FREE THEA Reading Questions and Answers
Durkheim compared social groups to bronze in order to demonstrate:
According to the selection, Durkheim compared the characteristics of a social group to those of bronze, a special metal created by melting and combining tin, copper, and lead. The purpose of Durkheim's example was to show how a social group has characteristics that are different from those of its individual members. The traits and actions of a social group as a whole cannot be determined just by looking at the traits of its individual members, just as bronze is harder than any of its component metals. According to Durkheim, joining a group puts a lot of pressure on members to adopt the normative beliefs, emotions, and behaviors of the group. This contrast serves to highlight the notion that knowing social groupings' distinctive dynamics and influences—as opposed to just their individual characteristics—is essential for researching them.
What distinctions between sociologists and psychologists may be drawn from the selection?
The selection indicates that the focus of sociologists and psychologists is different. Sociologists concentrate on societal patterns and influences that have an impact on entire groups or categories of people, whereas psychologists typically focus more on the individual. Sociologists are more inclined to look at cultural attitudes and broader socioeconomic variables that lead to such experiences among retired people in society, whereas psychologists may offer treatment to people facing specific concerns, such as feelings of worthlessness after retiring.
Which of the following quotes from the list encapsulates the first paragraph's core point the best?
By the end of the 19th century, racial segregation and prejudice were still prevalent in American culture, despite the promises made in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. It stresses how pervasive segregation and voter suppression practices occurred despite constitutional amendments meant to expand rights for all Americans, particularly Black Americans. This shows that the guarantees of equality and legal protection were broken.
The primary goal of the writer in creating this choice is to
The primary goal of this selection by the author is to discuss the manner in which Emile Durkheim's work has influenced sociology. The choice emphasizes Durkheim's focus on studying human groups rather than individuals, his comparison of social groups to bronze, and his investigation of social elements and their effects on individual behavior. The author also highlights Durkheim's meticulous research techniques and how they set a standard for sociologists all across the world. The selection, seen as a whole, intends to highlight Durkheim's important contributions and enduring influence on the growth of sociology as a subject.
Which of the following best captures the selection's core point?
The selection's major thesis is that Emile Durkheim made a substantial contribution to the growth of sociology through his emphasis on the study of social groups rather than individuals and his application of exacting research techniques. The theories and research results of Durkheim laid the groundwork for the discipline of sociology by demonstrating the impact of social influences on individual conduct. His work has influenced sociologists all across the world and continues to do so.
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the term "model" as it is used in the selection's final paragraph?
The word "model" refers to a plan or strategy that acts as an example to be mimicked or followed in the last paragraph of the selection. It means that Durkheim's particular method of developing and testing social theory served as a model or template for the work of later sociologists. Durkheim was a significant person whose work was imitated and copied by other academics in the area because of his rigorous research techniques and comprehensive theoretical framework, which served as a guide for doing sociological research and producing sociological theories.
The third paragraph's substance reveals the author's conviction that:
The writer's conviction that social movements can have an impact on politics is evident from the content of paragraph 3. It explains how Black people and those who supported them started using new strategies in reaction to resistance encountered during the desegregation of public schools, particularly civil disobedience, which meant taking direct action in the streets. The passage also emphasizes the importance of leading by moral example and how these deeds helped gain support for their cause. This implies that the author is aware of the role social movements play in influencing political change and promoting the fight for Black rights.