Question 1

Which of these features is characteristic of a band?

Accepted Answer

Bands typically have low population density, characterized by small, nomadic groups that rely on hunting and gathering for subsistence, rather than intensive agriculture, social stratification, or strict territoriality.

Question 2

The Mekranoti have a generally egalitarian society. Despite this,__________ are more likely to become leaders.

Accepted Answer

Sons of leaders are more likely to become leaders in the Mekranoti society due to the inheritance of social status and leadership roles, even in generally egalitarian societies where leadership may not be strictly hereditary but where familial connections and the social status of one's family can influence leadership opportunities.

Question 3

The Nupe king of what is now __________ had ultimate authority over his people by __________ them.

Accepted Answer

According to the information given, the Nupe king had ultimate authority over "his people," implying that he was the ruler of a specific location or kingdom. The options for location are Nigeria or Ghana. The answer is A because the text says the Nupe king had authority over his people by "taxing" them. There is no mention of him adjudicating them.

Question 4

Level of political integration refers to the __________.

Accepted Answer

Level of political integration refers to the largest territorial group on whose behalf political activities are organized. It signifies how integrated a political system is within a specific territory, and how political activities are organized to represent the interests of the people residing in that territory.

Question 5

The different types of political organization are often strongly linked to variation in __________.

Accepted Answer

Political organization often reflects a society's food-getting strategies, economy, and social stratification. For example, societies with a nomadic or hunter-gatherer lifestyle may have a more egalitarian political system, while societies with agriculture and a hierarchical class system may have a more centralized political organization.

Question 6

The Karimojong of northeast Uganda use what type of system as the basis of their political organization?

Accepted Answer

The Karimojong of northeast Uganda use age-set association as the basis of their political organization. This type of organization is common among pastoralist and hunter-gatherer societies, and it involves grouping people into distinct age groups that move through different stages of life together and have specific roles and responsibilities. Age sets provide a framework for communal decision-making, dispute resolution, and social control, and they often have a hierarchical structure with senior members exercising authority over younger ones.

Question 7

The segmentary lineage system proved to be a great military advantage in the conflict between which two culturally similar groups?

Accepted Answer

The segmentary lineage system, which organizes society into segments that can come together in times of conflict, provided a significant military advantage for the Nuer in their conflicts with the Dinka. Both groups are culturally similar and reside in the Sudan region, where such social structures have historically played a crucial role in their ways of managing and engaging in conflicts.

Question 8

Among the Tiv of Northern Nigeria,political organization is based on __________.

Accepted Answer

Among the Tiv, political organization is based on kinship ties. The Tiv have a segmented political system where the family is the basic unit of society. The Tiv polity is made up of a collection of small, independent lineages or clans, each under the authority of a recognized patriarch. The lineage is the key social and political institution, and each lineage has its own land, head, and ritual offices. The lineage head is responsible for maintaining the unity and well-being of the lineage and defending its interests. Thus, political power and authority are vested in kinship ties rather than in wealth, agriculture or religion.

Question 9

In states with more collective action,rulers __________.

Accepted Answer

States with more collective action tend to have more community involvement, which could result in more public works projects being funded by the government.

Question 10

Complementary opposition is typical of which kind of group?

Accepted Answer

Complementary opposition refers to a system where one group is defined in opposition to another, with each group carrying out specific roles that complement each other. This is a common feature of segmentary lineages, such as tribes in Africa, where the society is organized into smaller segments that may cooperate or compete with each other. Age-sets, clans, and secret societies may also display complementary opposition, but it is most typical of segmentary lineages.

Question 11

In addition to government and politics,political life includes __________.

Accepted Answer

Political life involves not only the formal decision-making processes of government and politics, but also the informal ways in which people negotiate and navigate disagreements and conflicts. This includes the resolution of disputes between individuals or groups, whether through legal systems or other means such as mediation or arbitration. Childrearing practices and organization of kin groups may be important aspects of social life, but they are not necessarily central to political life. Distribution of wealth is more often a matter of economic policy rather than political life, though they are certainly related.

Question 12

__________ suggest that when the state relies more heavily on resources from taxpayers,the rulers must give the public more in return or else face noncompliance and rebellion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ suggest that when the state relies...

Question 13

In the modern world,__________.

Accepted Answer

Every society today has been incorporated into a larger, centralized political system, reflecting the global trend towards nation-states and political integration.

Question 14

In contrast to band societies,groups with tribal organizations tend to be __________.

Accepted Answer

Tribal organizations tend to be food producers, meaning they have developed some form of agriculture or animal husbandry to sustain themselves. This is in contrast to band societies, which rely on hunting and gathering.

Answer: B
 Tribal organizations tend to be relatively egalitarian, with power and decision-making shared among members of the group. While there may be some variation in status or role specialization, there is generally not a rigid hierarchy of power.

Answer: D
 Tribal organizations can be stratified to some degree, with individuals or families that hold greater wealth or status having more influence or power within the group. However, this stratification is typically less pronounced than in more complex societies with centralized political systems.

Therefore, the best choices are A and B.

Question 15

How many societies in the ethnographic record were only informally organized at the time they were first described by anthropologists?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How many societies in the ethnographic record...

Question 16

Which of these specific features allows for the emergence of cities in state-level organizations?

Accepted Answer

Intensive agriculture allows for the production of surplus food, which can then be stored and distributed, allowing for the emergence of specialization and a division of labor within a society. This, in turn, can lead to the development of cities as centralized hubs for economic, political, and social activity. High rates of social stratification, a variety of associations, and redistribution of wealth can all be factors contributing to the emergence of cities, but none of them are as directly linked to the ability to produce surplus agricultural goods as intensive agriculture.

Question 17

Societies with tribal political organization are similar to band societies in their tendency to be __________.

Accepted Answer

Tribal societies tend to be egalitarian, meaning there is relatively equal distribution of power and resources among members of the group. There may be some individuals who have more influence or status, but there is not a formal, hierarchical ranking system like in caste-based or ranked societies.

Question 18

In the United States,what factor was considered to make a political candidate look more competent,after controlling for age and attractiveness?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that facial structure, particularly a bigger chin, can influence perceptions of a political candidate's competence, even when controlling for other factors like age and attractiveness.

Question 19

Into what principal types of political organization did Elman Service suggest most societies could be classified?

Accepted Answer

Elman Service suggested that most societies can be classified into four principal types of political organization: bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states. The other options listed do not correspond to Service's classification system.

Question 20

How many separate political units exist in the world today?

Accepted Answer

There are currently fewer than 200 separate political units in the world today. This number can fluctuate slightly depending on how the term "political unit" is defined, but generally falls within this range.

Quiz 15: Political Life: Social Order and Disorder