Ch. 1 -- What Is Physical Anthropology?

Question 1

Anthropology

Answer 1

The study of humankind, viewed from the perspective of all people and all times

Question 2

Arboreal

Answer 2

Tree-dwelling; adapted to living in the trees.

Question 3

Archaeology

Answer 3

The study of past societies and their cultures, especially the material remains of the past, such as tools, food remains, and places where people lived.

Question 4

Artifacts

Answer 4

Material objects from past cultures

Question 5

Biocultural approach

Answer 5

The scientific study of the interrelationship between what humans have inherited genetically and culture

Question 6

Biological anthropology

Answer 6

Also called physical anthropology, biological anthropology is the study of human evolution and variation, both past and current

Question 7

Bipedalism

Answer 7

Walking on two feet

Question 8

Cultural anthropology

Answer 8

The study of cultures and societies of human beings and their very recent past.

Traditional cultural anthropologists study living cultures and present their observations in an ethnography.

Question 9

Culture

Answer 9

Learned behavior that is transmitted from person to person

Question 10

Data

Answer 10

Evidence gathered to help answer questions, solve problems, and fill gaps in scientific knowledge.

Question 11

Empirical

Answer 11

Verified through observation and experiment.

Question 12

Hominids

Answer 12

A group of extinct and living bipedal primates in the family “Hominidae”.

Includes all humanlike beings that postdate the split between the evolutionary lineage that led to modern humans (“Homo”) and the lineage that led to loving chimpanzees (“Pan”).

Question 13

Hypotheses

Answer 13

Testable statements that potentially explain specific phenomena observed in the natural world.

Question 14

Language

Answer 14

A set of written or spoken symbols that refer to things (people, places, concepts, etc.) other than themselves

Question 15

Linguistic anthropology

Answer 15

The study of language, especially how language is structured, evolution of language, and the social and cultural contexts for language.

Question 16

Material culture

Answer 16

The part of culture that is expressed as objects that humans use to manipulate environments.

Question 17

Morphology

Answer 17

Physical shape and appearance

Question 18

Nonhoning canine

Answer 18

An upper canine that, as part of a nonhoning chewing mechanism, is not sharpened against the lower third premolar.

Question 19

Physical anthropology

Answer 19

Also called biological anthropology, physical anthropology is the study of human evolution and variation, both past and current

Question 20

Primates

Answer 20

A group of mammals in the order “Primates” that have complex behavior, varied forms of locomotion, and a unique suite of traits, including large brains, forward-facing eyes, fingernails, and reduced snouts.

Question 21

Scientific law

Answer 21

A theory that becomes absolutely true.

Question 22

Scientific method

Answer 22

An empirical research method in which data is gathered from observations of phenomena, hypotheses are formulated and tested, and conclusions are drawn that validate or modify the original hypotheses.

Question 23

Sociolinguistics

Answer 23

The science of investigating language’s social contexts

Question 24

Theory

Answer 24

A set of hypotheses that have been rigorously tested and validated, leading to their establishment as a generally accepted explanation of specific phenomena.

Question 25

Anatomical

Answer 25

Pertaining to an organism’s physical structure