AA Social Sciences 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In anthropology, 'cultural relativism' is the principle that:
- All cultures share the same universal values
- Cultural practices should be understood within their own context (Correct answer)
- Western culture represents the most advanced stage of development
- Cultural change occurs at a uniform rate worldwide
Correct answer: Cultural practices should be understood within their own context
Cultural relativism holds that a culture's beliefs and practices should be understood on their own terms rather than judged by outside standards.
Question 2: Which economic term describes a situation in which a single buyer dominates a market?
- Monopoly
- Oligopoly
- Monopsony (Correct answer)
- Duopoly
Correct answer: Monopsony
A monopsony is a market structure where there is only one major buyer, giving that buyer significant power over sellers and prices.
Question 3: Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs places which category at the base of the pyramid?
- Safety needs
- Esteem needs
- Physiological needs (Correct answer)
- Self-actualization
Correct answer: Physiological needs
Physiological needs — food, water, shelter, and sleep — form the foundation of Maslow's hierarchy because they are essential for survival.
Question 4: In political science, 'federalism' refers to:
- A system where all political power is held by a central government
- A division of power between national and state/regional governments (Correct answer)
- Government by a small elite group
- A political system without a written constitution
Correct answer: A division of power between national and state/regional governments
Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and regional entities such as states.
Question 5: In sociology, 'social stratification' primarily refers to:
- The geographic distribution of population groups
- The hierarchical ranking of groups in society based on wealth, power, or prestige (Correct answer)
- The process of integrating diverse groups into mainstream society
- The study of small-group interaction patterns
Correct answer: The hierarchical ranking of groups in society based on wealth, power, or prestige
Social stratification is the layered ranking of individuals and groups into hierarchies based on factors such as wealth, power, and social status.
Question 6: Which concept in psychology refers to the mental process of organizing information into categories to simplify perception?
- Assimilation and accommodation
- Schemas (Correct answer)
- Operant conditioning
- Selective attention
Correct answer: Schemas
Schemas are cognitive frameworks or mental templates that help people organize and interpret information efficiently.
Question 7: The 'invisible hand' metaphor in economics, coined by Adam Smith, describes:
- Government regulation that guides market outcomes
- The way self-interested actions in free markets tend to produce beneficial social outcomes (Correct answer)
- Hidden monopolistic control of markets
- The role of central banks in controlling money supply
Correct answer: The way self-interested actions in free markets tend to produce beneficial social outcomes
Adam Smith's 'invisible hand' describes how individuals pursuing their own self-interest in free markets unintentionally promote the broader economic welfare of society.
AA Social Sciences 3
In anthropology, 'cultural relativism' is the principle that: