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Past Exam Questions: November 'Families and Households'

Unit 4

Paper 3 Oct/Nov 2002

Section A : Families and Households

1. (a) Describe the functions of the family. (9)

(b) Evaluate the view that the family in modern industrial societies has lost some of its functions. (16)

2. (a) Describe, with examples, how the structure of the family has been affected by industrialization. (9)

(b) Assess the contribution of feminist theories to an understanding of relationships in families. (16)

Paper 3 Oct/Nov2003

Section A : Families and Households

1. (a) Describe, with examples, the ways in which the family is linked to the economy in society. (9)

(b) Evaluate the claim that the process of industrialization leads to the decline of the extended family. (16)

2. (a) Describe the main changes that have occurred in the distribution of power within families in the last 100 years. (9)

(b) Outline and assess the implications for society of the changes you have outlined in your answer to part (a).

Paper 3 Oct/Nov2004

Section A : Families and Households

1. (a) Describe, with examples, the diversity of family forms that may be found in societies today. (9)

(b) Evaluate the claim that the extended family is of declining importance in modern industrial societies. (16)

2. (a) Describe, wit examples, changing fertility patterns in modern industrial societies over the last 100 years. (9)

(b) Evaluate the view that control of female fertility is the key to the status of women in the family and the wider society (16)

Paper 3 Oct/Nov2005

Section A : Families and Households

1. (a) Describe, with examples, the meaning of kinship. (9)

(b) ‘In modern industrial societies functions that were once carried out by the family are now carried out by the state’ Evaluate this claim. (16)

2. (a) describe the factors that influence fertility rates. (9)

(b) Assess the view that in modern societies matrifocal family types are becoming the norm. (16)

Paper 3 Oct/Nov2006

Section A : Families and Households

1. (a) Describe, with examples, what is meant by status in relation to the family. (9)

(b) ‘The family is an institution of the state ideological apparatus’. Assess this view.(16)

2. (a) Describe, with two examples, what is meant by structure in relation to the family.(9)

(b) Evaluate the view that high levels of divorce in modern industrial societies are the result of a decline in the status of marriage. (16)

Paper 3 Oct/Nov2007

Section A : Families and Households

1. (a) (i) Define the term household. (3)

(ii) Identify and describe two types of household (6)

(b) Evaluate the view that in modern societies family life is characterized by diversity(16)

2. (a) (i) Define the term canalization (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of canalization. (6)

(b) Evaluate the view that in modern societies family life is no longer patriarchal. (16)

Paper 3 Oct/Nov 2008

Section A : Families and Households

1. (a) (i) Define the term patriarchy. (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of patriarchal family structures.(6)

(b) Evaluate the clam that families in modern industrial societies are increasingly democratic (16)

2. (a) (i) Define the term cohabitation. (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of socially approved living arrangements between adults, other than cohabitation. (6)

(b) Evaluate the claim that industrialization has resulted in the formation of nuclear family structures.

Past Exam Questions: June 'Families and Households'

Section A: Families and households

May/June 2002

1. (a) Explain the difference between a family and a household. (9)

(b) Evaluate the claim that the nuclear family is a universal feature of societies. (16)

2. (a) Describe with examples, the types of conjugal relationships that may be found in societies. (9)

(b) Assess the claim that conjugal roles have become more equal in recent years. 16)

May/June 2003

1. (a) Describe, with examples, the variety of households that may be found in societies. (9)

(b) Evaluate the claim that the nuclear family is of declining importance in modern industrial societies (16)

2. (a) Describe,with examples, the major trends in marriage and divorce over the last 100years (9)

(b) Assess the extent to which the changes that you have outlined in (a) reflect the changing status of women in society (16)

May/June 2004

1. (a) Describe, with examples from the family, what is meant by life cycle. (9)

(b) Evaluate the extent to which the state may influence family life. (16)

2. (a) Describe, with examples, how the status of children has changed in families over the last 10 years. (9)

(b) Evaluate the view that in modern industrial societies there is equality between all family members (16)

May/June 2006

1. (a) Describe, with examples, what is meant by a matrifocal family. (9)

(b) Evaluate the claim that the nuclear family is universal in modern industrial societies. (16)

2. (a) Describe, with examples, how the status of the elderly has changed in modern industrial societies. (9)

(b) Evaluate the statement that ‘the rising divorce rate is evidence of the increasing unpopularity of marriage’. (16)

May/June 2007

1. (a) (i) Define the term kinship (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of kinship. (6)

(b) Evaluate the claim that in modern societies social class determines the type of family structure people adopt. (16)

2. (a) (i) Define the term conjugal roles. (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of conjugal roles (6)

(b) Evaluate the claim that the family oppresses its less powerful members. (16)

Past Exam Questions: November 'Education'

Unit 5: Education

Oct/Nov 2002

1. (a) Describe the effects of poverty on educational achievement.

(b) ‘The role of education is to legitimize inequality’. Assess this view.

2. (a) Describe, with examples, the types of pupil subcultures that can be found in schools

(b) ‘Factors within schools are the main influence on educational achievement’. Assess this view.

Oct/Nov 2003

1. (a) What are the major influences on female education?

(b) Evaluate the proposition that the educational achievements of females are based on their socialization.

2. (a) Describe the role of two different education systems with which you are familiar.

(b) Evaluate the proposition that education systems disproportionately benefit the most powerful in society.

Oct/Nov 2004

1. (a) Describe, with examples, how education may lead to social mobility (9)

(b) Evaluate the view that education helps maintain ruling class domination (16)

2. (a) Describe, with examples, the ways in which cultural background may limit the educational achievements of some pupils. (9)

(b) Evaluate the extent to which factors within schools may influence educational outcomes.

Oct/Nov 2005

1. (a) Describe the ways in which schools can help form of a pupil’s identity (9)

(b) Evaluate the importance of factors outside of school in influencing pupils’ educational achievements (16)

2. (a) Describe, with examples the way in which the hidden curriculum operates within schools. (b) ‘The most influential factor in determining a pupil’s educational achievement is their school sub-culture’. Assess this statement. (16)

Oct/Nov 2006

1. (a) Describe, with two examples, what is meant by cultural deprivation in the context of education. (9)

(b) Evaluate the claim that ethnicity is the most significant factor in determining educational achievements in modern industrial societies. (16)

2. (a) Describe, with two examples, what is meant by pupil sub-culture (9)

(b) ‘In modern industrial societies the groups who control knowledge determine which pupils will achieve academic success.’ Assess this view. (16)

Oct/Nov 2007

1. (a) (i) Define the term cultural capital. (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of cultural capital in relation to education.

(b) Evaluate the view that the most significant influence on educational achievement is social class. (16)

2. (a) (i) Define the term hidden curriculum (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of the way the hidden curriculum can influence educational achievements. (6)

(b) Evaluate the claim that girls are disadvantaged in the education system in modern industrial societies. (16)

Oct/Nov 2008

1. (a) (i) Define the term meritocracy. (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly two examples of meritocratic education systems. (6)

(b) Evaluate the claim that education is the key to social advancement

2. (a) (i) Define the term hidden curriculum. (3)

(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of the way in which the hidden curriculum operates. (6)

(b) Evaluate the claim that those who control the curriculum determine who will achieve educational success.