Question 1

Which of the following is not a traditional field or subdiscipline of anthropology?

Accepted Answer

Applied anthropology is not a traditional subdiscipline of anthropology but rather an application of anthropological methods and theories to solve real-world problems, crossing over the traditional subdisciplines like cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics.

Question 2

As part of your job,you may study the frequency of blood types in human populations,or watch the behavior of monkeys and apes,or dig for early hominid bones in East Africa.You are a/an _______________.

Accepted Answer

Physical anthropologists study human evolution, genetics, and physical variations among populations, which includes the study of blood types, primate behavior, and the search for early hominid fossils.

Question 3

Which of the following are not primates?

Accepted Answer

All of the above (Asian and African apes, tarsiers, monkeys, lemurs and lorises) are primates.

Question 4

In human evolutionary studies,physical anthropologists known as _______________ look at fossilized skeletons of our ancestors to reconstruct the complex path of human evolution.

Accepted Answer

Paleoanthropologists specialize in the study of fossilized remains of early humans and their ancestors to reconstruct their evolutionary history.

Question 5

Anthropology is _______________.

Accepted Answer

Anthropology is the study of humankind everywhere, throughout time. This includes studying human biology, culture, language, and social relationships across different societies and historical periods. Anthropologists aim to understand the diversity of human experience and behavior, and how different societies and cultures have developed over time.

Question 6

Cross-cultural research that allows the anthropologist to develop theories that help explain why certain important differences or similarities occur between groups is known as _______________.

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural research that compares and contrasts different cultures in order to develop theories and generalizations about human behavior and society is known as ethnology. Ethnography, on the other hand, is the descriptive study of a particular culture or group. Ethnohistory focuses on the historical development and interactions between cultures, while ethnoarchaeology examines the relationship between modern-day societies and their archaeological remains. Biography is a study of an individual's life.

Question 7

Cultural anthropology is the study of patterns of human behavior.These standards _______________.

Accepted Answer

Cultural anthropology specifically focuses on the ways in which humans create and sustain cultural patterns, including customs, beliefs, and practices. This is distinct from biological inheritance and operates in the conscious awareness of individuals, and is studied by cultural anthropologists, rather than sociologists or physical anthropologists.

Question 8

Anthropology is different from other disciplines that study humans because _______________.

Accepted Answer

Anthropology aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, culture, and society by synthesizing insights and data from various fields such as biology, history, linguistics, and psychology. Other disciplines may focus only on specific aspects of human behavior or limit themselves to a specific geographic or temporal context.

Question 9

In general,ethnologists study _______________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnologists study cultures as they have been observed, experienced, and discussed with persons whose cultures they seek to understand. They aim to gain an understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity across the world.

Question 10

An archaeologist studies material remains and environmental data to understand _______________.

Accepted Answer

Archaeologists study material remains and environmental data to understand human culture, including their past customs, beliefs, and ways of life.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about cultural anthropology is/are correct? Cultural anthropologists study _______________.

Accepted Answer

Cultural anthropologists study the rules and standards of behavior by which societies operate, as well as learned behavior rather than those acquired through biological inheritance. They do not study humans as biological organisms or make value judgments about who is "more cultured" than others.

Question 12

A study of how people deal with consumer complaints would be a research interest of the _______________.

Accepted Answer

An applied anthropologist focuses on solving practical problems in society by using anthropological theories and methods. Studying how people deal with consumer complaints is a practical problem that an applied anthropologist could address.

Question 13

A "culture-bound" theory is _______________.

Accepted Answer

A "culture-bound" theory is a theory based on assumptions common to a particular culture rather than deriving from comparisons of many different cultures. It is limited to the perspective of that specific culture and may not be applicable or relevant to other cultures.

Question 14

Which of the following is not one of the four branches of anthropology?

Accepted Answer

The four branches of anthropology are archaeology, linguistics, cultural anthropology, and physical anthropology. Biology is not considered one of the branches of anthropology.

Question 15

Although human beings always have been interested in other human beings,anthropology has emerged as a tradition of scientific inquiry over the last _______________.

Accepted Answer

Anthropology as a scientific discipline emerged in the mid-19th century, making it around 150 years old. While human societies have always been interested in other human societies, anthropology as we understand it today only emerged relatively recently.

Question 16

Which of the following are broad research interests of physical anthropologists?

Accepted Answer

Biological variation in human populations and the evolution of human characteristics are core interests of physical anthropologists.

Answer: D
 Primate population variation and the reconstruction of the material remains of culture are also important research interests of physical anthropologists.

Answer: E
 While there is some overlap with linguistic anthropology, the study of the origins of language and what causes language change are not generally considered within the scope of physical anthropology.

Therefore, the best choices are C and D.

Question 17

A detailed description of a particular culture based on fieldwork is called _______________.

Accepted Answer

A detailed description of a particular culture based on fieldwork is called ethnography. Ethnography involves immersive fieldwork, using participant observation, interviews, and other qualitative methods to gain an in-depth understanding of a culture from the perspective of those who inhabit it.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a change that has affected ethnography during the 20ᵗʰ century?

Accepted Answer

Participant observation has been a fundamental method in ethnography since its inception and is not a change that occurred during the 20th century.

Question 19

How does the perception of organ transplantation differ between the U.S.and Japan?

Accepted Answer

In Japan, cultural beliefs, including the lack of a mind-body split, have historically led to lower rates of organ transplantation compared to the U.S.

Question 20

W _______________ specializes in the identification of human skeletal remains for legal purposes

Accepted Answer

Forensic anthropology is the subfield of physical anthropology that specializes in the identification of human skeletal remains for legal purposes, such as identifying individuals in criminal investigations or identifying victims of mass disasters. Ethnology focuses on the study of contemporary cultures, while paleoanthropology studies the evolutionary history of humans and their ancestors. Archaeology is the study of past human societies and their material culture, and medical anthropology examines the intersection of health, illness, and culture.

Quiz 1: The Essence of Anthropology