Question 1

Which of the following research projects would not belong to the province of linguistic anthropology?

Accepted Answer

Reconstructing the evolution of the big toe to determine when humans began to walk upright does not involve the study of language or communication, and therefore falls outside the province of linguistic anthropology. The other options, A, C, and D all involve some form of linguistic analysis or investigation.

Question 2

In-depth descriptive studies of specific cultures are called _______________.

Accepted Answer

In-depth descriptive studies of specific cultures are called ethnographies. Ethnologies refer to the comparative study of cultures, ethnobotanies focus on the study of plants used by specific cultures, biologies refer to the study of living organisms, and anthropologies refer to the broad study of humans and human societies.

Question 3

Which of the following exemplifies the concept of a "hypothesis"? The light bulb failed to light because _______________.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for an observation, which can then be tested through experimentation or further observation. Each of the options (A through D) provides a potential explanation for why the light bulb failed to light, making them all examples of hypotheses.

Question 4

The protection of cultural resources as part of archaeology is called _______________.

Accepted Answer

Cultural resource management is the protection and preservation of archaeological sites, artifacts, and other cultural resources. Ethnographic resource management may also be a part of this, but it specifically applies to the management of living cultural groups and their traditions. Cultural resource administration and cultural area management are not standard terms in archaeology. Cultural resource excavation is a part of archaeological work but does not encompass the broader goal of protection and management.

Question 5

Besides interest in descriptions of particular cultures,the ethnologist is interested also in _______________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnologists are interested in cross-cultural comparisons to understand similarities and differences among different cultures. They aim to uncover universal patterns of human behavior and cultural practices that exist across different societies.

Question 6

Clyde Snow is an anthropologist who _______________.

Accepted Answer

Clyde Snow used forensic evidence to investigate "disappearances" in Argentina, specifically during the Dirty War from 1976-1983.

Question 7

Which of the following would not indicate cooking or food processing at archaeological sites?

Accepted Answer

Temple ruins are not necessarily indicative of cooking or food processing; they may serve religious or other purposes entirely unrelated to food. The other answer choices, including pottery, hearths, animal bone fragments, and concentrations of charcoal, are all commonly associated with cooking or food processing at archaeological sites.

Question 8

The work of medical anthropologists sheds light on the connections between _______________ both globally and locally.

Accepted Answer

Medical anthropologists often examine how political and economic forces affect human health on both a global and local level. This can include analyzing how healthcare systems are structured, how healthcare is funded, and how healthcare policies may impact access to care and health outcomes. Medical anthropologists may also examine how factors such as poverty or inequality can influence health, as well as the role of cultural beliefs and practices in shaping health behaviors and outcomes.

Question 9

An ethnologist can be described as someone who _______________.

Accepted Answer

An ethnologist is someone who develops a theory of culture by comparing many specific cultures. They study and analyze different cultures, societies, and communities to understand their similarities and differences.

Question 10

Humans appear to be unique in having a complex system of symbolic communication,called _______________,that enables humans to preserve and transmit culture from generation to generation.

Accepted Answer

Language allows for the transmission of complex ideas and cultural knowledge through symbolic communication. While other animals may have forms of communication, humans have developed a much more sophisticated system that allows for abstract thought and the expression of complex concepts. The other options, such as the brain or genes, are crucial components of human biology but do not fully explain the unique aspect of human culture transmission through language. Cuneiform and Esperanto are specific systems of written language and do not capture the larger concept of symbolic communication.

Question 11

By comparing housework in different cultures,the ethnologist learns that _______________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnological studies have found that food foraging societies spend less time on household chores as their subsistence activities do not require as much equipment, utensils or storage spaces. In contrast, Western societies with advanced technology and consumerism require more household tasks for maintenance and upkeep.

Question 12

Ethnographic fieldwork _______________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnographic fieldwork can be applied to the study of both non-Western peoples and Western industrialized societies.

Question 13

Which of the following is not goal of science?

Accepted Answer

Science often involves using imagination to develop hypotheses and theories, and it is not a goal of science to eliminate the need for imagination.

Question 14

A(n)_______________ is a closely examined and critically checked out explanation of observed reality.

Accepted Answer

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of observed reality that is supported by evidence and has been critically evaluated. Theories are not merely opinions or hunches but are based on rigorous analysis and testing. Dogma, doctrine, and indisputable opinion do not imply the same level of scrutiny and examination.

Question 15

The branch of anthropology that studies human languages is called _______________.

Accepted Answer

Linguistic anthropology is the branch of anthropology that studies human languages, including their structure, evolution, and social and cultural contexts. Ethnology focuses on the comparative study of different cultures and societies, while ethnography involves immersive field research in a particular cultural community or group. Ethnolinguistics and ethnography of speaking are more specific subfields within linguistic anthropology.

Question 16

Historians,who usually study the past through written sources,are limited chronologically to _______________.

Accepted Answer

Historians typically study the past through written sources, which have been around for approximately the past 5,000 years, marking the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing.

Question 17

An archaeologist might attempt to study _______________.

Accepted Answer

Archaeologists study material remains to reconstruct past cultures and may also study garbage (middens) to understand past human behavior.

Question 18

An archaeologist has a research project involving the analysis of an old campsite of a people who relied primarily on foraging for wild foods about 500,000 years ago.This project would be considered _______________.

Accepted Answer

The project is focused on analyzing a campsite from a time period that is considered prehistoric, which refers to a time before written records.

Question 19

Anthropologists doing fieldwork typically involve themselves in many different experiences.They try to investigate not just one aspect of culture (such as the political system)but how all aspects relate to each other (for example,how the political system fits with economic institutions,religious beliefs,etc. ).This approach is called the _______________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The term "holistic" refers to the approach of looking at a culture as a whole and how all aspects of it relate and interact with each other. This is the perspective that anthropologists typically use while doing fieldwork. The other answer choices do not accurately describe this approach.

Question 20

The Garbage Project in Tucson demonstrated that what people say and what they do can differ dramatically.For instance,investigators found that _______________.

Accepted Answer

The Garbage Project in Tucson found that the amount of beer consumed, according to empty cans found in the trash, was far higher than what people claimed, demonstrating a discrepancy between what people say and what they actually do. The other options listed also demonstrate this discrepancy, but they are not explicitly mentioned in the passage.

Quiz 1: The Essence of Anthropology