Question 1

What field of anthropology studies monkeys and apes, but not human beings?

Accepted Answer

Primatology is the field of anthropology that studies monkeys and apes, but excludes human beings. Physical anthropology studies the biological and physical aspects of humans and their ancestors. Paleoanthropology studies the evolution and behavior of humans and their ancestors. Prehistoric archaeology studies the material cultures of prehistoric societies, including human artifacts and behaviors.

Question 2

The Latin language of ancient Rome is no longer spoken routinely. What kind of work is needed to examine how Latin changed into the Romance languages of today (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Italian)?

Accepted Answer

Historic linguistics is the study of how languages change over time and the processes that lead to the development of new languages. It would be the best choice to examine how Latin changed into the Romance languages.

Question 3

What type of anthropologists explore any and all aspects of living human culture-from war and violence to love, sexuality, and child rearing-and look at the meanings that people from all over the world place on these things?

Accepted Answer

Cultural anthropologists specifically focus on exploring different aspects of living human culture and examining the meanings that people from various parts of the world attribute to these aspects. They study diverse aspects of culture, including but not limited to war and violence, love, sexuality, and child rearing. Archaelogists study human behavior in the past through material culture, while sociolinguists examine language and its functions in society. Physical anthropologists look at human biology and evolution.

Question 4

The scientific discipline that looks at genetics, evolution, the fossil record, and our closest relatives in the animal kingdom in order to gain a greater understanding of humans is known as:

Accepted Answer

Physical anthropology is the scientific discipline that focuses on studying the biological and physical aspects of humans, including genetics, evolution, and the fossil record. It also involves studying our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, such as apes and monkeys, in order to gain a better understanding of human biology and behavior. Prehistoric archaeology is focused more on reconstructing the lives of ancient peoples through the analysis of material culture. Primatology is a subfield of physical anthropology that specifically focuses on the study of primates. Cultural anthropology, on the other hand, is concerned with the study of human cultures, traditions, and beliefs.

Question 5

There is a huge inflow of refugees from the wars in the Middle East to parts of Europe and Scandinavia. What kind of anthropologist would probably offer the most useful input to the politicians making decisions about resettlement programs?

Accepted Answer

A cultural anthropologist would offer the most useful input as they specialize in studying human culture, including the cultural differences and similarities between the refugees and the host communities. They can provide valuable insight into how to mitigate potential cultural clashes, promote integration, and help both groups understand each other's values and practices.

Question 6

The theory of time-space compression suggests that the way we think about time and space has been transformed. What do anthropologists think might be the underlying reason for this?

Accepted Answer

The rapid innovation of communication and transportation has led to the compression of time and space, allowing for faster and more efficient movement of people, goods, and information across great distances. This has transformed the way we think about and experience time and space.

Question 7

Human beings have long been migrant, moving themselves, their material goods, and even ideas from one part of the world to another. What makes this process, which is now called globalization, seem so different today than in the past?

Accepted Answer

The process of globalization today is characterized by intensification, which refers to the rapid and increased movement of people, ideas, capital, and goods across borders and continents. This process has been facilitated by advances in communication and transportation technologies, resulting in a faster and more interconnected world than ever before. This intensification sets it apart from previous periods of migration and globalization, which may have been more gradual and limited in scope. The other answer choices (four-field approach, holism, and ethnocentrism) do not relate to the unique characteristics of contemporary globalization.

Question 8

An anthropologist looking to understand the impact humans have had on the environment by studying rock formations, polar ice caps and glaciers is most likely practicing what kind of anthropology?

Accepted Answer

Archaeology involves the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains, which can include rock formations, polar ice caps, and glaciers to understand past human-environment interactions.

Question 9

Participant observation as a research strategy is an essential part of which subfield of anthropology?

Accepted Answer

Participant observation is a key research strategy within the subfield of cultural anthropology, which focuses on studying human cultures and societies. Ethnological analysis may also involve participant observation, but is a broader term that encompasses the study of both cultural and biological aspects of human populations. Primatology and descriptive linguistics are separate subfields within anthropology that may use participant observation as a research strategy to some extent, but they do not primarily focus on the study of human cultures and societies.

Question 10

Cultural anthropologists often spend a great deal of time in the communities where they conduct research and they ask lots of questions as people work, celebrate, dance, or play games. What is the term used for this process?

Accepted Answer

Participant observation is the process by which cultural anthropologists immerse themselves in the communities they research, spending a significant amount of time observing and participating in daily activities while asking questions to gain a deeper understanding of the culture. The other options, ethnology and linguistic anthropology, refer to specific subfields within cultural anthropology, while the four-field approach encompasses all four subfields of anthropology (physical, cultural, linguistic, and archaeology) rather than a specific research method.

Question 11

Which discipline of anthropology studies human beings in the present and from the past through the excavation and analysis of human material artifacts?

Accepted Answer

Archaeology studies human beings in the present and from the past through the excavation and analysis of human material artifacts. Cultural anthropology studies the patterns of belief and behavior found in modern and historical cultures. Physical anthropology studies the biological and physical aspects of human beings, including their evolution, genetics, and health. Ethnology examines the social and cultural patterns of human societies and cultures.

Question 12

Marcus is studying developments in Chinese dialects over time, and how those dialects have evolved as migration has increased over the last two centuries. What kind of anthropological lens is Marcus using?

Accepted Answer

Marcus is using historic linguistics, which studies how languages change over time, including the evolution of dialects and the impact of migration on language development.

Question 13

Understanding miscommunications between men and women resulting from their differing use of language would demand a close examination of the cultural context of language. This would be the work of what type of anthropologist?

Accepted Answer

Sociolinguists study the cultural context of language and how it affects communication and understanding between different groups, including men and women. They analyze how language is used in different social situations and how language reflects cultural values and norms.

Question 14

Anthropologists take a comprehensive approach to understanding human beings. They accomplish this task by:

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists use the four-field approach, which includes biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology, to comprehensively understand human beings. While exploring the past is part of anthropology, it is not a comprehensive approach. Focusing mainly on biology or participant observation would not provide a comprehensive understanding of human beings.

Question 15

What do many scientists and experts call our current historical era, defined by the ways in which human activity is permanently reshaping our planet?

Accepted Answer

Many scientists and experts refer to our current historical era as the Anthropocene, which is characterized by human activity permanently reshaping our planet.

Question 16

What would we call an anthropologist working alongside a Native American group to map their spoken language into a written form?

Accepted Answer

A descriptive linguist is a specialist who analyzes the features and structures of a language in detail, including its grammar, syntax, and phonetics. They would be best suited to working alongside a Native American group to map their spoken language into a written form, as they have expertise in identifying and classifying linguistic structures. While cultural anthropologists, sociolinguists, and historic linguists may also be involved in language documentation and preservation efforts, descriptive linguists have the most direct training in this area.

Question 17

An anthropologist who has conducted fieldwork on Mormon fundamentalists and their marriage patterns wants to now compare those patterns to those of Muslim tradition. What would this require?

Accepted Answer

Conducting ethnological analysis involves comparing and analyzing different cultures, which is what the anthropologist wants to do by comparing Mormon fundamentalist marriage patterns to those of Muslim tradition.

Question 18

Ancient rift valleys and deep caves often contain human fossils that can provide clues about human evolution and the lives of our ancestors. What do we call an anthropologist who examines just the human evolutionary aspect of fossils?

Accepted Answer

A paleoanthropologist is an anthropologist who specializes in the study of human evolution and examines the fossils of early humans and their relatives to understand their cultural and biological development over time.

Question 19

What do we call the belief that one's own culture or way of life is normal and natural and the practices of other people are abnormal and unnatural?

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture or way of life is normal and natural, and the practices of other people are abnormal and unnatural. It is the tendency to judge other cultures by the standards and values of one's own culture.

Question 20

What kind of researchers work to record languages that are disappearing by finding the last speakers and making recordings and dictionaries to preserve them for the future?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive linguists specialize in documenting and describing languages, including those that are endangered or at risk of becoming extinct. They work to create recordings and dictionaries of these languages in order to preserve them for future generations. Historic linguists may also study endangered languages, but they focus on the historical evolution of languages and how they have changed over time. Cultural anthropologists and sociolinguists may also be interested in endangered languages, but their focus is broader and may include other aspects of culture or society.

Quiz 1: Anthropology in a Global Age