Question 1

An important threshold number in human demography is __________________.

Accepted Answer

The number 500 is often cited as an important threshold in human demography, particularly in the context of minimum viable population (MVP). MVP refers to the smallest possible size at which a biological population can exist without facing the risk of extinction from natural disasters or genetic problems. While the exact number can vary depending on specific conditions and assumptions, 500 is a commonly used benchmark in discussions about conservation and sustainable population sizes.

Question 2

The geographic coverage of this book includes __________________.

Accepted Answer

The book's geographic coverage includes the Americas from the Arctic to Mesoamerica, encompassing North, Central, and South America.

Question 3

The basic anthropological vocabulary used to classify polities includes the terms "band," "tribe," "chiefdom," "state," and __________________.

Accepted Answer

The missing term in the list is "empire," which refers to a large, multi-ethnic or multi-national polity that extends its control over conquered territories through military or economic means. While "nation" and "kingdom" are also valid political classifications, they do not necessarily fit within the specific sequence of political complexity that is typified by bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states. "Conglomerate" is not a common term used in anthropology to describe political organization.

Question 4

The common usage terms BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) are equivalent to __________________ and __________________, respectively.

Accepted Answer

BP stands for "Before Present" and is commonly used in scientific dating methods. BCE (Before Common Era) is the secular equivalent of BC, and CE (Common Era) is the secular equivalent of AD. Therefore, the best choice is B, which has the secular equivalents of both BC and AD.

Question 5

Archaeology is a scientific discipline that does not include the study of __________________.

Accepted Answer

Archaeology does not include the study of fossils, as that is primarily the domain of paleontology. Archaeology focuses on human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is not a fundamental principle of biological evolution?

Accepted Answer

The principle that information can be transmitted between non-biologically related individuals is not a fundamental principle of biological evolution. This is because evolution deals with genetic changes and inheritance within populations over time, rather than information transmission between individuals.

Question 7

North American archaeology is important to science and our understanding of human societies because __________________.

Accepted Answer

North American archaeology is important because it has revealed that civilization arose independently in multiple locations, challenging the long-held belief that it originated in a single region and spread from there. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of human development and societal organization. Options A and D are not relevant to the importance of North American archaeology, and option C is only partially true, as there has been significant destruction of archaeological sites in North America, particularly through colonialism and development.

Question 8

__________________ and evolution are central scientific themes emphasized in your book that help archaeologists explain the past.

Accepted Answer

Ecology and evolution are central themes in archaeology as they help explain how past human societies interacted with their environments and how they changed over time.

Question 9

A connubium is best defined as __________________.

Accepted Answer

A connubium refers to a social unit or network, often involving marriage alliances, typically among bands or groups that are related or connected.

Question 10

The selective use of archaeological data to back fantastical claims such as Norse rune stones in Minnesota, Mayan glyphs of aliens, or African sculptors in Mexico are examples of popular __________________.

Accepted Answer

The use of archaeological data to make unsupported claims is a hallmark of pseudoarchaeology, which involves making claims that lack sound scientific evidence. The examples given in the question, such as Norse rune stones in Minnesota and African sculptors in Mexico, are not supported by mainstream archaeological research and are therefore considered examples of pseudoarchaeology.

Question 11

A 1300-year return to cold conditions at the end of the Pleistocene is known as the __________________.

Accepted Answer

The 1300-year return to cold conditions at the end of the Pleistocene is known as the Younger Dryas. The Pleistocene refers to the geological epoch that spans from about 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago and includes the last ice age. The Upper Paleolithic refers to the period of human prehistory that occurred during the final stages of the Pleistocene, approximately 50,000 to 10,000 years ago. The Little Ice Age refers to a period of relatively cooler temperatures that occurred between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Question 12

What is the physical or social constraint that forces growing populations to increase density?

Accepted Answer

Circumscription refers to the physical or social constraints that force growing populations to increase density. This can include limited availability of arable land, environmental factors, or social barriers such as war or economic instability. Tradition, cities, and focal adaptation may influence population density to some extent, but are not the primary constraints driving it.

Question 13

__________________ findings are based on evidence and observation, rather than intuition or assumption.

Accepted Answer

Empirical findings are based on evidence and observation, whereas theoretical findings are based on hypotheses and models. Deductive reasoning involves starting with a general theory or hypothesis and then making predictions based on it, while reductive reasoning involves breaking down complex phenomena into simpler components. Therefore, empirical is the best choice for this question.

Question 14

Just as in law, __________________ forestalls convictions in the absence of evidence, in science it prevents truth from being overtaken by fantasy.

Accepted Answer

Skepticism involves questioning assumptions and demanding evidence before accepting a claim as true. This helps to prevent inaccuracies and falsehoods from gaining ground in science, allowing for only verifiable evidence to support scientific claims.

Question 15

The chief organizational principle of tribal society is__________________.

Accepted Answer

The chief organizational principle of tribal society is kinship, which refers to the social relationships that are based on family ties or blood relationships. This is the basis for tribe formation and organization, as well as for determining leadership, inheritance, and other social roles within the tribe. Economics, bureaucracy, and hierarchy may also play a role in tribal societies, but they are secondary to kinship as the primary organizing principle.

Question 16

The last ice age occurred during the __________________ epoch.

Accepted Answer

The Pleistocene epoch is commonly known as the "Ice Age" and lasted from approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago.

Question 17

Small bands are at risk of extinction via __________________.

Accepted Answer

Small bands are more vulnerable to random events such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or environmental changes than they are to other carnivores, other bands or civil unrest.

Question 18

The geologic epoch between the Pleistocene and today is known as the __________________.

Accepted Answer

The Holocene is the geologic epoch that followed the Pleistocene and began around 11,700 years ago, and it is still ongoing today. The Quaternary includes both the Pleistocene and the Holocene epochs, but the question specifically asks for the epoch between the Pleistocene and today, which is the Holocene. The Miocene and Eocene are both much older epochs that occurred millions of years ago.

Question 19

Scientists believe the burning of fossil hydrocarbons during the Industrial Revolution has moved us into a new geologic epoch called the Anthropocene.

Accepted Answer

The burning of fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution and beyond has led to significant human-induced changes to the Earth's geology, atmosphere, and ecosystems, leading scientists to propose the Anthropocene as a new geologic epoch.

Question 20

Human culture is more than functional adaptations to changing environments because __________________.

Accepted Answer

Functional adaptations to changing environments are necessary for survival, but human culture goes beyond what is necessary for survival. Culture includes art, music, literature, religion, and other expressions of human creativity and imagination that are not essential for survival, but are highly valued and influential in shaping human behavior and beliefs.

Quiz 1: Introduction