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Chapter-4 Market as a Social Institution — Online MCQ Test

SOCIOLOGY · Grade 12 · CBSE(NCERT)
Practice Chapter-4 Market as a Social Institution with a free chapter-wise online MCQ test. This chapter covers: market - caste-based trade - tribal markets - globalization - commodification. AI-generated questions from basic to board-exam level, with instant results and explanations.

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Chapter-4 Market as a Social Institution — Important Questions & Answers

What is the primary definition of 'market' as a social institution in sociology?
  • A. A place where goods and services are exchanged between buyers and sellers following specific social rules and norms
  • B. Only a physical location where commodities are bought and sold
  • C. An economic system controlled entirely by the government
  • D. A random gathering of people for social purposes
Answer: A. A place where goods and services are exchanged between buyers and sellers following specific social rules and norms
Market as a social institution encompasses both the physical and social dimensions of exchange, governed by rules, norms, and social relations rather than being merely a physical location.
Which of the following is an example of caste-based occupations in traditional Indian markets?
  • A. Potters, blacksmiths, weavers, and leather workers
  • B. Software engineers and IT professionals
  • C. Corporate executives and managers
  • D. International trade consultants
Answer: A. Potters, blacksmiths, weavers, and leather workers
Traditional Indian markets were organized around caste-based occupations where specific castes were hereditably associated with particular trades and crafts.
What is the relationship between social institutions and markets?
  • A. Markets are purely economic institutions independent of social institutions
  • B. Markets are embedded in and shaped by social institutions like caste, kinship, and cultural norms
  • C. Social institutions have no influence on market functioning
  • D. Markets exist only in societies without strong social institutions
Answer: B. Markets are embedded in and shaped by social institutions like caste, kinship, and cultural norms
Markets function within social contexts and are shaped by social institutions; they are not purely economic entities but are deeply embedded in social relations and cultural norms.
Analyze the statement: 'Globalization has transformed local artisans from producers to wage laborers.' Which aspect does this NOT highlight?
  • A. The preservation of traditional skill transmission methods in families
  • B. Loss of control over production processes
  • C. Integration into global supply chains as workers rather than independent producers
  • D. Disruption of traditional occupational autonomy
Answer: A. The preservation of traditional skill transmission methods in families
The statement emphasizes disempowerment and proletarianization; it does NOT address the preservation of traditional knowledge and skill transmission, which actually faces erosion.
Which of the following best represents a tricky aspect of understanding 'caste and markets' that candidates often misinterpret?
  • A. Assuming that formal legal abolition of caste hierarchy has eliminated caste from economic systems, when structural inequalities and informal discrimination persist
  • B. That caste never existed
  • C. That caste still legally governs all occupations
  • D. That markets are purely caste-based
Answer: A. Assuming that formal legal abolition of caste hierarchy has eliminated caste from economic systems, when structural inequalities and informal discrimination persist
A common misconception is that constitutional equality eliminated caste from economic life; in reality, caste continues to structure markets through informal mechanisms despite legal protections.