Question 1

The differences between sociology and cultural anthropology are becoming increasingly more distinct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

This chapter considers differences and similarities between anthropology and other academic fields such as sociology and psychology. What about history?

Accepted Answer

Anthropology, sociology, psychology, and history are all academic disciplines that study various aspects of human societies, behaviors, and cultures, but they each have their own distinct focus and methodologies.

Anthropology is the study of humans and human behavior and societies in the past and present. It is a broad field that encompasses various subfields such as cultural anthropology, which examines cultural norms and values; archaeology, which explores past societies through their material remains; linguistic anthropology, which investigates language and communication; and biological or physical anthropology, which looks at the biological development of humans and their ancestors.

Sociology, on the other hand, is the study of social behavior, society, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture that surrounds everyday life. It focuses on the social systems and structures that organize societies, such as institutions, social groups, and social stratification.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It is concerned with understanding individual and group behavior, cognitive processes, emotional states, and the factors that influence mental health and human development.

History is the study of past events, particularly in human affairs. Historians examine and interpret archival materials, artifacts, and other historical sources to understand how societies, cultures, and civilizations have evolved over time. They focus on the chronological narrative of events and the context in which these events occurred.

While anthropology, sociology, and psychology often emphasize contemporary cultures and societies, history primarily looks at the past. However, there are areas where history and anthropology intersect, particularly in the subfield of historical anthropology, which combines historical methods and anthropological perspectives to understand how cultures and societies change over time.

Anthropologists may use historical documents to contextualize their ethnographic studies, while historians may use anthropological theories to better understand the cultural implications of historical events. Both fields are interested in the human experience, but anthropology tends to focus more on cultural practices, beliefs, and the diversity of human societies, while history is more concerned with the sequence of events, the causes and effects of those events, and the narrative of human progress and change.

In summary, while anthropology, sociology, psychology, and history share some commonalities in their interest in human behavior and societies, they each approach their studies with different emphases and methodologies. Anthropology's broad scope encompasses the cultural, social, linguistic, and biological aspects of humanity, both past and present, while history specifically focuses on understanding the past and how it has shaped the present.

Question 3

Over time, humans have become increasingly dependent on which of the following to cope with the range of environments they have occupied in time and space?

Accepted Answer

A)  cultural means of adaptation 
B)  biological means of adaptation, mostly thanks to advanced medical research 
C)  a holistic and comparative approach to problem solving 
D)  social institutions, such as the state that coordinates collective action 
E)  technological means of adaptation, such as the creation of virtual worlds that allow us to escape from day-to-day reality 
A)  cultural means of adaptation 
B)  biological means of adaptation, mostly thanks to advanced medical research 
C)  a holistic and comparative approach to problem solving 
D)  social institutions, such as the state that coordinates collective action 
E)  technological means of adaptation, such as the creation of virtual worlds that allow us to escape from day-to-day reality A

Question 4

Ethnography involves the collection of data that is used to create an account of a particular community, society, or culture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Bronislaw Malinowski, an early contributor to the cross-cultural study of human psychology, is famous for his fieldwork among the Trobriand Islanders of the South Pacific. Although some of his specific findings have been questioned by more recent scholars, no contemporary anthropologist would dispute Malinowski's contention that

Accepted Answer

A)  Freud's work is worthless once taken out of its particular cultural context (patriarchal Austria during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries). 
B)  psychology and anthropology have little relevance to each other, since the former focuses on the individual and the latter studies cultures and societies as a whole. 
C)  psychologists are not willing to step out of their tightly controlled laboratories, and anthropologists are too focused on finding exotic exceptions to every possible human universal. 
D)  researchers cannot get at what is in people's minds, only at what they say and do. 
E)  individual psychology is molded in a specific cultural context. 
A)  Freud's work is worthless once taken out of its particular cultural context (patriarchal Austria during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries). 
B)  psychology and anthropology have little relevance to each other, since the former focuses on the individual and the latter studies cultures and societies as a whole. 
C)  psychologists are not willing to step out of their tightly controlled laboratories, and anthropologists are too focused on finding exotic exceptions to every possible human universal. 
D)  researchers cannot get at what is in people's minds, only at what they say and do. 
E)  individual psychology is molded in a specific cultural context.

Question 6

What are the four subfields of anthropology?

Accepted Answer

A)  medical anthropology, ethnography, ethnology, and cultural anthropology 
B)  archaeology, biological anthropology, applied linguistics, and applied anthropology 
C)  biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology 
D)  genetic anthropology, physical anthropology, psychological anthropology, and anthropology and linguistics 
E)  primatology, ethnology, cultural anthropology, and paleoscatology 
A)  medical anthropology, ethnography, ethnology, and cultural anthropology 
B)  archaeology, biological anthropology, applied linguistics, and applied anthropology 
C)  biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology 
D)  genetic anthropology, physical anthropology, psychological anthropology, and anthropology and linguistics 
E)  primatology, ethnology, cultural anthropology, and paleoscatology

Question 7

In general, Americans tend to maintain a greater physical distance from others they interact with on a day-to-day basis, especially when compared to Brazilians or Italians, who need less personal space. However, the story of American students' attitudes toward hugging in "Give Me a Hug" reminds us that

Accepted Answer

A)  any nation usually contains diverse and even conflicting cultural values, and these cultural values are not static. 
B)  the key reason for the poor track-record of U.S. diplomacy begins with failures in the American school system. 
C)  some aspects of culture are more biologically determined than others. 
D)  cultural values regarding bodily touch and personal space are very difficult to change from one generation to another. 
E)  homosexuality is becoming more prevalent, and more accepted, among teenagers. 
A)  any nation usually contains diverse and even conflicting cultural values, and these cultural values are not static. 
B)  the key reason for the poor track-record of U.S. diplomacy begins with failures in the American school system. 
C)  some aspects of culture are more biologically determined than others. 
D)  cultural values regarding bodily touch and personal space are very difficult to change from one generation to another. 
E)  homosexuality is becoming more prevalent, and more accepted, among teenagers.

Question 8

What is the process by which children learn a particular cultural tradition?

Accepted Answer

A)  acculturation 
B)  ethnology 
C)  enculturation 
D)  ethnography 
E)  biological adaptation 
A)  acculturation 
B)  ethnology 
C)  enculturation 
D)  ethnography 
E)  biological adaptation

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT true about culture?

Accepted Answer

A)  Culture is a key aspect of human adaptability and success. 
B)  Culture is passed on genetically to future generations. 
C)  Cultural forces consistently mold and shape human biology and behavior. 
D)  Culture guides the beliefs and behavior of the people exposed to it. 
E)  Culture is passed on from generation to generation. 
A)  Culture is a key aspect of human adaptability and success. 
B)  Culture is passed on genetically to future generations. 
C)  Cultural forces consistently mold and shape human biology and behavior. 
D)  Culture guides the beliefs and behavior of the people exposed to it. 
E)  Culture is passed on from generation to generation.

Question 10

This chapter begins with a bold claim: Anthropologists study human beings wherever and whenever they find them. Yet there are limits to when and where anthropologists can carry out their work. Can you think of any? How might your consideration of these limits affect how you would design an anthropological study?

Accepted Answer

There are several limits to when and whe

Question 11

Based on his observations that contact between neighboring tribes had existed since humanity's beginnings and covered enormous areas, Franz Boas argued

Accepted Answer

A)  against treating cultures as isolated phenomena. 
B)  that even the earliest foragers engaged in warfare. 
C)  that language must have originated among the Neandertals. 
D)  that biology, not culture, was responsible for the vast majority of human diversity. 
E)  that general anthropologists were wrong to focus too much attention on biology. 
A)  against treating cultures as isolated phenomena. 
B)  that even the earliest foragers engaged in warfare. 
C)  that language must have originated among the Neandertals. 
D)  that biology, not culture, was responsible for the vast majority of human diversity. 
E)  that general anthropologists were wrong to focus too much attention on biology.

Question 12

This chapter's description of how humans cope with low oxygen pressure in high altitudes illustrates

Accepted Answer

A)  human capacities for cultural and biological adaptation, the latter involving both genetic and physiological adaptations. 
B)  how biological adaptations are effective only when they are genetic. 
C)  how human plasticity has decreased ever since we embraced a sedentary lifestyle some 10,000 years ago. 
D)  how in matters of life or death, biology is ultimately more important than culture. 
E)  the need for anthropologists to pay more attention to human adaptation in extreme environments. 
A)  human capacities for cultural and biological adaptation, the latter involving both genetic and physiological adaptations. 
B)  how biological adaptations are effective only when they are genetic. 
C)  how human plasticity has decreased ever since we embraced a sedentary lifestyle some 10,000 years ago. 
D)  how in matters of life or death, biology is ultimately more important than culture. 
E)  the need for anthropologists to pay more attention to human adaptation in extreme environments.

Question 13

Anthropology may improve psychological studies of human behavior by contributing

Accepted Answer

A)  examples of primitive thinking from tribal societies. 
B)  nothing, since anthropology focuses on culture and psychology concentrates on personality. 
C)  prehistoric analysis. 
D)  a humanistic approach to psychology. 
E)  a cross-cultural perspective on models of human psychology. 
A)  examples of primitive thinking from tribal societies. 
B)  nothing, since anthropology focuses on culture and psychology concentrates on personality. 
C)  prehistoric analysis. 
D)  a humanistic approach to psychology. 
E)  a cross-cultural perspective on models of human psychology.

Question 14

What does biocultural perspective refer to? If you are planning to major in the biological sciences or planning a career as a medical doctor or clinical researcher, how might a minor in anthropology complement your education? If you are thinking of majoring in the humanities, how might a minor in anthropology complement your education?

Accepted Answer

The biocultural perspective refers to th

Question 15

The presence of more efficient respiratory systems to extract oxygen from the air among human populations living at high elevations is an example of which form of adaptation?

Accepted Answer

A)  short-term physiological adaptation 
B)  cultural adaptation 
C)  symbolic adaptation 
D)  genetic adaptation 
E)  long-term physiological adaptation 
A)  short-term physiological adaptation 
B)  cultural adaptation 
C)  symbolic adaptation 
D)  genetic adaptation 
E)  long-term physiological adaptation

Question 16

In science, what is the relationship among explanations, associations, and theories?

Accepted Answer

A)  An explanation must show how and why the thing to be understood is associated with or related to something else. Theories require covariation: when one thing (a variable) changes, the other one varies as well. Associations provide explanations for both explanations and theories. 
B)  They mean the same thing. 
C)  An explanation must show how and why the thing to be understood is associated with or related to something else. Associations require covariation: when one thing (a variable) changes, the other one varies as well. Theories provide explanations for associations. 
D)  Explanations and associations are explained by theories, which are observed relationships between two or more variables. 
E)  An explanation must show how and why the thing to be understood is associated with or related to something else. Thus, explanations and associations are the same thing. A theory is a suggested but as yet unverified explanation. 
A)  An explanation must show how and why the thing to be understood is associated with or related to something else. Theories require covariation: when one thing (a variable) changes, the other one varies as well. Associations provide explanations for both explanations and theories. 
B)  They mean the same thing. 
C)  An explanation must show how and why the thing to be understood is associated with or related to something else. Associations require covariation: when one thing (a variable) changes, the other one varies as well. Theories provide explanations for associations. 
D)  Explanations and associations are explained by theories, which are observed relationships between two or more variables. 
E)  An explanation must show how and why the thing to be understood is associated with or related to something else. Thus, explanations and associations are the same thing. A theory is a suggested but as yet unverified explanation.

Question 17

The American Anthropological Association has formally acknowledged a public service role by recognizing that anthropology has which two dimensions?

Accepted Answer

A)  academic anthropology and applied anthropology 
B)  ethnology and public ethnography 
C)  cultural resource management and medical anthropology 
D)  private anthropology and public anthropology 
E)  applied anthropology and practicing anthropology 
A)  academic anthropology and applied anthropology 
B)  ethnology and public ethnography 
C)  cultural resource management and medical anthropology 
D)  private anthropology and public anthropology 
E)  applied anthropology and practicing anthropology

Question 18

Adaptation refers to the processes by which organisms cope with environmental forces and stresses, such as those posed by climate and topography.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Anthropologists' early interest in Native North Americans

Accepted Answer

A)  is unique to European anthropology. 
B)  was more important than an interest in the relation between biology and culture in the development of U.S. four-field anthropology. 
C)  proved early on that culture is a function of race. 
D)  is an important historical reason for the development of four-field anthropology in the U.S. 
E)  was replaced in the 1930s by the two-field approach. 
A)  is unique to European anthropology. 
B)  was more important than an interest in the relation between biology and culture in the development of U.S. four-field anthropology. 
C)  proved early on that culture is a function of race. 
D)  is an important historical reason for the development of four-field anthropology in the U.S. 
E)  was replaced in the 1930s by the two-field approach.

Question 20

How are the four subfields of U.S. anthropology unified?

Accepted Answer

A)  Each subfield studies human variation through time and space. 
B)  Each subfield studies the human capacity for language. 
C)  Each subfield studies human biological variability. 
D)  Each subfield studies human genetic variation through time and space. 
E)  The subfields really are not unified; their grouping into one discipline is a historical accident. 
A)  Each subfield studies human variation through time and space. 
B)  Each subfield studies the human capacity for language. 
C)  Each subfield studies human biological variability. 
D)  Each subfield studies human genetic variation through time and space. 
E)  The subfields really are not unified; their grouping into one discipline is a historical accident.

The differences between sociology and cultural anthropology are becoming increasingly more distinct.

This chapter considers differences and similarities between anthropology and other academic fields such as sociology and psychology. What about history?

Over time, humans have become increasingly dependent on which of the following to cope with the range of environments they have occupied in time and space?

Ethnography involves the collection of data that is used to create an account of a particular community, society, or culture.

What are the four subfields of anthropology?

What is the process by which children learn a particular cultural tradition?

Which of the following is NOT true about culture?

Based on his observations that contact between neighboring tribes had existed since humanity's beginnings and covered enormous areas, Franz Boas argued

This chapter's description of how humans cope with low oxygen pressure in high altitudes illustrates

Anthropology may improve psychological studies of human behavior by contributing

The presence of more efficient respiratory systems to extract oxygen from the air among human populations living at high elevations is an example of which form of adaptation?

In science, what is the relationship among explanations, associations, and theories?

The American Anthropological Association has formally acknowledged a public service role by recognizing that anthropology has which two dimensions?

Adaptation refers to the processes by which organisms cope with environmental forces and stresses, such as those posed by climate and topography.

Anthropologists' early interest in Native North Americans

How are the four subfields of U.S. anthropology unified?

Culture

Method and Theory in Cultural Anthropology

Applying Anthropology

Language and Communication

Ethnicity and Race

Making a Living

Political Systems

Gender

Families, Kinship, and Descent

Marriage

Religion

Arts, Media, and Sports

The World System and Colonialism

Anthropologys Role in a Globalizing World

Filters

Exam 1: What Is Anthropology

The differences between sociology and cultural anthropology are becoming increasingly more distinct.

This chapter considers differences and similarities between anthropology and other academic fields such as sociology and psychology. What about history?

Over time, humans have become increasingly dependent on which of the following to cope with the range of environments they have occupied in time and space?

Ethnography involves the collection of data that is used to create an account of a particular community, society, or culture.

What are the four subfields of anthropology?

What is the process by which children learn a particular cultural tradition?

Which of the following is NOT true about culture?

Based on his observations that contact between neighboring tribes had existed since humanity's beginnings and covered enormous areas, Franz Boas argued

This chapter's description of how humans cope with low oxygen pressure in high altitudes illustrates

Anthropology may improve psychological studies of human behavior by contributing

The presence of more efficient respiratory systems to extract oxygen from the air among human populations living at high elevations is an example of which form of adaptation?

In science, what is the relationship among explanations, associations, and theories?

The American Anthropological Association has formally acknowledged a public service role by recognizing that anthropology has which two dimensions?

Adaptation refers to the processes by which organisms cope with environmental forces and stresses, such as those posed by climate and topography.

Anthropologists' early interest in Native North Americans

How are the four subfields of U.S. anthropology unified?

Culture

Method and Theory in Cultural Anthropology

Applying Anthropology

Language and Communication

Ethnicity and Race

Making a Living

Political Systems

Gender

Families, Kinship, and Descent

Marriage

Religion

Arts, Media, and Sports

The World System and Colonialism

Anthropologys Role in a Globalizing World

Filters