Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between the cultural practice of yam farming and a genetic mutation related to sickle-cell anemia?

Accepted Answer

Yam farming created environments favorable to the mosquitoes that transmit malaria, increasing the prevalence of the disease. This, in turn, selected for the sickle-cell trait, which provides some resistance to malaria.

Question 2

The fact that people from some cultures lack an enzyme that allows them to digest milk reflects the fact that

Accepted Answer

The inability to digest milk in some populations is an example of how human evolution can be influenced by cultural practices, such as dairy farming. Over time, populations that engaged in dairy farming evolved lactose tolerance, while those that did not, retained the inability to digest milk into adulthood.

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes the sleep pattern in medieval Europe?

Accepted Answer

Medieval Europe's sleep pattern is best described as matching the pattern found for American adults in a room that is kept dark the majority of the time. This reflects the segmented sleep pattern, where people would have a first and second sleep, divided by a period of wakefulness, a pattern that emerges in environments with extended periods of darkness.

Question 4

Cross-cultural comparisons of obesity rates reflect that the fact that

Accepted Answer

The complexity of obesity rates involves multiple factors including genetics, environment, cultural practices, economic development, and dietary habits. No single statement among the options provided accurately captures the multifaceted nature of obesity's prevalence across different cultures.

Question 5

The fact that the amount of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) that reaches different parts of the world has led to the evolution of differences in skin color is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The variation in ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure across different regions of the world acting as a factor in the evolution of skin color differences is an example of a distal cause. A distal cause refers to an underlying factor that indirectly affects phenomena over a long period, such as evolutionary changes.

Question 6

Research reveals that the French paradox (the tendency for French people to have low body fat percentages despite eating a diet high in fat) is due, in part, to the French

Accepted Answer

The French paradox is attributed to the French consuming fewer calories overall, despite a diet that is rich in fats. This lower calorie consumption contributes to lower body fat percentages.

Question 7

Molly and Marvin live in two different societies and they both want to eat some nuts.Based on Rozin and colleagues' research on portion size, what is the best predictor of how much they will eat?

Accepted Answer

Rozin and colleagues' research suggests that portion size is a significant predictor of consumption, and the average size of nut packages sold locally would influence how much Molly and Marvin eat.

Question 8

You read a newspaper article arguing that since ethnic groups with different cultural practices also differ genetically, apparent cultural differences are best understood as actual genetic differences.Based on existing research, what would be the best argument against this position?

Accepted Answer

C is correct because it highlights how cultural context can influence behavior and practices, demonstrating that cultural differences are not solely determined by genetics. This counters the argument that cultural differences are directly tied to genetic differences.

Question 9

Which of the following examples best illustrates culture-gene coevolution?

Accepted Answer

The example illustrates culture-gene coevolution because the cultural practice of farming a specific strain of rice led to a genetic adaptation in the population to safely digest the toxin present in the rice.

Question 10

Researchers are trying to understand why the people of Oculus have such good vision, especially since their ancestors only two generations ago were unusually myopic.Which of the following explanations is the most plausible?

Accepted Answer

Spending more time outdoors has been linked to a decrease in myopia (nearsightedness) in various studies, suggesting that increased exposure to natural light and distance viewing could have contributed to the improvement in vision observed in the people of Oculus.

Question 11

As described in the textbook, certain populations engaged in farming practices that ended up increasing rates of malaria.Which of the following statements best describes the importance of this finding to the study of culture and biology?

Accepted Answer

Cultural practices, such as certain types of farming, can create environments that increase the prevalence of diseases like malaria. This, in turn, can affect the genetic makeup of the population, as those with traits conferring resistance (such as the sickle-cell trait) may have a survival advantage in high-malaria areas. This demonstrates a direct link between cultural practices and genetic evolution.

Question 12

A certain country has been experiencing huge gains in its economy.Based on research about economic effects covered in this textbook, which of the following is the most likely consequence of these gains?

Accepted Answer

Economic gains in a country often lead to improvements in nutrition, healthcare, and overall living conditions, which can contribute to physical growth, including increased average height in newborns as they grow.

Question 13

Research on obesity rates and genetically based skin color illustrates different types of biological change because

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research on obesity rates and genetically based...

Question 14

Which of the following statements regarding height is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Statement B is false because increased wealth inequality within a country often leads to a situation where a significant portion of the population does not have access to adequate nutrition, which can negatively affect average height. Wealth inequality can lead to disparities in health outcomes, including growth, as not everyone benefits equally from the country's wealth.

Question 15

You try to portray people's attitudes about dogs using a Chernoff figure.After averaging all their responses, you find that the Chernoff figure for your sample has a very small face with very small and unhappy features.What does this figure represent?

Accepted Answer

Chernoff figures use facial features to represent data, with different aspects of the face (size, expression, etc.) symbolizing different data points. A very small face with very small and unhappy features would indicate negative attitudes or feelings, in this context, toward dogs.

Question 16

Which of the following statements best reflects research on cultural differences in sleep patterns among European Canadians, Asian Canadians, and the Japanese?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that Japanese people tend to have shorter sleep durations compared to European Canadians, reflecting cultural differences in sleep patterns.

Question 17

One group of people has developed special lungs to breathe underwater while another group has not, but with training, everyone can develop those special lungs to breathe underwater.What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of acquired biological variation, where a trait is developed through environmental influences or training rather than being innate or genetically predetermined.

Question 18

On Planet X, some areas receive very little ultraviolet radiation (UVR).What skin color would you expect the people of Planet X to have if they live in those areas?

Accepted Answer

In areas with low UVR, lighter skin is advantageous for synthesizing Vitamin D. However, if the diet is rich in Vitamin D, the need for lighter skin decreases, allowing for a wider range of skin colors.

Question 19

Any changes in biological characteristics within a culture must have occurred through long periods due to genetic evolution because cultural changes cannot account for biological changes.Do you agree with this statement?

Accepted Answer

Cultural and environmental factors, such as diet and lifestyle, can lead to rapid changes in biological characteristics like obesity rates, which occur faster than genetic evolution.

Question 20

Over the last 50 years, the average height of the people from the reclusive country of Druidia has been increasing.Based on data profiled in the textbook, which of the following is likeliest to be associated with this increase?

Accepted Answer

Improved diet during infancy and adolescence is a well-documented factor that can lead to increased average height in a population over time.

Quiz 13: Physical Health