Question 1

What drives anthropologists to choose such a broad subject of study?

Accepted Answer

A)  They believe that any generalization about humans should be applicable across time and space. 
B)  A key tenet within anthropology is that there is a fundamental base to all human culture. 
C)  Many anthropologists believe that other disciplines lack scientific rigor. 
D)  Anthropology attracts people who have difficulty narrowing their research focus. 
A)  They believe that any generalization about humans should be applicable across time and space. 
B)  A key tenet within anthropology is that there is a fundamental base to all human culture. 
C)  Many anthropologists believe that other disciplines lack scientific rigor. 
D)  Anthropology attracts people who have difficulty narrowing their research focus. A

Question 2

Which subdiscipline is now frequently referred to as simply "cultural anthropology"?

Accepted Answer

A)  ethnology 
B)  ethnohistory 
C)  anthropological linguistics 
D)  archaeology 
A)  ethnology 
B)  ethnohistory 
C)  anthropological linguistics 
D)  archaeology A

Question 3

What is the holistic approach? Demonstrate how the holistic approach is a vital component of the anthropological perspective.

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include:
1. Define the holistic approach
2. Give a specific example of how anthropologists use this approach
3. Connect this to the overall scope of anthropological curiosity

Question 4

What proportion of anthropologists today are applied, or practicing, anthropologists?

Accepted Answer

A)  over half 
B)  about one-quarter 
C)  only 10 percent 
D)  nearly all 
A)  over half 
B)  about one-quarter 
C)  only 10 percent 
D)  nearly all

Question 5

The __________ is interested in what people speak about and how they interact conversationally.

Accepted Answer

A)  sociolinguist 
B)  anthropological linguist 
C)  historical linguist 
D)  ethnologist 
A)  sociolinguist 
B)  anthropological linguist 
C)  historical linguist 
D)  ethnologist

Question 6

Prosimians, monkeys, apes, and humans are all members of the order __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Primates 
B)  humans 
C)  Homo sapiens 
D)  mammals 
A)  Primates 
B)  humans 
C)  Homo sapiens 
D)  mammals

Question 7

What two distinct sets of questions are sought by biological anthropologists?

Accepted Answer

A)  the emergence and evolution of human beings; how and why contemporary humans vary biologically 
B)  reconstructing cultural changes in the past through artifacts; the history and diversity of languages 
C)  applying knowledge of culture to correct social problems; understanding how and why people today vary in their customs and behaviors 
D)  using cultural knowledge to dominate and exploit other societies; studying the earliest examples of tool use by our human ancestors 
A)  the emergence and evolution of human beings; how and why contemporary humans vary biologically 
B)  reconstructing cultural changes in the past through artifacts; the history and diversity of languages 
C)  applying knowledge of culture to correct social problems; understanding how and why people today vary in their customs and behaviors 
D)  using cultural knowledge to dominate and exploit other societies; studying the earliest examples of tool use by our human ancestors

Question 8

Which of the following may be trained in any or all of the subfields of anthropology?

Accepted Answer

A)  applied anthropologist 
B)  biological anthropologist 
C)  ethnologist 
D)  political anthropologist 
A)  applied anthropologist 
B)  biological anthropologist 
C)  ethnologist 
D)  political anthropologist

Question 9

What is the difference between a paleontologist and a paleoanthropologist?

Accepted Answer

A)  Paleontologists study many different types of animals, while paleoanthropologists focus on humans and their relatives. 
B)  Paleontologists work in the lab, while paleoanthropologists work in the field. 
C)  Paleontologists study humans, while paleoanthropologists study dinosaurs. 
D)  Paleontologists study archaeological and biological remains, while paleoanthropologists focus on only skeletal remains. 
A)  Paleontologists study many different types of animals, while paleoanthropologists focus on humans and their relatives. 
B)  Paleontologists work in the lab, while paleoanthropologists work in the field. 
C)  Paleontologists study humans, while paleoanthropologists study dinosaurs. 
D)  Paleontologists study archaeological and biological remains, while paleoanthropologists focus on only skeletal remains.

Question 10

Unlike ethnologists, ethnographers __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  describe a given society based on their own fieldwork 
B)  study societies with writing systems 
C)  compare societies cross-culturally 
D)  are interested in "primitive" peoples 
A)  describe a given society based on their own fieldwork 
B)  study societies with writing systems 
C)  compare societies cross-culturally 
D)  are interested in "primitive" peoples

Question 11

Which of the following illustrates one way anthropology helps to alleviate cultural misunderstandings?

Accepted Answer

A)  Understanding differences in body language across cultures helps with communication. 
B)  Anthropologists insist that you learn at least one other language. 
C)  Anthropology teaches that all behaviors are acceptable. 
D)  Anthropology encourages everyone to do a cross-cultural immersion course in college. 
A)  Understanding differences in body language across cultures helps with communication. 
B)  Anthropologists insist that you learn at least one other language. 
C)  Anthropology teaches that all behaviors are acceptable. 
D)  Anthropology encourages everyone to do a cross-cultural immersion course in college.

Question 12

Why is it incomplete to simply call anthropology "the study of humans"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many other disciplines also study humans. 
B)  The focus of anthropology is on pre-human creatures. 
C)  Anthropologists study only certain aspects of human life. 
D)  Anthropologists study all species of mammals. 
A)  Many other disciplines also study humans. 
B)  The focus of anthropology is on pre-human creatures. 
C)  Anthropologists study only certain aspects of human life. 
D)  Anthropologists study all species of mammals.

Question 13

Anthropologists are becoming more and more specialized. Does this specialization complement or weaken the historically unique anthropological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include: 1. Expl

Question 14

How is the study of anthropology useful?

Accepted Answer

A)  The study of anthropology gives us a better understanding of humankind. 
B)  Exploring human variation shows us why social stratification is unavoidable. 
C)  It teaches us that Western culture should be replaced by more indigenous belief systems. 
D)  The study of world cultures helps us determine which culture traits are the best. 
A)  The study of anthropology gives us a better understanding of humankind. 
B)  Exploring human variation shows us why social stratification is unavoidable. 
C)  It teaches us that Western culture should be replaced by more indigenous belief systems. 
D)  The study of world cultures helps us determine which culture traits are the best.

Question 15

Compared to anthropologists of previous years, an anthropologist today is more likely to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  specialize in one certain topic or area 
B)  investigate many different aspects of life of the people studied 
C)  study a geographically more distant society 
D)  do fieldwork alone 
A)  specialize in one certain topic or area 
B)  investigate many different aspects of life of the people studied 
C)  study a geographically more distant society 
D)  do fieldwork alone

Question 16

A cultural anthropologist who spends a year or so living with, talking to, and observing people whose customs he or she is studying is known as a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  ethnographer 
B)  archaeologist 
C)  ethnohistorian 
D)  linguistic anthropologist 
A)  ethnographer 
B)  archaeologist 
C)  ethnohistorian 
D)  linguistic anthropologist

Question 17

Some specialties cross anthropological subfields. What subfields contribute to medical anthropology?

Accepted Answer

A)  ethnology and biological anthropology 
B)  linguistic anthropology and ethnology 
C)  archaeology and linguistic anthropology 
D)  biological anthropology and archaeology 
A)  ethnology and biological anthropology 
B)  linguistic anthropology and ethnology 
C)  archaeology and linguistic anthropology 
D)  biological anthropology and archaeology

Question 18

Which of the following can encompass any of the four main subfields of anthropology?

Accepted Answer

A)  applied anthropology 
B)  biological anthropology 
C)  anthropological linguistics 
D)  archaeology 
A)  applied anthropology 
B)  biological anthropology 
C)  anthropological linguistics 
D)  archaeology

Question 19

The study of how languages change through time and how they may be related is called __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  historical linguistics 
B)  structural linguistics 
C)  sociolinguistics 
D)  ethnolinguistics 
A)  historical linguistics 
B)  structural linguistics 
C)  sociolinguistics 
D)  ethnolinguistics

Question 20

In contrast to research anthropologists, who are almost always employed in universities, __________ anthropologists are commonly employed in government agencies, development agencies, consulting firms, charitable foundations, and other settings outside academia.

Accepted Answer

A)  applied 
B)  historical 
C)  archaic 
D)  philosophical 
A)  applied 
B)  historical 
C)  archaic 
D)  philosophical

What drives anthropologists to choose such a broad subject of study?

Which subdiscipline is now frequently referred to as simply "cultural anthropology"?

What is the holistic approach? Demonstrate how the holistic approach is a vital component of the anthropological perspective.

What proportion of anthropologists today are applied, or practicing, anthropologists?

The __________ is interested in what people speak about and how they interact conversationally.

Prosimians, monkeys, apes, and humans are all members of the order __________.

What two distinct sets of questions are sought by biological anthropologists?

Which of the following may be trained in any or all of the subfields of anthropology?

What is the difference between a paleontologist and a paleoanthropologist?

Unlike ethnologists, ethnographers __________.

Which of the following illustrates one way anthropology helps to alleviate cultural misunderstandings?

Why is it incomplete to simply call anthropology "the study of humans"?

Anthropologists are becoming more and more specialized. Does this specialization complement or weaken the historically unique anthropological perspective?

How is the study of anthropology useful?

Compared to anthropologists of previous years, an anthropologist today is more likely to __________.

A cultural anthropologist who spends a year or so living with, talking to, and observing people whose customs he or she is studying is known as a(n) __________.

Some specialties cross anthropological subfields. What subfields contribute to medical anthropology?

Which of the following can encompass any of the four main subfields of anthropology?

The study of how languages change through time and how they may be related is called __________.

In contrast to research anthropologists, who are almost always employed in universities, __________ anthropologists are commonly employed in government agencies, development agencies, consulting firms, charitable foundations, and other settings outside academia.

Culture and Culture Change

Culture and the Individual

Understanding and Explaining Culture

Communication and Language

Getting Food

Economic Systems

Social Stratification: Class, Ethnicity, and Racism

Sex and Gender

Marriage and the Family

Marital Residence and Kinship

Associations and Interest Groups

Political Life: Social Order and Disorder

Religion and Magic

The Arts

Practicing and Applying Anthropology

Health and Illness

Global Problems

Filters

Exam 1: What Is Anthropology

What drives anthropologists to choose such a broad subject of study?

Which subdiscipline is now frequently referred to as simply "cultural anthropology"?

What is the holistic approach? Demonstrate how the holistic approach is a vital component of the anthropological perspective.

What proportion of anthropologists today are applied, or practicing, anthropologists?

The __________ is interested in what people speak about and how they interact conversationally.

Prosimians, monkeys, apes, and humans are all members of the order __________.

What two distinct sets of questions are sought by biological anthropologists?

Which of the following may be trained in any or all of the subfields of anthropology?

What is the difference between a paleontologist and a paleoanthropologist?

Unlike ethnologists, ethnographers __________.

Which of the following illustrates one way anthropology helps to alleviate cultural misunderstandings?

Why is it incomplete to simply call anthropology "the study of humans"?

Anthropologists are becoming more and more specialized. Does this specialization complement or weaken the historically unique anthropological perspective?

How is the study of anthropology useful?

Compared to anthropologists of previous years, an anthropologist today is more likely to __________.

A cultural anthropologist who spends a year or so living with, talking to, and observing people whose customs he or she is studying is known as a(n) __________.

Some specialties cross anthropological subfields. What subfields contribute to medical anthropology?

Which of the following can encompass any of the four main subfields of anthropology?

The study of how languages change through time and how they may be related is called __________.

In contrast to research anthropologists, who are almost always employed in universities, __________ anthropologists are commonly employed in government agencies, development agencies, consulting firms, charitable foundations, and other settings outside academia.

Culture and Culture Change

Culture and the Individual

Understanding and Explaining Culture

Communication and Language

Getting Food

Economic Systems

Social Stratification: Class, Ethnicity, and Racism

Sex and Gender

Marriage and the Family

Marital Residence and Kinship

Associations and Interest Groups

Political Life: Social Order and Disorder

Religion and Magic

The Arts

Practicing and Applying Anthropology

Health and Illness

Global Problems

Filters