Deck 1: What is Anthropology?

Question 1

Although comparative biology and physical anthropology share many characteristics,what approach most distinguishes physical anthropology?

A) It focuses on how culture and environment affect human evolution and variation.
B) It focuses almost exclusively on the study of non-human primates.
C) It does not use any characteristics of comparative biological examination. It focuses exclusively on humans.
D) Physical anthropology is the only biological discipline that endorses evolution.
E) Physical anthropology does not involve fieldwork.

Answer 1

It focuses on how culture and environment affect human evolution and variation.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a traditional subfield,or branch,of anthropology?

A) physical anthropology
B) cultural anthropology
C) anthropological linguistics
D) ethological anthropology
E) archaeology

Answer 2

ethological anthropology

Question 3

Studying sound and grammatical systems in a specific language is the work of a/an

A) ethnologist.
B) historical linguist.
C) sociolinguist.
D) descriptive linguist.
E) glottochronologist.

Answer 3

descriptive linguist.

Question 4

An example of an ethnography is a/an:

A) study of chimpanzee language.
B) excavation of an archaeological site.
C) study of the behavior of residents in a retirement home.
D) study of rates of disease in prehistoric populations.
E) comparative analysis of blood proteins between populations.

Question 5

The word "anthropology" derives from the Greek anthropos and logos and literally means:

A) the study of cultures.
B) the words of civilized peoples.
C) the study of humans.
D) human biology and culture.
E) the evolution of man.

Question 6

Why was Holt Cemetery in New Orleans the site for an applied archaeology project led by Dr.Shannon Dawdy of the University of Chicago?

A) In the early 17th century there were important trade relations between the Great Lakes region and New Orleans. Much of this can be documented from cemetery artifacts.
B) The cemetery is historically significant because it was built on top of an Indian mound dated at more than 5,000 years before present.
C) It was historically important in the celebration of All Souls' Day and was damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
D) This cemetery is the primary urban cemetery in New Orleans and contains the burials of many important historical figures, whose markers and graves must be preserved.
E) Holt Cemetery is a central location for Haitian voodoo celebrations and is a public park today.

Question 7

Richard Wrangham's study of young chimpanzees led to the startling conclusion that:

A) sometimes chimpanzees eat poisonous foods.
B) chimpanzees often overeat and gorge themselves on new leaves.
C) chimpanzees occasionally eat substances solely for medicinal benefit.
D) chimpanzees always eat the same foods and do not vary their diet.
E) chimpanzees frequently carry out extended fasts for health reasons.

Question 8

Physical anthropologists are interested in human variation today:

A) so that they can explain the fixed characteristics of racial categories.
B) because it allows us an understanding of how humans adapt to the environment.
C) as a way of explaining differences in intelligence and personality.
D) because people are more diverse today than they were in the past.
E) because they wish to better understand human potential and better ways to apply anthropology.

Question 9

Historic archaeology:

A) deals with that vast segment of the human cultures that existed prior to written history.
B) analyzes the first stone tools used by humans and infers about cultures based solely on this evidence.
C) works to reconstruct the cultures of people who used writing and about whom records exist.
D) is a form of applied anthropology in which archaeologists reconstruct cultures for museums.
E) works to protect cultural resources.

Question 10

Although the global scope of anthropological studies has increased during the past century,most recently there has been increased attention on:

A) rural societies in the United States.
B) urban and industrial societies.
C) communities in underdeveloped areas.
D) large, European cities.
E) farming societies in developing nations.

Question 11

Prehistoric archaeologists work with which of the following?

A) artifacts, ecofacts, and features
B) artifacts, features, and grammar systems
C) contemporary religious systems, artifacts, and ecofacts
D) artifacts, grammar systems, and contemporary religious systems

Question 12

The specialty in archaeology that works to interpret and defend artifacts from building projects and other forms of site destruction is called:

A) paleoanthropology.
B) paleopathology.
C) prehistoric archaeology.
D) forensic anthropology.
E) cultural resource management.

Question 13

Which of the following most accurately describes the goals of cultural resource management (CRM)?

A) CRM is a type of contract archaeology in which the sites are excavated with the goal of presenting all evidence (artifacts) in a museum-quality exhibit.
B) CRM is public archaeology. As a result, it involves the preparation and use of volunteer citizens in excavations on federal lands.
C) CRM is considered the highest-quality scientific excavation on federal, state, or private lands. Each excavation team includes a lawyer well-versed in all laws relating to site preservation.
D) CRM focuses on conducting high-quality research in compliance with all laws relating to archaeological sites excavated on federally-funded building projects.
E) CRM focuses on conducting high-quality research in compliance with all state, national, and international laws relating to archaeological excavation.

Question 14

Which of the following best characterizes the study of paleoanthropology?

A) It is the study of the evolution of dinosaurs and how human life was modified due to the presence of large reptiles.
B) Paleoanthropologists focus on the reconstruction of the human fossil record through the excavation and analysis of fossil remains.
C) Although paleoanthropology is the study of early fossils, it most commonly focuses on how humans culturally adapted to life in diverse environmental regions.
D) Paleoanthropology is the study of non-human primates in their natural environments.
E) Paleoanthropologists most often work in the field of forensic anthropology so that they can identify fossil material for a wide variety of species.

Question 15

An anthropologist who studies the relationship between language and culture is working in the field of:

A) ethnolinguistics.
B) descriptive linguistics.
C) historical linguistics.
D) sociolinguistics.
E) glottochronology.

Question 16

Medical anthropology most often draws upon research from:

A) anthropological linguistics and cultural anthropology.
B) archaeology and physical anthropology.
C) physical anthropology and cultural anthropology.
D) archaeology and cultural anthropology.
E) anthropological linguistics and archaeology.

Question 17

A linguistic anthropologist studying the situational use of language is working in the field of:

A) ethnolinguistics.
B) descriptive linguistics.
C) historical linguistics.
D) sociolinguistics.
E) glottochronology.

Question 18

Why are forensic anthropologists asked to testify at trials frequently?

A) They are specialists in interpreting human behavior and are able to best understand what motivates a criminal.
B) They are legal anthropologists and are familiar with laws surrounding the treatment of human remains.
C) Because they have a great deal of cross-cultural experience, forensic anthropologists are excellent at explaining a crime scene.
D) Forensic anthropology is the study of criminals and criminal behavior.
E) They specialize in identifying victims and circumstances of death.

Question 19

Primatology is the study of:

A) the earliest origins of life on earth in order to better understand evolution and the Big Bang Theory.
B) primate culture and language and what distinguishes them from humans.
C) the first tools used by humans and how evolved from early primate origins.
D) the anatomy and social behavior of non-human primates in order to better understand humans.
E) environmental and conservation issues related to the study of apes and monkeys.

Question 20

Ecofacts are:

A) objects found in the natural environment that were used by people but not made or altered by them.
B) objects that have been made by people and are portable.
C) objects that have been made by people but are not portable.
D) objects found in the natural environment that were formed by natural occurrences such as exposure to great heat or cold.
E) fossils that are embedded in natural stone.

Question 21

A holistic approach to the study of humans means that anthropologists:

A) concentrate only on the social customs of the group under study.
B) study all varieties of people and all aspects of their existence.
C) limit themselves to the study of religious leaders.
D) only study literate societies.
E) focus exclusively on the relationship between people and environment.

Question 22

Which of the following is not a characteristic aspect of holism?

A) It involves biological and sociocultural aspects of humanity.
B) It focuses on the study of many different aspects of the human experience from family structure to art.
C) It studies how all forms of life are related and evolved out of each other.
D) It studies all varieties of people wherever they are found.
E) It involves the longest time frame for studying humans.

Question 23

If you were building a new suburban community near a protected wetlands environment and needed to address concerns regarding soil erosion,deforestation,water treatment in the area,which type of anthropologist would best address those needs?

A) physical anthropologist
B) environmental anthropologist
C) educational anthropologist
D) medical anthropologist
E) cultural resource manager

Question 24

Anthropologists suspend cultural relativism when studying the practices of:

A) the Dani who cut off a finger from the hand of any close female relative of a man who dies.
B) the Kikuyu custom of female circumcision.
C) the Inuit custom of leaving the aged out in the cold to die.
D) the Bannock-Shoshoni who commit crimes on the reservation.
E) Anthropologists do not suspend the practice of cultural relativism in their work.

Question 25

Which of the following approaches best exemplifies an extreme emic perspective?

A) cultural materialism
B) functionalism
C) ethnoscience
D) psychological anthropology
E) ethnocentrism

Question 26

The anthropological attitude that a society's customs and ideas should be viewed in the context of its own culture is called:

A) cultural relativism.
B) the etic approach.
C) the emic approach.
D) ethnocentrism.
E) holism.

Question 27

Ethnographic research usually involves all of the following except:

A) many months of fieldwork.
B) talking to a number of people.
C) observing people's behavior.
D) working to make cultures more similar.
E) participating in people's daily lives.

Question 28

In comparison with other social sciences,anthropology:

A) is much narrower and specialized in scope, focusing exclusively on humans.
B) is more integrative and holistic, examining all aspects of humanity.
C) practices more rigorous and comparative science.
D) collects and analyzes data as its knowledge base.
E) has fewer specialties and subfields.

Question 29

Medical anthropology is a more recent specialty in the discipline which studies the relationship of between:

A) biology, culture, and disease.
B) biology, disease, and social status.
C) biology and disease.
D) cultural practices and the spread of disease.
E) history and disease.

Question 30

Ethnocentrism is the belief that:

A) one's culture is no better or no worse than any other.
B) other cultures are inferior to one's own.
C) other cultures are superior to one's own.
D) to understand another cultural feature, you must look at it from within its proper cultural context.
E) it is not possible to fully understand any culture other than your own.

Question 31

Why was Dr.Barbara Joans asked to serve as an expert witness in the trial of six Bannock-Shoshoni women?

A) Dr. Joans was asked to testify about the importance of missing Native American artifacts.
B) Dr. Joans was able to analyze the extent to which the Native American women from Idaho were able to understand the English language.
C) This anthropologist was an ethnographer among the Bannock-Shoshoni and had witnessed the crime that had been committed.
D) The Bannock-Shoshoni requested that Dr. Joans explain the importance of Native American culture to the court.
E) Dr. Joans is a physical anthropologist and was able to analyze the forensic evidence associated with the crime.

Question 32

Urban anthropology:

A) focuses exclusively on research in suburban areas of the United States.
B) does not take account of the existence of violent gangs and the marketing of drugs.
C) naturally grew out of research which followed rural people into cities.
D) has been important since the earliest days of anthropology.
E) is no longer a growing specialty in anthropology, as there is a mass exodus of cities today.

Question 33

Which of the following is most accurate? If taken to an extreme,cultural relativism can lead to:

A) the belief that no cultural customs or practices are ever immoral.
B) a greater amount of ethnocentrism between developing nations.
C) the development of a unified global culture.
D) increased amounts of cultural diversity and tolerance.
E) more warfare.

Question 34

The perspective of the native of a group,the insider approach,is which of the following?

A) culturally relativistic
B) ethic
C) etic
D) emic
E) endemic

Question 35

Which statement about psychological anthropology is false?

A) It looks at how culture affects personality, cognition, and emotions.
B) Since 1990, it has focused on broad national character studies.
C) It is associated with such names as Margaret Mead and Franz Boas.
D) It examines the relationship between culture and the psychological makeup of individuals and groups.
E) A wide variety of methodology is used to do research in their area.

Question 36

The recent intensification of the flow of money,goods,and information to all parts of the world is referred to as:

A) migration.
B) globalization.
C) colonialism.
D) racism.
E) massification.

Question 37

Which of the following statements is not true?

A) Ethnocentrism is present in all cultures; it is universal.
B) One benefit of ethnocentrism is that it enhances group solidarity.
C) Ethnocentrism is a natural by-product of being raised in a society.
D) Ethnocentrism is worse in urban societies than in rural ones.
E) Although it is not possible to eliminate ethnocentrism, it can be reduced.

Question 38

The major purpose of anthropology is to understand other cultures.This can be accomplished most effectively in all of the following ways except:

A) having as much specific data as possible about other cultures in the world.
B) understanding our own culture.
C) understanding how people from other cultures view us.
D) gaining a critical understanding of what makes a "good" culture.
E) having an interest in cultural diversity and change.

Question 39

The study of other cultures and other ways of life should lead us to an understanding that:

A) all cultures have value and none is better than any other.
B) some cultures are more valuable than others.
C) all cultures are created equally but history allows some to be more successful than others.
D) all cultures face the same challenges and have the same history.
E) there is no such thing as cultural diversity.

Question 40

Which of the following specialties would be most involved in studying the effects of building a new nanotechnology factory in a small,rural community?

A) educational anthropology
B) economic anthropology
C) political anthropology
D) medical anthropology
E) developmental anthropology

Question 41

Cultural anthropology involves the practice of both ethnography and ethnology.While ethnography is the study of specific cultural traits and behaviors,ethnology is an approach meant to uncover general cultural laws and principles.

Question 42

The study of disease in prehistoric populations is called paleoanthropology.

Question 43

All of the following can be used to illustrate a pursuit of individualism that negatively impacts the common good in the United States except:

A) salary disparity between CEOs and the average worker.
B) the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
C) the practice of allowing business needs and desires to override health standards.
D) the widespread practice of giving to charity and other philanthropic societies.
E) the lack of personal care for elderly parents and grandparents.

Question 44

Anthropological linguistics is the least significant subfield in the discipline of anthropology.

Question 45

Physical anthropology is focused exclusively on the reconstruction of the human fossil record.

Question 46

In order to truly appreciate other cultural perspectives,which of the following is most vital?

A) Be willing to make cultural evaluations based on past experience.
B) Let go of cultural certainty in order to learn something new.
C) Work effectively to achieve short-term goals despite cultural differences.
D) Learn to ignore cultural differences as being unimportant.
E) Cultivate friendships in as many cultures as possible.

Question 47

Anthropologists are concerned with all humans,both past and present,as well as humans' behavior patterns,thought systems,and material possessions.

Question 48

Race has never been a central concept in the study of anthropology.

Question 49

Archaeology has led to interesting discoveries and the development of new tools today,such as improved surgical knives.

Question 50

Which of the anthropological subfields most prepares a student with the skills for the 21ˢᵗ century?

A) anthropological linguistics
B) cultural anthropology
C) archaeology
D) physical anthropology
E) structural linguistics

Question 51

Although Europeans and North Americans share some cultural traits,which North American trait is often seen as excessive by its European counterparts?

A) democracy
B) liberty
C) individualism
D) community care
E) justice

Question 52

Anthropologists recognize non-human primates as important research subjects because they can be studied in environments similar to those our human ancestors lived in several million years ago.

Question 53

Which statement about the applied research of Susan Squires is true?

A) Since children are not very hungry at 6:30 in the morning when they wake-up, they often leave the house at 7:00 A.M. without eating much of anything.
B) Families with two working parents have more nutritious breakfasts than families with only one working parent.
C) Her research lead to the development of the breakfast cereal Fruit Loops.
D) Children, parents, and grandparents in the U.S. generally agree on what constitutes a healthy breakfast.
E) Breakfast is not a culturally significant topic of study.

Question 54

The ability to see how a single entity is composed of a number of different parts and how these parts are interconnected is called:

A) cognitive complexity.
B) cultural sensitivity.
C) cultural relativism.
D) differentiation.
E) integration.

Question 55

An increasing number of recent high school graduates are opting to take a "gap year," traveling and interning with organizations abroad before attending college.All of the following are critical skills in the 21ˢᵗ century except:

A) fluency in a second language.
B) a broad-based approach to learning and experience.
C) ability to determine which culture is best and most valuable.
D) ability to immerse themselves in another culture
E) capacity to understand the logic and value of other cultures.

Question 56

The study of anthropology develops all of the following skills except:

A) developing cognitive complexity.
B) appreciating other perspectives.
C) responsible money management.
D) building emotional resilience.
E) operating more comfortably in ambiguous situations.

Question 57

Environmental anthropology traditionally focused primarily on how non-Western peoples adapted to their physical environments.

Question 58

Being attentive to both verbal and nonverbal communication is a skill known as:

A) cognitive complexity.
B) differentiation.
C) integration.
D) global teamwork.
E) perceptual acuity.

Question 59

Dr.Ann Soetoro,the mother of President Barack Obama,was a cultural anthropologist who worked in Indonesia studying:

A) ritual practices and religious change.
B) agricultural improvement and multinational corporations.
C) economic development and entrepreneurism among rural craftspeople.
D) gender roles in society.
E) educational policy and improvements.

Question 60

Cultural resource management may involve very contemporary archaeological sites.

Question 61

A perspective in ethnography that uses the concepts and categories of the anthropologist's culture to describe another culture is called the emic approach.

Question 62

Compare and contrast ethnography and ethnology.

Question 63

Ethnocentrism is declining in the world today due to globalization.

Question 64

What is ethnocentrism?

Question 65

What are the subfields,or branches,of anthropology?

Question 66

An important skill for the twenty-first century will be the ability to balance contradictory needs and demands rather than trying to eliminate them.

Question 67

A degree of ethnocentrism is found among all peoples and cultures.

Question 68

What does the holistic approach in anthropology involve?

Question 69

What is glottochronology and what does it contribute to the field of anthropological linguistics?

Question 70

Name five "skills for the 21ˢᵗ Century."

Question 71

What does applied research in anthropology seek to do?

Question 72

Ruth Benedict wrote her classic account of psychological anthropology on national character studies of the Chinese.

Question 73

The attitude of anthropology is one of cultural relativism.It undergirds and lays the foundation for understanding the other.

Question 74

What is primatology and why is it important to the study of humans?

Question 75

The field of applied anthropology works to put anthropological knowledge to use for governmental improvement and stabilization.It is a highly political approach in the field.

Question 76

Describe cultural relativism and explain why it is important in anthropology.

Question 77

With what three types of material remains do archaeologists work?

Question 78

One of the most important changes affecting cultures today is the phenomenon of globalization.

Question 79

One positive outcome of mild ethnocentrism is group solidarity and the development of cultural diversity.

Question 80

Because of the importance of holism in the study of anthropology,most anthropologists today are more generalized in their studies than specialized.