Chapter 1: Anthropology and Human Diversity
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The critical factor that distinguishes anthropology from other fields of study is:
a. Its emphasis on rigorous experimentation and analysis of data.
b. Its exclusive focus on non-Western cultures.
c. Its use of theories of biological evolution to explain human behavior.
d. Its interest in describing humankind throughout time and in all parts of the world.
e. Its focus on the discovery of a single human nature.
ANS: D DIF: Conceptual REF: 3 OBJ: 1
MSC: Pickup
2. One of the most critical goals of cultural anthropology as an academic discipline is to:
a. Describe, analyze, and explain different cultures.
b. Increase the level of culture in particular human societies.
c. Place large numbers of cultural anthropologists in political offices.
d. Determine the direction of human evolution.
e. Preserve world heritage for future generations.
ANS: A DIF: Conceptual REF: 3 OBJ: 1
MSC: Pickup
,3. To say that anthropology is holistic means that anthropologists are particularly interested
in:
a. Objects and acts regarded as holy by various peoples.
b. The whole personality of any particular individual.
c. The integration of biological, sociocultural, and environmental factors in
explaining human behavior.
d. Studying every culture in the world.
e. The efforts to find holes in particular theories.
ANS: C DIF: Applied REF: 4 OBJ: 1
MSC: Pickup
4. Which of the following correctly identifies the sub-disciplines of anthropology?
a. Archaeology, Anthropometry, Cultural Anthropology, Paleontology, and Cultural
Relativity.
b. Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Cognitive Anthropology, Ethno-history, and
Linguistics.
c. Archaeology, Ethno-history, Anthropometry, Structural Anthropology, and
Cultural Anthropology.
d. Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, Applied
Anthropology and Linguistics.
e. Archaeology, Phonology, Medical Anthropology, Development Studies, and
Cultural Anthropology.
ANS: D DIF: Factual REF: 4 OBJ: 2
MSC: Pickup
5. Anthropologists say that human adaptation is biocultural. Which of the following best
represents what is meant by this statement?
, a. Human adaptation is both biological and cultural, and anthropologists cannot
distinguish between the meanings of these concepts.
b. Human adaptation involves both biological and cultural dimensions and each
influences the other.
c. Human adaptation is unique among all animals because it is based exclusively on
physiological adaptations.
d. Human adaptation is the same as that of all animal because culture plays a role in
the adaptation of all forms of life.
e. Human adaptation is based exclusively on culture. Biology is subsumed within the
cultural dimension and does not exert an independent influence on humans.
ANS: B DIF: Conceptual REF: 4 OBJ: 2
MSC: New
6. Which of the following studies how languages are related to each other?
a. Biological anthropology
b. Human variation
c. Historical linguistics
d. Paleo-linguistics
e. Cultural linguistics
ANS: C DIF: Factual REF: 5 OBJ: 2
MSC: New
7. Archaeologists are principally interested in:
a. Excavating sites and developing museums to preserve ancient landforms.
b. Collecting artifacts made by ancient peoples.
c. Tracing the course of human evolution through an examination of the fossilized
, remains.
d. Understanding and reconstructing the cultures of past societies.
e. Tracing the early development of Western civilization.
ANS: D DIF: Factual REF: 6 OBJ: 2
MSC: Pickup
8. A primary contribution of urban archaeologists is the development of:
a. New architecture based on traditional designs.
b. New methods of city governance.
c. New knowledge about people who resided at the site.
d. New insights into agriculture.
e. New information about traditional Native American lifestyles.
ANS: C DIF: Applied REF: 7 OBJ: 2
MSC: Pickup
9. All of the following statements about the understanding of culture in anthropology are
correct except:
a. Culture is biologically and genetically transmitted from person to person.
b. Culture is the way of life of a particular human society.
c. Culture is the learned behaviors and symbols that allow people to live in groups.
d. Culture is the primary way that human adapt to their environments.
ANS: A DIF: Conceptual REF: 7 OBJ: 2
MSC: New
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The critical factor that distinguishes anthropology from other fields of study is:
a. Its emphasis on rigorous experimentation and analysis of data.
b. Its exclusive focus on non-Western cultures.
c. Its use of theories of biological evolution to explain human behavior.
d. Its interest in describing humankind throughout time and in all parts of the world.
e. Its focus on the discovery of a single human nature.
ANS: D DIF: Conceptual REF: 3 OBJ: 1
MSC: Pickup
2. One of the most critical goals of cultural anthropology as an academic discipline is to:
a. Describe, analyze, and explain different cultures.
b. Increase the level of culture in particular human societies.
c. Place large numbers of cultural anthropologists in political offices.
d. Determine the direction of human evolution.
e. Preserve world heritage for future generations.
ANS: A DIF: Conceptual REF: 3 OBJ: 1
MSC: Pickup
,3. To say that anthropology is holistic means that anthropologists are particularly interested
in:
a. Objects and acts regarded as holy by various peoples.
b. The whole personality of any particular individual.
c. The integration of biological, sociocultural, and environmental factors in
explaining human behavior.
d. Studying every culture in the world.
e. The efforts to find holes in particular theories.
ANS: C DIF: Applied REF: 4 OBJ: 1
MSC: Pickup
4. Which of the following correctly identifies the sub-disciplines of anthropology?
a. Archaeology, Anthropometry, Cultural Anthropology, Paleontology, and Cultural
Relativity.
b. Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Cognitive Anthropology, Ethno-history, and
Linguistics.
c. Archaeology, Ethno-history, Anthropometry, Structural Anthropology, and
Cultural Anthropology.
d. Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, Applied
Anthropology and Linguistics.
e. Archaeology, Phonology, Medical Anthropology, Development Studies, and
Cultural Anthropology.
ANS: D DIF: Factual REF: 4 OBJ: 2
MSC: Pickup
5. Anthropologists say that human adaptation is biocultural. Which of the following best
represents what is meant by this statement?
, a. Human adaptation is both biological and cultural, and anthropologists cannot
distinguish between the meanings of these concepts.
b. Human adaptation involves both biological and cultural dimensions and each
influences the other.
c. Human adaptation is unique among all animals because it is based exclusively on
physiological adaptations.
d. Human adaptation is the same as that of all animal because culture plays a role in
the adaptation of all forms of life.
e. Human adaptation is based exclusively on culture. Biology is subsumed within the
cultural dimension and does not exert an independent influence on humans.
ANS: B DIF: Conceptual REF: 4 OBJ: 2
MSC: New
6. Which of the following studies how languages are related to each other?
a. Biological anthropology
b. Human variation
c. Historical linguistics
d. Paleo-linguistics
e. Cultural linguistics
ANS: C DIF: Factual REF: 5 OBJ: 2
MSC: New
7. Archaeologists are principally interested in:
a. Excavating sites and developing museums to preserve ancient landforms.
b. Collecting artifacts made by ancient peoples.
c. Tracing the course of human evolution through an examination of the fossilized
, remains.
d. Understanding and reconstructing the cultures of past societies.
e. Tracing the early development of Western civilization.
ANS: D DIF: Factual REF: 6 OBJ: 2
MSC: Pickup
8. A primary contribution of urban archaeologists is the development of:
a. New architecture based on traditional designs.
b. New methods of city governance.
c. New knowledge about people who resided at the site.
d. New insights into agriculture.
e. New information about traditional Native American lifestyles.
ANS: C DIF: Applied REF: 7 OBJ: 2
MSC: Pickup
9. All of the following statements about the understanding of culture in anthropology are
correct except:
a. Culture is biologically and genetically transmitted from person to person.
b. Culture is the way of life of a particular human society.
c. Culture is the learned behaviors and symbols that allow people to live in groups.
d. Culture is the primary way that human adapt to their environments.
ANS: A DIF: Conceptual REF: 7 OBJ: 2
MSC: New
