Q.1 What is a social norm?
A law enforced by the government
A shared expectation of behavior in a society
A personal opinion about society
A rule only followed by leaders
Explanation - Social norms are unwritten rules that guide behavior in society and are shared by members of a group.
Correct answer is: A shared expectation of behavior in a society
Q.2 Which of the following best defines 'values' in sociology?
Rules created by law enforcement
Principles that guide people's behavior and judgments
Traditions that are always religious
Only cultural practices of a group
Explanation - Values are broad ideas about what is desirable, important, and morally right or wrong in society.
Correct answer is: Principles that guide people's behavior and judgments
Q.3 What is the main difference between values and norms?
Values are specific actions, norms are general beliefs
Values guide behavior, norms enforce behavior
Values are written, norms are always unwritten
Values apply only to individuals, norms only to groups
Explanation - Values represent ideals or beliefs, whereas norms are rules that dictate the acceptable ways to act according to those values.
Correct answer is: Values guide behavior, norms enforce behavior
Q.4 Which of the following is an example of a folkway?
Driving on a particular side of the road
Committing theft
Murdering someone
Paying taxes
Explanation - Folkways are everyday habits or conventions without moral significance, such as customary ways of dressing or minor etiquette.
Correct answer is: Driving on a particular side of the road
Q.5 A 'more' is best described as:
A minor social guideline
A deeply held norm with moral significance
A cultural ritual without consequences
A legal statute
Explanation - Mores are norms that carry moral weight; violating them can result in serious social sanctions.
Correct answer is: A deeply held norm with moral significance
Q.6 Which of these is an example of a value?
Honesty
Standing in line
Wearing a uniform
Driving on the left side
Explanation - Honesty is a principle that guides behavior and judgment, making it a value rather than a specific norm.
Correct answer is: Honesty
Q.7 Cultural norms can vary based on:
Geography, time period, and social group
Only laws
Only individual choice
None of the above
Explanation - Norms are influenced by the context of culture, including location, historical era, and group membership.
Correct answer is: Geography, time period, and social group
Q.8 Which of these is a sanction for breaking norms?
Praise for compliance
Fines, criticism, or social exclusion
Ignoring the behavior
None of the above
Explanation - Sanctions are reactions from society to enforce conformity, ranging from informal (criticism) to formal (fines).
Correct answer is: Fines, criticism, or social exclusion
Q.9 What role do values play in society?
They guide people's choices and define what is considered important
They determine the legal system
They are only personal opinions
They replace all social rules
Explanation - Values act as guiding principles that shape behavior, attitudes, and social norms within a society.
Correct answer is: They guide people's choices and define what is considered important
Q.10 Norms that are strictly enforced and have serious consequences are called:
Folkways
Mores
Taboos
Laws
Explanation - Mores are norms with moral significance; violating them is often considered morally wrong and can attract serious social or legal consequences.
Correct answer is: Mores
Q.11 Taboos are:
Mild social customs
Strong prohibitions against certain behaviors
Fashion trends
Religious rituals only
Explanation - Taboos are powerful norms that forbid actions considered extremely offensive or unacceptable in a society.
Correct answer is: Strong prohibitions against certain behaviors
Q.12 Which of these statements is true about values and culture?
Values are universal, culture is local
Values are shaped by culture and guide behavior
Culture exists only in written forms
Values never change
Explanation - Values emerge from cultural context and influence behavior, decision-making, and social norms.
Correct answer is: Values are shaped by culture and guide behavior
Q.13 Which of the following illustrates a social norm?
Chewing with your mouth closed
Believing in honesty
Respecting freedom
Celebrating a festival
Explanation - Social norms are rules that guide everyday behavior, often implicitly, such as etiquette while eating.
Correct answer is: Chewing with your mouth closed
Q.14 A society's shared beliefs about what is right and wrong are known as:
Values
Norms
Laws
Customs
Explanation - Values represent collective ideas about morality, importance, and ideals that guide behavior and judgments in society.
Correct answer is: Values
Q.15 Breaking a folkway usually results in:
Severe punishment
Mild social disapproval
Legal action
Death penalty
Explanation - Folkways are minor norms; violating them may cause embarrassment or informal criticism but not serious consequences.
Correct answer is: Mild social disapproval
Q.16 Which of the following is an example of a taboo in most societies?
Stealing candy
Murdering a family member
Not shaking hands
Eating dessert first
Explanation - Taboos prohibit actions that are considered extremely unacceptable or immoral, such as incest or murder.
Correct answer is: Murdering a family member
Q.17 How are norms enforced in a society?
Through social sanctions like approval or disapproval
Only through written laws
Only through religious teachings
Norms do not require enforcement
Explanation - Norms are enforced informally through societal reactions such as praise, ridicule, or exclusion, and sometimes formally through laws.
Correct answer is: Through social sanctions like approval or disapproval
Q.18 Which of the following best illustrates a cultural value?
Freedom of speech
Wearing uniforms
Waiting for a bus
Shaking hands when greeting
Explanation - Values are broader principles that guide behavior, such as human rights or freedom, whereas norms are specific behavioral rules.
Correct answer is: Freedom of speech
Q.19 Which of these is NOT an example of a norm?
Chewing with your mouth closed
Paying taxes
Believing that honesty is good
Wearing a seatbelt
Explanation - Beliefs are internal and form values; norms are rules that govern behavior and can be observed externally.
Correct answer is: Believing that honesty is good
Q.20 Which of these is a formal norm?
Traffic laws
Greetings like shaking hands
Queueing in a cafeteria
Covering your mouth while sneezing
Explanation - Formal norms are written rules enforced by authorities, such as laws or regulations, unlike informal norms like etiquette.
Correct answer is: Traffic laws
Q.21 Which of these is an informal norm?
Standing in line
Paying income tax
Following a dress code at work
Driving on the correct side of the road
Explanation - Informal norms are unwritten rules of social behavior, such as manners or etiquette, that are enforced through social pressure.
Correct answer is: Standing in line
Q.22 Cultural values are important because they:
Determine all laws automatically
Guide behavior, shape attitudes, and influence societal norms
Are always enforced by the government
Are personal preferences only
Explanation - Values provide the foundation for norms, influencing how members of society behave and what they consider important.
Correct answer is: Guide behavior, shape attitudes, and influence societal norms
Q.23 Which of the following is an example of a norm changing over time?
Accepting women in the workforce
Gravity
The speed of light
Basic arithmetic rules
Explanation - Social norms can evolve as cultural values shift; gender roles in employment have changed significantly in many societies.
Correct answer is: Accepting women in the workforce
Q.24 Which of these statements best reflects the relationship between norms and sanctions?
Norms exist independently of sanctions
Sanctions reinforce norms by rewarding conformity or punishing deviation
Sanctions are unrelated to behavior
Norms are legal rules only
Explanation - Societies use sanctions to ensure members follow norms, either positively (rewards) or negatively (punishments).
Correct answer is: Sanctions reinforce norms by rewarding conformity or punishing deviation