Question 1

Sacred cattle in India are adaptive because they fulfill all of these ecological functions of supernatural beliefs EXCEPT this one:
A) Cattle provide meat protein in the diet.
B) Cattle dung becomes fuel for cooking.
C) Cattle supply cheap energy to pull plows.
D) Cattle dung becomes fertilizer for crops

Accepted Answer

Sacred cattle in India are not used for meat protein in the diet due to religious beliefs that prohibit the consumption of beef. The other options (B, C, D) are accurate ecological functions of cattle in India.

Question 2

The cohesive and supportive functions of belief systems are best exemplified by
A) the singing during a molimo ceremony.
B) the Hindu prohibition against killing cattle.
C) the Dani cremation ceremony.
D) the Inuit story of Sedna.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

Polytheistic belief systems can be defined as belief systems
A) consisting of one all-powerful god or goddess.
B) where special knowledge is held by shamans.
C) where both supernatural forces and beings are found.
D) consisting of multiple gods or goddesses.

Accepted Answer

Polytheistic belief systems are characterized by the belief in multiple gods or goddesses, distinguishing them from monotheistic systems, which worship a single deity.

Question 4

Which statement best describes the difference between magic and religion?
A) Religion contains many ceremonies, whereas magic does not.
B) Religion gives people a euphoric feeling, whereas magic does not.
C) Magic is the belief of aboriginal populations, whereas religion is the belief of advanced cultures.
D) Magic deals primarily with supernatural forces, whereas religion deals primarily with supernatural beings.

Accepted Answer

Magic and religion both deal with the supernatural, but they differ in focus. Magic typically involves practices aimed at manipulating supernatural forces for specific purposes, while religion is more about relationships with supernatural beings, such as gods or spirits, involving worship, morals, and a community's shared beliefs.

Question 5

A part-time practitioner who has special abilities for handling supernatural forces is called a
A) priest.
B) shaman.
C) mana.
D) churinga.

Accepted Answer

A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, often used to heal, divinate, and mediate between the spiritual and physical worlds.

Question 6

The story of Sedna, the Inuit goddess, best fulfills which of the following functions of belief systems?
A) revitalization
B) euphoria
C) explanation
D) ecological

Accepted Answer

The story of Sedina, the Inuit goddess, primarily serves an explanatory function, as it is a myth that explains natural phenomena, in this case, the origins of sea creatures and aspects of the natural world, which is a common characteristic of belief systems.

Question 7

Which of the following is a supernatural being with the potential to cause harm to the living?
A) ghost
B) soul
C) hobbit
D) fairy

Accepted Answer

Ghosts are considered supernatural beings often thought to be the spirits of the dead with the potential to interact with the living, sometimes causing harm.

Question 8

The term mana is best defined as
A) a member of a hierarchy of priests.
B) the implements used in magical ceremonies.
C) a supernatural impersonal force.
D) a ritual of intensification.

Accepted Answer

Mana is best defined as a supernatural impersonal force believed to reside in people, animals, and inanimate objects, granting power and influence. It is a concept found in many Pacific Island cultures, including Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian societies.

Question 9

Gods cross-culturally have all but one of these attributes: they are
A) more powerful than people.
B) are anthropomorphic.
C) forgiving.
D) often ancestral to people.

Accepted Answer

Gods across various cultures are typically characterized by their greater power than humans (A), often depicted with human-like qualities or forms (B), and many mythologies include gods who are considered ancestors or progenitors of humans (D). However, not all gods are forgiving; this attribute varies widely among different deities and religious traditions.

Question 10

Failure to obey one of the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments would bring negative sanctions from a group.This is a direct example of which supernatural function? The
A) cohesive function.
B) disciplining function.
C) revitalizing function.
D) supportive function.

Accepted Answer

The disciplining function of religion involves the use of religious rules and norms to control behavior, often through the promise of rewards or the threat of punishment in the afterlife or community. The Ten Commandments serve as a set of religious laws or moral imperatives in Judeo-Christian traditions, and failure to obey these commandments would typically result in negative sanctions or punishments, illustrating the disciplining function of religion.

Question 11

A group gathering for a marriage ceremony provides an example of which supernatural function?
A) the euphoric function
B) the revitalizing function
C) the supportive function
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Marriage ceremonies often serve multiple supernatural functions: they can create a sense of euphoria among participants (euphoric function), renew social bonds and communal identities (revitalizing function), and offer support to individuals through communal participation (supportive function).

Question 12

Anthropologists first began to explore the supernatural beliefs and practices of other cultures
A) before 1900.
B) in the 1920s.
C) the 1940s.
D) the 1950s.

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists began exploring the supernatural beliefs and practices of other cultures in the late 19th century, which is before 1900. This was part of a broader effort to understand human cultures and societies in a comprehensive manner.

Question 13

Objects considered important to a culture's supernatural beliefs and practices may include
A) incense.
B) trees.
C) rocks.
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Objects such as incense, trees, and rocks can all hold significant spiritual or supernatural importance in various cultures, serving as symbols, tools, or focal points in religious or spiritual practices.

Question 14

The Hindu religion's tradition of not eating beef is an example of which supernatural function? The
A) euphoric function.
B) supportive function.
C) ecological function.
D) explanatory function.

Accepted Answer

The Hindu tradition of not eating beef serves an ecological function by promoting the conservation of cattle, which are valuable for agriculture and dairy production in India.

Question 15

An anthropologist might argue that the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy (Judy Garland) in the movie The Wizard of Oz would bring a high auction price because some North Americans believe the shoes
A) were used by a trickster.
B) are inhabited by a poltergeist.
C) have mana.
D) have imitative magic.

Accepted Answer

The concept of "mana" refers to a supernatural force or power believed to reside in objects or persons. The ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" are iconic and hold a special cultural significance, which could be perceived as a form of mana, making them highly valuable at auction.

Question 16

Tricksters are distinguished by the fact that they
A) intend to hurt people.
B) play practical jokes.
C) become ghosts when they die.
D) are all-powerful.

Accepted Answer

Tricksters are known for their cunning and ability to play practical jokes or deceive others, rather than intending harm, becoming ghosts, or being all-powerful.

Question 17

The socially disruptive behavior a person exhibits may be attributed to the action of a
A) trickster.
B) soul.
C) goddess.
D) demon.

Accepted Answer

The socially disruptive behavior a person exhibits may be attributed to the action of a demon. Demons are often seen as evil spirits that can cause harm to people. They are often associated with causing mental illness, physical illness, and other problems.

Question 18

Anthropological research has demonstrated that supernatural beings and forces exist in what percentage of the world's cultures?
A) 50 percent
B) 80 percent
C) 95 percent
D) 100 percent

Accepted Answer

Anthropological research has shown that some form of belief in supernatural beings and forces exists in 100 percent of the world's cultures, indicating a universal aspect of human culture in recognizing entities or forces beyond the observable natural world.

Question 19

The story of the Alaskan Inuit goddess Sedna fulfills the supernatural explanatory function of belief systems because
A) she is responsible for the moon cycles.
B) her story explains the origin of seals.
C) daughters will always have conflict with parents.
D) she explains why death occurs among humans.

Accepted Answer

Sedna's story is a mythological tale among the Inuit that explains the origin of sea creatures, such as seals, which are vital to the Inuit way of life. This story serves a supernatural explanatory function by providing a cosmological explanation for the natural world, specifically the abundance of marine life that is crucial for survival in the Arctic regions.

Question 20

The Mbuti molimo ritual could best be compared to an American ritual associated with a
A) funeral.
B) wedding.
C) birthday party.
D) Fourth of July party in the United States.

Accepted Answer

The Mbuti molimo ritual is a celebration of life and death, similar to the Fourth of July party in the United States, which is a celebration of the country's independence.

Quiz 11: Belief Systems: How Do We Explain the Unexplainable

Sacred cattle in India are adaptive because they fulfill all of these ecological functions of supernatural beliefs EXCEPT this one:

The cohesive and supportive functions of belief systems are best exemplified by

Polytheistic belief systems can be defined as belief systems

Which statement best describes the difference between magic and religion?

A part-time practitioner who has special abilities for handling supernatural forces is called a

The story of Sedna, the Inuit goddess, best fulfills which of the following functions of belief systems?

Which of the following is a supernatural being with the potential to cause harm to the living?

The term mana is best defined as

Gods cross-culturally have all but one of these attributes: they are

Failure to obey one of the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments would bring negative sanctions from a group.This is a direct example of which supernatural function? The

A group gathering for a marriage ceremony provides an example of which supernatural function?

Anthropologists first began to explore the supernatural beliefs and practices of other cultures

Objects considered important to a culture's supernatural beliefs and practices may include

The Hindu religion's tradition of not eating beef is an example of which supernatural function? The

An anthropologist might argue that the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy (Judy Garland) in the movie The Wizard of Oz would bring a high auction price because some North Americans believe the shoes

Tricksters are distinguished by the fact that they

The socially disruptive behavior a person exhibits may be attributed to the action of a

Anthropological research has demonstrated that supernatural beings and forces exist in what percentage of the world's cultures?

The story of the Alaskan Inuit goddess Sedna fulfills the supernatural explanatory function of belief systems because

The Mbuti molimo ritual could best be compared to an American ritual associated with a