Question 1

Define the term "myth."

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Anna's best friend, Aubrey, was getting married. Anna spent a lot of time thinking of the perfect gift and was so excited about the gift that she gave it to Aubrey before the wedding. Aubrey cried and told Anna she could never have a better friend. Reformulation best describes the gift-giving stage in this situation.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that Anna gave Aubrey the gift before the wedding, which is the gift-giving stage.

Question 3

Passing a driving test to receive a driver's license is an example of a rite of passage.

Accepted Answer

A rite of passage is a ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life, and passing a driving test to receive a driver's license signifies the transition into the ability to drive legally, marking a significant step towards independence.

Question 4

Gestation is the process of gift exchange.

Accepted Answer

Gestation refers to the period of development inside the womb from conception until birth, not to the exchange of gifts.

Question 5

List and explain the four interrelated functions in a culture.

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

Pavel is an inventor. He read that there were several million people who could not sleep at night until they looked under the bed. He invented a light that could be put under the bed and went on automatically when someone looked there. Pavel's product is designed to help people perform a ________.

Accepted Answer

Pavel's product is designed to help people perform a ritual, which in this context refers to a specific, often repeated action or behavior, like checking under the bed before sleeping.

Question 7

As a relationship grows and progresses, gift giving tends to become more ________.

Accepted Answer

As a relationship grows and progresses, gift giving tends to become more altruistic, meaning gifts are given more out of a desire to do something good for the other person without expecting anything in return. This reflects a deepening of emotional connection and care in the relationship.

Question 8

Explain the three distinct stages of gift-giving rituals.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

Romance novels often follow a cultural formula.

Accepted Answer

Romance novels frequently adhere to a recognizable cultural formula, typically involving two people overcoming obstacles to find love and a happy ending. This formula helps meet reader expectations within the genre.

Question 10

Gift giving involves economic and symbolic exchange.

Accepted Answer

Gift giving is not only an economic activity involving the exchange of goods or services but also carries symbolic meanings, conveying messages such as love, respect, or social bond between the giver and the recipient.

Question 11

In many cultures, myths feature talking animals that act as mediating figures.

Accepted Answer

Talking animals in myths often serve as mediators between the human and supernatural worlds, teaching lessons or conveying messages from the gods.

Question 12

A metaphysical myth fulfills the cultural function of explaining how the components of the universe relate to each other.

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

Sharon is upset with her secretary. Though everyone in the office agreed not to give Christmas presents this year, Sharon's secretary gave her an expensive bottle of perfume. Which of the following best identifies the source of Sharon's feelings?

Accepted Answer

The reciprocity norm is a social norm that obliges individuals to repay in kind what another has done for them, which can explain why Sharon might feel upset or uncomfortable receiving an expensive gift when there was an agreement not to exchange gifts.

Question 14

Every year, the students at a prestigious engineering school remove a car from the parking lot and place it on the highest point of the roof of the main engineering building. The students have been doing this for decades, but not once has anyone ever confided to an outsider how it was done. This is a classic example of a ritual.

Accepted Answer

A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed in a sequestered place according to set sequence. This annual, secretive, and traditional activity fits the definition of a ritual, emphasizing tradition, secrecy, and a specific, repeated action.

Question 15

Researchers primarily see the gift-giving ritual as a type of ________ exchange.

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

Define rites of passage. Describe the three rites of passage phases. Give at least two rites of passage examples.

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

A female writer applies a well-known myth of Western culture to a novel using modern characters. Use this concept of a culture production system (CPS) to explain how this writer will market her novel to readers.

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

Which of the following is NOT one of the three distinct stages of gift-giving rituals?

Accepted Answer

The three distinct stages of gift-giving rituals are gestation (the motivation or consideration phase), presentation (the act of giving the gift), and reformulation (the aftermath and reevaluation of relationships following the gift exchange). "Convention" is not one of these stages.

Question 19

A special ritual marking a person's transition from one role to another is called a ________.

Accepted Answer

A rite of passage is a ceremony or ritual that marks an individual's transition from one status to another, especially marking the transition from one stage of life to another, such as puberty, marriage, or death.

Question 20

Most holidays commemorate a cultural myth.

Accepted Answer

Many holidays are based on cultural myths, religious stories, or historical events that have been mythologized over time, serving to commemorate these narratives within a culture.

Quiz 14: Culture