ANTHROPOLOGY 107 EXAM 2
Final Examination Questions & Answers with Verified Solutions
2026/2027
1. In kinship studies, what is the core difference between "consanguineal" and "affinal"
kin?
A. Consanguineal kin are related by marriage, while affinal kin are related by biological blood
ties.
B. Consanguineal kin are related by "blood" (descent/biology), while affinal kin are
related through marriage ties.
C. Consanguineal kin are adopted legally, while affinal kin are spiritual guardians.
D. Consanguineal kin reside in urban centers, while affinal kin reside in rural villages.
Rationale: Consanguineal relatives share biological or descent connections (e.g., parents, siblings),
whereas affinal relatives are created through marriage (e.g., spouses, in-laws).
2. What defines a "patrilineal descent" system?
A. Kinship, property, and group membership are traced exclusively through the
father's male bloodline.
B. Kinship is traced exclusively through the mother's female bloodline.
C. Individuals choose which lineage to join upon reaching adulthood.
D. Inheritance is split equally between paternal and maternal grandmothers.
Rationale: Patrilineal descent traces group membership, inheritance rights, and social identity strictly
through father-to-child lineage links.
3. What defines a "matrilineal descent" system?
A. Fathers pass political authority exclusively to their biological sons.
B. Kinship, property, and lineage membership are traced strictly through the mother's
female bloodline.
C. Women hold absolute political authority over all male community members.
D. Children belong to neither parent's lineage group.
Rationale: Matrilineal descent traces kinship through female ancestors, where children belong to their
mother's lineage and clan.
, 4. What is "bilateral descent"?
A. Kinship is traced equally through both the mother's and father's sides of the family
(common in Western industrial states).
B. Individuals belong strictly to two opposing military clans.
C. Lineage membership alternates between generations.
D. Property is inherited exclusively by adopted non-relatives.
Rationale: Bilateral descent treats maternal and paternal relatives as equally important in forming an
individual's personal kinship network (kindred).
5. In kinship diagrams, what geometric symbol standardly represents a male individual?
A. Circle
B. Triangle
C. Square
D. Equal sign
Rationale: Standard anthropological kinship notation uses a triangle for males, a circle for females, and
an equal sign for marriage.
6. In kinship diagrams, what geometric symbol standardly represents a female
individual?
A. Circle
B. Triangle
C. Rectangle
D. Line segment
Rationale: In kinship charts, females are depicted using circles, while males are depicted using triangles.
7. What does "Ego" signify in an anthropological kinship chart?
A. The oldest living male ancestor in the entire clan.
B. The focal person from whose perspective the kinship diagram is drawn.
C. The paramount chief who manages land distribution.
D. A deceased ancestor honored in village rituals.
Rationale: "Ego" is the designated central starting point or focal individual on a kinship chart around
Final Examination Questions & Answers with Verified Solutions
2026/2027
1. In kinship studies, what is the core difference between "consanguineal" and "affinal"
kin?
A. Consanguineal kin are related by marriage, while affinal kin are related by biological blood
ties.
B. Consanguineal kin are related by "blood" (descent/biology), while affinal kin are
related through marriage ties.
C. Consanguineal kin are adopted legally, while affinal kin are spiritual guardians.
D. Consanguineal kin reside in urban centers, while affinal kin reside in rural villages.
Rationale: Consanguineal relatives share biological or descent connections (e.g., parents, siblings),
whereas affinal relatives are created through marriage (e.g., spouses, in-laws).
2. What defines a "patrilineal descent" system?
A. Kinship, property, and group membership are traced exclusively through the
father's male bloodline.
B. Kinship is traced exclusively through the mother's female bloodline.
C. Individuals choose which lineage to join upon reaching adulthood.
D. Inheritance is split equally between paternal and maternal grandmothers.
Rationale: Patrilineal descent traces group membership, inheritance rights, and social identity strictly
through father-to-child lineage links.
3. What defines a "matrilineal descent" system?
A. Fathers pass political authority exclusively to their biological sons.
B. Kinship, property, and lineage membership are traced strictly through the mother's
female bloodline.
C. Women hold absolute political authority over all male community members.
D. Children belong to neither parent's lineage group.
Rationale: Matrilineal descent traces kinship through female ancestors, where children belong to their
mother's lineage and clan.
, 4. What is "bilateral descent"?
A. Kinship is traced equally through both the mother's and father's sides of the family
(common in Western industrial states).
B. Individuals belong strictly to two opposing military clans.
C. Lineage membership alternates between generations.
D. Property is inherited exclusively by adopted non-relatives.
Rationale: Bilateral descent treats maternal and paternal relatives as equally important in forming an
individual's personal kinship network (kindred).
5. In kinship diagrams, what geometric symbol standardly represents a male individual?
A. Circle
B. Triangle
C. Square
D. Equal sign
Rationale: Standard anthropological kinship notation uses a triangle for males, a circle for females, and
an equal sign for marriage.
6. In kinship diagrams, what geometric symbol standardly represents a female
individual?
A. Circle
B. Triangle
C. Rectangle
D. Line segment
Rationale: In kinship charts, females are depicted using circles, while males are depicted using triangles.
7. What does "Ego" signify in an anthropological kinship chart?
A. The oldest living male ancestor in the entire clan.
B. The focal person from whose perspective the kinship diagram is drawn.
C. The paramount chief who manages land distribution.
D. A deceased ancestor honored in village rituals.
Rationale: "Ego" is the designated central starting point or focal individual on a kinship chart around
