BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Anthropology 3 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which subfield of anthropology focuses on the physical and biological aspects of human evolution and variation?
- Cultural anthropology
- Linguistic anthropology
- Biological (physical) anthropology (Correct answer)
- Archaeological anthropology
Correct answer: Biological (physical) anthropology
Biological anthropology studies human evolution, genetics, primatology, and variation in physical traits across populations.
Question 2: What is 'totemism' as described by Claude LĂ©vi-Strauss?
- A form of ancestor worship practiced in Polynesia
- A symbolic system in which natural species serve as markers of social group differences (Correct answer)
- An economic exchange system based on animal products
- A healing ritual using animal spirits
Correct answer: A symbolic system in which natural species serve as markers of social group differences
LĂ©vi-Strauss argued that totems are good to 'think with'ânatural categories used to express social distinctions rather than literal worship.
Question 3: The concept of 'mana' in Polynesian cultures refers to:
- A formal legal code governing inter-island trade
- An impersonal supernatural force or power residing in persons and objects (Correct answer)
- The head chief's right to redistribute food
- A ritual mourning practice after a chief's death
Correct answer: An impersonal supernatural force or power residing in persons and objects
Mana is an impersonal, transferable spiritual force that can be concentrated in individuals, objects, or places and confers power and prestige.
Question 4: What does the anthropological term 'exogamy' mean?
- Marriage within one's own social group
- Marriage outside one's own defined social group (Correct answer)
- Marriage between close biological relatives
- A system of arranged marriages negotiated by elders
Correct answer: Marriage outside one's own defined social group
Exogamy requires individuals to marry outside their own clan, lineage, or community, often functioning to build alliances between groups.
Question 5: In archaeology, what is 'stratigraphy' used for?
- Determining the chemical composition of ancient artifacts
- Establishing relative chronology by analyzing the layering of soil deposits (Correct answer)
- Mapping the geographic distribution of artifact types
- Identifying the social status of individuals buried in a site
Correct answer: Establishing relative chronology by analyzing the layering of soil deposits
Stratigraphy uses the law of superpositionâolder layers lie beneath newer onesâto establish the relative age of artifacts and features.
Question 6: Which concept from Marcel Mauss describes a system of obligatory, reciprocal gift exchange that creates lasting social bonds?
- Potlatch
- The gift (don) (Correct answer)
- Bride price
- Redistributive economy
Correct answer: The gift (don)
Mauss argued in 'The Gift' that gift-giving involves obligations to give, receive, and reciprocate, embedding economic acts in social relationships.
Question 7: What is 'cultural hegemony' as theorized by Antonio Gramsci and applied in anthropology?
- Military dominance of one culture over another through force
- The process by which dominant groups maintain power through consent and ideology rather than coercion (Correct answer)
- The diffusion of cultural traits across geographic boundaries
- A form of government in which cultural leaders hold political authority
Correct answer: The process by which dominant groups maintain power through consent and ideology rather than coercion
Cultural hegemony describes how ruling classes maintain dominance by making their worldview appear natural and universal, securing consent rather than relying solely on force.
BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Anthropology 3
Which subfield of anthropology focuses on the physical and biological aspects of human evolution and variation?