Introduction to Anthropology MCQs

Introduction to Anthropology MCQs

Answer these 100+ Introduction to Anthropology MCQs and assess your grip on the subject of Introduction to Anthropology.
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1: Which of the following attributes distinguishes anthropology from other social sciences?

A.   Direct interaction with human subjects

B.   A holistic approach

C.   A scientific approach

D.   Avoidance of statistical methods

2: Which branch of linguistic anthropology would be likely to investigate the ways that grammatical structures influence the way people think?

A.   Sociolinguistics

B.   Historical linguistics

C.   Structural linguistics

D.   Descriptive linguistics

3: An anthropologist studying the ways that traditional myths influence human interactions with their environment would probably employ which of the following perspectives?

A.   A purely scientific perspective

B.   A purely humanistic perspective

C.   Both a scientific and a humanistic approach

D.   Neither a scientific nor a humanistic approach

4: A cultural anthropologist conducting cross-cultural comparisons of gender hierarchies would be engaging in which of the following?

A.   Ethnology

B.   Ethology

C.   Ethnography

D.   Ethnoarchaeology

5: The cross-cultural perspective of anthropology empowers us to explain patterns of human behavior elsewhere in the world but does little to help us understand our own society.

A.   True

B.   False

6: In which of the following projects would a biological anthropologist most likely be involved?

A.   A study of code-switching among international college students

B.   A study of tool use among chimpanzees

C.   A study of symbolic communication of faith through clothing

D.   A study of class hierarchy as reflected in material artifacts

7: What have anthropologists learned about essentialism through scientific, interdisciplinary research?

A.   Essentialist views are accurate reflections of biological categories.

B.   Essentialist views are cultural constructions, and are therefore not very powerful.

C.   Essentialist views are learned, but not until late adolescence.

D.   Essentialist views are learned, often by the young age of 4–6 years.

8: Anthropologist Scott Atran and his team interviewed Islamic State fighters in Iraq to test the hypothesis that spiritual and cognitive motivations encourage people to become militant insurgents. Which approach to research did they use?

A.   Deductive

B.   Inductive

C.   Reductive

D.   Reflexive

9: Archaeologists study cultures of the past and present by interpreting material remains.

A.   True

B.   False

10: As a rule, anthropologists use the scientific method and do not engage in humanistic or interpretive methods.

A.   True

B.   False

11: The study of _______ is called Anthropology.

A.   Insects

B.   Human kind

C.   Marine life

D.   Animals

12: The use of data gathered from the other subfields of anthropology to find practical solutions to problems in a society is called _______.

A.   Biological anthropology

B.   Cultural anthropology

C.   Applied anthropology

D.   None of these

13: The subfield of _______ that focuses on the study of the material remains of past societies to determine the lifestyles, history, and evolution of those societies is called Archaeology.

A.   Biology

B.   Science

C.   Anthropology

D.   Geology

14: The material products of ______ are called Artifacts.

A.   Present societies

B.   Past societies

C.   Future societies

D.   All of these

15: The subfield of anthropology (also referred to as physical anthropology) that studies the biological characteristics of humanity in the ________ is called Biological Anthropology.

A.   Past

B.   Present

C.   Future

D.   Both a and b

16: Archaeologists who do research on _______ civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, or Rome are called Classical Archeologists.

A.   Modern

B.   Ancient

C.   Traditional

D.   All of these

17: The subfield of anthropology that focuses on the study of _______ societies is called Cultural Anthropology.

A.   Ancient

B.   Historical

C.   Contemporary

D.   Classical

18: A method of investigation in which a scientist begins with a general _______, develops specific hypotheses, and tests them is called deductive method.

A.   Observation

B.   Law

C.   Theory

D.   None of these

19: The view that certain categories or classifications such as specific species, “races,” ethnic groups, genders, animals, plants, objects, or cultures have an underlying reality or true invisible “essence” that one cannot observe directly is called _______.

A.   Essentialism

B.   Vitalism

C.   Realism

D.   None of these

20: ________ who study material artifacts of the past along with the observation of modern peoples who have knowledge of the use and symbolic meaning of those artifacts are called Ethnoarchaeologists.

A.   Ethnologist

B.   Archaeologist

C.   Anthropologist

D.   All of these

21: The practice of judging another society by the values and standards of one’s own is called _______.

A.   Essentialism

B.   Deductive method

C.   Ethnography

D.   Ethnocentrism

22: A description of a society written by an ________ who conducted field research in that society is called Ethnography.

A.   Archaeologist

B.   Ethnologist

C.   Anthropologist

D.   Socialist

23: The study of the history of a particular ethnic group based on _______ is called Ethnohistory.

A.   Written documents

B.   Oral narratives

C.   Both a and b

D.   Symbolic representation

24: The subfield of anthropology that focuses on the cross-cultural aspects of ethnographic studies is called _______.

A.   Ethnography

B.   Ethnohistory

C.   Ethnocentrism

D.   Ethnology

25: The study of musical traditions in different societies is called _______.

A.   Ethnopoetics

B.   Musicology

C.   Ethnomusicology

D.   None of these

26: The study of the poetry _______ in different societies is called Ethnopoetics.

A.   Traditions

B.   Practices

C.   Cultures

D.   Both a and b

27: The remains of bones and living materials preserved from earlier periods are called ______.

A.   Remnant

B.   Impression

C.   Fossils

D.   Deposits

28: Archaeologists who do draw on ________ to investigate the societies of the more recent past.

A.   Documentary records

B.   Oral traditions

C.   Both a and b

D.   None of these

A.   Documentation

B.   Analysis

C.   Collection

D.   Comparison

30: A broad, comprehensive approach to the study of humankind drawing on the four subfields of anthropology and integrating both ________ phenomena is called Holistic.

A.   Biological and cultural

B.   Social and cultural

C.   Physiological

D.   All of these

31: A testable proposition concerning the relationship between different sets of variables within the collected data is called _______.

A.   Law

B.   Theory

C.   Observation

D.   Hypothesis

32: A method of investigation in which a scientist first makes observations and collects data and then formulates a hypothesis is known as______

A.   Inductive Method

B.   Deductive Method

C.   Descriptive Method

D.   Exploratory Method

33: Linguistic Anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that focuses on the study of_____.

A.   Signs

B.   Symbols

C.   Meaning

D.   Language

34: Linguistics is the study of _____

A.   Meaning

B.   Language

C.   Symbols

D.   Sounds

35: Middens refer to_____

A.   Ancient dumps

B.   Trash heaps

C.   Recycled heaps

D.   Both a and b

36: The study of human evolution through the analysis of fossil remains is known as_____

A.   Palaeontology

B.   Anthropology

C.   Palaeoanthropology

D.   None of these

37: The method used by the ethnographer who learns the culture of the group being studied by participating in the group’s daily activities is known as Participant Observation.

A.   True

B.   False

38: Archaeologists who study the artifacts of groups that have no written records to understand the past are known as_____

A.   Classical Archaeologists

B.   Historic Archaeologists

C.   Prehistoric Archaeologists

D.   All of these

39: Primates is a diverse order of mammals, including_____ , that share similar characteristics.

A.   Humans

B.   Monkeys

C.   Apes

D.   All of these

40: Primatology is the study of_____.

A.   Plants

B.   Primates

C.   Both a and b

D.   Fossils

41: Scientific Method is a method used to investigate the natural and social world involving_____

A.   Critical thinking

B.   Logical reasoning

C.   Skeptical thought

D.   All of these

A.   Linguistics

B.   Sociology

C.   Sociolinguistics

D.   Structural Linguistics

43: An area of research that investigates the structure of language patterns as they presently exist is known as Structural Linguistics.

A.   True

B.   False

44: Theories are interconnected _____ that offer general explanations of natural or social phenomena.

A.   Observations

B.   Hypothesis

C.   Laws

D.   Both a and b

45: Variable is a datum that does not vary from case to case.

A.   True

B.   False

46: Compared to modern humans, Neanderthals were short, stocky, and small-brained.

A.   True

B.   False

47: Evolution can be defined as a change in____________ frequency over time.

A.   Mutations, natural selection

B.   Allele

C.   Stochastic (random)

D.   Natural Selection

48: Independent individuals __________.

A.   Live without human interaction

B.   Are irresponsible and controlling

C.   Make confident decisions about their lives

D.   Avoid the complicated relationships of life

49: Play communicates about _____; ritual communicates about _____.

A.   Separation, transition

B.   What can be/what ought to be

C.   Transition, reaggregation

D.   None of these

50: The ratio of brain volume to body mass of homo ergaster is approximately _______.

A.   12 cm3/kg

B.   18 cm3/kg

C.   14 cm3/kg

D.   11 cm3/kg

51: Gaining a global understanding is ________

A.   Unimportant because the untied states is o rich and there is little reason for us to learn about other nations

B.   Important for college students because most new US jobs involve international trade

C.   Unimportant since there sis not longer very much poverty in the world

D.   It does not matter what goes on in other countries it only matter what we do in the USA

52: Six sigma programs involve both __________ and __________ components

A.   Probabilistic; deterministic

B.   Logistical; managerial

C.   Statistical; probabilistic

D.   Managerial; technical

E.   Local; global

53: The ideal cultural traits of a society __________.

A.   It is only present in societies with a market economy.

B.   Consist of the cultural patterns that most people always exhibit

C.   Hair color is neither learned nor shared throughout the culture.

D.   Cultural elements are a fairly eclectic assortment

54: Wilhelm wundt is to ____________, as william james is to __________.

A.   Psychodynamic Psychologist

B.   Structualsim; Functionalsim

C.   Termporal Lobe- Movements

D.   Psychiatrist

55: Homo describes a human _______________

A.   Humus

B.   Hemos

C.   Himos

56: Enculturation is _____________.

A.   Learning the customs and behaviors of another culture

B.   Teaching others about your personal beliefs

C.   Learning the customs and behaviors of your own culture

D.   Using cultural beliefs to communicate ethically

57: _________ refers to the measurement of patterns or characteristics found in the human body.

A.   LED monitors

B.   Resolution

C.   Stylus

D.   Biometrics

E.   Touchpad

58: The abo blood type system consists of ______ alleles.

A.   6

B.   4

C.   3

D.   2

59: Sex is to biology as __________ is to culture.

A.   Gender

B.   Creating a wholly owned subsidiary

C.   Domestication

D.   Exporting

60: ________ diffusion takes place when two cultures trade, intermarry, or wage war on one another.

A.   Bilateral

B.   Enculturated

C.   Indirect

D.   Forced

E.   Direct

61: Cultural transmission refers to the process of ________

A.   Passing cultural patterns from one generation to another.

B.   Have the lowest rate of crime victimization of any age group

C.   Have the highest rate of crime victimization of any age group

D.   Have the equal rate of crime victimization of any age group

62: Amicable behaviors that promote group cohesion are called _______ behaviors.

A.   Cultural

B.   Philopatric

C.   Ritualized

D.   Affiliative

63: The majority of neandertal fossils been found in _____________where they have been most studied.

A.   Asia

B.   India

C.   Africa

D.   Europe

64: This picture shows male and female ___________ in the process of fertilization.

A.   Nucleotides

B.   Genes

C.   Gametes

D.   Chromosomes

65: ________ spend almost all of their time on the ground, instead of in trees.

A.   Apes

B.   Gorillas

C.   Chimpanzees

D.   None of these

66: Bioarchaeology can provide information about the __________ of past populations.

A.   Health

B.   Activity

C.   Nutrition

D.   All of the above

67: __________ h. erectus were more robust than ___________ h. erectus.

A.   African; Asian

B.   H. heidelbergensis

C.   H. erectus

D.   H. sapiens

68: The oldowan tool industry involved removing ________ from ________.

A.   The Pacific Islands

B.   Flakes/cores

C.   Ergaster

D.   Massive

69: ________ is not a characteristic field technique used by ethnographers.

A.   Online surveys

B.   The genealogical method

C.   Participant observation

D.   Conversation

70: The molecular clock indicates that humans and chimpanzees diverged about ____ mya.

A.   5

B.   8

C.   6

D.   9

71: These stone tools made by h. erectus belong to the ___________ tool complex.

A.   Acheulian

B.   Tuberculosis

C.   Habitat changes.

D.   Nariokotome skeleton

72: ________ is the cornerstone of the research conducted by contemporary cultural anthropologists.

A.   Communications

B.   Polyvocality

C.   Intensified globalization.

D.   Participant observation

73: Techniques of subadult age estimation are based on multiple _________ processes.

A.   Public symphysis

B.   Dental development

C.   Developmental

D.   Childhood

74: The oldest neandertal site dates to _______, at _______.

A.   130,000 yBP; Krapina, Croatia

B.   They are common ancestors with neandertals

C.   It looks quite different from modern Native Americans skulls

D.   A decrease of both plant and animal species

75: The middle paleolithic is associated with _______ tools, which neandertals produced

A.   Middle paleolithic

B.   Mousterian

C.   Megafauna

D.   Paleoindians

E.   Microcephaly

76: __________ h. erectus were more robust than ___________ h. erectus.

A.   African/Asian

B.   Acheulian

C.   Bodo, Buia, and Bouri

D.   Zhoukoudian

77: A ________ features differential access to resources based on social stratification.

A.   Chiefdom

B.   Band

C.   Clan

D.   Tribe

E.   State

78: The homo erectus fossils from the lantian sites in china are dated to______ years old.

A.   300,000

B.   1.52 million

C.   500,000

D.   1.15 million

E.   800,000 to 450,000

79: Many scientists prefer "________" over "global warming" to denote changes in the environment.

A.   Deforestation

B.   Climate change

C.   Diaspora

D.   None of these

80: Noam chomskys assertion regarding the common origins of language is regarded as_________.

A.   Congnitivism

B.   Heteroglossia

C.   Prevarication

D.   Linguistic Diversity

81: The two principles of magic, wherever it is found, are the law of _______ and the law of _______.

A.   Mana, taboo

B.   Contagion, imitation

C.   Contagion, taboo

D.   Imitation, mana

82: New zealand's original human population probably arrived about ________ years ago from ________.

A.   1000/Polynesia.

B.   European rabbit

C.   Northern Europe/Southern Europe

D.   Refrigerated shipping

83: Neandertal remains have been recovered from sites dating between ________ years ago.

A.   Hunted meat

B.   27,000 and 150,000

C.   Legal aspects

D.   Different from

84: The postcranial skeleton of the neandertals was ________ compared with that of modern humans.

A.   Spain

B.   Israel

C.   Italy

D.   Massive.

85: An air mass originating in the gulf of mexico should be labeled ________.

A.   MT

B.   CP

C.   CT

D.   MP

86: Anthropologists, as well as other social scientists, feel that culture is __________.

A.   Learned and shared

B.   Inherited

C.   Transmitted only from one group to another

D.   Only a small part of how people learn their behaviors

87: Anthropology offers a ______ perspective on the human condition

A.   Narrow

B.   Broad

C.   Holism perspective

D.   None of the above

88: At present, archaeologists define the neolithic in terms of the presence of __________.

A.   Domesticated plants and animals

B.   Pottery and stone tools

C.   The rise of food production

D.   Irrigation and the use of domesticated cattle

89: Australopithecines show __________.

A.   No reduction of the canine, but partial reduction of the diastema

B.   An essentially ape-like dentition

C.   Some reduction of the canine and partial reduction or absence of the diastema

D.   Some reduction of the canine, but an ape-like diastema

90: Chemical analysis of the _________ can provide information on diets and habitats.

A.   Bones

B.   Teeth

C.   Bones and teeth

D.   None of these

91: Social scientists use the term ________ to refer to the socially approved use of power.

A.   Authority

B.   Influence

C.   Prestige

D.   None of these

92: The story of climate change during the cenozoic is generally one of __________.

A.   Warming and drying

B.   Warming and increased moisture

C.   Cooling and drying

D.   Cooling and increased moisture

93: Ethnomusicological research is most strongly influenced by ______ and ______.

A.   Anthropology, musicology

B.   Anthropology, linguistics

C.   Both of above

D.   None of above

94: Variation in gender contribution to primary subsistence relates directly to the type of __________.

A.   Food-getting

B.   Warfare

C.   Social stratification

D.   Gender roles.

95: ________ is the most important factor in determining an individual's power and prestige in a state.

A.   Socioeconomic class

B.   Speaking ability

C.   Anthropomorphism

D.   Physical size

96: ________ refers to the manipulation of the supernatural to accomplish specific goals.

A.   Animism

B.   Magic

C.   Religion

D.   A rite of passage

97: ___________ is the most abundant and the most geographically widespread of the fossil fuels.

A.   Uranium

B.   Natural Gas

C.   Coal

D.   Oil

98: Ethnoarchaeology is a(n) __________ approach to understanding the archaeological record

A.   Ranking

B.   Indirect

C.   Direct

D.   None

99: Darwin believed that ________________ was the primary cause of evolution.

A.   Natural selection

B.   Mutation

C.   Genetics

D.   Fossil evidence.

100: Early hominin meat-eaters might have obtained their meat by __________.

A.   A mixture of hunting and scavenging techniques

B.   Aggressive scavenging

C.   Passive scavenging

D.   All of these