Multiple Choice 1. According to Daniel J. Monti, in the urban way of life, the many different types of people have found an appropriate form of public behavior that enables them to get along with each other. Monti refers to this as a. the countryside. b. civic culture. c. urban dominance. d. civilization. Answer: b. civic culture. 2. The text points out that much of the population of the city initially came from the a. suburbs. b. exurbs. c. countryside. d. highlands. Answer: c. countryside. 3. The text uses a small town in upstate New York as an example of urban dominance in a more subtle fashion. The pseudonym for this community is a. “Springdale.” b. “Levitown.” c. “Harrison.” d. “Mountain Home.” Answer: a. “Springdale.” 4. Oswald Spengler spoke of the “__________” of the city. a. heart b. brain c. soul d. bones Answer: c. soul 5. Based on historical and comparative evidence, __________ argued that the city has been at the center of Western civilization from its beginnings. a. Robert Merton b. Lewis Mumford c. Oswald Spengler d. Herbert Gans Answer: b. Lewis Mumford 6. What does Daniel J. Monti argue about cities? a. They have become “sinkholes of indifference.” b. They lack a civic culture. c. They are static entities. d. None of the above Answer: d. None of the above 7. Now a city of 12 million people, Beijing was formerly called a. Tokyo. b. Athens. c. Ibadan. d. Peking. Answer: d. Peking. 8. Ming Peking was based on a. elaborate Chinese cosmology. b. Cartesian logic. c. Buddhist rationalism. d. Eastern existentialism. Answer: a. elaborate Chinese cosmology. 9. Which city did Louis Mumford describe as “a far richer efflorescence of human genius than history anywhere else records, except perhaps for Renaissance Florence”? a. Ming Peking b. Hellenic Athens c. 18th century Rome d. Present day London Answer: b. Hellenic Athens 10. In the 5th century B.C.E., the city of Athens had a population of roughly a. 50,000. b. 100,000. c. 350,000. d. a little over one million. Answer: c. 350,000. 11. Classical Athens stood as a monument to a. free citizens participation in government. b. an all-powerful god. c. a ruling family. d. a police state. Answer: a. free citizens participation in government. 12. Friedrich Engels spoke of which English city with these words: “...it is a city in which one can roam for hours without leaving the built-up area and without seeing the slightest sign of the approach of open country”? a. Manchester b. Birmingham c. Leeds d. London Answer: d. London 13. For all intents and purposes, large-scale industrialism began in England about a. 1550. b. 1650. c. 1750. d. 1850. Answer: c. 1750. 14. For the city dweller during the Industrial Revolution, the most important change was a. the suburban movement. b. the invention of the factory. c. the exurban movement. d. widespread pollution. Answer: b. the invention of the factory. 15. In his writings, Charles Dickens used a phrase that summarized what worried Engels about the capitalist city: that it reduced everything in life to objective facts and quantity. This phrase is a. “You know what a horse is.” b. “Give me your definition of a horse.” c. “He has no business to it.” d. “You are never to fancy!” Answer: d. “You are never to fancy!” 16. __________ refers to conformity to opinions that supposedly reflect group consensus. a. Groupthink b. Group conformity c. Group polarization d. Group identity Answer: a. Groupthink 17. Visitors to Beijing today find a city displaying a. a communist philosophy. b. a rising consumerism. c. Marxism. d. socialism. Answer: b. a rising consumerism. True/False 18. Louis Wirth’s principal achievement as a United States urbanist was his articulation of the role of culture in cities. Answer: False 19. Cities are almost always completely self-defining. Answer: False 20. Shakespeare noted that country and city ways are often quite different. Answer: True 21. Perhaps the most important link between city and countryside is the reciprocal shaping of lifestyles. Answer: True 22. Sociologically, Fiorello La Guardia was a marginal man who lived on the edge of many cultures. Answer: True 23. Urban dominance is a central pattern of the modern world, but not the historical world. Answer: False 24. Oswald Spengler contended that cities ultimately dominate a society and maintain this dominance for all time. Answer: False 25. Modern sociologists generally view Spengler’s contribution to urban sociology as extremely significant. Answer: False 26. Daniel J. Monti believes that cities have become “sinkholes of civic indifference.” Answer: False 27. From Mumford and Spengler, we learn that although the city and civilization are not precisely synonymous, the city has a unique power to intensify and symbolize culture. Answer: True 28. Ming Peking (Beijing) stands as an example of Lewis Mumford’s idea of the city as a physical container. Answer: True 29. Ming Peking is an example of a city’s ability to intensify culture. Answer: True 30. The very success of Greek city-states led to the aristocrats’ downfall. Answer: True 31. As Greek civilization entered the Golden Age, the gods themselves became more abstract and less like human beings. Answer: False 32. Athens’ moment at the pinnacle of urban history was undermined eventually by the culture’s own egocentrism and exploitative practices. Answer: True 33. The cultures that prevailed in classical Athens and in Ming Peking were very similar. Answer: False 34. As a means of livelihood, capitalism is relatively new. Answer: False 35. It was the expansion of capitalist nations and their cities in the 19th century that made it possible for the Communists to gain control of China. Answer: True 36. In 1976, Deng Xiaoping and his followers de-emphasized the more extreme elements of Maoism. Answer: True Essay/Discussion 37. Explain the relationship between the city and its countryside. Answer: The relationship between the city and its countryside is complex and multifaceted, shaped by various economic, social, and environmental factors. Cities often rely on the countryside for resources such as food, water, and raw materials. In turn, cities provide markets for rural products and services, as well as employment opportunities. This economic interdependence is crucial for the functioning of both urban and rural areas. Socially, cities and countryside are linked by migration and cultural exchange. People often move between urban and rural areas for work, education, or lifestyle reasons, leading to a blending of urban and rural cultures. This interaction can enrich both settings, contributing to a diverse and vibrant society. Environmentally, the relationship between cities and the countryside is characterized by resource consumption and environmental impact. Cities consume large amounts of resources, leading to environmental challenges such as pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction. However, cities also play a role in preserving the countryside through conservation efforts and sustainable development practices. Overall, the relationship between the city and its countryside is one of mutual dependence and influence. Both settings have unique roles to play in the broader socio-economic and environmental landscape, and a balanced approach is essential for sustainable development. 38. Explain how urban dominance is a central pattern of both the modern and the historical world. Answer: Urban dominance is a central pattern in both modern and historical societies, reflecting the concentration of population, economic activity, and political power in cities. This pattern has been shaped by various factors, including technological advancements, economic specialization, and social organization. In the modern world, urban dominance is evident in the growth of mega-cities and metropolitan areas, which serve as hubs of economic, cultural, and political activity. These cities attract people from rural areas and smaller towns in search of better opportunities, leading to rapid urbanization. Urban dominance is also reflected in the way cities influence national and global affairs, often serving as centers of innovation, governance, and cultural exchange. Historically, urban dominance can be traced back to the rise of ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, where cities emerged as centers of power and civilization. In these societies, cities played a crucial role in the development of writing, trade, and governance, laying the foundation for modern urban centers. Overall, urban dominance is a central pattern that has characterized human societies for centuries, reflecting the dynamic relationship between urban and rural areas. While cities offer opportunities for growth and development, they also face challenges such as overcrowding, inequality, and environmental degradation, highlighting the need for sustainable urban planning and development. 39. Compare and contrast the views of Oswald Spengler and Lewis Mumford in terms of the question “Is the city truly synonymous with civilization?” Answer: Oswald Spengler and Lewis Mumford offer contrasting views on whether the city is truly synonymous with civilization. Spengler, in his work "The Decline of the West," argues that civilizations are organic entities with a life cycle similar to that of plants or animals. He sees the city as the ultimate expression of a civilization, representing its peak of development. To Spengler, the city embodies the culture, art, and achievements of a civilization, making it synonymous with civilization itself. On the other hand, Lewis Mumford, in works like "The City in History," presents a more nuanced view. While he acknowledges the importance of the city in fostering culture, innovation, and human progress, he also highlights the negative aspects of urban life, such as overcrowding, pollution, and social alienation. Mumford argues that civilization can exist outside the city, citing examples of ancient cultures that flourished without urban centers. In summary, Spengler views the city as the pinnacle of civilization, while Mumford sees it as a significant but not exclusive expression of human culture and progress. 40. The text utilizes Ming Peking and Hellenic Athens as contrasting case studies. What are the major differences between these two early cities? What does a comparison of these two early urban centers reveal? Answer: Ming Peking (Beijing) and Hellenic Athens represent contrasting case studies of early urban centers. Ming Peking, the capital of the Ming Dynasty in China, was a meticulously planned city with a rigid layout based on Confucian principles. It featured wide, straight avenues, enclosed courtyards, and distinct social hierarchies reflected in the layout of the city. In contrast, Hellenic Athens was a more organic city, characterized by its irregular street patterns, open public spaces like the agora, and a democratic political system that influenced its urban development. A comparison of these two cities reveals several major differences. Ming Peking was a planned city designed to reflect and reinforce the social and political order, with a clear hierarchy and separation between different social classes. Athens, on the other hand, developed more organically, with a focus on public spaces and democratic ideals that promoted civic engagement and participation. Furthermore, Ming Peking was designed to be a fortified city, with walls and gates for defense, reflecting the militaristic and centralized nature of the Ming Dynasty. In contrast, Athens was not heavily fortified, emphasizing its role as a cultural and intellectual center where ideas could flourish freely. Overall, the comparison of Ming Peking and Hellenic Athens highlights the diversity of early urban centers and the ways in which they reflected the values, beliefs, and political systems of their respective societies. Test Bank for Cities and Urban Life Plus John J. Macionis, Vincent N. Parrillo 9780205902583, 9780205206377,9780133869804
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