Most groups of people have tales about where they came from and when, which unite
them as a group. These tales are known as:
a. creation stories.
b. folk tales.
c. histories.
d. origin myths.
e. tall tales.
Karl Marx examined social inequality by distinguishing between which two distinct
classes of people?
a. prestige and proletariat
b. bourgeoisie and elite
c. proletariat and impoverished
d. elite and privileged
e. bourgeoisie and proletariat
Where have the fossils of our earliest human ancestors been found?
a. Africa
b. Europe
c. North America
d. Australia
e. Asia
For anthropologists, ________ refers to the observable physical differences between
male and female human beings, especially the biological differences related to human
reproduction.
a. gender
b. sex
c. reproduction
d. performance
e. dimorphism
Which of the following is a technique of relative dating?
a. stratigraphy
b. radiocarbon
c. potassium/argon
d. radiopotassium
e. uranium/lead
Individuals and groups have the power to contest cultural norms, values, mental maps
of reality, symbols, institutions, and structures of power, which is a potential known as:
a. individualism.
b. power.
c. coercion.
d. agency.
e. hegemony.
An autonomous political unit composed of a number of villages or communities under
the permanent control of a paramount chief is referred to as a:
a. group.
b. band.
c. tribe.
d. chiefdom.
e. state.
In Keith Basso’s research with the Western Apache of Arizona, places in the landscape
were:
a. organized into digital archives.
b. connected to local stories and cultural values.
c. embedded into texts that had been carefully translated into English.
d. difficult to find given the desert terrain.
e. separate from the local folklore.
________ is a discrete, natural entity that can be clinically identified and treated by a
health professional.
a. Illness
b. Disease
c. Culture
d. Psychosomatic illness
e. Susto
The author suggests that with regard to the case of Muslim taxi drivers in Minnesota:
a. religious beliefs about alcohol use affected local transportation services.
b. the refusal to wear appropriate attire led to disciplinary action.
c. it was legal to ban Somalis from taking taxis in Minneapolis.
d. disciplinary action for refusing to take a fare proved to be an effective strategy.
e. the Metropolitan Airports Commission refused to seek input from local Somalis.
Which of the following rites enacts a change of status from one life state to another,
either for an individual or for a group?
a. rites of entry
b. rites of engagement
c. rites of passion
d. rites of enculturation
e. rites of passage
What field traces the history of human evolution by reconstructing the human fossil
record?
a. prehistoric archaeology
b. primatology
c. evolutionary archaeology
d. genetics
e. paleoanthropology
In the 1920s, Italian immigrants were considered dark, strange, and often subhuman by
the “white” majority in the United States, who were then primarily of northern
European descent. But today, the descendents of these immigrants are considered
ordinary “white” folk. This demonstrates the concept of:
a. segregation.
b. nationalization.
c. incorporation.
d. indoctrination.
e. assimilation.
During the colonial period, colonial powers redrew the political boundaries of much of
the world to suit their economic needs and without regard to local ethnic, political, or
religious realities. When colonialism ended, these new boundaries became new
countries and most had groups claiming multiple ethnicities and identities within these
new countries. This has resulted in:
a. civil war.
b. ethnic cleansing.
c. ethnic conflict.
d. genocide.
e. all of the above
On average, human men weigh ________ more than women.
a. 5 percent
b. 15 percent
c. 25 percent
d. 30 percent
e. 50 percent
What is the term for the natural history of Earth and the universe, including the span of
human existence?
a. evolution
b. multiregional replacement thesis
c. natural selection
d. Deep Time
e. creation
Anthropologist George Gmelch examined the rituals, taboos, and sacred objects of
magic that are in almost constant use in which of the following sports?
a. basketball
b. soccer
c. baseball
d. ice hockey
e. football
Which field of anthropology uses participant observation as a research strategy?
a. historic linguistics
b. cultural anthropology
c. primatology
d. archaeology
e. descriptive linguistics
Matthew Gutmann’s research in Mexico indicates that:
a. all men strive to be “macho.”
b. no women want to be with “macho” men.
c. the traits of machismo are found only in the upper classes.
d. lesbians have begun adopting “macho” behavior.
e. masculine identity is in flux and negotiable.
Deborah Tannen’s research into the ways that boys and girls speak demonstrates that:
a. they essentially grow up in different linguistic worlds.
b. differences are primarily based on biology, not processes of socialization.
c. they have nearly identical communication strategies.
d. while boys hang out in small groups, girls tend to interact in larger groups.
e. the best way to understand gender and language is through the “dominance” model.
Many societies in the world divide people into groups based on supposed biological and
social/intellectual differences. These groups are called:
a. clines.
b. ethnicities.
c. phylogenies.
d. races.
e. taxa.
Anthropological studies of art rely most on which of the human senses?
a. sight
b. sound
c. taste
d. touch
e. none of the above
The research conducted by anthropologist ________ regarding the production and
exchange of sugar was an important study of the impacts of colonialism and
globalization at the local level.
a. Margaret Mead
b. Barbara Myerhof
c. Sidney Mintz
d. Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
e. Bronislaw Malinowski
Anthropologists define ________ as the expectations of thought and behavior that each
culture assigns to individuals.
a. intersex
b. sex
c. reproduction
d. gender
e. dimorphism
In the early part of the twenty-first century, the number of people arriving in the United
States by region included:
a. 50 percent from Asia and 25 percent from Latin America.
b. 25 percent from Latin America and 50 percent from Africa.
c. 25 percent from Asia and 50 percent from Latin America.
d. one-third from Asia and 50 percent from Oceania.
e. 45 percent from Latin America and 40 percent from Europe.
Which of the following statements is true?
a. People make sense of the world, reach decisions, and organize their lives on the basis
of their religious beliefs.
b. In a globalized world, religion has very little to do with humans lives.
c. Anthropology’s primary interest in religion is to discover its truth or falsity.
d. Religion is not lived out in a community, but rather in isolation.
e. Religious expression in a culture is universal, without local variations.
A primary component of the “fag discourse” in US high schools is:
a. bullying of boys whose behavior is seen as sufficiently masculine, even if the boys
are heterosexual.
b. bullying of boys whose behavior is seen as not sufficiently masculine, even if the
boys are heterosexual.
c. bullying of girls whose behavior is seen as masculine, even if the girls are
heterosexual.
d. bullying of boys whose behavior is seen as sufficiently masculine, especially if the
boys are homosexual.
e. bullying of girls whose behavior is seen as masculine, especially if the girls are
homosexual.
Because she has been a community activist and advocate for her research subjects, and
founded Organs Watch as a watchdog organization, Nancy Scheper-Hughes’ research
could be considered a form of ________ ethnography.
a. experimental
b. public
c. mutual
d. organizational
e. informed
Which of the following is considered a general rule that forbids sexual relations with
close relatives?
a. incest moderation
b. incest regulation
c. incest law
d. incest taboo
e. incest prohibition
What population did Bridget Jordan and Robbie Davis-Floyd study?
a. Hmong immigrants in the United States
b. the Fore of New Guinea
c. expectant mothers in Mexico, Sweden, Holland, and the United States
d. mothers in New York City
e. impoverished Haitians
Anthropologist Aimee Cox’s personal story focuses on her experiences as a(n):
a. opera singer.
b. sculptor.
c. painter.
d. dancer.
e. actress.
The position that the free market and free trade rather than the state are the main
mechanisms for ensuring economic growth is associated with:
a. John Keynes.
b. Adam Smith.
c. Karl Marx.
d. Henry Ford.
e. Immanuel Wallerstein.
What are the five categories in which paleoanthropologists have grouped our immediate
ancestors? Briefly define each.
Why is understanding the foraging lifestyle so important to economic anthropologists?
When did humans first use this adaptive strategy, and how many humans rely on this
practice today? What are the primary locations where it is practiced today? What have
anthropologists learned about this lifestyle through studies of the Dobe !Kung? Think
specifically of the resources and means of obtaining them, settlement patterns, and
division of labor.
As discussed in this text, Globalization has meant greater economic overlap and
communications between different nations. Anthropological studies of art traced the
production and sale of art created in once-remote locations to galleries and shops on the
other side of the world. When did so-called ethnic art become more popular? Using two
specific examples discussed for Africa, explain how art produced in one part of the
world is distributed and consumed in the United States or Europe. Who are the two
primary types of buyersand discuss three categories of individuals most directly
involved in selling the works of art abroad?
Anthropologists believe that culture plays an underlying role in ways that health
is perceived, experienced, and treated. Using the example of the Maya of Yucatn,
identify two specific aspects of the birth process and explain how these reflect local
cultural values and
community conditions.
What distinguishes Wallerstein’s notions of core, peripheral, and semiperipheral
nations? Define each, and explain how they correlate to the concepts of colonial and
postcolonial nations. After explaining the role of each in production or exchange
networks, explainusing the example of Appalachia from the texthow a peripheral area
can exist within a core. Provide a second example of how a core can exist within a
periphery. How does the author account for this phenomenon?
Discuss the role of colonial powers in regulating sexuality in the colonies. How did
colonial legislation impact colonial employees of companies such as the Dutch East
India Company, their wives, colonized women, and colonized men? How does attention
to intersectionality in this historical example help to illuminate the connection between
power and sexuality?
Identify three reasons why anthropologists feel that the concept of “race” is a flawed
system of classification, and give an example to support each reason.
Compare and contrast gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies with the traditional
“white wedding.” How might the differences between these rituals be minimized by the
legalization of same-sex marriage? In what ways are gay and lesbian commitment
ceremonies both rituals of acceptance and resistance?
Contemporary economic relations in many societies today tend to be organized around
the exchange of money for services rather than around patterns of reciprocity. However,
patterns of reciprocity still exist today even within highly stratified societies. What are
three examples of patterns of reciprocity that are likely to occur in highly stratified
societies today, and what purpose do they serve within or between social groups? How
does gift giving relate to patterns of reciprocity and what may be some underlying
motivations in gift giving that are related to group survival or benefit? Given the
longevity of reciprocity as a social pattern within human evolutionary experience, do
you think it will continue to be present within and among social groups in the future?
Why or why not?
Chapter 2 begins with a brief vignette regarding the cultural misunderstanding
surrounding a kiss. Describe an example of a cultural misunderstanding that you have
experienced in your own life and discuss the ways in which differing cultural norms,
values, symbols, and mental maps of reality likely contributed to the misunderstanding
that occurred. Conclude by discussing whether you took action to address the
misunderstanding and what knowledge may have helped you in determining the
appropriate response.
Describe the concept of agency and how it works, and give an example from the class.
Marriage in various forms occurs all over the world. In the United States, we typically
practice kindred exogamy. What is kindred exogamy and what are two examples of
marriages that would violate its rules? How does exogamy generally differ from
endogamy? Is endogamy officially or unofficially practiced in the United States? What
are two examples of unofficial or implicit endogamy that may occur in a group of
people? What are some benefits and drawbacks of exogamy and endogamy?
Discuss ways that women’s participation in the migratory process, including their role
in “the global care chain,” reflects both gender role stereotypes and economic
inequalities in the twenty-first century.
The author discusses the importance of art found in caves inhabited by humans in the
Paleolithic era for understanding the lifestyles of early humans. Summarize the
important finds in Africa and Europe to explain how archaeological excavations of the
painters’ studio found in the cave have shone new light on our knowledge and
understanding of the technologies developed by early humans, including when humans
created art. Use two additional examples from southern Europe to discuss ways that
evidence from the Paleolithic era has expanded our understanding of the social life and
religious beliefs of “cavemen” and the way that human cultures have developed,
including when we see evidence of widespread production of art.
The importance of “provenance”or the origins of a piece of “fine art” or an antiquehas
long been a critical component of its value for buyers. The text discusses a similar type
of evaluation that occurs depending on the perceived “authenticity” of so-called
primitive art. Using the specific example of the art produced by the Pintupi, explain
how what is essentially an “invented” way of producing art is marketed as a reflection
of the Pintupi’s “traditional” culture. Having done that, explain how this “invented
tradition” has helped to establish the Pintupi’s identity on national and global levels.
The advertising industry is key in arousing human desires for goods and services, which
engenders the culture of consumerism. How does the power of advertising compare to
the power of hegemony in influencing what people consider to be the “norm” in their
cultural experiences? Are there any interconnections between the culture of
consumerism and political organization in society today? Is there any evidence that
suggests that advertising is also used as a tool in politics to support and to institute
hegemonic ideologies of certain groups who hold power within societies? Please
provide concrete examples with each of your answers.
European colonizers used particular strategies to control the sexual practice of people
under their rule. Imagine that you are an unusually progressive young anthropologist
who has been recruited by the British East India Company or another European colonial
power to make a study of the application of those strategies. What are your findings,
and what research methods do you use to obtain them? What are your ethical concerns?
What are the unique challenges and opportunities faced by what the author calls the
“1.5 generation”? Define this term, and compare and contrast how the experience of this
generation compares to first- and second-generation migrants. Be sure to use concrete
examples to explain how these generations become part of U.S. culture.
Summarize the process of how sickle-cell anemia is an example of natural selection at
work in the human population.
Explain why geneticists state that dividing people into “races” by skin color is as logical
as dividing them by earwax.