Model MCQ's Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer: Social Evolution
1. According to Spencer, society is best described as a:
(A) Biological organism
(B) Superorganic entity
(C) Mechanical system
(D) Economic structure
2. Spencer's theory compares society to a:
(A) Machine
(B) Social contract
(C) Social organism
(D) Political state
3. One fundamental parallel Spencer found between social and biological organisms is that both:
(A) Are static entities
(B) Begin small and grow in size
(C) Have no dependence among parts
(D) Have a consciousness in one part only
4. Spencer believed societies evolved from:
(A) Complex to simple
(B) Small to large and simple to complex
(C) Mobile to stationary
(D) Individualistic to collectivist
5. Which is NOT one of the fundamental differences Spencer highlighted between social and biological organisms?
(A) Biological entities have fixed external forms
(B) Social organisms are physically connected
(C) Individuals in societies can move spatially
(D) Consciousness is located only in the brain in biological organisms
6. Spencer’s views on individualism asserted that:
(A) The social whole always dominates individuals
(B) Consciousness in each member supports individual achievement
(C) Individuals have no independent consciousness
(D) Society exists independent of individuals
7. Spencer classified societies based on:
(A) Population size only
(B) Functional relationships and unity among parts
(C) Economic output
(D) Number of political institutions
8. According to Spencer, in advanced societies, the functional specialization of parts leads to:
(A) Independence of groups
(B) Increased mutual dependence
(C) Breakdown of social order
(D) Reduction in size
9. What happens if an advanced society with high functional specialization is divided?
(A) It continues as before
(B) It ceases to function as a whole
(C) It becomes more efficient
(D) It loses political power only
10. Spencer viewed societal change as:
(A) Abrupt and revolutionary
(B) Random and chaotic
(C) Slow, gradual, and progressive evolution
(D) Fixed and static
11. Spencer's concept of "social organism" was presented most notably in:
(A) The Study of Sociology
(B) The Social Contract
(C) The Principles of Sociology
(D) Both A and C
12. Which of these is NOT a parallel Spencer identified between social and biological organisms?
(A) Increasing size
(B) Increasing complexity
(C) Identical physical structure
(D) Increasing interdependence
13. Spencer believed that a simple society:
(A) Cannot survive division
(B) Has stronger functional dependence
(C) Could survive being cut in half due to weaker functional dependence
(D) Is highly specialized
14. Spencer believed society's parts each serve:
(A) Political interests
(B) Individual needs only
(C) Functions that fulfill total society’s needs
(D) Religious purposes
15. Spencer's evolutionary theory was influenced by:
(A) Darwin’s principle of natural selection
(B) Marxist historical materialism
(C) Comte’s positivism
(D) Biological evolutionary growth principles
16. Spencer saw consciousness in society as:
(A) Located only in elites
(B) Existing collectively but not individually
(C) Independent in each member
(D) Absent altogether
17. What does Spencer mean by society having "functional unity"?
(A) All parts perform the same function
(B) Different parts perform specialized functions for the whole
(C) Parts do not rely on each other
(D) Society is politically unified only
18. Spencer's use of the term "superorganic" refers to:
(A) A society created by supernatural forces
(B) A level of reality above individual organisms
(C) Organic agricultural communities
(D) A metaphysical entity unrelated to society
19. According to Spencer, larger and more advanced societies:
(A) Have fewer specialized parts
(B) Have more functional differentiation and specialization
(C) Are simpler in structure
(D) Are less integrated
20. Spencer's definition of social evolution includes the idea that:
(A) Societies evolve randomly
(B) Societies evolve by natural law and direction
(C) Society's evolution ignores individual roles
(D) Evolution happens only biologically, not socially
21. Spencer’s theory of social evolution primarily draws analogy from:
(A) Quantum physics
(B) Biological evolution
(C) Economic theory
(D) Political philosophy
22. According to Spencer, the evolution of society moves from:
(A) Compound to simple societies
(B) Simple to compound societies
(C) Fixed to mobile societies
(D) Industrial to militant societies
23. A simple society, as per Spencer, is characterized by:
(A) Large population with complex structures
(B) Co-operation without a regulating center
(C) Highly stratified social classes
(D) Centralized government
24. Compound societies emerge primarily through:
(A) Peaceful or violent mergers of simple societies
(B) Economic collapse
(C) Breakdown of institutions
(D) Technological advancement
25. Spencer identified two major stages in social evolution:
(A) Agricultural and post-industrial
(B) Militant and industrial society
(C) Simple and advanced democracy
(D) Feudal and capitalist society
26. The militant society, according to Spencer, is characterized by:
(A) Cooperative production
(B) Power, hierarchy, and obedience
(C) Decentralized governance
(D) Free trade and markets
27. Industrial societies emphasize:
(A) Voluntary cooperation and individualism
(B) Military conquest and control
(C) Collective ownership only
(D) Religious governance
28. Spencer coined the phrase:
(A) Survival of the slowest
(B) Survival of the fittest
(C) Wealth before health
(D) Society before individual
29. Spencer believed societies that fail to adapt to changing conditions:
(A) Thrive anyway
(B) Become more militant
(C) Gradually become extinct
(D) Transition to ethical societies
30. Spencer’s theory is often critiqued because:
(A) It ignores biological factors
(B) It overly emphasizes social conflict
(C) It justifies social inequalities and neglects structural criticisms
(D) It supports government welfare
31. Spencer’s view on government welfare programs was:
(A) Supportive because they help society
(B) Opposed as they interfere with natural selection
(C) Neutral on welfare roles
(D) Supportive of universal healthcare
32. According to Spencer, functional differentiation in societies leads to:
(A) Reduced cooperation
(B) Increased social integration
(C) Elimination of social roles
(D) Static social order
33. Spencer’s organic analogy of society mainly implies that:
(A) Society is an unchanging whole
(B) Society has parts like organs with specialized roles
(C) Society is mechanical and non-living
(D) Individuals have no consciousness
34. In Spencer’s theory, who are the “social organs”?
(A) Individuals functioning independently
(B) Social institutions performing specific tasks
(C) External forces acting on society
(D) Political leaders only
35. Spencer believed that society evolves through:
(A) Revolutions only
(B) Sudden, unpredictable changes
(C) Gradual, cumulative, directional change
(D) Random processes
36. Which is true about the mobility of individuals in Spencer’s social organism?
(A) They are fixed in place like biological organs
(B) They can move and rearrange spatial relationships
(C) They lose individual consciousness
(D) They cannot affect the organism
37. Spencer considered consciousness to be:
(A) Concentrated in a single societal leader
(B) Present independently in each individual
(C) Absent in social organisms
(D) Shared collectively without individual awareness
38. Spencer’s ethical society stage is characterized by:
(A) Continued military dominance
(B) Increased altruism and moral development
(C) Collapse into simpler forms
(D) Strict hierarchical obedience
39. Spencer opposed interference by the state in:
(A) Economic competition
(B) Individual moral development
(C) Both A and B
(D) None of the above
40. Spencer’s theory mostly influenced:
(A) Marxist class conflict theories
(B) Structural functionalism and Social Darwinism
(C) Postmodernism
(D) Symbolic interactionism
41. Spencer identified three basic laws of evolution. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
(A) Movement from simple to complex
(B) Movement from homogeneous to heterogeneous
(C) Movement from static to dynamic
(D) Movement from indefinite to definite
42. A "simple society" according to Spencer is characterized by:
(A) Large population and complex governance
(B) Single working whole without a regulating center
(C) Advanced division of labour and social strata
(D) Centralized political and religious authority
43. Compound societies generally arise through:
(A) Industrialization and technological change
(B) Peaceful or violent merger of simple societies
(C) Increase in population density only
(D) Reduction of social roles
44. Spencer’s stages of social evolution include migration from:
(A) Agricultural to hunter-gatherer society
(B) Militant society to industrial society
(C) Democratic to authoritarian society
(D) Urban to rural society
45. Which characteristic is typical of militant societies?
(A) Individualism
(B) Hierarchical authority and compulsory cooperation
(C) Decentralized decision making
(D) Market competition
46. Industrial societies according to Spencer emphasize:
(A) Voluntary cooperation and individualism
(B) Military power projection
(C) Assigned social classes
(D) Religious authority
47. The phrase "survival of the fittest" was:
(A) Coined by Darwin
(B) Coined by Spencer
(C) Coined by Marx
(D) Coined by Comte
48. According to Spencer, societies that cannot adapt:
(A) Survive through revolution
(B) Become extinct
(C) Transform into industrial societies
(D) Change into religious states
49. Spencer’s theory is sometimes criticized because:
(A) It ignores biological factors
(B) It encourages social equality
(C) It justifies social inequalities and neglects structural criticisms
(D) It promotes collectivism
50. Spencer opposed government welfare because he believed it:
(A) Encouraged equal opportunity
(B) Interfered with natural selection
(C) Strengthened the economy
(D) Promoted social harmony
51. Functional differentiation in society leads to:
(A) Social disintegration
(B) Increased integration and specialization
(C) Uniform social roles
(D) Static societal structure
52. Spencer’s "organic analogy" suggests that:
(A) Society is a machine with interchangeable parts
(B) Society is a social organism with specialized parts
(C) Society is an economic market
(D) Society is only a political system
53. The term "social organs" refers to:
(A) Individual citizens
(B) Social institutions performing specific societal functions
(C) Government leaders only
(D) Random social behaviours
54. Spencer believed social evolution was:
(A) Intentional and planned
(B) Sudden and revolutionary
(C) Gradual and cumulative
(D) Unpredictable and chaotic
55. Unlike biological organisms, members of a society:
(A) Are fixed in their spatial relationships
(B) Cannot move physically
(C) Have physical mobility and rearrange spatial relationships
(D) Lack consciousness
56. In Spencer's view, consciousness in society is:
(A) Concentrated in one brain
(B) Absent in members
(C) Present independently in each individual
(D) Collective without individual awareness
57. Spencer’s ethical society is characterized by:
(A) Hierarchical obedience
(B) Military dominance
(C) Altruism and moral development
(D) Social conflict
58. Spencer’s stance on state interference in social welfare was:
(A) Supportive
(B) Opposed
(C) Neutral
(D) Ambivalent
59. Spencer considered evolution a universal process affecting:
(A) Only biological systems
(B) Physical, biological, social, and psychological systems
(C) Only societal institutions
(D) Only moral behaviour
60. Spencer’s work most influenced which sociological perspective?
(A) Marxism
(B) Structural functionalism
(C) Postmodernism
(D) Symbolic interactionism
61. Spencer believed that societies grow by:
(A) Increasing size and complexity
(B) Reducing their population
(C) Eliminating social differentiation
(D) Centralizing power only
62. One major difference between biological and social organisms Spencer highlighted is:
(A) Biological entities have no fixed form
(B) Social organisms have physically connected parts
(C) Individuals in society have independent consciousness
(D) The life span of members is longer than the whole
63. Spencer referred to the separation of society's functions as:
(A) Social conflict
(B) Social differentiation
(C) Social stratification only
(D) Social control
64. Spencer's functionalist view suggests that social institutions:
(A) Compete destructively
(B) Operate in isolation
(C) Serve specific functions for society's survival
(D) Are irrelevant to social stability
65. Spencer used the term "definiteness" in social evolution to mean:
(A) Clearly defined parts and roles in society
(B) Random social change
(C) Equal development of all parts
(D) Decrease in size over time
66. Spencer's theory supports which approach to economic policy?
(A) Central planning
(B) Laissez-faire capitalism
(C) Government intervention
(D) Social welfare expansion
67. Spencer argued that social progress occurs through:
(A) Collective equality
(B) Competition among individuals and groups
(C) Redistribution of wealth
(D) Social welfare systems
68. What is the role of laws/norms in Spencer's social organism?
(A) They create uniformity by eliminating diversity
(B) They integrate society despite growing complexity
(C) They suppress individual freedom only
(D) They are irrelevant in simple societies
69. Spencer viewed simple societies as:
(A) Complex and heterogeneous
(B) Homogeneous with low differentiation
(C) Politically centralized
(D) Large urban communities
70. According to Spencer, societal evolution will eventually lead to:
(A) Perfect human beings in a perfect society
(B) Constant warfare
(C) Permanent inequality
(D) Chaos and breakdown
71. Spencer’s "law of unequal growth" means:
(A) Some parts of society grow faster and become more complex
(B) All parts of society grow equally
(C) Society shrinks with time
(D) No parts of society change
72. In Spencer’s view, social functions that are duplicated:
(A) Increase society’s efficiency
(B) Weaken social integration
(C) Reduce society's survival chances
(D) Are irrelevant
73. Spencer believed the life span of a society is:
(A) Shorter than its members
(B) Equal to its members
(C) Longer than its members
(D) Not comparable to biological entities
74. The “greater complexity” in Spencer’s social evolution refers to:
(A) Having more social classes only
(B) Differentiation in roles, increased interdependence, and size
(C) Decline in population growth
(D) Elimination of social roles
75. Spencer’s theory aligns most closely with:
(A) Social conflict theory
(B) Structural functionalism
(C) Feminist theory
(D) Symbolic interactionism
76. Spencer thought that the process of division of labour:
(A) Creates social conflict
(B) Enhances societal efficiency and integration
(C) Has no impact on society
(D) Leads to societal collapse
77. Spencer’s idea of society as a “superorganic” entity means:
(A) Society is a biological organism
(B) Society is a level of reality beyond individuals
(C) Society does not evolve
(D) Society has no structure
78. According to Spencer, the members of a social organism:
(A) Never act independently
(B) Always have independent consciousness
(C) Are identical like cells
(D) Do not influence society
79. Spencer believed that societal growth involves:
(A) A decline in social roles
(B) Increase in size, complexity, and function specialization
(C) Simplification over time
(D) Random social chaos
80. Spencer’s social theories belong to which period?
(A) Early 20th century
(B) Mid 19th century
(C) 21st century
(D) Late 20th century
81. Spencer’s theory of social evolution is mainly based on:
(A) Political revolutions
(B) Gradual adaptation and natural selection
(C) Economic redistribution
(D) Religious reforms
82. According to Spencer, social evolution involves a movement from:
(A) Differentiated to homogeneous structures
(B) Definite to indefinite forms
(C) Homogeneous to heterogeneous structures
(D) Complex to simple organizations
83. Spencer’s “law of definite growth” means:
(A) Growth lacks any pattern
(B) Increased specialization and clear social roles
(C) Equal development of all parts
(D) Decrease in size over time
84. Simple societies, according to Spencer, lack:
(A) Population
(B) Stable relationship structures and specialization
(C) Any cooperative behaviour
(D) All forms of social organization
85. Compound societies are often characterized by:
(A) Nomadic lifestyle
(B) Clear social strata and organized priesthood
(C) Lack of social structure
(D) Absence of political authority
86. The transition from militant to industrial society, per Spencer, involves:
(A) Increased compulsory cooperation
(B) Shift from power-based to voluntary cooperation
(C) More hierarchical control
(D) Total individualism
87. Spencer’s social evolutionary stages include an "ethical society" marked by:
(A) Power struggles
(B) High moral and altruistic development
(C) Monarchical rule
(D) Constant warfare
88. Spencer believed that social change is:
(A) Driven by conflict only
(B) Mostly accidental
(C) Gradual and natural
(D) Unpreventable destruction
89. Spencer’s use of biological concepts to explain society is known as:
(A) Functionalism
(B) Organic analogy
(C) Symbolic interactionism
(D) Conflict theory
90. One criticism of Spencer’s theory is that:
(A) It overemphasizes economic factors
(B) It justifies social inequalities and neglects social conflict
(C) It ignores biological evolution
(D) It supports state welfare
81. Spencer’s theory of social evolution is mainly based on:
(A) Political revolutions
(B) Gradual adaptation and natural selection
(C) Economic redistribution
(D) Religious reforms
82. According to Spencer, social evolution involves a movement from:
(A) Differentiated to homogeneous structures
(B) Definite to indefinite forms
(C) Homogeneous to heterogeneous structures
(D) Complex to simple organizations
83. Spencer’s “law of definite growth” means:
(A) Growth lacks any pattern
(B) Increased specialization and clear social roles
(C) Equal development of all parts
(D) Decrease in size over time
84. Simple societies, according to Spencer, lack:
(A) Population
(B) Stable relationship structures and specialization
(C) Any cooperative behaviour
(D) All forms of social organization
85. Compound societies are often characterized by:
(A) Nomadic lifestyle
(B) Clear social strata and organized priesthood
(C) Lack of social structure
(D) Absence of political authority
86. The transition from militant to industrial society, per Spencer, involves:
(A) Increased compulsory cooperation
(B) Shift from power-based to voluntary cooperation
(C) More hierarchical control
(D) Total individualism
87. Spencer’s social evolutionary stages include an "ethical society" marked by:
(A) Power struggles
(B) High moral and altruistic development
(C) Monarchical rule
(D) Constant warfare
88. Spencer believed that social change is:
(A) Driven by conflict only
(B) Mostly accidental
(C) Gradual and natural
(D) Unpreventable destruction
89. Spencer’s use of biological concepts to explain society is known as:
(A) Functionalism
(B) Organic analogy
(C) Symbolic interactionism
(D) Conflict theory
90. One criticism of Spencer’s theory is that:
(A) It overemphasizes economic factors
(B) It justifies social inequalities and neglects social conflict
(C) It ignores biological evolution
(D) It supports state welfare
91. Spencer’s theory associates the survival of societies with:
(A) Military strength only
(B) Ability to adapt and adjust to the environment
(C) Pure chance
(D) Religious adherence
92. Spencer believed that state welfare:
(A) Promotes societal health
(B) Impedes natural social evolution
(C) Has no impact
(D) Is morally necessary
93. Spencer’s concept of differentiation means:
(A) Society becomes less complex
(B) Society divides into specialized parts and roles
(C) All people perform the same function
(D) Social roles disappear
94. Spencer suggested that laws and norms:
(A) Are obstacles to societal progress
(B) Help integrate complex societies
(C) Create division among people
(D) Are irrelevant in simple societies
95. Simple societies, according to Spencer, are:
(A) Highly stratified
(B) Homogeneous with little specialization
(C) Industrialized societies
(D) Politically centralized
96. Spencer’s predicted endpoint of social evolution involves:
(A) Permanent social inequality
(B) The perfect man in a perfect society
(C) Constant conflict
(D) Breakdown of society
97. Spencer’s idea of “survival of the fittest” applies to:
(A) Only biological entities
(B) Societies, institutions, and individuals
(C) Economic wealth only
(D) Religious beliefs only
98. According to Spencer, societies that do not evolve:
(A) Transform into ideal societies
(B) Eventually decline and become extinct
(C) Remain unchanged forever
(D) Improve through government intervention
99. Spencer thought that individual consciousness:
(A) Does not exist in society
(B) Is independent and essential to society’s function
(C) Is controlled by the state
(D) Limits social growth
100. Spencer’s theory primarily influenced which sociological approach?
(A) Symbolic interactionism
(B) Structural functionalism
(C) Conflict theory
(D) Feminist theory
Post a Comment