Matching
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IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement
below. You will not use all the terms. a. | random sample | b. | medium | c. | sample | d. | straw
vote | e. | quota sample | f. | interest group | g. | mass
media | h. | sound bite |
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1.
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a means of communication that transmits some kind of information
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2.
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private organization that works to affect public policy in order to benefit its
members' concerns
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3.
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portion of a population that can represent the whole population
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4.
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a sharply focused, short report that can be aired in roughly 30 to 40
seconds
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5.
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a poll that tries to assess opinion simply by asking the same question to a
large number of people
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IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement
below. You will not use all the terms. Some terms may be used more than once. a. | mandate | b. | public opinion | c. | public opinion
poll | d. | quota sample | e. | mass media | f. | sample | g. | opinion leader | h. | interest
group |
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6.
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In a(n) ____, people are polled based on percentages that are set to reflect
the makeup of the overall group.
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7.
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Because so many people were listening to the poet's political verses, he
had become a(n) ____.
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8.
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In American politics a(n) ____ refers to the instructions or demands a
constituency gives to its elected officials.
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9.
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The President hoped to sway ____ by asking people to reconsider the issue based
on new information that had been revealed.
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10.
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The ____, including television and radio, have a huge effect on the formation
of public opinion.
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Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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MAIN IDEAS
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11.
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Which of the following is the earliest and one of the most significant agents in
the political socialization process?
a. | family | b. | place of residence | c. | group
affiliation | d. | gender |
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12.
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Which of the following is NOT a shortcoming of current scientific polls?
a. | They have difficulty measuring the relevance of opinions to the people who hold
them. | b. | They cannot accurately measure the intensity of opinions. | c. | They have difficulty
measuring the stability of opinions. | d. | They cannot accurately measure political
preferences. |
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13.
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Polls are taken to
a. | guarantee the constitutional rights of all people. | b. | determine
people's attitudes and viewpoints. | c. | further the political socialization of
individuals. | d. | provide a system of checks and balances. |
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14.
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The impact of the mass media on the public agenda can best be described as its
ability to
a. | tell people whom to vote for. | b. | focus the public's attention on specific
issues. | c. | tell people what opinions to have about those issues. | d. | focus the
public's attention on how to vote. |
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15.
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Which of the following does NOT limit the influence of the mass media on public
opinion?
a. | Only a small part of the public pays attention to politics. | b. | Voters tend to pay
attention to sources with which they disagree. | c. | Most television programs have little to do with
public affairs. | d. | Voters tend to pay attention to sources with which they
agree. |
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16.
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Attitudes held by a significant number of people concerning governmental and
political questions are known as
a. | the mass media. | b. | public opinion. | c. | interest
groups. | d. | public policies. |
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17.
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"Universe" is a term used to describe
a. | a politician's constituency. | b. | the entire group of persons sampled in a given
poll. | c. | the entire group of persons whose opinions a poll seeks to
measure. | d. | the group that supports the activities of an interest
group. |
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18.
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Public opinion is made known through all of the following EXCEPT
a. | interest groups. | b. | personal contacts. | c. | the
media. | d. | peer groups. |
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19.
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What would be your BEST advice to a person who wants to learn more about
political issues?
a. | Watch only television news and commentary shows daily. | b. | Pay attention only
to newspaper stories. | c. | Explore a variety of sources of political
information. | d. | Regularly read the major newspapers and news
magazines. |
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20.
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The influence of public opinion on public policy is limited by what?
a. | religious leaders. | b. | peer groups. | c. | historic
events. | d. | interest groups. |
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INTERPRETING GRAPHS
Use the graph to answer the following
questions.
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21.
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Which form of mass media did Americans spend the most time using?
a. | radio | b. | daily newspapers | c. | television | d. | consumer
magazines |
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22.
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How many hours did Americans spend listening to the radio in the year
2000?
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23.
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How many more hours did the average American spend watching television than
listening to the radio in 2000?
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Essay
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CRITICAL THINKING
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24.
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Expressing Problems Clearly What makes public opinion so difficult
to ascertain?
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25.
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Identifying Central Issues How can an opinion held by the public NOT be a
public opinion?
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26.
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Distinguishing Fact from Opinion The text states that election results
are seldom an accurate measure of public opinion. Explain why you agree or disagree with this
statement.
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