Question 1

One example of an ideology would be:

Accepted Answer

Capitalism is an economic and social ideology that emphasizes private ownership of the means of production and the pursuit of profit as the main drivers of economic activity. It has had a significant impact on world history and continues to be a dominant ideology in many countries.

Question 2

Cultural diversity is a reflection of environmental adaptations and the consequence of symbolic creations.

Accepted Answer

Cultural diversity often develops as a result of environmental adaptations made by different groups of people as they interact with their surroundings in unique ways. Additionally, symbolic creations such as art, music, language, and traditions contribute to the diversity of cultures around the world.

Question 3

Anthropologists have determined that specific food preferences are biologically based, not culturally influenced.

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists have found that both biology and cultural influence play a role in determining specific food preferences. While there may be certain innate biological desires for certain flavors or nutrients, the way in which individuals learn to appreciate, desire, and consume specific foods is largely shaped by cultural factors such as family traditions, social hierarchies, and religious or moral beliefs.

Question 4

An example of a symbol is:

Accepted Answer

Using bright orange paint to indicate danger is a symbol because the color represents a warning or cautionary message, without explicitly stating it.

Question 5

The term "ideology" refers to:

Accepted Answer

Ideology is a set of beliefs and values that supports the interests of a particular group. It often shapes a group's political, economic, and social views. The other answer choices are not accurate definitions of ideology.

Question 6

In order for an item to be cultural, it must be __________.

Accepted Answer

Culture is a shared set of beliefs, behaviors, and traditions that are learned and transmitted from one generation to another. It is not fixed or unchanging, but rather influenced and adapted over time by the environment of the society. Therefore, the most appropriate answer is B - learned and commonly shared among individuals.

Question 7

A way of life shared by a group of human beings - including their language, beliefs, and things they make and use - is referred to by anthropologists as their __________.

Accepted Answer

The definition given in the question refers to culture, which encompasses a group's language, beliefs, and material culture. Religion is a component of culture, but does not encompass all aspects of a group's way of life. Heritage may refer to cultural artifacts or practices that are passed down through generations, but is not as all-encompassing as culture. Environment refers to the physical surroundings of a group and may shape their way of life, but it does not encompass language or beliefs.

Question 8

Which of the following would NOT be considered a form of material culture?

Accepted Answer

Material culture refers to physical objects and artifacts that are created, used and maintained by a society, such as igloos, cufflinks and forks. Lullabies, on the other hand, are not physical objects, but rather a form of cultural expression through music and song, and therefore would not be considered a form of material culture.

Question 9

A society __________.

Accepted Answer

A society generally refers to a group of individuals, which can include animals, living and interacting within a specific territory.

Question 10

Anthropologist Leslie White wrote that the most distinctive feature of humanness is:

Accepted Answer

While all of the options listed are important features of human beings, Leslie White argued that the ability to create symbols and assign them meanings is the most distinctive. This ability underlies language, art, and all of human culture.

Question 11

There are many definitions of culture, but there are a number of aspects common to most definitions. These include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Culture is not biologically inherited, but rather it is acquired through socialization and learning from one's environment and community.

Question 12

Trial-and-error learning, in which an organism adjusts its behavior on the basis of direct experience, is also referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Trial-and-error learning, in which an organism adjusts...

Question 13

The Rastafarian movement of Jamaica is an excellent example of what anthropologists call ethnocentric feedback.

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentric feedback refers to the process in which a culture reinforces its own values and beliefs by selectively perceiving and interpreting information that supports those values and beliefs, while ignoring or rejecting information that contradicts them. While the Rastafari movement may exhibit some aspects of ethnocentric feedback, it is not an example of it as a whole.

Question 14

The striking feature of cultural universals is the fact that specific content and practice do not vary from society to society.

Accepted Answer

Cultural universals refer to the common features and practices found in every society. While there are similarities across societies, specific content and practices do vary.

Question 15

__________ is credited with providing us with the first, detailed definition of culture, "...that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

Accepted Answer

E.B. Tylor is credited with providing us with the first, detailed definition of culture.

Question 16

Ethnicity is based on perceived differences in ancestral origins or descent, and shared history and cultural heritage.

Accepted Answer

Ethnicity is indeed based on perceived differences in ancestral origins or descent, shared history, and cultural heritage. It is different from race, which is based on physical characteristics like skin color and facial features.

Question 17

The earliest traces of material culture are:

Accepted Answer

The earliest traces of material culture discovered by archaeologists are simple stone tools, like choppers and scrapers. Fossil teeth of Australopithecus are important for studying the anatomy and behavior of this hominid species, but they do not represent material culture. Words like "ma" are part of language, which is not considered material culture. Forms of social organization among primates also do not represent material culture.

Question 18

There are a number of different ways one can learn things. Both humans and other animals learn by trial-and-error (what is called situational learning) and by social learning. The form of learning that is uniquely human and provides the basis for the capacity for culture is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

The form of learning that is uniquely human and provides the basis for the capacity for culture is known as symbolic learning. This refers to the ability to learn and use symbols (such as language, written alphabets, mathematical notations, etc.) to communicate and transmit knowledge from one generation to another.

Question 19

Symbols are different from signs, in that symbols __________.

Accepted Answer

Symbols are not associated with any direct concrete item and require interpretation and contextual understanding to convey meaning. Unlike signs, symbols are not inherently linked to their meaning and can vary in interpretation based on cultural and contextual factors. Additionally, non-human animals may not possess the ability to interpret symbols in the same way that humans do.

Question 20

According to Marvin Harris, the dietary practices of various cultures may be rooted in ecological conditions.

Accepted Answer

Marvin Harris proposed in his cultural materialism theory that dietary practices of different cultures are influenced by ecological and environmental conditions.

Quiz 3: Culture