Textbook Quizzes Flashcards
How does a holistic perspective influence the way anthropologists conduct cultural research?
Anthropologists explore the ways that cultural elements are connected.
Anthropologists treat each aspect of culture as an isolated entity.
Anthropologists recognize that individual cultures are really variations of one world culture.
Anthropologists treat all cultural phenomena as equally valid.
Anthropologists explore the ways that cultural elements are connected.
By employing a comparative perspective, anthropologists are able to accomplish which of the following?
Extrapolate ideal social models from cultures that no longer exist.
Determine universal cultural patterns as well as document cultural diversity.
Judge all cultures according to universal standards.
Draw on other disciplines in the social sciences to confirm findings.
Determine universal cultural patterns as well as document cultural diversity.
Which of the following summarizes what anthropologists mean by symbolic culture?
the objects people use on a daily basis and how they are manufactured
instinctual behaviors that are acquired through genetic inheritance
the aspects of a culture that can be considered artistic
the thoughts and ideas people have and how they convey them to others
the thoughts and ideas people have and how they convey them to others
You are writing a thesis on the costumes and jewelry women wear for puberty initiations in a West African society. Which of the following is your primary focus of study?
the biological culture of the society
an aspect of the society’s material culture
a feature of the community’s symbolic culture
universal patterns of cultural aesthetics
an aspect of the society’s material culture
How is anthropology uniquely positioned to add insights into the processes of globalization?
The comparative perspective of anthropology offers a window into how cultures change over time.
The comparative approach allows anthropologists to judge which cultures should participate in the growing global economy.
The holistic perspective of anthropology gives researchers the tools to conduct more comprehensive analyses.
The holistic approach gives anthropologists insights into what a global culture will eventually look like.
The comparative perspective of anthropology offers a window into how cultures change over time.
What is ethnology?
a detailed description of a single culture based on long-term fieldwork
the comparison of ethnographic data in order to generate theories that explain cultural processes
the set of cultural traits accepted as universals by most anthropologists
the process of recording the observations and interviews conducted during ethnographic research
the comparison of ethnographic data in order to generate theories that explain cultural processes
Which of the following correctly summarizes two of the opposing views surrounding female genital mutilation (FGM)?
Opponents feel it should be stopped because it causes long-term health issues, while proponents say it conveys positive messages about womanhood.
Opponents believe that girls are too young to undergo the ritual, whereas proponents feel that girls mature more quickly in the cultures where FGM is practiced.
Opponents say that the practice does little to control female sexual behavior, whereas proponents argue that the practice adequately decreases female sexual desire.
Opponents oppose the practice on the grounds that there is no comparable practice for men, while proponents feel that men do have their own initiation rituals that serve a similar purpose.
Opponents feel it should be stopped because it causes long-term health issues, while proponents say it conveys positive messages about womanhood.
Which of the following is a cultural practice that has had an impact on the spread of malaria in West Africa?
A diet that included yams made people more susceptible to malaria.
Clearing land for farming created breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Inheritance of the sickle-cell trait offered protection against malaria.
People migrating to West Africa from rain forest regions brought malaria with them.
Clearing land for farming created breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
An archaeological excavation revealed an ancient site with a mix of large, elaborately constructed buildings and smaller, simpler dwellings. In addition, the site included burials in which some people were interred with jewelry and pottery while others were not. Which of the following would be a reasonable conclusion?
Members of the society had differential access to wealth and power.
Men and women were valued differently in the society.
The society encouraged the public observance of religious ceremonies.
The site dates to a time when human ancestors first began to show cultural behaviors.
Members of the society had differential access to wealth and power.
Which of the following summarizes the role of ethnocentrism in terms of how missionaries and government officials approached the potlatch rituals of the Pacific Northwest?
The missionaries took a religious position whereas the government officials approached the subject from a political and economic angle.
They attempted to participate in potlatches, but were forbidden from doing so because they were not indigenous.
Individuals from both missionary and government camps disagreed as to whether potlatches should be eliminated or promoted.
They could not recognize the cultural value of the potlatch because they thought the right thing to do was to accumulate wealth.
They could not recognize the cultural value of the potlatch because they thought the right thing to do was to accumulate wealth.
Why were applied archaeologists working near Lake Titicaca interested in recreating ancient farming methods?
They wanted to confirm that their research results were correct.
They wanted to create an educational site that was open to the public.
They wanted to see if ancient farming techniques would work in different environments.
They wanted to help local farmers increase their productivity.
They wanted to help local farmers increase their productivity.
Which of the following is an example of a project that would fall under the category of applied anthropology?
interviewing members of a community in order to figure out the best way to provide access to medical care while respecting local healing traditions
uncovering the remains of an ancient farming settlement in Turkey to investigate early agricultural techniques
examining the skeletal remains and DNA of an early human ancestor to learn more about human evolution
comparing how men and women use language in different social-settings cross-culturally and analyzing how these differences are related to gender ideologies
interviewing members of a community in order to figure out the best way to provide access to medical care while respecting local healing traditions
Construction on a new highway that will run through an ancient religious site is about to begin. In order to assess the impact of the construction project and salvage the site, a person working in which of the following fields should be called in?
ethnographic research
forensic analysis
cultural resource management (CRM)
paleoanthropology
cultural resource management (CRM)
Which of the following is the best summary statement about applied anthropology?
It is the most recent of the four major subfields of anthropology.
It is the most important of the four major subfields of anthropology.
It draws from and intersects with the four major subfields of anthropology.
It is the oldest aspect of anthropology.
It draws from and intersects with the four major subfields of anthropology.
A forensic anthropologist would work on which of the following projects?
creating genealogies that show the relationships among members of an elite sector of a horticultural society
establishing whether or not a deceased individual was the victim of war crimes
documenting the stylistic similarities of pottery types found in a particular geographic region
tracing the origins and development of the human species
establishing whether or not a deceased individual was the victim of war crimes
Employing anthropology’s holistic perspective can offer a better understanding of which of the following?
how to apply indigenous knowledge to develop better pharmaceuticals
how all living things are connected with one another and the environment
how gender expectations are connected to economic patterns
how humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor
how gender expectations are connected to economic patterns
Which of the following best summarizes what is meant by globalization?
People are joined through networks of power, communication, and exchange across many geographical areas.
In today’s world, economic and political values are spread exclusively through entertainment and media.
Most processes of culture change occurred during the era of European conquest and ended with the decline of European imperialism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
People participate in a uniform world culture.
People are joined through networks of power, communication, and exchange across many geographical areas.
Which of the following approaches to studying Balinese basketry would Marcus take to acknowledge the integration of symbolic and material culture?
documenting the physical properties of the basket, including its shape, material composition, and design motifs
researching how basket-making techniques and tools have changed over time
comparing Balinese baskets to those produced on neighboring islands
examining how the basket is used and constructed in relation to local forms of exchange, food production, and gender expectations
examining how the basket is used and constructed in relation to local forms of exchange, food production, and gender expectations
Which of the following statements about anthropology’s comparative perspective is true?
It produces theories that are applicable to all cultures throughout time and space.
It reinforces our cultural assumptions about human nature.
It facilitates a better understanding of one’s own culture as well as culture change over time.
It allows the application of a holistic approach to understanding cultural phenomena.
It facilitates a better understanding of one’s own culture as well as culture change over time.
Why is the work of linguistic anthropologists who are documenting indigenous languages considered critical?
Indigenous languages are similar to the original language spoken by our earliest ancestors.
Indigenous languages are better able to communicate concerns of the current era of globalization and will soon dominate the world’s linguistic landscape.
Many indigenous languages are on the verge of extinction.
Global entrepreneurs need to learn indigenous languages in order to take advantage of new consumer markets.
Many indigenous languages are on the verge of extinction.
Why are lactase-deficiency, skin color, and lung capacity of interest to biological anthropologists?
They are connected to health issues that affected ancient human populations.
They are biological variations that humans share with other primates and offer insights into human evolution.
They are connected to the spread of cancer and other fatal diseases among contemporary populations.
They are examples of human biological diversity related to the intersection of biology, the environment, and culture.
They are examples of human biological diversity related to the intersection of biology, the environment, and culture.
Which of the following statements accepts cultural relativism while rejecting ethical relativism?
Cultures should be understood on their own terms, but not used to excuse violence and other harmful practices.
All ethical systems are equally valid, just as all cultures are equally valid.
All cultures are equally valid, and there is no ethical reason to judge cultural practices.
Cultures with harmful practices should be modified to comply with a universal code of ethics.
Cultures should be understood on their own terms, but not used to excuse violence and other harmful practices.
Which of the following summarizes the basic difference between the methods used by archaeologists and cultural anthropologists?
Archaeologists rely on an analysis of material culture and physical remains, while cultural anthropologists conduct primary research with living people.
Archaeologists use techniques that have scientific validity, while cultural anthropologists use interpretive methods that are more subjective.
Archaeologists collect data on fossils and skeletal remains, while cultural anthropologists combine written and oral sources in their research.
Archaeologists draw on historical data in order to study how cultures change over time, while cultural anthropologists conduct fieldwork exclusively.
Archaeologists rely on an analysis of material culture and physical remains, while cultural anthropologists conduct primary research with living people.
A good example of applying anthropological understanding and perspectives in a nonacademic setting is which of the following?
a biological anthropologist using the methods of forensic anthropology to assist a police department in solving a crime
a cultural anthropologist conducting ethnographic research in an urban area
a biological anthropologist tracing population movements based on the distribution of physical adaptations to the environment
a primatologist attempting to teach American Sign Language to a chimpanzee he/she has raised at home
a biological anthropologist using the methods of forensic anthropology to assist a police department in solving a crime
Which of the following correctly matches the type of applied anthropologist with an appropriate sector of employment?
linguistic anthropologist and a public works construction company
cultural anthropologist and business corporation
forensic anthropologist and community health clinic
contract archaeologist and university museum
cultural anthropologist and business corporation
Which of the following would be an example of how an applied cultural anthropologist might be involved in a legal dispute between a government and an indigenous community over land rights?
The anthropologist might offer court testimony concerning the social importance of ancestral lands to the indigenous community.
The anthropologist might assist university students in staging a protest against government encroachment.
The anthropologist might conduct a DNA analysis of the indigenous inhabitants to ascertain how long they had been living in the region.
The anthropologist might document and analyze indigenous religious beliefs and ceremonies connected to improving the land’s fertility.
The anthropologist might offer court testimony concerning the social importance of ancestral lands to the indigenous community.
Which of the following differentiates the work of anthropologists from that of sociologists?
a concern with power and authority
a focus on the material aspects of people’s lives
an emphasis on the way culture influences behavior
an interest in how relationships are organized within a society
an emphasis on the way culture influences behavior
Which of the following best describes what “fieldwork” encompasses for a cultural anthropologist?
surveying an area in order to determine the geographic and political boundaries of a cultural group
living for an extended period of time among a group of people in order to document their beliefs and behaviors
administering questionnaires over a two-week period in order to collect demographic data
conducting background research at university libraries and public archives
living for an extended period of time among a group of people in order to document their beliefs and behaviors
Which of the following assumptions made by early cultural anthropologists has been discarded by contemporary researchers?
Anthropologists should conduct research on populations that live in urban areas as well as in rural areas in order to create a richer comparative perspective.
Anthropologists should focus their research on small societies that have been isolated from Western influences because they serve as a “natural laboratory” for investigating the human condition.
Anthropologists should attempt to learn about their own cultural biases in order to develop better understandings of other cultures.
Anthropologists should collect objective data rather than record subjective impressions in order to arrive at a more scientific understanding of social behavior.
Anthropologists should focus their research on small societies that have been isolated from Western influences because they serve as a “natural laboratory” for investigating the human condition.
How does linguistic anthropology differ from the general field of linguistics?
It focuses on the analysis of the grammars and vocabularies of languages.
It recognizes the importance of linguistic diversity.
It includes the study of how languages change over time.
It focuses on the social and cultural dimensions of language.
It focuses on the social and cultural dimensions of language.
Which of the following is characteristic of all definitions of culture?
They discuss how culture changes due to external and internal forces.
They focus, at least in part, on how some cultures are more advanced than others.
They include statements about human behavior, group activities, and shared knowledge and beliefs.
They recognize the important role of the individual in forming cultural ideas.
They include statements about human behavior, group activities, and shared knowledge and beliefs.
Which of the following fall under the category of cultural behaviors?
the religious beliefs, ethical values, and origin stories of a specific community
a society’s shared moral code as well as the personal values of individual members
only those actions that occur with a high frequency in all societies and show little cross-cultural variation
the activities involved in acquiring food, creating shelter, and providing leadership
the activities involved in acquiring food, creating shelter, and providing leadership
When people design homes, they consider the relationships of the people who will live there, whether specific areas should be public or private, the local climate, and available building materials. All of these considerations draw on which of the following?
social skills
individual preferences
cultural knowledge
environmental adaptations
cultural knowledge
Which of the following statements about culture and globalization is accurate?
The culture spread through globalization is homogeneous and monolithic.
Globalization focuses on economic exchange and political ideology and excludes other aspects of culture.
While many forces of globalization are tied to only a few dominant cultures, the opportunity for resistance from local cultures also exists.
Every culture is transmitted equally through the processes of globalization.
While many forces of globalization are tied to only a few dominant cultures, the opportunity for resistance from local cultures also exists.
Why did Edward Tylor stress the idea that members of a society, rather than simply individuals, acquire culture?
Cultural acquisition is a formally organized process involving many participants.
Only societies that have advanced through several levels of civilization can be considered to have culture.
People must be formally organized socially and politically before they can develop a culture.
People learn and transmit culture through their interactions with one another.
People learn and transmit culture through their interactions with one another.
Which of the following illustrates the premise that cultures are integrated systems?
differences in the cultural knowledge possessed by occupational classes
the ability to make warm clothing for use in cool climates
a society that uses formal and informal enculturation processes
religious laws that dictate how food should be obtained, processed, and consumed
religious laws that dictate how food should be obtained, processed, and consumed
Which of the following is brought about through the sharing of cultural models and norms?
advanced civilizations
a diversity of subcultures
social cohesion
the elimination of individual differences
social cohesion
How does gender affect cultural distinctions within a society?
Men and women typically have different tasks to do in the home and the community.
Women typically do not participate in the culture of society.
Men typically do not participate in the culture of society as fully as women do.
Gender typically does not cause cultural distinctions within societies since men and women perform the same roles in most cultures.
Men and women typically have different tasks to do in the home and the community.
An American woman assuming that it is her responsibility to make breakfast and change the baby’s diapers illustrates which of the following?
syncretism
a naturalized concept
the process of assimilation
acculturation
a naturalized concept
What do the long-term problems caused by the technological innovations of the Industrial Revolution reveal about culture?
Cultures can thrive even if they are not shared among most members of a society.
Some cultural practices may be maladaptive.
Some cultures are not integrative.
Not all cultural practices are learned.
Some cultural practices may be maladaptive.
Which of the following is an example of a revitalization movement?
A prophet from a colonized cultural group leads his people in a return to traditional cultural practices.
Religious officials from two different cultures exchange ideas and beliefs in order to improve social circumstances.
A shaman performs a traditional healing ceremony for a member of the colonial elite.
Religious leaders from a dominant culture require members from a subordinate culture to convert.
A prophet from a colonized cultural group leads his people in a return to traditional cultural practices.1
Which of the following best illustrates a reactive adaptation?
A minority cultural group violently reacts against oppression from the dominant cultural group.
A society constantly develops, defines, and directs its cultural and ethnic identity as cultural changes take place.
A society borrows musical styles from neighboring cultures and integrates them with their own.
A child learns her culture by watching older members of her community perform and discuss tasks.
A minority cultural group violently reacts against oppression from the dominant cultural group.
Which of the following is an example of cultural diffusion?
the simultaneous invention of writing systems in widely separate regions
ancient renderings on cave walls in Europe, South Africa, and Australia
the inception of agriculture in the Americas and Middle East
the adoption of pottery styles and motifs by neighboring villages
the adoption of pottery styles and motifs by neighboring villages
An indigenous group is colonized by a European culture. Within the span of two generations the indigenous group has given up its traditional culture for the culture of the colonizers. This indigenous group’s experience illustrates which process of culture change?
assimilation
syncretism
acculturation
enculturation
assimilation
How do evolutionary biologists today differ from the social Darwinists of early cultural anthropology?
Evolutionary biologists today believe that all humans equally possess the capacity for culture and adaptation.
Evolutionary biologists today believe that while all human cultures are equally complex, not all human groups have culture.
Evolutionary biologists today believe that all human cultures are equal and that they are all advancing at an equal rate.
Evolutionary biologists today believe that while all human beings possess culture, some cultures are more evolved than others.
Evolutionary biologists today believe that all humans equally possess the capacity for culture and adaptation.
Tessa is a development anthropologist. Which of the following is a project she might work on?
researching the effects of culture change on the neurological development of young children
advising a multinational corporation on how to better infiltrate the global market
working with local farming communities to create more efficient irrigation systems in dry climates
tracing the history of colonial influences on indigenous populations
working with local farming communities to create more efficient irrigation systems in dry climates
Which of the following have the greatest impact on globalization today?
the United Nations and World Health Organization
Christian missionary movements
multinational corporations
environmental protection agencies
multinational corporations
How are many indigenous cultures affected by globalization?
Many indigenous groups are growing stronger as their culture is spread and appreciated around the world.
Most indigenous cultures remain completely unaffected by globalization.
Many indigenous cultures are losing their traditional ways of life as a result of globalization.
Many indigenous cultures are gaining lands and resources as a result of globalization.
Many indigenous cultures are losing their traditional ways of life as a result of globalization.
How does the idea of homogenization differ from hybridization?
In the homogenization model, people are resisting membership in a global culture. In the hybridization model, globalization is creating one uniform global culture.
In the homogenization model, globalization is creating one uniform global culture. In the hybridization model, people are resisting membership in such a global culture.
In the homogenization model, people are resisting membership in a global culture. In the hybridization model, globalization is creating cultural diversity as people combine elements from multiple cultures.
In the homogenization model, globalization is creating one uniform global culture. In the hybridization model, globalization is creating cultural diversity as people combine elements from multiple cultures.
In the homogenization model, globalization is creating one uniform global culture. In the hybridization model, globalization is creating cultural diversity as people combine elements from multiple cultures.
In addition to cultural knowledge, culture includes which of the following?
people’s social and cultural skills and behaviors
the biological needs human beings share as a species
the genetic inheritance that helps people function in their social and physical environments
an individual’s attitudes and preferences for certain ways of life
people’s social and cultural skills and behaviors
The way culture is shared may vary according to which of the following?
a person’s social status and age, but not gender
a person’s gender, but not social status or age
a person’s age or gender, but not social status
a person’s age, gender, or social status
a person’s age, gender, or social status
In one society, canoes and fishing techniques are used to provide a dietary mainstay for the community, whereas in another they are central to leisure activities. In the first society, canoes and fishing techniques would be part of the society’s __________.
cultural knowledge
material culture
cultural core
cultural norms
cultural core
What are the implications of the idea that cultures are integrated?
Cultural changes will tend to produce better environmental adaptations.
Changes in one cultural sector are likely to lead to changes in another.
All members of a society share cultural models more or less equally.
It is impossible to introduce new elements into an already established culture.
Changes in one cultural sector are likely to lead to changes in another.
What does it mean for culture to be adaptive?
Cultures tend to become more sophisticated and civilized over time.
People make cultural changes in response to the environment that enhance their chances of survival.
People go to great lengths to keep their culture static in order to preserve their traditional ways of life.
Members of a culture change their personal practices from day to day in order to meet their changing needs.
People make cultural changes in response to the environment that enhance their chances of survival.
A child plays a game in which she imitates her mother cooking dinner. This illustrates which of the following?
a formal process of cultural learning
the formal application of cultural knowledge
an informal process of enculturation
an informal method of acculturation
an informal process of enculturation
Which of the following is the best example of a symbol?
a member of a culture recognizes that smoke rising in the distance indicates a fire has started
a member of a culture displays a flag to indicate allegiance to her country
a member of a culture hums to himself while he works outdoors
a member of a culture cries while experiencing grief or pain
a member of a culture displays a flag to indicate allegiance to her country
How does a subculture differ from a counterculture?
A counterculture is the dominant culture in a society; a subculture is an oppressed minority culture in a society.
A counterculture is a group with different ways of life from the people in the larger society; a subculture is a group that is in active opposition to the culture of the larger society.
A subculture is a group with different ways of life from the people in the larger society; a counterculture is a group that is in active opposition to the culture of the larger society.
A subculture is the dominant culture in a society; a counterculture is an oppressed minority culture in a society.
A subculture is a group with different ways of life from the people in the larger society; a counterculture is a group that is in active opposition to the culture of the larger society.
Which of the following is an example of syncretism?
Jewish immigrant groups from Russia maintained their ethnic and religious identity, while adopting some cultural practices from the mainstream, dominant culture.
Neighboring cultural groups in Mesoamerica exchanged agricultural methods and technology.
Native Americans followed the teachings of a prophet who promised social improvement.
West Africans brought to the Caribbean as slaves combined the characteristics of spirits from their native religions with those of Catholic saints to create new religious beliefs and practices.
West Africans brought to the Caribbean as slaves combined the characteristics of spirits from their native religions with those of Catholic saints to create new religious beliefs and practices.
Why is “culture history” a more apt term than “cultural evolution”?
“Cultural evolution” implies that culture change is an external process whereas “culture history” implies that culture change is an internal process.
“Cultural evolution” implies that cultures improve over time whereas “culture history” implies that cultural change is neutral.
“Cultural evolution” implies that cultures change over time whereas “culture history” implies that cultures remain static.
“Cultural evolution” implies that cultural change is biologically driven whereas “culture history” implies that cultural change is politically driven.
“Cultural evolution” implies that cultures improve over time whereas “culture history” implies that cultural change is neutral.
How does colonization or conquest typically result in cultural change?
The colonizers and the indigenous groups form a new culture that contains an equal balance of cultural practices from both the colonizers and the colonized.
The colonizers and the indigenous groups form a new culture that does not contain the cultural practices from their old cultures.
Indigenous peoples are often forced to conform to at least some of the cultural practices of the colonizers.
The colonizers often adopt many of the cultural practices of indigenous peoples.
Indigenous peoples are often forced to conform to at least some of the cultural practices of the colonizers.
In what way was social Darwinism based on faulty reasoning?
It ignored outside events and developments that allowed some cultures to dominate others.
It failed to bring Western societies into its analyses.
It failed to apply models of biological change to cultural development and change.
It was based on the false premise that cultures become less advanced over time.
It ignored outside events and developments that allowed some cultures to dominate others.
People who support the concept of hybridization believe that globalization is accomplishing which of the following?
prompting non-European cultures to resist a single world culture
preserving traditional cultures around the world from Western domination
transmitting Western culture at the expense of cultural variation
promoting cultural vitality as societies combine elements of a global culture with their traditional cultures
promoting cultural vitality as societies combine elements of a global culture with their traditional cultures
How has globalization changed over the last few hundred years?
Globalization today is happening faster and on a larger scale than ever before.
Globalization today is happening on a much smaller scale than it did in the 1500s and 1600s.
Globalization today involves the spread of Asian cultures rather than the spread of European cultures.
Globalization today is happening at a slower rate than it did in the 1500s and 1600s.
Globalization today is happening faster and on a larger scale than ever before.
How does assimilation differ from acculturation?
Acculturation involves abandoning one’s culture voluntarily whereas assimilation involves being forced to abandon one’s cultural identity.
Acculturation involves abandoning one’s culture for the dominant culture whereas assimilation involves maintaining one’s original cultural identity.
Assimilation involves abandoning one’s culture voluntarily whereas acculturation involves being forced to abandon one’s cultural identity.
Assimilation involves abandoning much of one’s culture for the dominant culture whereas acculturation involves maintaining much of one’s original cultural identity while still interacting with the dominant culture.
Assimilation involves abandoning much of one’s culture for the dominant culture whereas acculturation involves maintaining much of one’s original cultural identity while still interacting with the dominant culture.
Why have researchers attempted to teach nonhuman primates visual forms of language rather than spoken language?
Nonhuman primates already possess spoken language in the form of call systems.
Nonhuman primates are not intelligent enough to learn spoken language.
Nonhuman primates do not hear as well as humans.
Nonhuman primates do not have the physical vocal structures necessary to produce human spoken language.
Nonhuman primates do not have the physical vocal structures necessary to produce human spoken language.
Which of the following statements about the productivity feature of language is true?
Language is directly connected to a society’s economic output.
Nonhuman primate communication shares this feature with human language.
English is more productive and useful than other European languages.
The number of unique utterances possible in human language is unlimited.
The number of unique utterances possible in human language is unlimited.
The fruit called “apple” in English is called “manzana” in Spanish and “pomme” in French. What does this example illustrate about the nature of human language?
A characteristic feature of human language is displacement.
Words are derived from inherent qualities in the objects they represent.
The association between sounds and what they represent is arbitrary.
Human languages employ a finite number of words.
The association between sounds and what they represent is arbitrary.
Why are animal sounds that indicate food sources considered similar to human utterances that involve displacement?
There is no restriction on the number of vocalizations that can be used.
They simultaneously express concrete information and abstract feelings.
They help organize collective tasks.
They reference objects that are not in the immediate vicinity.
They reference objects that are not in the immediate vicinity.
In what way is a phoneme different from a phone?
It is drawn from the entire range of possible human vocal sounds.
It is part of the sound repertoire of a spoken language.
It is the minimal unit of sound that possesses meaning.
It is the minimal unit of sound that serves to distinguish the meaning of one word from another.
It is the minimal unit of sound that serves to distinguish the meaning of one word from another.
Why is the concept of “interactional meaning” important in linguistics?
because the same words can have different meanings depending on the speakers’ relationships and the setting and context of the linguistic exchange
because human language is an effective means of communicating across cultural divides
because each word in a language can only have one true meaning that is fixed morphologically and syntactically
because meaning can only be conveyed among people who have a history of personal interaction
because the same words can have different meanings depending on the speakers’ relationships and the setting and context of the linguistic exchange
In English, word order often follows this pattern: subject, verb, object. This pattern would be of interested to someone studying which of the following?
syntax
phonetics
phonemics
semantics
syntax
According to universal semantics, which units of meaning would apply to the term “mare”?
countable, nonhuman, adult
work animal, long-lived, domestic
horse, hoofed animal, warm-blooded
four-legged, tamable, herd animal
countable, nonhuman, adult
Which argument supports the proposition that “-ed” is a morpheme in English?
It is a set of sounds that conveys the meaning of past tense.
It is used in grammatical constructions in English, but not in other languages.
It must be pronounced with a /d/ sound at the end; any other sound changes its meaning.
It must be attached to another word in order to convey meaning.
It is a set of sounds that conveys the meaning of past tense.
Humans and primates show similarities in which of the following forms of nonverbal communication?
the use of biologically based signals to orchestrate group activities
the expression of emotion through facial cues
hugging to indicate close kinship or friendship
gestures associated with hunger and thirst
the expression of emotion through facial cues
What effect has globalization had on the human use of gestures?
A few gestures have been adopted widely throughout the world across many different cultures.
Nonverbal behaviors from politically dominant countries have supplanted local gesturing practices.
The use of innate, biologically based gestures has become more frequent.
An international language of gestures has been adopted by most developed nations.
A few gestures have been adopted widely throughout the world across many different cultures.
Which of the following distinguishes an emblem from other forms of body language?
Emblems have universally ascribed meaning and are read identically by people from different cultural backgrounds.
Emblems are always accompanied by vocal statements. Other forms of body language are silent.
The ability to use emblems to communicate is instinctual and biologically based rather than learned.
An emblem has acquired a specific meaning and may be substituted for spoken words.
An emblem has acquired a specific meaning and may be substituted for spoken words.
Based on the findings of both the Israeli study concerning intercultural communication and primate studies of nonverbal communication, which of the following would be a legitimate conclusion?
Much of human, nonverbal communication is the result of cultural learning rather than biological predisposition.
Verbal language must have developed from nonverbal gestures.
All nonverbal communication has a biological basis that makes it universally intelligible.
Human males and females use fewer gender-specific gestures than other primates.
Much of human, nonverbal communication is the result of cultural learning rather than biological predisposition.
Linguistic diversity in the United States is primarily the result of which of the following?
a history of immigration
the educated elite’s interest in multilingualism
the revitalization of indigenous languages
the formation of regional dialects
a history of immigration
Which of the following statements about African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is correct?
AAVE is the standard dialect of the southern United States.
AAVE is only spoken at home with members of older generations.
AAVE contains many English pronunciation errors.
AAVE has fully developed rules of syntax.
AAVE has fully developed rules of syntax.
In addition to curbing the loss of indigenous languages, revitalization programs can be expected to have which of the following results?
better educational performance by indigenous students attending public schools
reducing the need to translate between indigenous and European languages
the merging of distinct ethnic identities among indigenous language speakers
the preservation and transmission of indigenous beliefs, values, and knowledge
the preservation and transmission of indigenous beliefs, values, and knowledge
Which of the following statements summarizes the basic premise of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
The grammatical structures of language are derived from the universal biological capacities of humans.
Languages with fewer verb tenses are connected to cultures that have not fully developed.
Languages with larger vocabularies are more sophisticated than those with smaller vocabularies.
The way people think is influenced by the language they speak.
The way people think is influenced by the language they speak.
What is the particular strength of the Bridge AAVE-based reading program?
It combines cultural and linguistic aspects of reading that are familiar to the children.
It teaches children to translate from Standard English into their vernacular language.
It shows children the errors inherent in vernacular language and teaches them to use Standard English correctly.
It allows children to exclusively use their vernacular language in writing and reading classes.
It combines cultural and linguistic aspects of reading that are familiar to the children.
Which of the following illustrates a communication failure based on the misunderstanding of a cultural presupposition?
A Mexican tourist in Spain uses vocabulary unique to her native Spanish dialect rather than the local one.
An marketing campaign uses words with positive connotations in order to sell a new product.
A Navajo speaker does not use coercive verbs in the same way an English speaker does.
An American responds to a passerby’s query of “How are you?” with a detailed account of his current medical problems.
An American responds to a passerby’s query of “How are you?” with a detailed account of his current medical problems.
An “ethnography of communication” would include which of the following?
a comparison of words in a language’s vocabulary based on specified units of meaning
detailed descriptions of the participants, setting, and topics of discussion related to a specific speech event
phonetic descriptions of all the dialects of a language spoken in a defined geographical region
the phonology, morphology, and syntax of the language spoken by a specific ethnic group
detailed descriptions of the participants, setting, and topics of discussion related to a specific speech event
Which of the following differentiate computer-mediated communication (CMC) from other forms of written communication?
Participants use different fonts to convey emphasis.
Participants have no way of establishing cultural identity.
Participants regularly use abbreviations and sentence fragments.
Participants are unable to read situational cues to help them interpret meaning.
Participants regularly use abbreviations and sentence fragments.
Which of the following would you expect to discover from the componential analysis of a language used in an agricultural society?
special grammatical markers indicating which plant foods are the most nutritious
a vocabulary with specialized words for farming tools, types of soil, and stages of plant development
jargons related to agriculture and the collection of wild foods
an abundance of metaphors based on nature imagery
a vocabulary with specialized words for farming tools, types of soil, and stages of plant development
How do cultural presuppositions and pragmatics assist in human communication?
Cultural presuppositions and pragmatics are used to develop writing systems.
Pragmatics and cultural presuppositions reduce biases that can occur during speech events, facilitating clearer communication.
Cultural presuppositions and pragmatics allow the same language to be used effectively by different cultural groups.
Spoken language allows room for multiple interpretations. Cultural presuppositions and pragmatics help speakers convey the particular meanings they intend.
Spoken language allows room for multiple interpretations. Cultural presuppositions and pragmatics help speakers convey the particular meanings they intend.
Proponents of linguistic nationalism would advocate for which of the following?
using regional dialects in official documents
promoting linguistic change in the face of globalization
replacing the official national language with a lingua franca
preventing the adoption of loan words from other languages
preventing the adoption of loan words from other languages
What is usually responsible for “linguistic lag?”
the inability of a language to keep up with changing cultural beliefs and practices
the disappearance of a language that has fallen into disuse
an increase in specialized vocabulary that reflects cultural priorities
refusals by government authorities to allow national languages to change
the inability of a language to keep up with changing cultural beliefs and practices
What is the distinction between dialects and languages?
Dialects are mutually intelligible; languages are not.
Languages derive from different parent languages; dialects derive from the same parent language.
Languages are mutually intelligible; dialects are not.
Dialects have variable grammatical structures. The grammatical structures of languages have been standardized.
Dialects are mutually intelligible; languages are not.
Which of the following correctly states the relationships among creoles, pidgins, and lingua francas?
Creoles can develop from pidgins. Pidgins and creoles may become lingua francas.
Lingua francas and pidgins can both develop into creoles.
Pidgins are simplified creoles. Lingua francas are derived from the dominant languages.
Pidgins develop from creoles, which then become lingua francas.
Creoles can develop from pidgins. Pidgins and creoles may become lingua francas.
The English word “mother” is “mutter” in German and “matar” in Sanskrit. What does the similarity of these words indicate?
The words are cognates, and the languages are likely to be related.
English and German, being newer languages, must have developed directly from Sanskrit.
English, German, and Sanskrit are dialects of the same parent language.
Forces of globalization encouraged German and Sanskrit speakers to borrow the word from English.
The words are cognates, and the languages are likely to be related.
What purpose would multilingualism serve in a small-scale society?
to organize better defenses against enemies
to allow individuals to express themselves freely
to facilitate social and economic exchanges with other cultural groups
to allow members of different social classes to communicate
to facilitate social and economic exchanges with other cultural groups
Why are some educational programs in Peru translating world literature into Quechua?
to bring the nation’s educational curriculum up to global standards
to supplant Spanish as the national language
to increase the public use of Quechua and offset its decline
to replace indigenous culture with a modern way of life
to increase the public use of Quechua and offset its decline
What accounts for the current wide use of Spanish and French throughout the world?
the predominance of French and Spanish courses taught in schools throughout the world
the worldwide enjoyment of French and Spanish cultures
the simplicity of their grammatical structures
the legacy of former colonial powers
the legacy of former colonial powers
Which of the following would you recommend to a community that wishes to revitalize a vanishing language?
Translate all written materials into the dominant language and host public cultural events in the dominant language.
Focus on using the language in private settings and incorporate the dominant language into local cultural practices.
Only speak the language at public events, teach the language to people outside the community, and integrate the vanishing language into the dominant language.
Teach the language in school, translate reading material into the language, and host community celebrations during which the language is spoken.
Teach the language in school, translate reading material into the language, and host community celebrations during which the language is spoken.
What impact do you expect Internet use to have on the diversity and distribution of human languages?
Internet use in some cases will encourage linguistic homogeneity rather than diversity.
Internet use will prevent people from using languages that are in danger of extinction.
Internet use will reverse the spread of colonial languages.
Internet use will create a public forum where all languages are used equally.
Internet use in some cases will encourage linguistic homogeneity rather than diversity.
The displacement feature of human language makes which of the following possible?
creating new words and sentences
expressing ideas through arbitrary sound combinations
commanding someone to run from immediate danger
telling someone about what happened yesterday
telling someone about what happened yesterday
What was the basic assumption of the 1996 Oakland, California, project in which African American children were taught in both Ebonics and Standard English?
Children would master concepts better if they learned those concepts in Standard English first and then in their own dialects.
Children would master concepts better if they learned them in their primary dialect. This would aid them in mastering Standard English.
Children would master concepts better if they translated concepts from Standard English into their own dialects.
Children would master concepts better if they learned those concepts in their primary dialect and in Standard English simultaneously.
Children would master concepts better if they learned them in their primary dialect. This would aid them in mastering Standard English.
Which statement best summarizes the effect of globalization on the languages of the world over the past 500 years?
The total number of languages has drastically decreased, with a few languages becoming globally dominant.
The total number of languages has gradually increased, corresponding to an increase in global migration.
The number of world languages has increased to match the number of indigenous languages.
The total number of languages has remained constant throughout the process of globalization.
The total number of languages has drastically decreased, with a few languages becoming globally dominant.
Pidgins differ from creole languages in that they have which of the following?
more grammatical complexity
fewer borrowed words
simpler syntax and reduced vocabularies
elements taken from more than two languages
simpler syntax and reduced vocabularies
In American advertising, men often assume dominant postures, and women assume deferential postures. What is this an example of?
nonverbal gender-specific behavior
the universal nature of body language
the cultural syntax of gender
intercultural communication between men and women
nonverbal gender-specific behavior
Unlike other forms of animal communication, human language allows speakers to do which of the following?
express moods and emotions
notify others of danger
transmit cultural knowledge
relay information about the location of food sources
transmit cultural knowledge
Noam Chomsky’s concept of a universal grammar is linked to which of the following ideas?
All languages use the same basic word order in their syntax.
It is impossible to translate the nuances of one language into another.
Contemporary languages are derived from an ancient, common language.
The human brain has a built-in capacity for language learning.
The human brain has a built-in capacity for language learning.
Which of the following procedures would help determine the phonemes in a language?
Record all the basic units of sound that are used in a specific language.
Compare nearly identical words in order to isolate the smallest sound components that differentiate their meanings.
Identify the suffixes, prefixes, and roots of core vocabulary words and the meanings they convey.
Compare the grammatical structure of sentences in two different languages in order to determine basic syntactic patterns.
Compare nearly identical words in order to isolate the smallest sound components that differentiate their meanings.
Which of the following statements about intercultural communication is accurate?
When someone does not speak another’s language, they can rely on gestures and emblems to communicate effectively.
Understanding nonverbal cues and gestures is not necessary as long as the same language is spoken.
As with spoken language, the meanings of gestures, intonations, and body language vary from one culture to the next.
Although gestures and emblems may not be understood cross-culturally, intonations and other vocalizations are comprehended uniformly across cultures.
As with spoken language, the meanings of gestures, intonations, and body language vary from one culture to the next.
If people in two regions speak the same language but use different pronunciations for some words and some different words to name the same object, you would say that they speak different __________.
dialects
pidgins
cognates
lingua francas
dialects
According to John Lucy’s study on language and cognition, a Yucatec adult would classify which of the following objects as similar?
a plastic spoon and a metal fork
a carved rock and a stone fence
a rubber ball and a wooden ball
a red shirt and a red apple
a carved rock and a stone fence
Which of the following describes the process through which one dialect of a language becomes the standard for a society?
The written form of a language is transmitted to future generations, creating a standardized language that eliminates alternative dialects.
People begin to see the dialect used by the elite members of society as the correct form of the language, while other dialects come to be considered inferior.
People democratically choose a standard dialect from the array of dialects present in their society.
The government officially recognizes the dialect spoken by the majority of the population as the standard language.
People begin to see the dialect used by the elite members of society as the correct form of the language, while other dialects come to be considered inferior.
Which of the following indicates a violation of a cultural presupposition involving the pragmatics of communication?
Computer programmers use jargon when collaborating on a project.
A New Yorker responds to the question “How are you?” with a lengthy discourse about his health.
A Navajo speaker uses verbs that downplay self-assertiveness.
American football fans discuss the Super Bowl during their lunch breaks.
A New Yorker responds to the question “How are you?” with a lengthy discourse about his health.
Which of the following would support an argument that effective communication is more difficult to achieve through an exchange of emails than in person?
Hearing is better adapted for interpreting language than reading.
Computer-mediated communication often employs shorter utterances, which makes it harder to convey emotion.
Meaning is conveyed through both verbal and nonverbal communicative norms such as what people are wearing, where they stand relative to one another, and the dialect they use.
People are more likely to use standard, and therefore more universally accepted, forms of language when speaking than when typing.
Meaning is conveyed through both verbal and nonverbal communicative norms such as what people are wearing, where they stand relative to one another, and the dialect they use.
Which of the following would help researchers determine the historical relationships among languages?
beginning with a parent language and hypothesizing the changes that would have taken place
measuring the ratio of loanwords to cognates found in written documents
searching for similarities within core vocabularies that would indicate that the languages shared a common parent language
counting the number of words different languages have in common
searching for similarities within core vocabularies that would indicate that the languages shared a common parent language
Which of the following describes a project that would be of interest to an economic anthropologist?
studying how population size is connected to other demographic features such as age and gender
researching the historical value of the dollar in relation to other currencies
analyzing stock market trends over the last 50 years
investigating whether or not changes in technology and settlement structure are connected to resource availability
investigating whether or not changes in technology and settlement structure are connected to resource availability
In general, in order to understand how a society meets its subsistence needs, an economic anthropologist would look at which of the following?
the way labor is organized, the technology used to obtain and process resources, and population size
how the social and political aspects of a society’s culture interact and change over time
the price differences among foods that have higher and lower nutritional content, as well as their availability in local markets
statistics on population size and settlement patterns in urban versus rural environments
the way labor is organized, the technology used to obtain and process resources, and population size
Which of the following statements summarizes the connection between the subsistence strategy and the social and political structures of a society?
Subsistence strategies have no connection to the social and political dimensions of a society.
Basic subsistence strategies cause identical social and political structures to develop cross-culturally.
Subsistence strategies are determined by the social features of a society, but are unrelated to political elements.
Different subsistence strategies tend to correlate with certain social and political forms.
Different subsistence strategies tend to correlate with certain social and political forms.
Which of the following statements about allocating labor tasks is usually true cross-culturally?
In foraging societies, men do all the hunting and trapping, while women exclusively gather plant foods.
In farming societies, labor is allocated according to gender alone, with men being solely responsible for growing food and women being solely responsible for raising children.
Men are responsible for clearing fields in food-producing societies.
Children are not responsible for tasks associated with obtaining or producing food; such tasks are assigned to adults.
Men are responsible for clearing fields in food-producing societies.
Over the span of several decades, a foraging society has lost much of its territory. What could the members of this society do to increase the carrying capacity of the society’s current region?
encourage people to have more children in order to increase population size
manufacture and accumulate a wider range of storage devices
switch to a subsistence strategy that uses a different technology to extract more food from the available resources
decrease the amount of territory that it needs to manage
switch to a subsistence strategy that uses a different technology to extract more food from the available resources
How does the typical settlement pattern of pastoralists differ from that of agriculturalists?
Pastoralists typically live in small groups without stable or predictable patterns of relocation, whereas agriculturalists live in permanent towns or cities.
Pastoralists typically live in small, semi-permanent villages and move only once a generation, whereas agriculturalists tend to be more mobile.
Pastoralists live in permanent towns or cities, whereas agriculturalists typically alternate between two or three locations a year.
Pastoralists typically alternate between two or three locations a year, whereas agriculturalists live in permanent towns or cities.
Pastoralists typically alternate between two or three locations a year, whereas agriculturalists live in permanent towns or cities.
A leveling mechanism is a practice designed to __________.
include children in the economic system of a society
allow men and women equal access to resources and economic opportunities
equalize access to resources and prevent the concentration of wealth in only a few hands
keep socio-economic class divisions stable over time
equalize access to resources and prevent the concentration of wealth in only a few hands
What does the term “redistribution” refer to in economic anthropology?
a more or less equal exchange of goods between members of equal social standing
the relocation of a group of people to a different parcel of land according to national government policies
an activity in which resources are pooled together and then reallocated to members of the society
shifting the grazing lands of herds according to the season
an activity in which resources are pooled together and then reallocated to members of the society
Which of the following limits the value of applying optimal foraging models to understanding human behavior?
People sometimes make decisions according to their beliefs, preferences, or other social considerations.
Foraging decisions are only made on the basis of what makes the most sense in terms of adapting to environmental fluctuations.
Optimal foraging theory overemphasizes the importance of culture in making foraging decisions.
Humans are more advanced than other animal species, therefore it does not make sense to use the behaviors of other animals to understand human behavior.
People sometimes make decisions according to their beliefs, preferences, or other social considerations.
Which of the following explains why Ju/’hoansi women provided the bulk of the calories for the community compared to men?
Women typically did the hunting, which provided more calories than the gathered vegetables and fruits.
Men’s primary roles were connected to protecting the community rather than obtaining food.
The type of food gathered by women is higher in nutritional value than meat.
Men typically did the hunting, an endeavor that has a lower success rate than gathering.
Men typically did the hunting, an endeavor that has a lower success rate than gathering.
Which of the following statements best describes the foraging lifestyle in terms of how much time is spent working?
Foragers typically spend less than 20 hours a week on work-related activities.
Foragers spend significantly more time working than people living in agricultural or industrial societies.
Foragers typically spend less time working than people living in industrial or agricultural societies.
Foragers spend almost all their waking time in efforts to obtain food and ensure survival.
Foragers typically spend less time working than people living in industrial or agricultural societies.
How were resources allocated in most foraging societies?
There were strict property laws that granted total ownership of land and resources to certain groups, who only occasionally shared with the larger community.
Groups, such as families, had exclusive control over certain areas or resources, but they would trade access with other groups in exchange for goods or services.
Certain groups, such as families, had rights over a particular area, but these groups would share the resources of the area with the rest of the community.
There were no concepts of ownership or rights over any area—people in the community took whatever they needed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Certain groups, such as families, had rights over a particular area, but these groups would share the resources of the area with the rest of the community
What would a foraging community in the Arctic do in preparation for the arrival of winter, the season in which natural resources become less abundant?
split into settlements composed of smaller family groups
migrate south to wait out the hardships of winter with other communities
merge into a larger settlement centered within the boundaries of their traditional territory
build permanent shelters and large storage facilities in disparate locations
split into settlements composed of smaller family groups
In pastoral societies, wealth and social status are based on __________.
how much gold an individual or family has
the number of children a family can sustain
the size of a family’s or individual’s herd of animals
how much land an individual or family owns
the size of a family’s or individual’s herd of animals
Which of the following strategies is a pastoralist society in the Middle East most likely to use in order to ensure their animals have ample grazing lands when the seasons change?
Give away livestock to neighboring villagers.
Employ the principles of reciprocity to exchange grazing lands with a neighbor.
Burn the fields in order to promote future vegetative growth.
Shift the herds according to the principles of transhumance.
Shift the herds according to the principles of transhumance.
Pastoralism is different than the animal husbandry practiced by many contemporary American farm families because __________.
pastoralists often practice other farming techniques to supplement their diets
pastoralists do not breed their animals
pastoralists do not rely on their animals for meat
the pastoralist way of life is completely adapted to large-scale herding
the pastoralist way of life is completely adapted to large-scale herding
Which of the following best describes pastoralism?
Most pastoralists combined herding with foraging, farming, or trade with other groups.
Most pastoralist societies are easily able to maintain their traditional ways of life today.
Most pastoralists were completely self-sufficient and did not supplement their lifestyle with other subsistence strategies.
Most pastoralists relied upon their animals solely for their meat.
Most pastoralists combined herding with foraging, farming, or trade with other groups.
Why is pastoralism rarely the primary economic strategy of societies today?
Environmental changes are enabling domesticated animals to revert to wild forms.
Herd animals are becoming increasingly difficult to breed due to size increases caused by antibiotics.
It is difficult for pastoralists to control enough land for grazing their animals.
It is difficult for pastoralists to breed and slaughter their animals due to the rise of animal rights activism.
It is difficult for pastoralists to control enough land for grazing their animals.
How does horticulture differ from agriculture?
Horticulture involves a reliance on herd animals, whereas agriculture involves a reliance on foraging for plants.
Horticulture involves farming on a small scale, whereas agriculture involves large-scale farming.
Horticulture involves permanent settlements, whereas agriculture involves a nomadic lifestyle.
Horticulture involves farming with more complex technology, whereas agriculture involves farming with simpler technology.
Horticulture involves farming on a small scale, whereas agriculture involves large-scale farming.
Which of the following is a horticultural society likely to do when they notice that their crop yield seems to be diminishing in quantity and quality?
Obtain fertilizer via government farm subsidy programs or through trade with neighboring industrial agriculturalists.
Install a permanent irrigation system that will restore the soil’s nutrients, then replant their crops.
Forego growing crops for at least two years and live off of their stored surpluses.
Choose the site of a new field and cut down and burn any vegetation on it before planting the next series of crops.
Choose the site of a new field and cut down and burn any vegetation on it before planting the next series of crops.
What is the primary reason that farmers try to produce a surplus of crops?
to be able to relocate to a better area
to survive a year or two of crop failure
to increase their social standing
to trade with foraging societies
to survive a year or two of crop failure
In Melanesia, how do ceremonies involving pig sacrifices affect local practices of horticulture?
Sacrifices are offered to the yam spirits, who in return increase crop productivity.
Sacrificed pigs are given to neighboring populations in exchange for the seeds needed to plant new crops.
Ceremonial sacrifices lower the pig population, enabling people to use a larger percentage of their crops to feed themselves rather than the pigs.
The sacrifice of pigs creates a surplus, which enables people to suspend horticultural activities for a season.
Ceremonial sacrifices lower the pig population, enabling people to use a larger percentage of their crops to feed themselves rather than the pigs.
What accounts for Jivaro women having higher status in their societies than Yanomamo women have in theirs?
Jivaro women mainly perform domestic chores associated with raising children, while Yanomamo women are responsible for taking care of domesticated animals in their society.
The crops grown by Jivaro women fetch a higher price in local markets than the produce grown by Yanomamo women.
Women in Jivaro society do not have to work after marriage, while Yanomamo women are forced to perform menial labor even after they are married.
The horticultural work performed by women in Jivaro society is valued in its own right, whereas women’s work in Yanomamo society is considered secondary to men’s work.
The horticultural work performed by women in Jivaro society is valued in its own right, whereas women’s work in Yanomamo society is considered secondary to men’s work.
How did the invention of agriculture impact the overall health of populations that adopted the practice?
Health greatly improved due to the surplus of food and the improved medical care that came with the establishment of cities.
Health remained stable because the surplus of food produced by farming balanced out the spread of disease in densely populated areas.
Health improved moderately due to higher levels of nutrition from reliable surpluses and crop variety.
Health decreased due to the malnutrition that comes from overreliance on a few crops and the occurrence of disease found in densely populated settlements.
Health decreased due to the malnutrition that comes from overreliance on a few crops and the occurrence of disease found in densely populated settlements.
What is one consequence of intensive agriculture?
Crop diversity has decreased.
Most countries now have unsustainably large areas of farmland.
Diseases that affect crops have been exterminated.
Most farmers now grow a larger variety of crops than ever before.
Crop diversity has decreased.
One theory concerning the origin of farming suggests that __________.
foragers originally planted vegetables and fruits in order to lure large herbivores into their hunting grounds and later realized they should grow produce for their own consumption as wellConsider This: Archaeologists have proposed different theories to account for the emergence of agriculture in different regions of the world. 7.6 Relate the development of agriculture to changes in settlement patterns, health, social organization, and crop selection.
some foragers began gathering a surplus of food to sponsor feasts, and as demand for surpluses grew people looked for ways to produce food
pastoralists began thinking they should make use of the lands that were cleared by their grazing herd animals and they began planting seeds
pastoralists who originally grew grasses and grains for their animals began growing other crops for human consumption
some foragers began gathering a surplus of food to sponsor feasts, and as demand for surpluses grew people looked for ways to produce food
In order to decrease the risk of losing all of one’s crops to pests or disease, a consultant might recommend which of the following?
developing a monoculture
incorporating animal husbandry into the crop-growing cycle
growing a diversity of crop varieties
using swidden farming techniques
growing a diversity of crop varieties
Improved technology is likely to have which of the following effects on how people meet their subsistence needs?
Cross-culturally, the universal appeal of advanced technology will entice people to abandon traditional subsistence strategies in order to pursue work in the industrial sector.
Having better digging tools will encourage foragers to rely on gathered plant foods rather than hunted game.
The use of more efficient technology will require fewer people to work in agriculture and result in a redistribution of human labor into other work sectors.
Industrialization will allow nomadic pastoralists to introduce new animal species into their traditional herds.
The use of more efficient technology will require fewer people to work in agriculture and result in a redistribution of human labor into other work sectors.
Historically, which of the following has prompted foragers to adopt farming or wage labor?
Employers offered foragers good compensation to work in farming or industry.
Food producers looking for land have usurped territories once used by foragers.
Transitioning to farming and wage labor is a natural step in human evolution.
Foragers saw that farming and wage labor were easier and required fewer work hours.
Food producers looking for land have usurped territories once used by foragers.
What has enabled some indigenous societies to start selling their products commercially?
Contact with European societies during colonialism introduced the concept of trade to indigenous people.
Neighboring communities have started exploiting the productive capacities of indigenous societies as they encroach on their territories.
Environmental changes have increased their ability to produce surpluses.
Forces of globalization have increased their participation in far-reaching economic networks.
Forces of globalization have increased their participation in far-reaching economic networks.
Economic anthropologists focus on which of the following?
the study of how people generate a profit from the manufacture and sale of products
the study of the history of money in relation to changing global political networks
the study of how people obtain, transform, and exchange resources to meet survival needs
the study of how human behavior impacts the natural environment over time
the study of how people obtain, transform, and exchange resources to meet survival needs
What is the carrying capacity of a region?
the number of acres that are suitable for farming in the area
the number of large game animals available for hunting in the region
the amount of biodiversity in a region that can sustain human societies
the number of people who can be sustained by the resources of the region
the number of people who can be sustained by the resources of the region
What impact did the invention of agriculture have on societies?
Populations became smaller and more spread out as farmers sought out more fertile land.
People stopped gathering as many material possessions in order to make room to store crops.
Populations became larger, and societies became more sedentary.
Women needed to breastfeed their children for a longer period of time, so the fertility rate declined.
Populations became larger, and societies became more sedentary.
Why have many foraging societies become food-producing societies over the last few centuries?
because foraging is not a sustainable subsistence technique—eventually every society must begin to produce its own food
because they adapted new subsistence techniques to their environments or were absorbed into a larger society with a different subsistence strategy
because foraging societies stopped producing enough children to maintain the community
because there are no longer enough plant and animal resources in the wild to sustain foraging societies
because they adapted new subsistence techniques to their environments or were absorbed into a larger society with a different subsistence strategy
Which of the following statements accurately describes the difference in the gendered division of labor among foragers and pastoralists?
Pastoralists tend to assign the bulk of the manual labor to women, whereas foragers assign such tasks to men.
Pastoralists typically practice a more egalitarian form of allocating labor by gender than foragers do.
Pastoralists tend to emphasize age rather than gender when dividing labor, whereas foragers allocate labor strictly according to gender.
Pastoralists typically divide labor between men and women in a less egalitarian fashion than foragers do.
Pastoralists typically divide labor between men and women in a less egalitarian fashion than foragers do.
