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Chapter 14

Test Bank for Problems in the Media

True/False / Mult. Choice / Essay / Total Qs
Remember / 8 (80%) / 21 (70%) / 0 / 29
Understand / 2 (20%) / 7 (23%) / 0 / 9
Apply / 0 / 2 (7%) / 1 (20%) / 3
Analyze / 0 / 0 / 1 (20%) / 1
Evaluate / 0 / 0 / 2 (40%) / 2
Create / 0 / 0 / 1 (20%) / 1
10 / 30 / 5 / 45

True or False Questions

  1. Profits in the media industries are typically higher compared to those in the manufacturing sector.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: a. true

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 318

  1. Supporters of media convergence are very concerned about the problem of synergy.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: b. false

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 320

  1. Media scholars believe that media convergence reduces message pluralism.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: a. true

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 320

  1. Social learning theory is based on the assumption that individuals are likely to act out behavior they observe in media sources.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: a. true

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 329

  1. Convergence is the term used to describe how the media link news content and its visual images to create specific audience perceptions.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: b. false

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 318

  1. Although a growing number of media consumers are not members of the dominant racial or ethnic groups or of the privileged classes, some media may reinforce existing racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes and even create new ones.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: a. true

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 326-328

  1. Consumers are not affected by the constant stream of advertisements that they encounter.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: b. false

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 317

  1. Conflict theorists argue that members of the capitalist class own and control the media, which, along with other dominant social institutions, instruct people in the values, beliefs, and attitudes that they should have.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: a. true

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 331

  1. The average U.S. person spends most of his or her waking hours in some media-related activity.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: a. true

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 317

  1. Television never posed a major threat to the newspaper and radio industries.
  2. true
  3. false

Answer: b. false

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 318

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Which of the following emerged in the 1950s to threaten newspapers and radio?

a. Internet

b. television

c. shortwave

d. magazines in color

Answer: b. television

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 317

  1. Which term means “the tendency of media industries to cluster in groups with the goal of increasing profitability”?

a. media concentration

b. media conversion

c. media convergence

d. media control

Answer: a. media concentration

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 318

  1. The Big Three television networks in the 1970s were

a. ABC, Disney, HBO.

b. NBS, BBC, and ABC.

c. Universal, HBO, Disney.

d. NBC, CBS, and ABC.

Answer: d. NBC, CBS, and ABC.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 318

  1. The melding of communications, computers, and electronics industries that has occurred in the United States is called

a. cross-media.

b. concentration of revenues.

c. convergence.

d. corporate cooperation.

Answer: c. convergence.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 318

  1. Which of the following terms refers to the process that is used in capitalizing on a product to make all the profit possible?

a. concentration of revenues

b. synergy

c. corporate cooperation

d. convergence

Answer: b. synergy

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 320

  1. The idea that television shows, videos, motion pictures, and other forms of media offer people a vicarious outlet for their feelings of aggression, and therefore, may reduce the amount of violence engaged in by the media consumer is referred to as

a. the vicarious outlet hypothesis.

b. the cathartic effect hypothesis.

c. the violence reduction hypothesis.

d. the desensitization hypothesis.

Answer: b. the cathartic effect hypothesis.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 325

  1. Continual depictions of violence tend to

a. repel viewers.

b. educate viewers.

c. mollify viewers.

d. desensitize viewers.

Answer: d. desensitize viewers

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 325

  1. Some analysts have suggested that continual depictions of violence

a. tend to desensitize viewers.

b. help viewers decrease fear, frustration, and aggressive behavior.

c. reduce the need for greater security and protection in everyday life.

d. is in high demand because it is human nature to be aggressive and violent.

Answer: a. tend to desensitize viewers.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 325

  1. The perpetuation of gender stereotyping in the media has been attributed to the

a. desire of television writers and advertisers to show women in a greater diversity of roles.

b. underrepresentation of women in influential positions such as producers and directors.

c. bias of younger women in the media against older women actors.

d. strict government regulation of the television industry.

Answer: b. underrepresentation of women in influential positions such as producers and directors.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 328

  1. The theory of limited effects states that

a. the media have a minimal effect on the individual's attitudes and perceptions.

b. we are limited in our knowledge of the effects that the media might have on individuals' attitudes and perceptions.

c. audiences are made up of passive people who are equally susceptible to media messages.

d. people are active audience participants who make conscious decisions about what they watch, listen to, and read.

Answer: a. the media have a minimal effect on the individual's attitudes and perceptions.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 329

  1. According to the functionalist approach, the media are dysfunctional when they

a. make people overly fearful about potential disasters.

b. contribute to a reduction in social stability.

c. perpetuate cultural traditions and historical perspectives.

d. confer status on individuals.

Answer: b. contribute to a reduction in social stability.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 330

  1. Hegemony theory as it relates to the media can best be categorized under which of the following perspectives?

a. interactionist

b. functionalist

c. conflict

d. postmodernist

Answer: c. conflict

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 331

  1. Conflict theorists typically link the media industries with

a. the military-industrial complex.

b. the capitalist economy.

c. global patriarchy.

d. the audience relations approach.

Answer: b. the capitalist economy.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 331

  1. The group of massive corporations that control the news and entertainment industry are known as the

a. Terrible Two.

b. Formidable Five.

c. Big Six.

d. Silent Seven.

Answer: c. Big Six.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 318

  1. How many hours did the average U.S. adult spend reading newspapers in 2009?

a.1,721

b,50

c.716

d. 158

Answer:d. 158

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 317

  1. Which of the following is the main motivation for media concentration?

a. honesty in news

b. government stability

c. public good

d. financial gain

Answer: d. financial gain

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 318

  1. The theory that audiences are made of passive individuals who are equally susceptible to the messages of the media is the

a. social learning theory.

b. use and ratification theory.

c. theory of limited effects.

d. hypodermic needle theory.

Answer: d. hypodermic needle theory.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 329

  1. The theory that is based on the assumption that people are likely to act out the behavior they see in role models and media sources is the

a. social learning theory.

b. use and ratification theory.

c. theory of limited effects.

d. hypodermic needle theory.

Answer: a. social learning theory.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 329

  1. Which theory is part of the conflict perspective?

a. overemphasis theory

b. hypodermic needle theory

c. social learning theory

d. hegemony theory

Answer: d. hegemony theory

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 331

  1. According to astudy conducted by the Center for Communications and Social Policy at the University of California at Santa Barbara, violent television shows made up what percentage of all television programming during the three years of the study?

a. 20%

b. 40%

c. 60%

d. 80%

Answer: c. 60%

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 325

  1. Media companies owning more than one type of media property is known as

a. concentration of ownership.

b. cross-media ownership.

c. conglomerate ownership.

d. vertical integrations.

Answer: b. cross-media ownership.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Remember

Page Reference: 319-320

  1. The idea that a ruling class is using the media to control the working class peoples’ thoughts is the

a. use and gratification theory.

b. symbolic interactionist perspective.

c. hegemony theory.

d. functionalist perspective.

Answer: hegemony theory.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 329

  1. A person who carefully evaluates information from the media and disregards bad information is demonstrating the

a. social learning theory.

b. false approach theory.

c. theory of limited effects.

d. hypodermic needle theory.

Answer: c. theory of limited effects.

Difficulty: 3
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 329

  1. One proven result of violence on television is

a. increased violence immediately after the show.

b. high revenue from ad sales.

c. appreciative letters from viewers and fans.

d. children resorting to crime.

Answer: b. high revenue from ad sales.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 325

  1. Which of the following statements regarding racial and ethnic stereotyping and the media is true?

a. The media portrays racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes in order to expose them as false.

b. Some media may reinforce existing racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes as well as create new ones.

c. Racial and ethnic stereotyping often involves the creation of racial or ethnic characters with desirable attributes.

d. Racial and ethnic stereotyping in the media is usually unintentional.

Answer: b. Some media may reinforce existing racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes as well as create new ones.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 326-328

  1. In films, television programming, and other media forms, racial and ethnic stereotyping

a. exaggerates the physical appearance of subordinate group members.

b. promotes tolerance through comedy.

c. uses terms such as "model minority" to describe achievements of minorities.

d. enhances serious genres of acting.

Answer: a. exaggerates the physical appearance of subordinate group members.

Difficulty: 1
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 326

  1. In regard to violent TV shows, recent studies have found that

a. violence on television has continued to decrease as audiences have demanded a reduction in depictions of aggressive and/or violent behavior.

b. violent television shows constitute more than half of all television programming.

c. there is a definitive answer to the question of what effect the depiction of violence has on audiences.

d. children do not pay much attention to violence when it is shown on various adult television shows.

Answer: b. violent television shows constitute more than half of all television programming.

Difficulty: 3
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference: 325

  1. Which of the following statements about media is false?

a. Recent estimates show that the average person in the United States spends more than one half of his or her waking hours in some media-related activity.

b. Today, many people spend less time in media-related activities than they do in other endeavors.

c. The media industries that emerged in the twentieth century are one of the most significant social institutions at work in the United States and many other nations.

d. The media industries have a powerful influence on all other social institutions and can effect change with their messages.

Answer: b. Today, many people spend less time in media-related activities than they do in other endeavors.

Difficulty: 3
Bloom’s Level: Understand

Page Reference:

  1. Sally doesn’t like the newspaper or the television news. She likes her local newspaper’s website, and that’s where she gets all her news. Sally is not getting

a. the most recent news.

b. message pluralism.

c. access to technology.

d. honest media.

Answer: b. message pluralism.

Difficulty: 3
Bloom’s Level: Apply

Page Reference: 317

  1. The working-class male character on a prime-time sitcom is portrayed as rude and uneducated. This is an instance of

a. gender stereotyping.

b. social learning theory.

c. gratification theory.

d. class gratification.

Answer: a. gender stereotyping.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Apply

Page Reference: 329

Essay Questions

  1. A transnational company is taking over all of the media in a small, isolated country. What are some of the possible effects of this event on the people of this country?

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Apply

Page Reference: 318-320

  1. Compare media convergence and media concentration, explaining the difference. Also discuss changes that occurred in the media industries as a result of corporate megamergers.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Analyze

Page Reference: 318-320

  1. Argue for or against the need for media in our daily lives. In your analysis, define and explain the media industries, and describe the amount of time the average person spends engaging in media-related activities.

Difficulty: 3
Bloom’s Level: Evaluate

Page Reference: 317

  1. Watch some television with a notebook nearby. Record any instances of gender or racial stereotyping you observe. Did you see anything that you read about in your text? Explain.

Difficulty: 2
Bloom’s Level: Evaluate

Page Reference: 326-329

  1. Write a short essay about the advantages and disadvantages of convergence. Decide whether you are for or against convergence and explain your reasoning.

Difficulty: 3
Bloom’s Level: Create

Page Reference: 318-321

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