Question 1

How would a researcher using 'holistic systems thinking' define a cake?

Accepted Answer

A)  A cake is a pan filled with eggs, milk, sugar, flour, and butter. 
B)  A cake is the thing that emerges through the combination of ingredients plus a cooking process. 
C)  A cake is the result of a chemical reaction caused by baking powder. 
D)  A cake is the byproduct of a mechanical system (the oven). 
E)  A cake is an idea associated with a sweetened bready food. 
A)  A cake is a pan filled with eggs, milk, sugar, flour, and butter. 
B)  A cake is the thing that emerges through the combination of ingredients plus a cooking process. 
C)  A cake is the result of a chemical reaction caused by baking powder. 
D)  A cake is the byproduct of a mechanical system (the oven). 
E)  A cake is an idea associated with a sweetened bready food.

Question 2

Which of the following best exemplifies (provides the best example of) 'emergence'?

Accepted Answer

A)  a small change leading to another small change 
B)  a small change leading nowhere 
C)  the invention of laws regarding texting while driving 
D)  a heater turning on after a thermostat recognizes that the temperature has gotten too low 
E)  an ecosystem in homeostatic balance 
A)  a small change leading to another small change 
B)  a small change leading nowhere 
C)  the invention of laws regarding texting while driving 
D)  a heater turning on after a thermostat recognizes that the temperature has gotten too low 
E)  an ecosystem in homeostatic balance

Question 3

The 'archaeological record':

Accepted Answer

A)  refers to all historical events that occurred before the advent of writing. 
B)  consists of all material items that people of the past have left behind. 
C)  refers to our knowledge of non-human events. 
D)  considers all material culture, but not actual human remains. 
E)  cannot be referred to in a court of law. 
A)  refers to all historical events that occurred before the advent of writing. 
B)  consists of all material items that people of the past have left behind. 
C)  refers to our knowledge of non-human events. 
D)  considers all material culture, but not actual human remains. 
E)  cannot be referred to in a court of law.

Question 4

According to the original ecosystems model, which of the following would be seen as a negative stressor?

Accepted Answer

A)  a species of vulture becoming extinct. 
B)  a significant population increase of rabid dogs. 
C)  a decline in oak tree fertilization as a result of squirrel pesticides. 
D)  everything in this list. 
E)  human-caused water pollution. 
A)  a species of vulture becoming extinct. 
B)  a significant population increase of rabid dogs. 
C)  a decline in oak tree fertilization as a result of squirrel pesticides. 
D)  everything in this list. 
E)  human-caused water pollution.

Question 5

An interconnected system consisting of 'biotic' and 'abiotic' elements:

Accepted Answer

A)  is an ecosystem. 
B)  is a population. 
C)  cannot occur, as biotic and abiotic elements are separate elements. 
D)  is an example of a mechanical system. 
E)  can only happen when adaptation is homeostatic. 
A)  is an ecosystem. 
B)  is a population. 
C)  cannot occur, as biotic and abiotic elements are separate elements. 
D)  is an example of a mechanical system. 
E)  can only happen when adaptation is homeostatic.

Question 6

Which label best fits the view that only culture determines one's capacities and characteristics?

Accepted Answer

A)  biological determinism 
B)  epigenetics 
C)  cultural relativism 
D)  cultural determinism 
E)  holism 
A)  biological determinism 
B)  epigenetics 
C)  cultural relativism 
D)  cultural determinism 
E)  holism

Question 7

'Cultural determinism' is:

Accepted Answer

A)  now the dominant perspective in anthropology, having replacedearlier, less sophisticated models of natural selection. 
B)  a model in which biological phenomena have a strong effect on cultural variation. 
C)  a comprehensive explanation of cultural variation. 
D)  a one-sided explanation of human experience more accurately replaced by holistic systems thinking. 
E)  a model that arose in anthropology as a response to historical particularism 
A)  now the dominant perspective in anthropology, having replacedearlier, less sophisticated models of natural selection. 
B)  a model in which biological phenomena have a strong effect on cultural variation. 
C)  a comprehensive explanation of cultural variation. 
D)  a one-sided explanation of human experience more accurately replaced by holistic systems thinking. 
E)  a model that arose in anthropology as a response to historical particularism

Question 8

Which of the following scenarios is NOT an example of 'reflexivity'?

Accepted Answer

A)  examining personal & cultural biases prior to conducting research 
B)  an anthropologist noting in fieldnotes that they felt homesick to remind themselves of potential bias that day. 
C)  acknowledging the role of subjective perception when forming conclusions. 
D)  when a researcher claims to have no biases or to be wholly objective 
E)  holding one's own culture up not as an ideal but for a fair comparison 
A)  examining personal & cultural biases prior to conducting research 
B)  an anthropologist noting in fieldnotes that they felt homesick to remind themselves of potential bias that day. 
C)  acknowledging the role of subjective perception when forming conclusions. 
D)  when a researcher claims to have no biases or to be wholly objective 
E)  holding one's own culture up not as an ideal but for a fair comparison

Question 9

What development is 'biological determinism' NEVER going to support or lead to?

Accepted Answer

A)  people placing false limitations on their potential 
B)  blindness to the ways that sociocultural conditions advantage certain groups 
C)  underdevelopment of talent in individuals in whom such talents are not expected 
D)  the enslavement of various subpopulations 
E)  recognition of the sociocultural basis for racism or sexism 
A)  people placing false limitations on their potential 
B)  blindness to the ways that sociocultural conditions advantage certain groups 
C)  underdevelopment of talent in individuals in whom such talents are not expected 
D)  the enslavement of various subpopulations 
E)  recognition of the sociocultural basis for racism or sexism

Question 10

What is a distinguishing feature or quality of a complex adaptive system?

Accepted Answer

A)  can change itself in response to the environment 
B)  dynamic connections 
C)  ecologically sound 
D)  relationships between parts 
E)  unaffected by surrounding environment 
A)  can change itself in response to the environment 
B)  dynamic connections 
C)  ecologically sound 
D)  relationships between parts 
E)  unaffected by surrounding environment

Question 11

"The whole is more than the sum of its parts" is a saying describing:

Accepted Answer

A)  reductionism. 
B)  Cartesian thinking. 
C)  systems thinking. 
D)  biological determinism. 
E)  anthropocentrism. 
A)  reductionism. 
B)  Cartesian thinking. 
C)  systems thinking. 
D)  biological determinism. 
E)  anthropocentrism.

Question 12

To be nonlinear, in the context of systems thinking, means:

Accepted Answer

A)  a particular set of events must always occur, but not in any particular order. 
B)  events can give rise to unpredicted events and have unforeseen ramifications. 
C)  when the distribution of system achievements is graphed over time, it seems completely random. 
D)  effect can sometimes precede cause, so it is often difficult to tell what came first. 
E)  butterflies flap their wings and ponds will ripple. 
A)  a particular set of events must always occur, but not in any particular order. 
B)  events can give rise to unpredicted events and have unforeseen ramifications. 
C)  when the distribution of system achievements is graphed over time, it seems completely random. 
D)  effect can sometimes precede cause, so it is often difficult to tell what came first. 
E)  butterflies flap their wings and ponds will ripple.

Question 13

'Nonlinear' changes are NOT:

Accepted Answer

A)  predictable. 
B)  unexpected. 
C)  indeterminate. 
D)  unintended. 
E)  found in complex adaptive systems. 
A)  predictable. 
B)  unexpected. 
C)  indeterminate. 
D)  unintended. 
E)  found in complex adaptive systems.

Question 14

Arguing that a child grows up to be tall because her genes code for being tall is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  biological determinism, because height IS a biological (genetic) ﻿fact. 
B)  biological determinism, because the stated reason for being tall is biological. 
C)  cultural determinism, because height is a culturally constructed idea, and must be measured in a non-universal unit of measurement such as the inch. 
D)  cultural determinism, because the connection between genes and being tall is conventional and arbitrary. 
E)  Structural ﻿determinism, because height comes from or is based on ﻿﻿﻿the skeleton.﻿﻿﻿﻿. 
A)  biological determinism, because height IS a biological (genetic) ﻿fact. 
B)  biological determinism, because the stated reason for being tall is biological. 
C)  cultural determinism, because height is a culturally constructed idea, and must be measured in a non-universal unit of measurement such as the inch. 
D)  cultural determinism, because the connection between genes and being tall is conventional and arbitrary. 
E)  Structural ﻿determinism, because height comes from or is based on ﻿﻿﻿the skeleton.﻿﻿﻿﻿.

Question 15

Which of the following are 'reductionist' views?

Accepted Answer

A)  biological and cultural determinism 
B)  cultural determinism and relativism 
C)  holism and relativism 
D)  biological determinism and complexity theory 
E)  holism and ethnocentrism 
A)  biological and cultural determinism 
B)  cultural determinism and relativism 
C)  holism and relativism 
D)  biological determinism and complexity theory 
E)  holism and ethnocentrism

Question 16

The comparative study of cultures is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  paleoanthropology. 
B)  biological anthropology. 
C)  evolutionary biology. 
D)  ethnology. 
E)  holism. 
A)  paleoanthropology. 
B)  biological anthropology. 
C)  evolutionary biology. 
D)  ethnology. 
E)  holism.

Question 17

The idea that nurture (rather than nature) fully determines one's capacities and characteristics is:

Accepted Answer

A)  cultural determinism 
B)  biological determinism 
C)  systems thinking 
D)  homeostasis 
E)  ethnocentrism 
A)  cultural determinism 
B)  biological determinism 
C)  systems thinking 
D)  homeostasis 
E)  ethnocentrism

Question 18

Which of the following is true regarding 'ethnocentrism'?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a key tool in modern anthropology. 
B)  Its rejection was a fundamental step in the founding of anthropology. 
C)  Anthropologists have learned how to minimize the limitations it imposes on good scholarship . 
D)  It is a pointless concept because it is impossible to counteract. 
E)  Once we recognize our own ethnocentrism, we are paralyzed. 
A)  It is a key tool in modern anthropology. 
B)  Its rejection was a fundamental step in the founding of anthropology. 
C)  Anthropologists have learned how to minimize the limitations it imposes on good scholarship . 
D)  It is a pointless concept because it is impossible to counteract. 
E)  Once we recognize our own ethnocentrism, we are paralyzed.

Question 19

Which item(s) in the list is/are 'abiotic'?

Accepted Answer

A)  fungal yeast 
B)  maggots 
C)  sunlight 
D)  rats 
E)  trees 
A)  fungal yeast 
B)  maggots 
C)  sunlight 
D)  rats 
E)  trees

Question 20

What is NOT true of the 'comparative method'?

Accepted Answer

A)  It compares cultures under study as a basis for generalizing about humankind. 
B)  It was adopted by ethnologists. 
C)  It compares cultures under study with cultures native to the anthropologist. 
D)  It requires ethnocentrism. 
E)  Anthropologists still apply it today. 
A)  It compares cultures under study as a basis for generalizing about humankind. 
B)  It was adopted by ethnologists. 
C)  It compares cultures under study with cultures native to the anthropologist. 
D)  It requires ethnocentrism. 
E)  Anthropologists still apply it today.

How would a researcher using 'holistic systems thinking' define a cake?

Which of the following best exemplifies (provides the best example of) 'emergence'?

The 'archaeological record':

According to the original ecosystems model, which of the following would be seen as a negative stressor?

An interconnected system consisting of 'biotic' and 'abiotic' elements:

Which label best fits the view that only culture determines one's capacities and characteristics?

'Cultural determinism' is:

Which of the following scenarios is NOT an example of 'reflexivity'?

What development is 'biological determinism' NEVER going to support or lead to?

What is a distinguishing feature or quality of a complex adaptive system?

"The whole is more than the sum of its parts" is a saying describing:

To be nonlinear, in the context of systems thinking, means:

'Nonlinear' changes are NOT:

Arguing that a child grows up to be tall because her genes code for being tall is an example of:

Which of the following are 'reductionist' views?

The comparative study of cultures is known as:

The idea that nurture (rather than nature) fully determines one's capacities and characteristics is:

Which of the following is true regarding 'ethnocentrism'?

Which item(s) in the list is/are 'abiotic'?

What is NOT true of the 'comparative method'?

Genetic Adaptation

Developmental Adjustment and Epigenetic Change

Emergence of Culture and People Like Us

Global Expansion, Human Variation, and the Invention of Race

Foraging

Agricultural Revolution

Epidemics and Immunities

Political Economy of Health Disparities

Stress, Meaning, and Health

Culture in Practice

Body Ideals and Outcomes

Kinship

Conclusion

Filters

Exam 1: Anthropology and Complexity

How would a researcher using 'holistic systems thinking' define a cake?

Which of the following best exemplifies (provides the best example of) 'emergence'?

The 'archaeological record':

According to the original ecosystems model, which of the following would be seen as a negative stressor?

An interconnected system consisting of 'biotic' and 'abiotic' elements:

Which label best fits the view that only culture determines one's capacities and characteristics?

'Cultural determinism' is:

Which of the following scenarios is NOT an example of 'reflexivity'?

What development is 'biological determinism' NEVER going to support or lead to?

What is a distinguishing feature or quality of a complex adaptive system?

"The whole is more than the sum of its parts" is a saying describing:

To be nonlinear, in the context of systems thinking, means:

'Nonlinear' changes are NOT:

Arguing that a child grows up to be tall because her genes code for being tall is an example of:

Which of the following are 'reductionist' views?

The comparative study of cultures is known as:

The idea that nurture (rather than nature) fully determines one's capacities and characteristics is:

Which of the following is true regarding 'ethnocentrism'?

Which item(s) in the list is/are 'abiotic'?

What is NOT true of the 'comparative method'?

Genetic Adaptation

Developmental Adjustment and Epigenetic Change

Emergence of Culture and People Like Us

Global Expansion, Human Variation, and the Invention of Race

Foraging

Agricultural Revolution

Epidemics and Immunities

Political Economy of Health Disparities

Stress, Meaning, and Health

Culture in Practice

Body Ideals and Outcomes

Kinship

Conclusion

Filters