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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. How does Veblen define leisure?
(a) Anything that doesn't produce anything.
(b) Anything done outside of work.
(c) Using time in ways that produce entertainment.
(d) Using time in nonproductive ways.

3. What gives an item its desirability to men of the leisure class?
(a) Expensiveness.
(b) Efficiency.
(c) Beauty.
(d) Utility.

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

5. What does Veblen say comprises people's standard of living?
(a) Their habitual expenditures.
(b) Their necessary consumption.
(c) Their luxuries.
(d) Their debt.

6. What does Veblen say causes an item of clothing to be seen as inferior?
(a) If it is cheap.
(b) If it is widely available.
(c) If it is gaudy.
(d) If it is easy to manufacture.

7. How does Veblen explain the change of fashion from year to year?
(a) It is a form of cultural restlessness.
(b) It is a shallow form of bourgeois emulation of different aristocratic idols.
(c) It is a constantly renewed way to police who is current and who is classic.
(d) It is a form of conspicuous waste.

8. What does Veblen say happens to those who can afford not to work?
(a) They engage in conspicuous leisure.
(b) They help take care of the children and elders.
(c) They work at the most necessary jobs.
(d) They volunteer.

9. What happens when men come into wealth through peaceful means?
(a) Property becomes an indicator of heritage.
(b) Property becomes the subject of competition and warfare.
(c) Property becomes an indicator of success.
(d) Property becomes the measure of spiritual values.

10. Who performs the most vicarious consumption, according to Veblen?
(a) The women of the household.
(b) Children.
(c) The wage earner.
(d) Servants.

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

12. What spiritual need does clothing serve for people?
(a) Veblen says that it helps them conform to society.
(b) Veblen says that it helps them raise their eyes to the skies.
(c) Veblen says that it comforts them as God comforts them.
(d) Veblen says that it reminds them of the discomforts Christ suffered.

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

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

15. What stage of culture contained the institution of the leisure class?
(a) Early stages of agricultural culture.
(b) Late stages of agricultural culture.
(c) High stages of barbarian culture.
(d) Late stages of hunting culture.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. To whom does the requirement of excessive clothing apply most?

3. What does Veblen say public lawns have?

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

5. What does consumption yield to the individual?

(see the answer keys)

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