Question 1

Science is considered self-correcting because

Accepted Answer

All three options given are accurate and contribute to the self-correcting nature of science. Theories can be adjusted or replaced based on new evidence or findings, hypotheses are formulated through careful observation and testing, and the process of hypothesis testing can lead to the rejection of previously held beliefs or hypotheses. Together, these mechanisms ensure that the scientific process is continuously improving and evolving to reflect our best understanding of the natural world.

Question 2

A family friend tells you that she just completed a summer internship where she helped law enforcement identify human remains using dental records, X-rays, and other indices of gender, height, and ethnicity.She is most likely studying

Accepted Answer

The use of dental records, X-rays, and other indices to identify human remains suggests that the family friend is likely studying forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropologists are trained to use skeletal and dental evidence to identify human remains and provide information about the deceased individual, including gender, height, and ancestry.

Question 3

You overhear a debate among anthropology graduate students regarding whether anthropology should be categorized as a biological or social science.You have learned in your introductory courses that it is both.Why is it both?

Accepted Answer

Anthropology encompasses both biological and social sciences because it incorporates the study of biology within the context of culture and behavior. This includes the study of human evolution, genetics, and biological variation, as well as the cultural and social factors that affect human biology and behavior. For example, anthropologists may study how dietary practices in different cultures impact health outcomes or how cultural beliefs about gender and sexuality shape social norms and behaviors.

Question 4

Charles Darwin

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who lived in the 1800s. He is known for his theory of evolution and natural selection, which he published in his book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.

Question 5

How is a theory different from a hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation relying on careful examination and testing of evidence, while a hypothesis is more tentative and is an educated guess or prediction that can be tested to support, refute or modify a theory. Therefore, a theory is more extensively tested and supported by evidence than a hypothesis. Answer A is incorrect because a hypothesis is a tentative explanation that can be refuted by new evidence, while a theory is a well-established explanation substantiated by evidence. Answer B is incorrect because a theory is based on well-established facts and evidence, and controversies may arise over interpretations or alternative theories. Answer D is incorrect because a theory has been tested more extensively than a hypothesis, which is why it is more reliable and useful for making predictions and guiding research.

Question 6

Physical anthropology

Accepted Answer

Physical anthropology is both a social science and a biological science as it combines the study of human biology and behavior with cultural and social aspects. It considers both environment and biology significant in understanding human evolution, variation, and adaptation.

Question 7

Just before the arrival of the Spanish on St.Catherines Island, people there

Accepted Answer

The people on St. Catherines Island had transitioned to agriculture and were among the first in the region to practice farming just before the Spanish arrived.

Question 8

Your friend Susan explains to you that she recently saw a televised debate regarding the presence of material culture in nonhuman animals.Susan agreed with the individual who claimed that objects used to manipulate environments were one of the defining characteristics of humans.When asked what your opinion is as an anthropologist, you say:

Accepted Answer

Recent research has shown that other primates, such as chimpanzees, also exhibit material culture by creating and using tools to manipulate their environments. While material culture may be a defining characteristic of human culture, it is not exclusive to humans.

Question 9

Chimpanzees in the wild have been observed to

Accepted Answer

Both options A and C are correct. Chimpanzees have been observed using rocks as hammers and anvils to crack open nuts, and also using stick tools to scoop termites from their nests. Additionally, while some primates have been observed using stone tools, there is currently no evidence to suggest that chimpanzees teach their offspring how to flake stone tools.

Question 10

How is biocultural anthropology different from cultural anthropology?

Accepted Answer

While cultural anthropology focuses on the study of human societies and cultural practices, biocultural anthropology builds upon this by examining the biological and genetic aspects that shape human behavior and culture. It seeks to understand the interplay between culture and biology, and how they influence each other.

Question 11

You are walking through a forest in the Central African Republic and you notice a twig that has had its bark removed and is stuck in a hole in a termite mound.The twig is an example of

Accepted Answer

The twig represents material culture as it is an object used by animals, tool use as it is used to extract termites, and learned behavior as this skill is often passed down through generations.

Question 12

How are modern humans distinguished from their earliest ancestors?

Accepted Answer

While all of the options played a role in distinguishing modern humans from their earliest ancestors, the most significant changes occurred with the development of hunting, speech, and dependence on domesticated foods. These adaptations allowed for more advanced social structures and led to the development of modern human cultures.

Question 13

Primatologists record a new series of owl monkey vocalizations in the wild.After rigorous analysis and playback experiments they determine that the sounds could not be argued to represent a language because they are random, unrelated, and elicit no response from other individuals.The primatologists determine this because they know that language is

Accepted Answer

The primatologists determine that the owl monkey vocalizations cannot be argued to represent a language because they are random and unrelated, and do not elicit any response from other individuals. This suggests that the vocalizations are not a set of symbols that refer to things other than themselves, which is a key characteristic of language. Option B is incorrect as it talks about chimpanzees, while the question is about owl monkeys. Option C is incorrect as it states that language is representative of all forms of primate communication, which is not true. Therefore, option A is the best choice for this question.

Question 14

The earliest stone tools discovered to date, are dated at

Accepted Answer

The earliest stone tools, known as the Oldowan tools, have been dated to about 2.6 million years ago.

Question 15

Physical anthropology as a discipline is concerned with

Accepted Answer

Physical anthropology as a discipline deals with all of these areas. It involves the study of skeletal pathology in order to understand human biology, primate behavior in order to understand our own evolution, and the study of fossilized human remains to reconstruct the evolutionary history of humans.

Question 16

How is culture defined?

Accepted Answer

Culture is a learned behavior that is transmitted from person to person. This is a widely accepted definition of culture in the field of anthropology. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Culture is not genetically determined, is important for physical anthropologists, and varies widely across societies and regions.

Question 17

Your professor passes around a skull and tells you that you can tell this individual lived after hominids began making and using tools for food processing.How can you tell?

Accepted Answer

A nonhoning canine is a trait that developed after hominids began making and using tools for food processing. Hominids with nonhoning canines have evolved to have smaller and shorter canines, which don't sharpen against other teeth like honing canines do. Therefore, the presence of a nonhoning canine in the skull would indicate that this individual lived after hominids began making and using tools for food processing.

Question 18

In your lab quiz you are provided with a hominid skull and asked to describe its unique characteristics and what they may tell you about the behavior of the individual.You notice that the gap typically seen between the canine and the third premolar on the lower jaw of living ape species is not present.On your answer sheet you note the following:

Accepted Answer

The absence of a gap (diastema) between the canine and premolar suggests a reduction in canine size, which is associated with hominids that developed tools for food processing, reducing the need for large canines.

Question 19

Bipedalism is considered one of the hallmarks of hominid evolution because

Accepted Answer

Bipedalism is considered one of the hallmarks of hominid evolution because it was the first evolutionary development that clearly distinguished us from other animals. Bipedalism allowed our early hominid ancestors to walk on two legs, freeing up their hands for tool use and other activities. This allowed for further evolution and development of the human species.

Question 20

Postcontact Indian children on the Georgia coast

Accepted Answer

Postcontact Indian children on the Georgia coast ate more corn than Indian children there before AD 1000. However, this increase in corn consumption led to a higher incidence of dental disease compared to Indian children before AD 1000. Therefore, both choices B and C are correct.

Quiz 1: What Is Physical Anthropology?