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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What classes does Veblen describe emerging as society developed?
(a) Blue-collar and white-collar classes.
(b) Industrial and nonindustrial classes.
(c) Proletariat and bourgeoisie.
(d) Workers and parasites.

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

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

4. What does Veblen say causes the emergence of crimes against property?
(a) The sanctification of property.
(b) The exploitation of labor.
(c) The emergence of money.
(d) The development of debt.

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

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

7. What factors drove the emergence of the leisure class?
(a) Economic forces.
(b) Military forces.
(c) Technological forces.
(d) Geographical forces.

8. Who engages in vicarious consumption?
(a) Slaves.
(b) Men of leisure.
(c) Workers.
(d) Servants.

9. What does Veblen say happens as technology progresses?
(a) Men have more time for activities beyond subsistence.
(b) Men have more wives.
(c) Men have more time for prayer.
(d) Men have more children.

10. What does Veblen say clothing is designed for?
(a) Health.
(b) Support.
(c) Show.
(d) Protection.

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

12. How does Veblen say the laboring classes in an agricultural society see work?
(a) It is the means to advancement.
(b) It is the minimum requirement.
(c) It is not undignified.
(d) It is humiliating.

13. How does Veblen say the upper classes in an agricultural society see work?
(a) They master it.
(b) They see it as dishonorable.
(c) They idealize it.
(d) They envy it.

14. Who decides what level of consumption is honorable?
(a) The community itself.
(b) The aristocrats.
(c) The merchants.
(d) The workers.

15. What is reserved for the leisure class?
(a) Owning property.
(b) Travel.
(c) Luxuries like jewelry.
(d) Possession of slaves.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did men use to display their exploits during the earliest forms of ownership?

2. How does Veblen explain the change of fashion from year to year?

3. How does Veblen say members of a society are ranked and judged?

4. How do the clergy indicate the honor of their employment?

5. What does Veblen say results from the possession and consumption of goods?

(see the answer keys)

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