Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 1
Aging as a Social Process
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In 2016, what percentage of the total Canadian population did baby boomers comprise?
a) 13 per cent
b) 27 per cent
c) 34 per cent
d) 55 per cent
Ans: b
Page: 4
2. In 2015, what percentage of the world’s population was 65 years and older?
a) 3.3 per cent
b) 5 per cent
c) 8.5 per cent
d) 10 per cent
Ans: c
Page: 4
3. What happened to the number of centenarians in Canada between 2011 and 2016?
a) The number stabilized
b) The number increased by 25.7per cent
c) The number decreased by 16 per cent
d) The number increased by 41.3 per cent
Ans: d
Page: 5
Ans: a
Page: 5
Ans: b
Page: 6
Ans: d
Page: 6
Ans: c
Page: 7-8
Ans: b
Page: 7
9. What was the life expectancy at birth for Canadian women estimated to be in 2007–2009?
Ans: c
Page: 7
Ans: b
Page: 7
11. What is the “replacement rate” needed to replenish a population experiencing normal fertility
and mortality rates?
a) 1 child per woman
b) 2.0 children per woman
c) 2.5 children per woman
d) 3.0 children per woman
Ans: b
Page: 8
Ans: a
Page: 10
13. Which perspective examines the interplay of individual life stories, social structures,
environments, and historical events at particular times in the lives of individuals or cohorts?
a) The life-course transition
b) The life-course perspective
c) The life experiences approach
d) The cumulative life-experience approach
Ans: b
Page: 12
14. According to your textbook, how will the growth in population aging over the next 30–40 years
impact society?
Ans: d
Page: 11
15. What is the process by which individuals in comparable situations act in different ways and make
unique decisions?
a) Life course construction
b) Cohort flow
c) Agency
d) Chaos
Ans: c
Page: 14
16. Which of the following affects aging and the status of elderly people in everyday life?
a) The period of history in which they live
b) The culture to which they belong
c) The social structure to which they belong
d) All of the above
Ans: d
Page: 18
Ans: d
Page: 14-18
18. A bar mitzvah, a twenty-first birthday party, a graduation from university, a wedding, or a
retirement party are all examples of transitions wherein social timetables dictate that we “should”
or “must” enter or leave various social positions.
a) Rules
b) Ceremonies
c) Rites of passage
d) Culture
Ans: c
Page: 17
Ans: d
Page: 26-28
20. Which of the following is a multidisciplinary field of study, is the study of aging processes and
aging individuals, as well as of the practices and policies that are designed to assist older adults?
a) Geriatrics
b) Structural psychology
c) Gerontology
d) Life-course sociology
Ans: c
Page: 28
21. Janet has recently turned 85 and has noticed a change in advertisements for products related to
aging over the past several decades. Notably, Janet observes that advertisements no longer only
depict seniors as grumpy and diseased. The ads she sees today are starting to show seniors
engaging in more active lifestyles. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for what
Janet has observed?
a) Aging-related stereotypes are fluid and the increase in baby boomers may be driving
portrayals of seniors as healthy and active.
b) Aging-related stereotypes can change but only when successful social movements drive
change.
c) Aging-related stereotypes are static and Janet is imagining the change.
d) Janet shops at stores targeting young people and therefore receives different ads from their
mailing list.
Ans: a
Page: 20-21
22. Fatima needs a manicure and books an appointment at a local spa in her neighbourhood. While
waiting for her appointment to begin, Fatima notices that all of the brochures in the waiting
room advertise anti-aging products and services. These ads promise to “turn back the clock” to
give users a more youthful appearance. What is Fatima seeing evidence of in her spa’s waiting
room?
a) Social stratification
b) The medicalization of aging
c) The problematization of youth
d) Gerontology
Ans: b
23. Who does aging impact most significantly because they live longer, often alone, and face more
challenges in later life, such as poverty and discrimination?
a) Canadians
b) Baby boomers
c) Men
d) Women
Ans: d
Page: 31
24. Bill retired at 61 from a rewarding career as a chartered accountant. After travelling extensively
for a year, he reevaluates his retirement decision and decides to go back to work full-time to earn
more money and find fulfillment through employment again. After six months of searching for a
new job in his field, Bill has barely had any interviews and when in the ones he has had, the
employers expressed concerns that Bill may retire again in a few years and their investment in
hiring him will be wasted. The one job offer Bill did receive was for a part-time position at
significantly less pay than was advertised. What might Bill be experiencing?
a) Sexism
b) Ageism
c) Gerontology
d) Precarious labour
Ans: b
Page: 27-28
Ans: d
Page: 21
Ans: True
Page: 4
2. Age cohorts are people born at a similar period in time and in the same location.
Ans: True
Tuesday, Sept. 6.—Therm. 60°. Had a row with the Sheïkh. Some
of the people had stolen my horse’s corn. A cool wind from the N.E.
Abú upset the milk I had saved for breakfast. We started at half-past
nine, and rode fast for fourteen miles E.N.E., and then due N.
Crossed several sand-hills, and saw many gazelles, boars and
serpents. At five P.M. came to a small spring of fresh water. My horse
has been three days without any, and has had only salt water since
the day before he left Wad Nún. We came almost to blows to get a
mouthful for him; I was obliged to go without any myself; for as the
quantity is so small, it is the law to keep it for human beings alone.
We halted for an hour, and then turning a little west, crossed a high
range, and came again to El Bushra, where I got a belly-full of milk
and of bread which was now mouldy.
Wednesday, Sept. 7.—Therm. 60°. It was arranged for us to
return home this evening; but a dispute arose about a spring, and
some salt-beds, and the question of war with the Tagakánths and
Ergebats detained us the whole day. This conference was one of the
most interesting scenes I ever witnessed. Upon one of the poles of
the tent were suspended the guns, on the other the sword and
cuneas; the Sheïkh stood in the centre, myself at his right hand, and
the Kadí on his left; the charges and questions, the animated
pleadings, the powerful appeals, &c. together with the noise of those
siding with each party, all presented a striking picture. There was
some difficulty in settling matters; but all differences were eventually
brought to a close by a feast, when I got my milk and laid down.
Thursday, Sept. 8.—Therm. 62°. Off at half-past six. Rode very
fast till half-past one, when we halted at the Sheïkh’s garden. We
had crossed the Assaka, and came to the Syod, which is here only a
ditch. We then lighted a fire, and got some good tea made with fresh
water; there was plenty of figs to give a relish to the remainder of the
musty bread. I had now travelled hard for ten days, and had eaten
nothing but a small piece of fish, dry bread and camel’s milk. I
perfectly astonished these people, ............... but was much benefitted
and pleased by the trip. Got home at six P.M. when I had coffee and a
wash.
Here ends Mr. Davidson’s Journal, from which the notes have
been extracted; and the three following letters, addressed to Mr.
Willshire, will tell all that his friends have to communicate up to the
period of his lamented decease.