UGC NET Paper 2 Sociology Mock Test - 8 - UGC NET MCQ

The nearly universal norm for marriage in all societies is Clan exogamy. Exogamy is the social norm of marrying outside one's social group. The group defines the scope and extent of exogamy and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. One form of exogamy is dual exogamy, in which two groups engage in continual wife exchange. 

Eco-feminism is a new theoretical perspective that addresses the connection between gender and nature. It argues that women as a group contribute much less to the industrial and vehicular population than men.

Stratified random sampling is a method of sampling that involves dividing a population into smaller groups–called strata.

• The groups or strata are organized based on the shared characteristics or attributes of the members in the group. The process of classifying the population into groups is called stratification.
• Organizing a population into groups with similar characteristics helps researchers save time and money when the population being studied is too large to analyze on an individual basis. 
• Stratified random sampling can be used, for example, to study the polling of elections, people that work overtime hours, life expectancy, the income of varying populations, and income for different jobs across a nation.

Ridicule and fines punishments cannot be awarded to the violators of a norm.

The correct answer is Technological change can enhance the quality of life in various ways.  
Key Points

Technological change has the potential to bring about significant improvements in people's lives. It can enhance productivity, reduce laboriousness, and create new opportunities for economic and social development. Here are some ways in which technological change can enhance the quality of life:

• Improved access to information:
  • Technological advancements in communication and information technology have revolutionized the way people access and share information. This has led to greater knowledge and awareness, which in turn can improve decision-making and promote better outcomes.
• Improved healthcare:
  • Advances in medical technology have enabled better diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases. This has led to increased life expectancy and improved quality of life for many people.
• Increased convenience:
  • Technological advancements have made many tasks easier and more convenient. For example, the use of automation and robotics has reduced the need for manual labor in many industries, making work less physically demanding.
• Improved safety and security:
  • Technological advancements in transportation, construction, and security systems have made many aspects of life safer and more secure.

While there are certainly potential downsides to technological change, such as job displacement and privacy concerns, overall the impact on quality of life has been largely positive.

The correct answer is Individuals of the same Gotra cannot intra-marry.Key Points

• In Vedic/Hindu culture, the main reason for marriage being prohibited in the same gotra is that being from the same gotra, they will be called male and female siblings because their first ancestor is the same.
• Hence, Individuals of the same Gotra cannot intra-marry.

Additional Information

• Consanguineal kin (or consanguineous) are relatives related "by blood" (to use the common but inaccurate English term), meaning those people with whom you share known common ancestors, however distant.
• Affinal kin, or affines, are relatives by marriage or your in-laws; if the marriage ends, they are no longer affines.
• Marriages within the gotra ('sagotra' marriages) are not permitted under the rule of exogamy in the traditional matrimonial system. The compound word 'sagotra' is a union of the words 'sa' and 'gotra', where 'sa' means same or similar

Thus, Individuals of the same Gotra cannot intra-marry is true.

• Sororal polygyny is a form of polygamous marriage in which a man marries two or more women who are sisters, i.e. when a person marries wife’s sister/sisters.
• The term Sororate was introduced by James Frazer, a British Anthropologist.
• This practice exists in some cultures and is often based on the belief that it strengthens family bonds, reduces jealousy, and enhances cooperation among the wives. This was a practice in at least 40 Native American cultures during the 19th century.

The correct answer is families of two divorcees merge. Key Points

• Stepfamilies, also known as blended families, form when individuals who have previously been married and have children from those marriages enter into new relationships and create a family unit together. The process typically occurs after divorce or the death of a spouse.
• Stepfamilies most commonly form when individuals who have been previously married go through a divorce or experience the death of a spouse. After the dissolution of the previous marriage, individuals may choose to enter into new relationships.
• New Relationships: In new relationships, one or both partners may bring children from their previous marriages into the new family structure. The merging of these two family units gives rise to a stepfamily.
• Stepchildren: Children from previous marriages become stepchildren in the new family. Adjusting to a step-parent, potentially step-siblings, and a new family environment can be a significant transition for them.

Additional Information

• Communal or Commune Family: Involves a group of people living together, sharing responsibilities, resources, and decision-making. These families may not be based on biological relationships but on communal values.
• Matrifocal or Matriarchal Family: Centers around a mother as the head of the household. Matrifocal families may include children, and the father's role may be secondary or absent.
• Patrifocal or Patriarchal Family: Centers around a father as the head of the household. Patrifocal families may include children, and the mother's role may be secondary or absent.

Thus, Stepfamilies emerge when families of two divorcees merge.

The passage mentions that the collection focuses on the intersection between rapid secondary urbanization, food system transformation, and food security.

Important Points

• Secondary cities in Africa are often overlooked in research and policy discussions on urbanization.
• The collection aims to fill this knowledge gap by focusing on food system transformation and food security in secondary cities.
• Understanding the dynamics of food system transformation in secondary cities is crucial for developing effective policies and interventions.
• This includes promoting local food production, improving market access for small-scale farmers, and investing in nutrition education and social protection programs.
• The goal is to ensure that secondary cities are food-secure and sustainable, and that all residents have access to a healthy diet.

The passage mentions that the collection focuses on the intersection between rapid secondary urbanization, food system transformation, and food security.

Important Points

• Secondary cities in Africa are often overlooked in research and policy discussions on urbanization.
• The collection aims to fill this knowledge gap by focusing on food system transformation and food security in secondary cities.
• Understanding the dynamics of food system transformation in secondary cities is crucial for developing effective policies and interventions.
• This includes promoting local food production, improving market access for small-scale farmers, and investing in nutrition education and social protection programs.
• The goal is to ensure that secondary cities are food-secure and sustainable, and that all residents have access to a healthy diet.

• Agency is a key concept in sociology and other social sciences.
• It is the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own choices, rather than being determined by social structures or other external factors.
• Agency is often contrasted with structure.
• However, Giddens argues that agency and structure are not separate entities, but rather are mutually constitutive.

The right answer is - All of the above. This means that social structures both enable and constrain individual action, and that individual action can also create and change social structures.

Important Points

• Social structures both enable and constrain individual action:
• Social structures provide individuals with resources and opportunities, but they also limit their choices and actions.
• Social structures are created and recreated through the actions of individuals:
• Social structures are not fixed or static, but rather are constantly being created and recreated through the actions of individuals.
• Social structures are constantly being recreated and changed through the actions of individuals:
• Individual action can also change social structures.

Structuration is the process by which social structures are created, recreated, and changed through the actions of individuals.

Important Points

• Giddens argues that social structures are not fixed or static, but rather are constantly being created, recreated, and changed through the actions of individuals.
• This process is called structuration.
• Structuration is a two-way process.
• On the one hand, social structures shape individual action.
• On the other hand, individual action can also change social structures.

Giddens argues that social structures and human agency are not separate entities, but rather are mutually constitutive.

• This means that social structures are created and recreated through the actions of individuals, and that individual agency is shaped by social structures.

Important Points

• Giddens' theory of structuration is based on the idea that social structures are both the medium and the outcome of human agency.
• For example, consider the social structure of gender.
• Gender roles are created and maintained through the actions of individuals.
• When parents treat their sons and daughters differently, they are reinforcing gender stereotypes and contributing to the reproduction of gender inequality.

The correct answer is "important and universal social institution of society".

Key Points

• Marriage is a social institution that exists in virtually all human societies, and it is generally regarded as a crucial aspect of social organization.
• Marriage serves several important functions in society. It provides a framework for the regulation of sexual behavior, the production and socialization of children, and the distribution of property and resources.
• Marriage is also a means of forging alliances between families and social groups, and it provides a foundation for the formation of larger kinship networks and social institutions.
• While the precise form and function of marriage vary across different cultures and historical periods, the institution of marriage itself is a near-universal feature of human societies. As such, it is an important and enduring social institution that plays a vital role in shaping the structure and organization of societies around the world.

Additional Information

• An important basis for group formation:
  • This option suggests that marriage is an important foundation for the formation of social groups.
  • While it is true that marriage can serve as a means of forging alliances between families and social groups, it is not the only basis for group formation in society.
• Helpful in strengthening the caste system:
  • This option suggests that marriage helps reinforce social stratification and the caste system.
  • While it is true that marriage can be used as a means of maintaining social hierarchies, it can also be a site of resistance and transformation against these systems.
• Helpful in calming down the anger of two conflicting groups:
  • This option suggests that marriage can be used as a means of resolving conflicts between groups.
  • While it is true that marriage can sometimes serve as a means of forging alliances between conflicting groups, it is not generally regarded as a primary means of conflict resolution in most societies.
• In conclusion, marriage is an important and universal social institution of society that serves several functions, including the regulation of sexual behavior, the production and socialization of children, and the distribution of property and resources.
  • While its precise form and function may vary across different cultures and historical periods, the institution of marriage itself is an enduring feature of human societies, and it plays a vital role in shaping the social organization and the formation of larger kinship networks and social institutions.

The correct answer is the Sociological view.Key Points

• Kaniayalal Motilal Kapadia was a founder member of the Indian Sociological Society and was its Secretary between 1955 and 1966.
• He rendered invaluable service to the progress of Society and made sustained efforts to maintain the quality of its journal, Sociological Bulletin.
• K.M. Kapadia. “Marriage was desired not so much for sex or for progeny as for obtaining a partner for the fulfillment of one's religious duty.”
• Hence to him marriage and family as a study are important from a sociological view.

Additional Information

• Indology, also known as South Asian studies, is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent, and as such is a subset of Asian studies.
• Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. Ethnography explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study.
• Empiricism heavily emphasizes the use of experiments and observation to collect evidence and draw conclusions. The goal of such experimentation is to apply theories to real-world observations, record the findings in the form of empirical data and present them to the relevant audience.

Thus, In his book, Marriage, and Family in India (1955), Kapadia provides a Sociological view of an Indian family.

All of the scholars mentioned have contributed significantly to the study of marriage systems in various societies. Key Points

• A.R. Radcliffe-Brown, an English social anthropologist, was known for his work on structural functionalism, which focused on how different social institutions, including marriage, functioned in maintaining social order.
• He analyzed various forms of marriage systems in African and Australian societies.
• Bronisław Malinowski, a Polish-British social anthropologist, conducted fieldwork in the Trobriand Islands and wrote extensively about the importance of the family and kinship systems in the social organization of societies.
• He studied the complex system of exchange and alliances involved in Trobriand marriage practices.
• George Peter Murdock, an American anthropologist, conducted cross-cultural research on family and kinship systems.
• He developed the concept of the nuclear family and identified various types of marriage systems, including monogamy, polygyny, and polyandry, and provided a framework for analyzing cross-cultural variations in family and kinship.
• James George Frazer, a Scottish social anthropologist, is best known for his work "The Golden Bough," in which he explored the role of magic and religion in human societies.
• While he did not focus specifically on marriage systems, his work on the customs and rituals associated with marriage in various societies provided valuable insights into the social and cultural significance of marriage.

• Overall, these scholars have all made significant contributions to our understanding of the marriage system in different societies, and their works continue to inform current research in the field of anthropology.

Hence we can conclude that all of the scholars mentioned have contributed significantly to the study of marriage systems in various societies.

The correct answer is 'Feminism.'

Key Points

• Kamala Das predominantly explores the theme of feminism in "An Introduction."
• She reflects on societal expectations and norms imposed on women.
• The essay delves into her struggles against patriarchal constraints.
• Kamala Das questions the predefined roles assigned to women.
• She explores the complexities of female identity in the context of a conservative society.
• The essay serves as a powerful expression of feminist ideals and a critique of gender-based societal expectations.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.'

Additional Information

• Nationalism: While Kamala Das discusses identity, her focus is more on feminism than nationalism.
• Alienation: Though a theme, the central exploration is of feminist concerns in the essay.
• Post-Colonialism: While Kamala Das lived in post-colonial India, the primary theme is feminism rather than post-colonial discourse.

The correct answer is Colam Tribe.

Key Points

• Kolam are a designated Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
• They are common in the Yavatmal, Chandrapur and Nanded districts of Maharashtra and live in hamlets called pod. They speak the Kolami language, which is a Dravidian language.
• They are an agricultural community.
• The Kolam are an endogamous group and are divided into twelve exogamous clans, called pedi: Tekam, Watulkar, Nekwaraka, Godhankar, Wathora, Shivle, Parsinekul, Ghotkar, Paraskar, Ravikul, Mautkar, Shootkar. One clan name (Tekam) is shared with the Gonds, while the others come from Marathi.
• This Tribal Community has Heredity (lineage) Organization in India.
• Kolam society was formerly made up of joint families, collectively responsible for farming.

Cognatic Kinship System is bilateral in nature.Important Points

• Cognatic Kinship System is the mode of descent calculated from an ancestor counted through the combination of male and female links, or a system of bilateral kinship where relations are traced through both a father and mother.
• Cognatic Kinship system are found commonly among the Samoans of Central Polynesia.

Additional Information

• Multilateral denotes having many sides, involving more than two nations or parties. Examples include NATO, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization.
• Unilineal is basically tracing descent through either the maternal or paternal line only.
• Ambilateral is related to a system of kinship in which a person can claim membership of the lineage group of either the father or mother (or both).

The correct answer is ​To act as a facilitator and advocate for change.

Key Points A change agent plays a crucial role in managing technological change within an organization. The change agent is an individual or a group responsible for leading and facilitating the change process, guiding and supporting employees through the transition to the new technology. Their role involves several key responsibilities:

Vision and Communication: The change agent helps develop a clear vision of the technological change and communicates it effectively to stakeholders. They articulate the rationale for the change, its benefits, and the expected outcomes. Through open and consistent communication, the change agent ensures that employees understand the purpose and value of the change.

Change Planning and Strategy: The change agent develops a comprehensive change management plan and strategy. This includes identifying the scope and objectives of the change, assessing potential risks and challenges, and developing strategies to mitigate them. They define the roadmap for the change initiative and create a structured approach to guide its implementation.

Stakeholder Engagement: The change agent actively engages with stakeholders throughout the change process. This involves identifying and involving key stakeholders, understanding their concerns and perspectives, and addressing their needs. By fostering open dialogue, the change agent builds relationships and creates a supportive environment for the change.

Change Leadership: The change agent provides strong leadership during the change initiative. They demonstrate commitment to the change, inspire and motivate employees, and serve as role models for embracing the new technology. The change agent guides and supports employees through the change, helping them overcome resistance and navigate challenges.

The correct answer is - Denis MacQuail.

Important Points

• Denis MacQuail is a key figure associated with the concept of "Development Communication."
• His contributions in the field of communication studies have focused on understanding and enhancing communication processes within the context of societal development.

Additional Information

• Daniel Lerner, a renowned communication scholar, is known for his work on modernization theory and the role of communication in social change.
• Robert Redfield was an anthropologist who studied cultural change and social development.
• Everett M. Rogers, a communication theorist, is acclaimed for his diffusion of innovations theory, examining how new ideas and technologies spread within societies.

The study of triads and dyads was pioneered by German sociologist Georg Simmel at the end of the nineteenth century. The most basic, fundamental type of social group that consists of only two people is called a dyad. A triad can be viewed as a group of three people that can create different group interactions. This specific grouping is common yet overlooked in society for many reasons.

Lewis Alfred Closer was the first sociologist to try to bring together structural functionalism and conflict theory his work was focused on finding the functions of social conflict. In a society that seems to be disintegrating, conflict with another society, inter-group conflict, may restore the integrative core.

Emile Durkheim, a famous French sociologist, is credited with defining and developing the concept of collective representations. It refers to a symbol having a common intellectual and emotional meaning to the members of a group. Collective representations reflect the history of the group that is the collective experience of a group over time.

National Initiative On Climate Resilient Agriculture was launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. It was launched in February 2011.

Technological change refers to the process by which new products and processes are generated. When new technologies involve a new way of making existing products, technological change is called process innovation. When they include entirely new products, the change is referred to as product innovation.

Productivity describes various measures of the efficiency of production. Often (yet not always), a productivity measure is expressed as the ratio of aggregate output to a single input or an aggregate input used in a production process, i.e. output per unit of input.

Prohibition of Child Marriages Act, came into effect from 1st November 2007, replacing the Child Marriage Restraint Act (CMRA) of 1929 or the Sharda Act.

This law was amended in 1978, wherein the legal age of marriage of girls was raised from 15 to 18 years and of boys from 18 to 21 years. The amended law was known as the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929.

The correct answer is a - i, b - iii, c - iv, d - ii.

• The tomb of Sher Shah Suri is in the Sasaram town of Bihar state, India.
• Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India.
• The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, in 1558, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas.
• Akbar's tomb was built in 1605–1613.
• The Tomb of Jahangir is a 17th-century mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

E-governance (electronic governance): It is a part of information and communication technology that aims to enhance the government's ability to fulfill the needs of the public. The aim of e-governance is to make things easy for everyone i.e., citizens, government, and business at the local, state, and national levels. It is an electronic means to encourage good governance.

Scope of e-governance includes:

1. Government to citizen

2. Government to Government

3. Citizen to Government

4. Government to business

Government to Citizen (G2C): It is the basic aspect of E-governance and in today's world relation of a citizen starts with government from his birth and ends till his death. A citizen comes into contact with the government in every aspect be it birth registration, marriage, divorce, or death. The G2C includes services from the government like transportation, telecommunication, medical facility, post, education, etc.

The following are G2C initiatives:

E-Health, E-Help, E-Citizenship, E-Registration, E-Education, E-Taxation, E-Transport, etc.