Deck 2: Theories and Methods in Studying Biological Anthropology

Question 1

Bioanthropologists study modern humans as well as humans in the past just as if they were any other species of animal.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Unless a hypothesis can be found to be false, it is not a scientific inquiry.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

"Venus figurines" have always been hypothesized to be connected to fertility.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

In inductive research and reasoning, a hypothesis is generated before any data are collected.

Question 5

Science and religion are each involved in answering questions most suitable for its arena and need not be in conflict with each other.

Question 6

Since DNA is easily preserved, it has become the "data of choice" for bioanthropologists.

Question 7

Scientists go beyond looking for knowledge and seek truth.

Question 8

Theories in science have more credibility than hypotheses.

Question 9

Science is based on TSM, religion on faith, and common sense on experience.

Question 10

Stephen Jay Gould believes religion and science will always be in conflict.

Question 11

The culture a scientist was brought up in can be an important biasing agent in what that scientist observes.

Question 12

A hypothesis is a good guess about something that can be tested.

Question 13

Hypotheses cannot be proved but theories can.

Question 14

Sherlock Holmes maintained that only deductive science yields knowledge.

Question 15

Of all of the countries of the world, the US is the highest in the number of people who do not believe in evolution.

Question 16

Japanese scientists tend to focus on groups of people and primates before individuals.

Question 17

The most ancient DNA from a human is about 40kyr old.

Question 18

Marine and ice cores only date climatic events.

Question 19

Bioanthropologists might study all of the following topics except

A) people's cultural pasts
B) comparative femur bones of prehumans
C) a comparison of head shapes all over the world
D) how colobus monkeys behave

Question 20

The best way to study science is by its

A) method of inquiry
B) use of quantitative methods
C) adherence to rules of math and physics
D) ability to repeat experiments

Question 21

If you wanted to characterize Venus statuettes, you'd include all of the following items except

A) they represent the female form carved in bone, stone, or ivory
B) over 500 of them have been found in Europe from Spain to Siberia
C) new research suggests they represent women in general, not just mothers and fertility
D) they date to between 25 and 15 kyr ago.

Question 22

Theoretically, DNA analysis is able to do all of the following except

A) age the owner of the DNA
B) establish family relationships of burials
C) sex the owner of the DNA
D) date specific splitting events

Question 23

Molecular genetics

A) has taken over the field of paleoanthropology
B) should be used only in combination with fossil studies
C) is able to date fossil material better than any previous method
D) has little interest for bioanthropologists because it analyzes only extinct species.

Question 24

Molecular dating differs from all others because it dates

A) molecules of DNA
B) events such as splitting
C) entire organisms
D) only non-organic items.

Question 25

Jon Miller explains that the reason most Americans don't believe in evolution is due to

A) the political arm of fundamental Christian Churches
B) religious fundamentalism
C) poor science education
D) all of the above

Question 26

Geoff Clark suggests European and North American paradigm differences are due to

A) European snobbery
B) Warfare and displacement in Europe but not in North America
C) The difference in length of time of scientific discovery in Europe and NA
D) The fact that 95% of European scientists are male.

Question 27

The largest number of people who do not believe in evolution live in

A) the USA
B) Turkey
C) South Africa
D) Saudi Arabia

Question 28

Creationism is not science because it

A) does not require evidence to support it
B) cannot be found to be incorrect
C) cannot be tested
D) all of the above

Question 29

Japanese science differs from Western science mostly in its focus on

A) individuals rather than groups
B) the difference between humans and other animals
C) hearing rather than seeing
D) both a and b are equally important.

Question 30

In order for a bone to be a true fossil, it must

A) be at least 100 kyr old
B) contain carbon
C) become mineralized
D) not be broken

Question 31

By definition, post depositional effects can

A) fossilize a bone
B) destroy fossils completely
C) be used to find frauds
D) change the provenience of fossil materials

Question 32

Ice and marine cores date

A) human bones for the last 10 kyr
B) world wide climatic events
C) fossilized sea mammals
D) sunken ships

Question 33

Experts often disagree on evolutionary findings due to differences in their own

A) age
B) sex
C) culture
D) all of the above

Question 34

All of the following are fossils EXCEPT

A) footprints at Laetoli
B) burial stains
C) cast of a bone
D) all of the above are fossils

Question 35

Which of the following stands the best chance of fossilizing?

A) an infant's skull
B) a tooth of any aged individual
C) rib bones
D) ends of long bones

Question 36

Using ancient DNA to date bones has numerous problems, including ALL BUT which of these? It

A) is expensive
B) is easily contaminated
C) has been found to be 30% inaccurate
D) can be altered by chemicals in the ground

Question 37

Connect these appropriate words as used by anthropologists: truth, proof, knowledge, data.

Question 38

How has molecular genetics fit into a field that was basically built on studying fossils?

Question 39

Make up a hypothesis about the materials used to make the desk you are sitting at. Using TSM, how would you go about testing that hypothesis? Be specific.

Question 40

Discuss the two western "intellectual traditions" in terms of how each views biology, language, and culture and how each explains scientific findings.

Question 41

When should bioanthropologists use molecular dating?

Question 42

Discuss the new hypothesis about Venus statuettes: what is it, how was it tested, and with what results?

Question 43

Why does Jon Miller believe most Americans do not believe in evolution? Do you agree with him? Explain.

Question 44

Discuss science, religion, and common sense in your life: what is each based on and how are they different?

Question 45

Discuss the process of fossilization and comment on the variability factors in the process.