20 MCQs on Urban Social Structure | Family, Caste, Class, Gender & Slums

Explore 20 MCQs on Urban Social Structure, covering urban family, caste and class stratification, gender roles, and slums. Each question includes answers and explanations for better understanding.

1. What is the primary characteristic of an urban family?

A) Large joint family structure
B) Nuclear family system
C) Strong caste-based occupation ties
D) Absence of kinship relations

Answer: B) Nuclear family system

Explanation: Urbanization leads to smaller nuclear families due to increased mobility, economic independence, and changing social values.

2. Which of the following best describes urban social stratification?

A) Based solely on caste
B) Based solely on income
C) Based on multiple factors like caste, class, and gender
D) Non-existent in urban settings

Answer: C) Based on multiple factors like caste, class, and gender

Explanation: Urban stratification is influenced by a combination of economic class, caste, education, and gender roles.

3. How does caste function in urban areas compared to rural areas?

A) Completely disappears
B) Becomes more rigid
C) Weakens but still influences social and economic interactions
D) Strengthens due to urbanization

Answer: C) Weakens but still influences social and economic interactions

Explanation: While caste-based rigidities reduce in cities due to diverse interactions, they still impact job opportunities, marriage, and social circles.

4. What is a key feature of class stratification in urban areas?

A) Mobility between classes is completely restricted
B) Based on occupation, education, and income
C) Determined solely by birth
D) Absent in modern urban societies

Answer: B) Based on occupation, education, and income

Explanation: Unlike caste, class in urban areas is flexible and primarily determined by economic status, education, and profession.

5. Which factor contributes most to the emergence of slums in urban areas?

A) Overpopulation and lack of affordable housing
B) Government policies promoting slums
C) Preference of people to live in slums
D) Lack of technology in urban development

Answer: A) Overpopulation and lack of affordable housing

Explanation: Rapid urbanization and housing shortages force low-income groups to reside in slums with poor living conditions.

6. What is one major consequence of gender stratification in urban areas?

A) Equal job opportunities for men and women
B) Gender wage gap and unequal job distribution
C) Decrease in literacy rates among women
D) Women becoming dominant in all professional fields

Answer: B) Gender wage gap and unequal job distribution

Explanation: Gender stratification leads to disparities in wages, employment opportunities, and leadership positions.

7. Which sociological theory explains urban social stratification through economic inequalities?

A) Functionalism
B) Conflict theory
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Rational choice theory

Answer: B) Conflict theory

Explanation: Conflict theory, influenced by Karl Marx, argues that economic inequality leads to class stratification in urban societies.

8. What is the main cause of the feminization of poverty in urban areas?

A) Increasing life expectancy of women
B) Gender discrimination in employment and wages
C) Women preferring low-paying jobs
D) Government policies supporting men over women

Answer: B) Gender discrimination in employment and wages

Explanation: Women face unequal job opportunities, wage gaps, and single motherhood responsibilities, leading to higher poverty rates among them.

9. What is a defining characteristic of slums?

A) High standard of living
B) Poor housing and sanitation
C) Strong governmental support
D) Absence of informal labor

Answer: B) Poor housing and sanitation

Explanation: Slums are characterized by inadequate housing, lack of sanitation, and poor access to basic services.

10. How does migration impact urban social stratification?

A) Reduces economic inequality
B) Creates a labor surplus and increases economic disparity
C) Eliminates caste-based differences
D) Strengthens community bonding among all social classes

Answer: B) Creates a labor surplus and increases economic disparity

Explanation: Migration leads to an excess workforce, often pushing migrants into low-paying jobs, increasing urban inequality.

11. What role does caste play in urban employment?

A) Has no impact on job opportunities
B) Influences hiring patterns in traditional and informal sectors
C) Determines employment in the corporate sector
D) Completely disappears in cities

Answer: B) Influences hiring patterns in traditional and informal sectors

Explanation: While caste has lesser impact in corporate jobs, it still affects hiring in traditional occupations and informal labor markets.

12. The term "gentrification" refers to:

A) The movement of people from cities to rural areas
B) The process of urban renewal that displaces low-income communities
C) The natural expansion of urban areas
D) The abolition of social stratification in cities

Answer: B) The process of urban renewal that displaces low-income communities

Explanation: Gentrification involves redevelopment that raises property values, often pushing out lower-income residents.

13. How do slums contribute to the urban economy?

A) They create unemployment
B) They serve as hubs for informal labor and small businesses
C) They decrease urban productivity
D) They prevent city expansion

Answer: B) They serve as hubs for informal labor and small businesses

Explanation: Many urban industries rely on informal workers from slums for cheap labor and services.

14. Which government program in India focuses on slum redevelopment?

A) Make in India
B) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
C) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
D) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Answer: C) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Explanation: This scheme aims to provide affordable housing and improve living conditions in slums.

15. What is one major issue faced by urban women in slums?

A) Equal education opportunities
B) Increased safety and security
C) High crime rates and lack of sanitation
D) Dominance in business sectors

Answer: C) High crime rates and lack of sanitation

Explanation: Women in slums often face unsafe living conditions, lack of sanitation, and gender-based violence.

16. Which of the following best describes urbanization’s impact on caste?

A) Caste becomes completely irrelevant
B) Caste rigidity reduces but still influences social interactions
C) Caste divisions become stronger
D) Urbanization reinforces rural caste structures

Answer: B) Caste rigidity reduces but still influences social interactions

Explanation: Urbanization weakens caste barriers, but they still persist in social networks and employment.

17. Which factor worsens poverty in slums?

A) High literacy rates
B) Unstable employment opportunities
C) Government investment in infrastructure
D) Strong health facilities

Answer: B) Unstable employment opportunities

Explanation: Slum residents often rely on informal, low-paying jobs, making financial stability difficult.

18. Which sociologist is known for studying urban social stratification?

A) Karl Marx
B) Emile Durkheim
C) Max Weber
D) Herbert Spencer

Answer: C) Max Weber

Explanation: Weber examined how class, status, and power contribute to urban social hierarchies.

19. Which factor promotes social mobility in urban areas?

A) Rigid caste system
B) Access to education and employment opportunities
C) Lack of economic growth
D) Increased birth rates

Answer: B) Access to education and employment opportunities

Explanation: Urban areas provide education and job opportunities that help individuals move up the social ladder.

20. What is a major environmental issue associated with slums?

A) High carbon emissions
B) Poor waste management and pollution
C) Deforestation
D) Over-reliance on public transport

Answer: B) Poor waste management and pollution

Explanation: Slums often lack proper waste disposal systems, leading to pollution and health hazards.