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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What distinction does Veblen say emerged between types of labor in cultures that had a leisure class?
(a) Between worthy and unworthy labor.
(b) Between workers, managers, and owners.
(c) Between agitators and protestors.
(d) Between capitalists and communists.

2. What does Veblen say the effects of an ownership society are on the behavior of its members?
(a) It makes people frugal.
(b) It makes people conservative.
(c) It makes people economically insecure.
(d) It makes people warlike.

3. What was the state of the leisure class in hunting cultures?
(a) It was developing but still competing with the communal lifestyle.
(b) It did not exist.
(c) It was highly developed, and hunters exploit the women for their labor.
(d) It existed only for the priests.

4. How does Veblen classify industrial labor in industrial societies?
(a) As women's work.
(b) As men's work.
(c) As work done by machines.
(d) As work that does not produce food or shelter.

5. Private ownership led to what cultural development?
(a) Jealousy and murders.
(b) War.
(c) Dueling.
(d) Competition for goods.

6. What is the relationship between manners and class?
(a) Manners indicate social climbers.
(b) Manners change from time to time to keep newcomers at a disadvantage.
(c) Manners indicate breeding and status.
(d) Manners indicate conformity to the dominant class's fashions.

7. Which employments were associated with a lower status?
(a) Diplomatic tasks.
(b) Subsistence tasks.
(c) Crafts.
(d) Government tasks.

8. What did men use to display their exploits during the earliest forms of ownership?
(a) Gold.
(b) Stories.
(c) War booty.
(d) Enemy women.

9. What does Veblen say happens to cultures that develop knowledge and tools?
(a) They become more decadent.
(b) They become more diplomatic.
(c) They become more efficient.
(d) They become more warlike.

10. According to Veblen, property became a prerequisite for what?
(a) Reputation.
(b) Respect.
(c) Comfort.
(d) Starting a family.

11. How does Veblen say members of a society are ranked and judged?
(a) In terms of their morals.
(b) In terms of their wealth.
(c) In terms of their power.
(d) In terms of their noble lineage.

12. What term does Veblen use to describe horses and dogs?
(a) Conspicuous consumption.
(b) Pecuniary beauty.
(c) Conspicuous beauty.
(d) Pecuniary respectability.

13. What does Veblen say public lawns have?
(a) Lower maintenance than pastures.
(b) Emulation of pastures.
(c) More aesthetic beauty than pastures.
(d) Pecuniary beauty.

14. What does Veblen call the code of conduct for servants?
(a) Conspicuous discomfort.
(b) Service with a smile.
(c) Conspicuous subservience.
(d) Mechanical efficiency.

15. What happens when a community develops a standard of wealth?
(a) Anything beyond that level becomes meritorious.
(b) Society persecutes those below that level.
(c) Anything below that level becomes objectionable.
(d) Society bands together to care for those below that level.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which occupation would the leisure class have worked as?

2. What does Veblen say is the motive for ownership?

3. What does Veblen say motivates conspicuous waste?

4. What standard does Veblen say guides people's behavior?

5. Spending money on churches is an example of what?

(see the answer keys)

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