Question 1

Which one of the rituals or ceremonies below is not used to mark a passage to a new status or stage of life?

Accepted Answer

Rallies preceding a basketball game are events meant to boost team spirit and support rather than mark a transition into a new stage of life, unlike the other options listed.

Question 2

The coexistence of churches and religious beliefs in all societies where scientific knowledge is advanced suggests that Tylor was wrong in proposing that religion declines as science provides better answers.

Accepted Answer

Edward B. Tylor's theory, which suggested that religion would decline as scientific understanding increased, is contradicted by the continued presence and vitality of religious beliefs and institutions in many scientifically advanced societies. This coexistence indicates that religion fulfills different or additional needs beyond the explanatory scope of science.

Question 3

Contrast ritual behavior with ordinary behavior. Give examples of religious and secular rituals. What are the main differences between such kinds of ritual?

Accepted Answer

Ritual behavior can be contrasted with ordinary behavior in several ways. Ritual behavior is often characterized by a set of prescribed actions or ceremonies that are performed in a specific sequence and with a specific purpose. These actions are often symbolic and are meant to convey meaning or bring about a certain outcome. In contrast, ordinary behavior is typically unstructured and can vary widely depending on the individual or situation.

Examples of religious rituals include the Catholic Mass, where specific prayers, readings, and actions are performed in a specific order, and the Hindu puja ceremony, which involves offering prayers, flowers, and food to deities. Examples of secular rituals include graduation ceremonies, where students receive diplomas and are recognized for their academic achievements, and wedding ceremonies, which involve specific vows and rituals to unite a couple in marriage.

The main differences between religious and secular rituals lie in their purpose and context. Religious rituals are often performed as a means of worship, devotion, or spiritual connection, and are typically associated with a specific belief system or tradition. In contrast, secular rituals are often performed to mark important life events or transitions, such as birth, marriage, or death, and may not have a spiritual or religious significance. Additionally, religious rituals are often steeped in tradition and have a sacred or symbolic meaning, while secular rituals may be more focused on social or cultural customs.

Question 4

Is religion becoming more or less important in contemporary American society? Why? If you believe that religion is becoming less important, what is replacing it?

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

What is a rite of passage? What three phases ordinarily constitute a rite of passage? Provide at least two different examples to illustrate your answer.

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

Discuss two cases in which religion played an important role in social change.

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Discuss three ways religion may act as a form of social control. How do leaders mobilize communities and gain support for their policies? Consider the connections between religion and politics in states, both ancient and modern.

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Which of the following explanations of circumstances that shaped acceptance or rejection of the idea of women working outside the home is not true?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because it inaccurately states that women were sent back to work in the home after World War II due to soldiers returning and filling the workforce. In reality, many women remained in the workforce or sought other employment opportunities, and the period saw a continuation of the trend towards increased female employment, not a reversal.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is not consistent with the discussion of the cultural shaping of sexual potential and orientation presented in the text?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B because it incorrectly suggests that biological factors are clearly more important than cultural factors in shaping sexual orientation, which contradicts the idea that culture plays a significant role in shaping sexual potential and orientation.

Question 10

What have recent cross-cultural studies of gender roles demonstrated?

Accepted Answer

Recent cross-cultural studies have shown that the relative status of women varies significantly across different societies, influenced by various factors such as the society's subsistence strategy, the role of warfare, and the division between domestic and public spheres.

Question 11

The feminization of poverty-the increasing representation of women and their children among America's poorest people-has occurred alongside gains that other American women have made in the economy.

Accepted Answer

The feminization of poverty refers to the phenomenon where women represent a disproportionate percentage of the world's poor, and this has indeed occurred even as some women have made significant economic advances. This trend highlights the growing economic inequality among different groups of women, with issues such as wage gaps, single motherhood, and inadequate access to welfare support contributing to the problem.

Question 12

Compare two of the following in terms of gender roles and stratification: (a) foraging societies, (b) matrilineal-matrilocal societies, (c) patrilineal-patrilocal societies, (d) agricultural societies, and (e) industrial societies.

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

What is the domestic-public dichotomy? In what kinds of societies is it more pronounced? Less pronounced (or even nonexistent)? How is it related to gender stratification?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Are certain sexual preferences more natural than others? Use cross-cultural evidence to substantiate your argument.

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Question 15

What is a matriarchy? Have anthropologists ever encountered one? If so, describe it; if not, describe the closest approximation. How does it compare to a patriarchy?

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

What effects did the advent of food production have on the roles and status of women?

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

What social, political, and economic conditions influence gender stratification and violence against women?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

How has industrialism affected gender roles and stratification? How and why is poverty becoming feminized?

Accepted Answer

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Question 19

What particular aspect of life in industrial nations makes the nuclear family practical?

Accepted Answer

Geographic mobility and the need to live where jobs are available often lead to family isolation, making it practical for middle-class couples to establish their own nuclear families.

Question 20

What does each of these marriage practices-arranged marriage, lobola, sororate and levirate-best illustrate about marriage?

Accepted Answer

These marriage practices illustrate the importance of marriage as an alliance between groups, emphasizing social, economic, and political ties rather than individual romantic love. Arranged marriages often consider the benefits to the wider family or social group. Lobola, a bride price or dowry system, directly involves the families in the marriage process through economic transactions. Sororate and levirate marriages, where a widow marries her deceased husband's brother (levirate) or a widower marries his deceased wife's sister (sororate), reinforce alliances between kin groups and ensure the welfare of the surviving spouse within the kinship network.

Quiz 1: Culture