20 MCQs on Social Mobility: Understanding Types, Causes & Effects
Test your knowledge of Social Mobility with 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering its types, causes, effects, and theories. Enhance your exam preparation with detailed answers and explanations.
MCQs on Social Mobility
1. What is social mobility?
A) The ability to change one’s physical location
B) The movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy
C) The expansion of economic opportunities
D) The study of human behavior
✅ Answer: B) The movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy
Explanation: Social mobility refers to the movement of people across different social classes, often influenced by factors like education, income, and social networks.
2. Which type of social mobility occurs when a person moves from one job to another within the same social class?
A) Horizontal mobility
B) Vertical mobility
C) Intergenerational mobility
D) Structural mobility
✅ Answer: A) Horizontal mobility
Explanation: Horizontal mobility involves a change in occupation or status without a significant shift in social class, such as switching from one managerial position to another.
3. Intergenerational mobility refers to:
A) Changes in social status within a person's lifetime
B) Mobility that occurs between different generations of a family
C) Changes in social class due to government policies
D) Migration from rural to urban areas
✅ Answer: B) Mobility that occurs between different generations of a family
Explanation: Intergenerational mobility examines changes in social class between parents and children, reflecting long-term shifts in societal structure.
4. What is an example of upward social mobility?
A) A factory worker becoming a business executive
B) A person switching from one clerical job to another
C) A teacher moving to a managerial position
D) Both A and C
✅ Answer: D) Both A and C
Explanation: Upward mobility occurs when an individual moves to a higher social or economic position, typically through education, skills, or opportunities.
5. The term “structural mobility” refers to:
A) Movement caused by individual efforts
B) Mobility due to large-scale economic and social changes
C) Movement within the same job sector
D) The influence of political instability on social class
✅ Answer: B) Mobility due to large-scale economic and social changes
Explanation: Structural mobility results from societal changes such as industrialization, economic booms, or major policy shifts, which create new opportunities.
6. Which factor has the most significant impact on social mobility?
A) Family background
B) Personal ambition
C) Geographic location
D) Political affiliations
✅ Answer: A) Family background
Explanation: While ambition plays a role, family background—including education, income, and social networks—has a profound impact on an individual’s social mobility.
7. The caste system in India is an example of:
A) Open social mobility
B) Closed social mobility
C) Upward mobility
D) Structural mobility
✅ Answer: B) Closed social mobility
Explanation: The caste system is a rigid social structure where mobility is limited, making it a classic example of a closed system.
8. Social mobility is higher in:
A) Societies with rigid class structures
B) Societies with strong educational institutions and equal opportunities
C) Feudal societies
D) Societies with minimal economic development
✅ Answer: B) Societies with strong educational institutions and equal opportunities
Explanation: Education and equal opportunities facilitate social mobility by enabling individuals to improve their socio-economic status.
9. Which theory explains social mobility based on merit and effort?
A) Conflict theory
B) Functionalist theory
C) Meritocracy theory
D) Structuralist theory
✅ Answer: C) Meritocracy theory
Explanation: The meritocracy theory states that individuals achieve social mobility based on talent, effort, and achievement rather than birth or privilege.
10. The concept of "glass ceiling" is related to:
A) Educational opportunities
B) Gender-based barriers to social mobility
C) Government policies on social mobility
D) Wealth redistribution
✅ Answer: B) Gender-based barriers to social mobility
Explanation: The "glass ceiling" is an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to higher positions despite qualifications.
11. Downward social mobility occurs when:
A) A person loses their job and social status declines
B) A family improves their financial condition
C) A person moves from one job to another at the same level
D) A country experiences economic growth
✅ Answer: A) A person loses their job and social status declines
Explanation: Downward mobility happens when individuals experience a decline in social status due to factors like job loss or economic downturns.
12. Social mobility in modern societies is influenced primarily by:
A) Birth status
B) Education and skills
C) Religious beliefs
D) Political allegiance
✅ Answer: B) Education and skills
Explanation: In modern societies, education and professional skills significantly impact an individual's ability to achieve upward social mobility.
13. What role does globalization play in social mobility?
A) Increases job opportunities worldwide
B) Reduces income inequality completely
C) Prevents people from migrating for work
D) Strengthens social immobility
✅ Answer: A) Increases job opportunities worldwide
Explanation: Globalization creates economic opportunities, making social mobility more accessible for people willing to migrate and upskill.
14. A person moving from a working-class job to a managerial position is an example of:
A) Horizontal mobility
B) Upward vertical mobility
C) Downward mobility
D) Structural mobility
✅ Answer: B) Upward vertical mobility
Explanation: Vertical mobility involves a shift in socio-economic status, such as moving from a lower-paying job to a higher-paying managerial role.
15. What is the primary goal of affirmative action policies?
A) Restrict social mobility
B) Promote equality and social mobility for marginalized groups
C) Support only economically wealthy individuals
D) Maintain the existing social structure
✅ Answer: B) Promote equality and social mobility for marginalized groups
Explanation: Affirmative action provides disadvantaged groups with opportunities to achieve upward mobility through education and employment policies.
16. Which social class experiences the most difficulty in achieving upward mobility?
A) Middle class
B) Upper class
C) Lower class
D) Skilled professionals
✅ Answer: C) Lower class
Explanation: The lower class faces barriers like limited access to education and resources, making upward mobility more challenging.
17. Social mobility is least likely in societies with:
A) High educational accessibility
B) Rigid class or caste systems
C) Equal employment opportunities
D) Strong social welfare programs
✅ Answer: B) Rigid class or caste systems
Explanation: Rigid social systems limit mobility by restricting access to opportunities based on birth and tradition.
18. Education impacts social mobility by:
A) Increasing skill levels and job opportunities
B) Decreasing wages
C) Preventing people from changing jobs
D) Reducing workforce competition
✅ Answer: A) Increasing skill levels and job opportunities
Explanation: Education equips individuals with knowledge and skills, improving employment prospects and economic status.
19. What is a major criticism of social mobility in capitalist societies?
A) It promotes only downward mobility
B) It benefits only privileged groups
C) It eliminates poverty completely
D) It discourages economic growth
✅ Answer: B) It benefits only privileged groups
Explanation: Critics argue that wealth and social capital provide unfair advantages, making mobility harder for disadvantaged individuals.
20. Which country is known for high social mobility due to its strong welfare policies?
A) United States
B) Sweden
C) India
D) Brazil
✅ Answer: B) Sweden
Explanation: Sweden has strong social welfare policies that support education, healthcare, and employment, promoting upward mobility.
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