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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Veblen say wealth is obtained?
(a) Through exploitation.
(b) Through conspicious consumption.
(c) Through labor.
(d) Through hoarding.

2. What does Veblen say motivates conspicuous waste?
(a) The desire to conform to established usage.
(b) The desire to give to the poor indirectly.
(c) The desire to consume excessively.
(d) The desire to demonstrate wealth.

3. How does a man of leisure indicate his position in society?
(a) By giving money to charities.
(b) By volunteering to help the poor.
(c) By his association with people of renown.
(d) By consuming and giving away certain things.

4. What principle does Veblen say guides the consumer's habits?
(a) Vicarious waste.
(b) Vicarious consumption.
(c) Conspicuous consumption.
(d) Conspicuous waste.

5. What makes dress a good indicator of conspicuous waste?
(a) Everyone knows how much clothing costs.
(b) It is always on display.
(c) It can be made in so many different ways.
(d) Everyone has to wear it.

6. How does Veblen define conspicuous consumption?
(a) Vulgar or unnecessary displays of wealth.
(b) A refined set of mannerisms displayed while consuming status symbols.
(c) The display of wealth in front of witnesses to wealth.
(d) An act of consumption that involves more than one person.

7. How must a man of leisure act?
(a) With decorum appropriate to his station.
(b) With no respect or regard for his inferiors.
(c) WIth appreciation for the technical trades that allow him his leisure.
(d) With deference toward his equals and superiors.

8. What aspect of culture was a condition for the development of a leisure class?
(a) Subsistence could be obtained without the entire community.
(b) Community standards of decency had to be fairly loose.
(c) The goal of a good life had to involve hard work.
(d) The entire community had to be involved in earning subsistence.

9. What does Veblen say is the motive for ownership?
(a) Emulation.
(b) Envy.
(c) Competitiveness.
(d) Possessiveness.

10. Which aspect of culture was a condition for the development of a leisure class?
(a) A predatory nature in the community.
(b) An ethic of sharing.
(c) Representative government.
(d) Competition for resources.

11. Why does Veblen say women wore corsets?
(a) Because making them slenderer made them seem more expensive.
(b) Because restricting their movements made them less threatening.
(c) Because restricting their movements prevented them from work.
(d) Because discomfort was a luxury.

12. What consumption articles does Veblen state that the consumer hangs on to the most?
(a) Necessities.
(b) Luxuries.
(c) Objects with high exchange value.
(d) Objects with high utility value.

13. What distinction begins to be drawn as the group around the patron grows?
(a) Between landed and monied gentry.
(b) Between upper-class and lower-class merchants.
(c) Between noble and ignoble.
(d) Between aristocratic and democratic.

14. What distinction does Veblen say separates men and women?
(a) Men can endure greater strains.
(b) Women can contain men's emotions.
(c) Men are more aggressive.
(d) Women are more empathetic.

15. What happens to the standard of wealth over time?
(a) It keeps increasing as society becomes more efficient.
(b) It changes as trends change.
(c) It remains the same until technology increases efficiencies again.
(d) It declines as efficiencies make wealth easier to obtain.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are signs of vicarious consumption?

2. When did the leisure class become part of society?

3. What does Veblen say the effects of an ownership society are on the behavior of its members?

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

5. Private ownership led to what cultural development?

(see the answer keys)

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