Which term describes the social group between working class and upper class, typically comprising professionals and white-collar workers?

• A. Welfare state
• B. Income
• C. Professional worker
• D. Middle class

Answer: (D)

This question tests how we categorize social groups by occupation and status. The group between the working class and the upper class, typically made up of professionals and white-collar workers, is the middle class. This group usually has higher formal education, professional or skilled white-collar jobs, and a comfortable income that provides some economic security without the extreme wealth associated with the upper class. It sits between manual, less-educated work associated with the working class and the wealth and influence linked to the upper class.

Welfare state refers to a system of social protection and public services, not a social group. Income is a measure, not a social category. A professional worker describes a type of job that can exist within the middle class, but it doesn’t name the broader social group itself.