NMAT 2018

SOCIOLOGY MODULE A
(with explanations)
1. The technical or applied science includes all but
one of the following:
a. politics c. economics
b. education d. humanities

• Technical or applied sciences: Applies scientific

knowledge for the development of practical
applications
• Humanities: Focus on human culture (Philosophy,
Literature, History), gives us general knowledge but
not necessarily practical application
2. The idea that one group is more superior than
the other shows:
a. ethnocentrism c. superiority
b. complex reaction d. prejudice

• Choices C and D may be considered as under

Ethocentrism
3. Culture is:
a. cumulative
b. ideational
c. learned
d. shared if the newly acquired knowledge is
added to the stock of beliefs or ideas
• Ideational: Formation of ideas and the use of the same to assign
meanings to experiences and the environment
• Cumulative: Knowledge is stored and passed on from one
generation to the next, and new knowledge is being added to
what is existing
While it is true that culture is ideational and learned, the most
important characteristic of culture is cumulative because it
assures the continuity of a culture. Otherwise, a culture ceases to
exist.
4. Normative culture:
a. set patterns of behavior
b. regulate one’s actions and conduct
c. guidelines for group action
d. means deviance
• Normative culture is a way of behaving rather than a
system of rules
• Pragmatic culture observes a set of rules because it
focuses on practical applications (B & C)
• D is wrong because culture ensures belongingness,
and deviance from culture effects the opposite of
belongingness
5. Value systems are:
a. configuration of culture
b. revolve around personalism
c. generally shared by all people
d. cannot easily be discerned
• Personalism: Any philosophy that considers the individual as
the supreme value and the key to measuring reality
Disregards the concept of the common good
• C is wrong because cultures have different value systems, so it’s
impossible that a value system is consistent in all groups of
people
• A is the correct answer because different cultures configure or
make up their own value systems that make their culture
unique
6. The gathering of people at a bargain counter and the
milling of kibitzers in a traffic incident are examples of a
a. mass c. public
b. crowd d. mob

• Mass/Public: Dispersed collectivities

• Crowd: Localized collectivity (Physically
together)
Mob is a type of crowd but the scenario stated above
is not emotionally toned
7. Public opinion can be formed by the following
except one:
a. propaganda c. newspaper
b. survey d. rages social epidemics
• “Epidemics” connotes the spread of something.
An individual opinion can be spread and make
it public (Correct)
• C and D are correct also because they help
form public opinion
• Surveys are only considered as tools to describe
or discover public opinion
8. Gemeinschaft as a social structure refers to community
relations while Gesselschaft refers to a:
a. population c. society
b. multitude d. diverse group
• Community: Refers to a group of individuals residing in
a specific location (Physical location is what unites
them)
• Society: System of social relationships
• “Population”, “Multitude”, and “Diverse group” may
describe Gemeinschaft and Gesselschaft (Vague).
-These words are also seen in societies
9. One of the following is not a type of deviance:
a. conformist
b. retreatist
c. ritualist
d. cultist
• Retreatist: The rejection of
culturally prescribed goals and the
conventional means of attaining
them
• Deviance: Departing from usual
standards

• Ritualist: refers to the person who does the common practice of going
through the motions of daily life even though one does not accept the goals
or values that align with those practices.
• Cultist: a person who joins a cult, a social group with socially deviant or
novel (new or unusual in an interesting way) beliefs and practices
• Conformist: a person who conforms to accepted behavior or established
practices.
10. Considered a social function of values judgment is:
a. interconnectedness of specific action with idea of good
or bad
b. personal conviction
c. majority choice
d. popular concept
• Values judgment: Your own judgment of the
rightness/wrongness/usefulness of something or
someone in comparison with another entity (Ex. What
is right thing to do, what is important)
• B is may be correct but incomplete because it does not
consider the social function
11. Cultural development of man is greatly
influenced by all but one of the following:
a. climate c. ecology
b. community d. decentralization
• Ecology: Deals of relationships of organisms to one
another and their physical surroundings (Encompases
choices A and B )
12. Deviance represents:
a. social disintegration c. failure in socialization
b. stereotyped system d. varied child-rearing practices
• Socialization: Learning to behave in an accepted way, as
dictated by the culture of a society
• D is wrong because deviance does not only mean varied child-
rearing practices; it could mean other things
• Deviance: Departure from usual standards; denotes
inconsistency
• Stereotype: Denotes consistency (B is wrong)
-Deviance is not always associated with social
disintegration
13. Looking glass self refers to all but one of the
following:
a. image known to others
b. importance of the judgment of others
c. perceived kind of personality
d. personality substitution
• Looking Glass Self Theory: Explains how identity is
formed. We can judge ourselves as if we are another
person. Our self-identity may be formed through:
- Image known to others
- Our own perception of the judgment of others of our own
image
- Judgment of others
14. Xenocentrism which is opposite of
ethnocentrism means but all one of the following:
a. mania for foreign goods
b. live with joneses in the country
c. social climber
d. superiority of local products

• Xenocentrism: Perceived superiority of another’s

culture above one’s own
15. The barkada or peer group becomes an
important reference group when:
a. parental guidance is lacking
b. there is uncertainty and stress
c. isolation and loneliness are felt
d. the child needs trust and confidence
• The child will always go to their family first in
times of crises. But when the family deems to
be unreliable, that’s the time the individual
considers their peers as their reference groups.
16. Cultural determinism views that human
behavior is a result of:
a. cultural environment
b. racial prejudice
c. ecological difference
d. breakdown of discipline

• Cultural Determinism: Culture shapes one’s

thoughts and actions
- Different from Environmental Determinism: The
condition of the environment shapes one’s culture
17. Personality is defined as:

a. cluster of attitudes
b. adolescent age
c. social adjustment
d. biological change in body
18. Euthanasia is considered moral if:
a. administrated by the patient
b. assisted by patient
c. sanctioned by legislation
d. church approved
• C: May be considered as ethical (Rules of conduct, the proper way to do something
regardless of morals), not moral
- Not everything that is considered ethical is moral.
• D: Moral (Based on what you perceive as right or wrong)
• Difference between morals and ethics
19. Sociology replaces all but one of the following:
a. superstition c. social order
b. prejudice d. traditionalism

• Our knowledge in Sociology may help us solve

societal issues such as superstition, prejudice,
and traditionalism, to give way to social order.
20. A great majority of problem in kids is a
product of:

a. extreme pampering
b. emotionally and physically handicapped
c. exodus of parents abroad for a better life
d. broken homes
21. All but one are considered grounds for
divorce:

a. adultery of wife
b. maintenance of mistress in the conjugal
dwelling
c. serious and habitual maltreatment
d. irregular copulation
22. The family plays a unique role in personality
development of the child because it is:
a. the main link between the child and society
b. the cradle of values and attitudes
c. inculcates the system of reward and punishment
d. recognized by the government
• Personality development of a child should be viewed within the
context of society, not just within the values and expectations
set by the parents. Also, said values and expectations from
parents come from the society itself, which makes society the
cradle of values and attitudes. The family also explains to the
child the culture of the society where they belong because the
family belongs to the society.
23. Air pollution is caused by many factors, the
most damaging of which is:

a. CO2
b. smog reactions
c. cement dust
d. soot and other particulates
24. All but one are considered as ill effects of
relative divorce:
a. severance of marriage bonds (Cause)
b. bogged down communication among couples
c. problem children
d. anxiety, hatred and frustration

• In comparison with B, C, and D, A is the least

destructive/severe.
25. One of the following does not work out
change in the Philippine stratification system:
a. greater autonomy given to local government
b. improved taxation system
c. emancipation of landless tenants
d. re-zonification of territories
• Philippine stratification system: Delineation of
society into social classes/statuses
• B, C, and D narrow the gap between social
classes, so they change the stratification system
26. Social change is brought about by an interplay
of all but one of the following factors:

a. moral and ethical values

b. people’s motor skills and other abilities
c. topography of the land
d. climate change
27. Demographers conclude that in the study of sex composition all
but one of the following are considered influences:
a. fertility c. migration
b. mortality d. sex ratio

• Sex Composition = Sex Ratio

• The study of sex composition includes analysis of
various Demographic Processes (Processes through
which population can change):
- Fertility
- Mortality
- Migration
28. Hallucinogens, which affect sensation, thinking
and emotion of takers are also called:
a. Pep pills c. Psychedelics
b. Barbiturates d. Sedatives
• Barbiturates: Depressants, may induce mild sedation
Examples of Barbiturates: methohexital (Brevital®)
thiamyl (Surital®)
thiopental (Pentothal®)
• Sedatives: Calming effect, may induce sleep
Examples of Sedatives:
Benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) & alprazolam (Xanax)
• Pep pills: tablet or capsule containing a stimulant drug, especially an
amphetamine.
• Psychedelics: include LSD (“acid”), psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline (found in
peyote), ibogaine, salvia, and DMT (found in ayahuasca).
29. One of the following is considered as a consequence
of industrialization:
a. emergence of the new rich
b. class conflict
c. mass migration
d. shortage in housing
• Industrialization: Economy of a society shifts from
agricultural (traditional) to the manufacturing of
goods (modern)
- Businessmen who owned factories surfaced as the “new
rich”
• B, C, and D may already be existent even before
Industrialization
30. All but one are factors of social mobility:
a. changing labor market
b. changing patterns of fertility
c. greater emphasis on education
d. liberalized immigration laws
• Social mobility: Moving from one social status
or class to another
31. As a social structure, social stratification is referred to
as:
a. institutionalized inequality
b. delineation of roles and statuses
c. ranking of positions
d. position equates with roles played
31. As a social structure, social stratification is referred to
as:
a. institutionalized inequality
b. delineation of roles and statuses
c. ranking of positions Keyword: ranking
d. position equates with roles played

• Notable keywords:
Status: Position
Role: Behavior (associated with a position or status)
Stratification: Ranking
32. The most commonly used birth control
technique sanctioned by the church is:

a. rhythm method
b. use of intrauterine device
c. surgical method of sterilization
d. surgical abortion

• Rhythm method is the only natural method

33. In social organization, the number of people walking down the
street is known as:
a. group c. mass
b. collectivity d. audience

• Social Groups: Hold a distinct set of social boundaries

and a regular pattern of interaction
Social groups are more or less organized and planned
• Collectivities: No particular set of social boundaries and
there is irregularity in interaction
Crowds: Localized collectivities (Physically together)
Ex. Audience
Mass/Public: Dispersed collectivities (Physically apart)
34. Hare Krishna is a typical example of:
a. sect b. denomination c. cult d. religion

• Religion: A particular system of faith and worship

• Denomination: Subgroup within a religion
• Sect: A group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs
from those of a larger group to which they belong.
- More openly accepted by society, in contrast to cults
- Hare Krishna: Derived from Hinduism, believes that Krishna is the source of
all avatars of God
Believers of this may come from different source of religions (e.g., Christianity
vs. Hare Krishna: In HK, meat-eating and intoxicants are not allowed)
• Cult: A starting form of religion, not recognized universally
- Stigma is often attached with cults
- Keywords:
Personal charisma
Manipulation of members
Rigid bureaucratic structure
35. Ecumenism:
a. Plurality of church
b. One dogma
c. One religion
d. Beliefs according to choice

• Ecumenism: The principle or aim of promoting unity

among the world’s Christian churches
A common teaching or dogma unifies various denominations
under the same religion
36. All institutions acquire symbols, which serve as
shorthand reminder of the institution. The citizen
is reminded of allegiance while education is
associated with:
a. school building c. books
b. computers d. visual aids
37. Considered the foundation of a state is a:
a. government c. sovereignty
b. family d. leaders

• “The family is the basic unit of society”

• Sovereignty: Supreme power or authority
38. A bureaucratic system presents all but one of
the characteristic:
a. specialization
b. aggressive compulsion from officials
c. formalistic personality
d. chain of command
• A bureaucratic system emphasizes efficiency,
ranking of positions, and authority. Every
decision and move is carefully calculated
39. Considered the foundation of the family:
a. marriage c. values
b. children d. license

• Marriage is expected to come first

- Bond of husband and wife
40. The fundamental law of the land is a:
a. Laws of the church
b. School’s policies
c. Constitution
d. Family’s traditional values

• Consitution: Mother of laws. This is where our

acts, bills are based
41. While religion performs a number of
functions, it can also have dysfunctions:

a. it can be divisive force of society

b. sex mores are integrated with religious
c. worship permeates the whole social life of
certain minority group
d. it allays fears and anxieties of individuals
41. While religion performs a number of
functions, it can also have dysfunctions:

a. it can be divisive force of society

b. sex mores are integrated with religious
c. worship permeates the whole social life of
certain minority group
d. it allays fears and anxieties of individuals
42. Religion includes both the set of beliefs and
practices relative to sacred things. One of the ff. is
not an essential component of religion:
a. behavior in front of sacred things
b. worship Buddha, Allah or Jehovah
c. miracle at Agoo
d. rituals conducted by a cult
• A, B, and D: Set of beliefs and practices diligently
followed
• Miracles are not compulsory in a religion
43. Which of the following is considered the most valid criticism of
Marxist’s model of society?
a. Polarization of society into two conflicting groups

b. Emphasis on class dictatorship

c. Overemphasis on the importance of economic class to explain

historical trends
(Marx attributed various societal problems to class inequality)
d. The forces that reduce the polarization of classes.

• Marxism emphasizes the even distribution of goods and equality

in social status, in opposition to capitalism (an economic and political
system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for
profit, rather than by the state.)
• Marxism sprung from the clash of classes, of polar opposites (i.e.,
the rich and the poor)
• Marxism attributes problems of society to rifts between classes
44. The statement, “Much of what man does in
life, he does as a cultural being,” means that

a. culture shapes and conditions the actions and

beliefs of a human being
b. reason moves man to action
c. biological needs determines man’s acts and
beliefs
d. free will determines man’s action
45. Racial stratification systems are generally more
closed than class stratification systems because
a. race is achieved
b. race is ascribed
c. class is achieved
d. class is ascribed

• Although C is also correct, the subject of the

question is racial stratification systems
46. The population of Metro Manila has considerably
increased in the past decades as a result of natural growth
and movement of people from the rural areas. However,
population growth has not been met by an increase of
housing facilities, thus resulting in overcrowding. This
discrepancy illustrates the concept of
a. cultural lag c. cultural pluralism
b. cultural complex d. cultural relativism
• Context clues: Question connotes lack of progress,
stagnancy, a lag
• Cultural complex: Group of cultural traits
• Cultural pluralism: Smaller groups within a larger society
maintain their unique cultural traits (e.g., Regionalism)
• Cultural relativism: A person’s beliefs and values should be
understood within the context of his or her own culture
47. To say that a specific environment will produce
a specific type of culture is an expression of
a. biological determinism
b. cultural determinism
c. environmental determinism
d. geographical determinism

• Cultural Determinism: A culture will predict

and influence one’s pattern of behavior
48. Which of the following best exemplifies innovation?
a. The continuance of old patterns of life

b. The introduction of gasoline engines to fishing boats by a majority of

the villagers

c. The acceptance of new ways of farming by a small group of farmers

d. The maintenance of good habits and practices

48. Which of the following best exemplifies innovation?
a. The continuance of old patterns of life (No change)

b. The introduction of gasoline engines to fishing boats by a majority of

the villagers

c. The acceptance of new ways of farming by a small group of farmers

(“small group of farmers” is not equivalent of the majority)

d. The maintenance of good habits and practices (No change)

• Innovation: Mass progress brought about by a unique

and unprecedented change in one’s way of living
- A true innovation benefits the majority of a group
49. According to Pepinsky, which of the following
is the most effective form of social control among
Chinese communist?
a. group manipulation of guilt and shame
b. surveillance system
c. party directives
d. written laws
Forms of Social Control:
• Informal means of control
• Internalization of norms and values by a process known as socialization.
• Pepinsky
• Formal means of social control
• External sanctions enforced by government to prevent the establishment
of chaos or anomie in society
• Émile Durkheim
50. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic
of bureaucracy?

a. specialization
b. chain of command
c. informality and autonomy
d. merit appointment and job tenure
• A bureaucracy is formal and its members are rather deprived of
autonomy.
• Those at the top of the hierarchy always make the decision