Question 1

Image magic is an example of:
A)contagious magic
B)homeopathic magic
C)harmonious magic
D)representational magic

Accepted Answer

Image magic is an example of homeopathic magic, which operates on the principle of "like affects like." In this type of magic, creating an image or likeness of a person or object is believed to affect the person or object itself.

Question 2

Branislaw Malinowski theorized that magic rituals serve to help the person who practices them to:
A)keep his mind off the upcoming activity
B)try to control or eliminate the elements of chance and uncertainty
C)fit into his society's norms
D)remove the supernatural influence on everyday endeavors

Accepted Answer

According to Malinowski's functionalist theory, magic rituals are performed in order to control or eliminate the elements of chance and uncertainty in everyday life, such as agricultural yields or the outcome of a hunting expedition. The focus is on achieving practical goals rather than fitting into societal norms or removing supernatural influence.

Question 3

To people who practice magic it appears never to fail because:
A)if you do not get the expected result it is because you did not do it right
B)if it does fail,someone else was doing countermagic
C)humans tend to remember successes and forget failures
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

People who practice magic often believe that if they don't get the expected result, it's because they didn't do it right or that someone else was doing countermagic. Additionally, humans tend to remember their successes and forget their failures, leading them to believe that magic "never fails." Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 4

Magic is most frequently found in situations that are:
A)unpredictable
B)reasonably reliable
C)associated with those at the fringes of society
D)associated with the politically powerful

Accepted Answer

Magic is often used to explain unpredictable or unexplainable events or situations, such as unexpected weather patterns or coincidences.

Answer: C 
 In many societies, those who are considered outsiders, such as shamans or witches, are believed to possess magical abilities.

Question 5

The doctrine of signatures tells us that:
A)plants have signs that proclaim their use
B)the future can be read in a person's signature
C)cures occur when a person touches the correct sign painted on a cave wall
D)certain hand gestures must be avoided or else the individual will fall ill

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of signatures is a concept in herbal medicine that suggests that plants have physical clues or "signatures" that indicate their therapeutic properties or potential uses. These signatures might include the shape, color, or texture of a plant, or the environment in which it grows. For example, plants with heart-shaped leaves might be considered beneficial for heart health, while plants with yellow or orange roots might be used to treat liver or digestive problems. While not necessarily scientifically proven, the doctrine of signatures has been a popular concept in herbal medicine for hundreds of years.

Question 6

Important features of magic are that magic:
A)creates hypotheses and theories
B)comes to testable conclusions
C)deals only with empirical observations
D)assumes a causal relationship between things that look similar

Accepted Answer

Magic assumes a causal relationship between things that look similar. This is the basis of many magical practices, such as sympathetic magic, where an object is believed to have a connection or influence on another object that resembles it in some way. Magic may make use of empirical observations, but it is not limited to them and does not necessarily come to testable conclusions or create hypotheses and theories in the same way that science does.

Question 7

The oral text of a magical ritual is often known as a:
A)spell
B)recitation
C)charm
D)liturgy

Accepted Answer

A magical ritual often involves an oral text, which is commonly known as a spell. Spells are recited with the intention of invoking a supernatural power or effect.

Question 8

Magic refers to rituals that people use to:
A)control the supernatural
B)call upon the deities for help
C)move a person from one status to another
D)explain a society's worldview

Accepted Answer

Magic is a practice used to control or manipulate supernatural forces for personal gain or to solve problems. It is not necessarily tied to religion or deities, and is often performed by individuals rather than religious leaders. Magic may also be used for social purposes, such as moving a person from one social status to another, but this is not its primary function. While magic can give insight into a society's worldview, it is not used primarily to explain it.

Question 9

Edward Tyler did not consider magic to be a part of religion because magic:
A)did not involve the performance of rituals
B)was not performed by religious specialists
C)did not involve gods and spirits
D)is used primarily to achieve evil ends

Accepted Answer

Edward Tyler believed that religion involved the worship of gods and spirits, while magic did not necessarily involve them. Therefore, he did not consider magic to be a part of religion.

Question 10

Magic that is based upon the Law of Similarity is termed:
A)contagious magic
B)homeopathic magic
C)sympathetic magic
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Homeopathic magic, also known as sympathetic magic, is based on the Law of Similarity, where like affects like.

Question 11

An example of homeopathic magic is:
A)praying for a god's blessing
B)Hopi villagers performing a kachina dance
C)imitating the mating and reproduction of an animal
D)reciting an evil spell over an enemy's hair clippings

Accepted Answer

Homeopathic magic involves imitating or symbolically representing the desired outcome in order to achieve it. Option C, imitating the mating and reproduction of an animal, falls under this category. Praying for a god's blessing (option A) falls under sympathetic magic, where the desired outcome is believed to be achieved through the intervention of a supernatural being. Hopi villagers performing a kachina dance (option B) is a form of ceremonial magic, which involves a ritual with a symbolic significance. Reciting an evil spell over an enemy's hair clippings (option D) falls under black magic, which involves the use of supernatural powers for evil and selfish purposes.

Question 12

Magic ritual usually includes:
A)a spell
B)the manipulation of objects
C)special conditions for the performer of the ritual
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Magic ritual typically includes all of the above, including spells, the manipulation of objects, and special conditions for the performer of the ritual. These elements are believed to create a specific energy or intention that can bring about the desired outcome.

Question 13

Magic refers to the:
A)belief in a generalized supernatural power
B)belief in an ancestor that has been transformed into a god
C)use of ritual to cause injury or death
D)use of ritual to control events through supernatural mechanisms

Accepted Answer

Magic is often associated with the use of rituals to control events through supernatural means, such as using spells or incantations to achieve a desired outcome. Belief in a generalized supernatural power and belief in ancestor worship may be related to various religious beliefs, but they do not specifically pertain to magic. The use of ritual to cause harm goes against the general definition of magic, which is usually focused on positive outcomes or achieving goals.

Question 14

An example of contagious magic as a part of American folk medicine is:
A)a tea made of red flowers is good for bleeding
B)drawings of deer on the side of a barn will bring success in hunting
C)rub a penny on a wart and then throw the penny away to get rid of the wart
D)none of the above Answer c: page 139

Accepted Answer

The example given in choice C involves the use of contagious magic through physical contact with an object (the penny) believed to have the power to transfer its qualities (the ability to get rid of warts) to the person who uses it. The belief in this practice is a common aspect of American folk medicine. Choices A and B do not involve contagious magic, and choice D is not a valid answer as it does not provide any option.

Question 15

Émile Durkheim did not consider magic to be part of religion because:
A)religion involves the whole community but magic focuses on an individual
B)magic is not performed by religious specialists
C)magic does not involve gods and spirits
D)magic does not involve the performance of rituals

Accepted Answer

Durkheim argued that a key difference between religion and magic is that religion is a communal or collective affair that involves the whole community, whereas magic is more individualistic, focusing on the needs or desires of individuals rather than the group as a whole.

Question 16

The Law of Sympathy was developed by:
A)Edward Tyler
B)Robert Marett
C)Branislaw Malinowski
D)James Frazer

Accepted Answer

James Frazer developed the Law of Sympathy, which is a principle in magic and religion that describes how things can affect each other through similarity or contact, as outlined in his work "The Golden Bough".

Question 17

Magic-like rituals are an important part of the behavior of athletes in athletic competition.Certain ritual behaviors,such as wearing the same clothing or washing one's hands after a losing inning,are:
A)learned and passed down in particular baseball teams
B)adopted because the player associated certain activities with success
C)purchased from magical specialists
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Athletes adopt ritual behaviors because they associate these activities with success. These behaviors may have no rational basis, but the athlete believes that they will bring good luck and enhance their performance. Such behaviors are learned and adopted by individuals, rather than being passed down through traditional teams or purchased from magical specialists.

Question 18

The Law of Similarity states that:
A)magic depends on the apparent association between things
B)things that were once in contact continue to be connected
C)things that are alike are the same
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

The Law of Similarity states that things that are alike are the same. This is based on the idea that there is a connection between things that share similar characteristics.

Question 19

The Law of Contact (Contagion)states that:
A)magic depends on the apparent association between things
B)things which are alike are the same
C)things that were once in contact continue to be connected
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

The Law of Contagion or Contact states that objects or individuals that have been in contact with each other continue to interact at a distance even after physical contact has been severed. This principle is often used in magical and religious contexts to explain how items or people can influence each other through previous connections.

Question 20

Among Australian aborigines,the family will react to what they believe is an impending death by:
A)singing ancestral songs
B)withdrawing from the dying person
C)withholding food and water
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Among Australian aborigines, the family's reaction to what they believe is an impending death includes a combination of practices such as singing ancestral songs, withdrawing from the dying person, and withholding food and water. These actions are rooted in their cultural beliefs and practices surrounding death and the dying process.

Quiz 7: Magic and Divination

Image magic is an example of:

Branislaw Malinowski theorized that magic rituals serve to help the person who practices them to:

To people who practice magic it appears never to fail because:

Magic is most frequently found in situations that are:

The doctrine of signatures tells us that:

Important features of magic are that magic:

The oral text of a magical ritual is often known as a:

Magic refers to rituals that people use to:

Edward Tyler did not consider magic to be a part of religion because magic:

Magic that is based upon the Law of Similarity is termed:

An example of homeopathic magic is:

Magic ritual usually includes:

Magic refers to the:

An example of contagious magic as a part of American folk medicine is:

Émile Durkheim did not consider magic to be part of religion because:

The Law of Sympathy was developed by:

Magic-like rituals are an important part of the behavior of athletes in athletic competition.Certain ritual behaviors,such as wearing the same clothing or washing one's hands after a losing inning,are:

The Law of Similarity states that:

The Law of Contact (Contagion) states that:

Among Australian aborigines,the family will react to what they believe is an impending death by: