be very accurate | c. | Critics think that polls cause people to vote in spite of what polls
project | b. | Critics think that polls make the politicians reactors rather than
leaders | d. | Politicians, the news media, and the general public place
a great deal of faith in the accuracy of polls | | | | |
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18.
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Those who believe
that the national government should take an active role in solving the nation's domestic problems are
generally called a. | moderates | c. | liberals | b. | conservatives | d. | radicals | | | | |
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19.
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On the political
spectrum, the "right" has both a. | radicals and liberals | c. | radicals and reactionaries | b. | reactionaries and
conservatives | d. | moderates and conservatives | | | | |
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20.
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Which it NOT true
of public opinion? a. | It is measured by polling | c. | It is the sum total of a complex collection of opinions held by many
people | b. | There is rarely a single public
opinion. | d. | It is unimportant in American
politics. | | | | |
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21.
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In modern America,
the most influential medium in the political area is a. | books and movies | c. | television | b. | radio talk shows and music | d. | magazines and newspapers | | | | |
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22.
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An effective way
for all citizens to lobby their representatives is to a. | write letters to them. | c. | read the newspaper | b. | familiarize themselves with the rating received by their
representatives | d. | serve on juries | | | | |
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23.
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According to poll
studies, the maximum number of Americans that can be classified as political ideologues
is a. | 10 percent | c. | 25 percent | b. | 30 percent | d. | 20 percent | | | | |
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24.
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Which statement is
most true? a. | A person's economic status
has a great influence on his political socialization, but one's occupation has very little
influence | c. | Neither a person's economic status nor occupation play
any role in one's political socialization | b. | A person's economic status has very little influence on one's
political socialization, but one's occupation has a great influence | d. | Both a person's economic status and occupation play important roles in
one's political socialization | | | | |
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25.
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Interest groups
try to influence public policy by a. | hiring public officials. | c. | running for public office | b. | shaping public opinion | d. | using terror tactics | | | | |
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26.
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A polling sample
that does not accurately represent the larger population is said to be a. | random | c. | biased | b. | stacked | d. | inadequate | | | | |
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27.
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Those who believe
that the size of the national government is too big and should not be expanded further are generally
called a. | radicals | c. | liberals | b. | conservatives | d. | moderates | | | | |
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28.
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Which is NOT a
method commonly used by lobbyists? a. | lying to hide the truth to officials | c. | providing expert testimony to official
groups | b. | doing research on a topic and presenting their findings to public
officials | d. | testifying before congressional
committees | | | | |
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29.
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Which would NOT be
considered an opinion leader? a. | religious leader or teacher | c. | president of the local Chamber of Commerce | b. | salesperson or clerk | d. | TV anchorman | | | | |
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30.
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Most Americans
characterize themselves as a. | reactionaries | c. | moderates | b. | conservatives | d. | liberals | | | | |
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