MA Master of Liberal Arts 2

Question 1

Which philosophical tradition emphasizes that knowledge arises primarily from sensory experience?

Accepted Answer

Empiricism

Answer

Empiricism, associated with Locke, Hume, and Bacon, holds that knowledge derives from sensory experience rather than innate ideas.

Question 2

In rhetoric, which of the three Aristotelian appeals relies on the speaker's credibility?

Accepted Answer

Ethos

Answer

Ethos refers to the ethical appeal based on the speaker's character and credibility to persuade an audience.

Question 3

Which sociological concept describes the unwritten, informal norms that govern everyday social behavior?

Accepted Answer

Folkways

Answer

Folkways are William Graham Sumner's term for routine social conventions whose violation causes mild disapproval rather than moral outrage.

Question 4

The Harlem Renaissance was primarily a cultural movement centered on which art form alongside literature?

Accepted Answer

Jazz music

Answer

Jazz music flourished alongside poetry and prose during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, defining the era's cultural identity.

Question 5

In economics, what does the term 'opportunity cost' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The value of the next-best alternative foregone

Answer

Opportunity cost is the value of the best alternative sacrificed when a choice is made, a foundational concept in economic reasoning.

MA - Master of Arts Practice Test