ANTHROPOLOGY MIDTERM 2 EXAM
Final Examination Questions & Answers with Verified Solutions
2026/2027
1. How do cultural anthropologists define a "lineage" compared to a broader "clan"?
A. Lineages are based strictly on adoptive ties, whereas clans require biological marriage
contracts
B. Lineage members trace genealogical connections to a known real ancestor, while
clan members claim descent from a mythical or unrecorded ancestor
C. Clans exist only in industrial states, while lineages exist only in foraging bands
D. Lineages are always matriarchal, while clans are strictly patriarchal
Rationale: In kinship studies, a lineage is a corporate descent group whose members can trace their
exact genealogical links to a specific known founder. A clan's members claim common descent from an
ancestral figure, totem, or spirit without tracing every specific link.
2. Which residence pattern occurs when a newly married couple establishes an
independent household away from both sets of parents?
A. Patrilocal residence
B. Matrilocal residence
C. Neolocal residence
D. Avunculocal residence
Rationale: Neolocal residence involves setting up a new, separate household. This pattern is common in
industrial and post-industrial societies where economic mobility is prized over extended family co-
residence.
3. What is the primary difference between parallel cousins and cross cousins?
A. Parallel cousins are children of same-sex siblings (mother's sister's or father's
brother's children); cross cousins are children of opposite-sex siblings (mother's
brother's or father's sister's children)
B. Parallel cousins live in the same village, while cross cousins live in neighboring tribes
C. Parallel cousins share identical mtDNA, while cross cousins share no genetic material
D. Parallel cousins are eligible for marriage in all societies, while cross cousins are strictly
, taboo
Rationale: Parallel cousins stem from siblings of the same gender (FB or MZ children), while cross
cousins stem from siblings of opposite genders (MB or FZ children). This distinction is critical in societies
with preferential cousin marriage.
4. What economic exchange involves custom gift payments from the groom's family to
the bride's family to compensate for the loss of her labor and fertility?
A. Dowry
B. Bridewealth (Brideprice)
C. Reciprocal potlatch
D. Moka exchange
Rationale: Bridewealth transfers valuable assets (cattle, money, goods) from the groom's kin to the bride's
kin, legitimizing the marriage and recognizing the transfer of rights over her labor and future children.
5. What is polyandry?
A. A marriage arrangement involving one man and multiple wives
B. A marriage arrangement involving one woman and multiple husbands
C. A system where individuals are permitted to marry only within their social caste
D. Serial monogamy practiced across urban communities
Rationale: Polyandry unites one female with two or more male spouses. Fraternal polyandry (brothers
marrying one wife) is practiced in parts of Nepal and Tibet to preserve family land holdings without
division.
6. Which economic system is characterized by the redistribution of wealth through
competitive feast-giving, such as the indigenous Potlatch of the Pacific Northwest?
A. Prestige economy and leveling mechanism
B. Pure market principle pricing
C. Silent barter trade
D. Commercial capitalism
Rationale: The Potlatch serves as a prestige economy and leveling mechanism where leaders give away
massive quantities of goods, converting material wealth into social prestige while redistributing resources
across communities.
7. What is "generalized reciprocity"?
Final Examination Questions & Answers with Verified Solutions
2026/2027
1. How do cultural anthropologists define a "lineage" compared to a broader "clan"?
A. Lineages are based strictly on adoptive ties, whereas clans require biological marriage
contracts
B. Lineage members trace genealogical connections to a known real ancestor, while
clan members claim descent from a mythical or unrecorded ancestor
C. Clans exist only in industrial states, while lineages exist only in foraging bands
D. Lineages are always matriarchal, while clans are strictly patriarchal
Rationale: In kinship studies, a lineage is a corporate descent group whose members can trace their
exact genealogical links to a specific known founder. A clan's members claim common descent from an
ancestral figure, totem, or spirit without tracing every specific link.
2. Which residence pattern occurs when a newly married couple establishes an
independent household away from both sets of parents?
A. Patrilocal residence
B. Matrilocal residence
C. Neolocal residence
D. Avunculocal residence
Rationale: Neolocal residence involves setting up a new, separate household. This pattern is common in
industrial and post-industrial societies where economic mobility is prized over extended family co-
residence.
3. What is the primary difference between parallel cousins and cross cousins?
A. Parallel cousins are children of same-sex siblings (mother's sister's or father's
brother's children); cross cousins are children of opposite-sex siblings (mother's
brother's or father's sister's children)
B. Parallel cousins live in the same village, while cross cousins live in neighboring tribes
C. Parallel cousins share identical mtDNA, while cross cousins share no genetic material
D. Parallel cousins are eligible for marriage in all societies, while cross cousins are strictly
, taboo
Rationale: Parallel cousins stem from siblings of the same gender (FB or MZ children), while cross
cousins stem from siblings of opposite genders (MB or FZ children). This distinction is critical in societies
with preferential cousin marriage.
4. What economic exchange involves custom gift payments from the groom's family to
the bride's family to compensate for the loss of her labor and fertility?
A. Dowry
B. Bridewealth (Brideprice)
C. Reciprocal potlatch
D. Moka exchange
Rationale: Bridewealth transfers valuable assets (cattle, money, goods) from the groom's kin to the bride's
kin, legitimizing the marriage and recognizing the transfer of rights over her labor and future children.
5. What is polyandry?
A. A marriage arrangement involving one man and multiple wives
B. A marriage arrangement involving one woman and multiple husbands
C. A system where individuals are permitted to marry only within their social caste
D. Serial monogamy practiced across urban communities
Rationale: Polyandry unites one female with two or more male spouses. Fraternal polyandry (brothers
marrying one wife) is practiced in parts of Nepal and Tibet to preserve family land holdings without
division.
6. Which economic system is characterized by the redistribution of wealth through
competitive feast-giving, such as the indigenous Potlatch of the Pacific Northwest?
A. Prestige economy and leveling mechanism
B. Pure market principle pricing
C. Silent barter trade
D. Commercial capitalism
Rationale: The Potlatch serves as a prestige economy and leveling mechanism where leaders give away
massive quantities of goods, converting material wealth into social prestige while redistributing resources
across communities.
7. What is "generalized reciprocity"?
