100 MCQ on Anthropology with answers-Test your Knowledge

Anthropology Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1

What is the primary focus of cultural anthropology?
A) The study of human evolution and genetics
B) The study of human societies, beliefs, and behaviors
C) The analysis of ancient artifacts and ruins
D) The examination of language structures

Correct Answer: B) The study of human societies, beliefs, and behaviors
Explanation: Cultural anthropology explores how humans create and maintain cultures through social practices, beliefs, and institutions. It involves fieldwork and participant observation to understand diverse ways of life. For example, Britannica’s overview of cultural anthropology explains its focus on norms, values, and rituals across societies. Options A, C, and D relate to biological, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology, respectively.

Question 2

Which anthropologist is best known for the concept of "cultural relativism"?
A) Margaret Mead
B) Franz Boas
C) Claude Lévi-Strauss
D) Bronisław Malinowski

Correct Answer: B) Franz Boas
Explanation: Franz Boas introduced cultural relativism, the idea that a culture should be understood on its own terms, not judged by external standards. His work countered ethnocentrism in early anthropology. Learn more at The American Anthropological Association’s history page. Mead studied adolescence, Lévi-Strauss focused on structuralism, and Malinowski pioneered participant observation.

Question 3

What does the term "hominin" refer to in biological anthropology?
A) All primates, including monkeys and apes
B) Modern humans and their extinct bipedal ancestors
C) Early mammals from the Mesozoic era
D) Extinct reptiles related to dinosaurs

Correct Answer: B) Modern humans and their extinct bipedal ancestors
Explanation: Hominins include Homo sapiens and extinct species like Australopithecus and Homo erectus, all characterized by bipedalism. The Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program clarifies this distinction. Option A refers to primates, C is unrelated to anthropology, and D is paleontological.

Question 4

Which archaeological method is used to determine the age of organic remains up to 50,000 years old?
A) Potassium-argon dating
B) Thermoluminescence
C) Radiocarbon dating
D) Dendrochronology

Correct Answer: C) Radiocarbon dating
Explanation: Radiocarbon dating measures the decay of carbon-14 in organic materials like bones or charcoal, effective for up to 50,000 years. The University of Oxford’s Radiocarbon Web details its process. Potassium-argon dating is for older volcanic rocks, thermoluminescence for ceramics, and dendrochronology for tree rings.

Question 5

What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis in linguistic anthropology?
A) Language has no impact on thought processes
B) Language shapes how people perceive and think about the world
C) All languages share a universal grammar
D) Language evolution mirrors biological evolution

Correct Answer: B) Language shapes how people perceive and think about the world
Explanation: The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis suggests that the structure of a language influences its speakers’ cognition and worldview. For instance, languages with specific color terms affect color perception. Linguistic Society of America explains its implications. Other options misrepresent the hypothesis or relate to unrelated theories.

Question 6

Which of the following is a key characteristic of a matrilineal society?
A) Inheritance and descent are traced through the male line
B) Women hold primary political power
C) Inheritance and descent are traced through the female line
D) Marriage is forbidden within the community

Correct Answer: C) Inheritance and descent are traced through the female line
Explanation: In matrilineal societies, lineage and inheritance pass through women, though men may still hold power. The BBC’s article on matrilineal societies describes examples like the Khasi in India. Option A describes patrilineal systems, B confuses matriliny with matriarchy, and D is unrelated.

Question 7

What is the term for the practice of marrying outside one’s social group or clan?
A) Endogamy
B) Exogamy
C) Polygamy
D) Monogamy

Correct Answer: B) Exogamy
Explanation: Exogamy involves marrying outside one’s group, often to forge alliances or avoid inbreeding. Encyclopedia.com’s entry on exogamy explains its role in kinship systems. Endogamy is marrying within a group, polygamy involves multiple spouses, and monogamy is one spouse.

Question 8

Which fossil discovery provided evidence of bipedalism dating back over 3 million years?
A) Neanderthal remains
B) Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis)
C) Homo habilis tools
D) Java Man

Correct Answer: B) Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis)
Explanation: Lucy, discovered in 1974, is a 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis skeleton showing bipedal traits like a curved pelvis. National Geographic’s Lucy profile highlights her significance. Neanderthals and Homo habilis are later, and Java Man is Homo erectus.

Question 9

What is ethnography in anthropology?
A) The study of ancient texts
B) The detailed description of a culture based on fieldwork
C) The comparison of genetic data across populations
D) The reconstruction of historical events

Correct Answer: B) The detailed description of a culture based on fieldwork
Explanation: Ethnography involves immersive research to document a culture’s practices and beliefs, often through participant observation. The Royal Anthropological Institute describes its methods. Options A, C, and D relate to other disciplines or methods.

Question 10

Which theory suggests humans evolved in Africa before migrating globally?
A) Multiregional hypothesis
B) Out of Africa hypothesis
C) Aquatic ape theory
D) Diffusionist model

Correct Answer: B) Out of Africa hypothesis
Explanation: The Out of Africa hypothesis posits that modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa around 300,000 years ago before spreading worldwide. Nature’s human evolution overview supports this with genetic and fossil evidence. The multiregional hypothesis suggests parallel evolution, the aquatic ape theory is fringe, and diffusionism is unrelated.

Question 11

What is the term for a cultural practice where a bride’s family provides gifts or wealth to the groom’s family?
A) Bride price
B) Dowry
C) Corvée
D) Potlatch

Correct Answer: B) Dowry
Explanation: A dowry involves the bride’s family giving wealth or goods to the groom’s family, often to secure her status or support the new household. Encyclopedia Britannica’s dowry entry explains its global variations. Bride price is paid by the groom’s family, corvée is forced labor, and potlatch is a ceremonial gift-giving feast.

Question 12

Which hominin species is associated with the earliest known use of fire, approximately 1.5 million years ago?
A) Homo sapiens
B) Homo erectus
C) Australopithecus afarensis
D) Homo neanderthalensis

Correct Answer: B) Homo erectus
Explanation: Evidence from sites like Wonderwerk Cave suggests Homo erectus used fire as early as 1.5 million years ago for cooking and warmth. Smithsonian’s Human Origins details this milestone. Homo sapiens and Neanderthals appeared later, and Australopithecus lacked such capabilities.

Question 13

What is the primary goal of applied anthropology?
A) To publish academic theories
B) To solve practical problems using anthropological methods
C) To excavate ancient sites
D) To classify languages

Correct Answer: B) To solve practical problems using anthropological methods
Explanation: Applied anthropology uses cultural, biological, or archaeological insights to address real-world issues, like public health or community development. The Society for Applied Anthropology outlines its focus on practical solutions. Other options align with academic or unrelated subfields.

Question 14

Which method is used in archaeology to analyze the spatial distribution of artifacts at a site?
A) Stratigraphy
B) GIS mapping
C) Seriation
D) Flotation

Correct Answer: B) GIS mapping
Explanation: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping analyzes the spatial relationships of artifacts to understand site use and patterns. Archaeological Institute of America explains its role in modern digs. Stratigraphy studies layers, seriation orders artifacts chronologically, and flotation recovers small remains.

Question 15

What is the term for a belief in multiple deities within a religious system?
A) Monotheism
B) Atheism
C) Polytheism
D) Animism

Correct Answer: C) Polytheism
Explanation: Polytheism involves worshiping multiple gods, as seen in ancient Greek or Hindu traditions. BBC Religions discusses polytheism in Hinduism. Monotheism is one god, atheism is no gods, and animism attributes spirits to nature.

Question 16

Which anthropologist developed the theory of structural functionalism?
A) Clifford Geertz
B) A.R. Radcliffe-Brown
C) Edward Tylor
D) Ruth Benedict

Correct Answer: B) A.R. Radcliffe-Brown
Explanation: Radcliffe-Brown’s structural functionalism views society as a system where institutions work together to maintain stability. Anthropology News explores his contributions. Geertz focused on interpretive anthropology, Tylor on cultural evolution, and Benedict on cultural patterns.

Question 17

What is the term for a language family that includes Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi?
A) Sino-Tibetan
B) Indo-European
C) Dravidian
D) Austronesian

Correct Answer: B) Indo-European
Explanation: Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi belong to the Indo-European language family, specifically its Indo-Aryan branch. Ethnologue’s Indo-European overview maps its global spread. Sino-Tibetan includes Chinese, Dravidian covers Tamil, and Austronesian spans Pacific languages.

Question 18

Which fossil site is known as the “Cradle of Humankind” for its hominin discoveries?
A) Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
B) Sterkfontein, South Africa
C) Laetoli, Tanzania
D) Dmanisi, Georgia

Correct Answer: B) Sterkfontein, South Africa
Explanation: Sterkfontein’s caves have yielded numerous hominin fossils, like Australopithecus africanus, earning it the “Cradle of Humankind” title. UNESCO’s World Heritage Site page details its significance. Other sites are important but lack this designation.

Question 19

What is the term for a ritual that marks a person’s transition from one social status to another?
A) Totemism
B) Rite of passage
C) Taboo
D) Divination

Correct Answer: B) Rite of passage
Explanation: Rites of passage, like weddings or initiations, mark transitions such as from childhood to adulthood. National Geographic describes global examples. Totemism involves symbolic animals, taboos are prohibitions, and divination predicts the future.

Question 20

Which hominin species coexisted with Homo sapiens in Europe until about 40,000 years ago?
A) Homo erectus
B) Homo heidelbergensis
C) Homo neanderthalensis
D) Australopithecus robustus

Correct Answer: C) Homo neanderthalensis
Explanation: Neanderthals lived alongside Homo sapiens in Europe until their extinction around 40,000 years ago, sharing tools and possibly interbreeding. Nature’s Neanderthal overview covers their interactions. Other species were earlier or geographically distinct.

Question 21

What is the term for a kinship system where descent is traced through both parents equally?
A) Patrilineal
B) Matrilineal
C) Bilateral
D) Avuncular

Correct Answer: C) Bilateral
Explanation: Bilateral descent traces lineage through both maternal and paternal lines, common in many modern societies. Encyclopedia.com’s kinship entry explains its flexibility. Patrilineal and matrilineal are one-sided, and avuncular focuses on uncles.

Question 22

Which archaeological site is famous for its 5,000-year-old stone circle in England?
A) Çatalhöyük
B) Stonehenge
C) Machu Picchu
D) Pompeii

Correct Answer: B) Stonehenge
Explanation: Stonehenge, built around 3000–2000 BCE, is a prehistoric monument with astronomical and ceremonial significance. English Heritage details its construction. Other sites are from different cultures or periods.

Question 23

What is the term for the belief that natural objects and phenomena have spirits or consciousness?
A) Animism
B) Monism
C) Theism
D) Secularism

Correct Answer: A) Animism
Explanation: Animism attributes spiritual essence to animals, plants, or natural forces, common in many indigenous religions. BBC Religions connects it to Shinto practices. Monism is philosophical, theism involves gods, and secularism avoids religion.

Question 24

Which anthropologist is known for her study of adolescent girls in Samoa?
A) Ruth Benedict
B) Margaret Mead
C) Zora Neale Hurston
D) Mary Douglas

Correct Answer: B) Margaret Mead
Explanation: Margaret Mead’s Coming of Age in Samoa (1928) explored adolescence and cultural influences, challenging Western assumptions. American Museum of Natural History highlights her impact. Others studied different topics or regions.

Question 25

What is the term for a social system where men hold primary power and authority?
A) Matriarchy
B) Patriarchy
C) Egalitarianism
D) Gerontocracy

Correct Answer: B) Patriarchy
Explanation: Patriarchy describes societies where men dominate leadership and inheritance. Britannica’s patriarchy entry traces its historical roots. Matriarchy is women-led, egalitarianism is equal, and gerontocracy is elder-ruled.

Question 26

Which dating method is used for volcanic rocks older than 100,000 years?
A) Radiocarbon dating
B) Potassium-argon dating
C) Thermoluminescence
D) Electron spin resonance

Correct Answer: B) Potassium-argon dating
Explanation: Potassium-argon dating measures potassium decay in volcanic rocks, ideal for early hominin sites like Olduvai Gorge. USGS’s geochronology page explains its precision. Radiocarbon is for organics, thermoluminescence for ceramics, and electron spin resonance for teeth.

Question 27

What is the term for a temporary alliance formed for a specific purpose, often in foraging societies?
A) Band
B) Tribe
C) Chiefdom
D) State

Correct Answer: A) Band
Explanation: Bands are small, kin-based groups in foraging societies, forming flexible alliances for hunting or defense. Anthropology Review defines their structure. Tribes are larger, chiefdoms have hierarchy, and states are complex.

Question 28

Which hominin is considered the earliest member of the genus Homo, dating back 2.4 million years?
A) Homo sapiens
B) Homo habilis
C) Homo erectus
D) Homo rudolfensis

Correct Answer: B) Homo habilis
Explanation: Homo habilis, known as the “handy man,” used simple stone tools and lived 2.4–1.4 million years ago. Smithsonian’s Human Origins confirms its early status. Homo sapiens is modern, Homo erectus is later, and Homo rudolfensis is debated.

Question 29

What is the term for a cultural practice forbidden due to moral or social rules?
A) Mores
B) Taboo
C) Norm
D) Value

Correct Answer: B) Taboo
Explanation: Taboos are practices, like incest or certain foods, prohibited by cultural sanctions. National Geographic explores global examples. Mores are customs, norms are expectations, and values are beliefs.

Question 30

Which theory in anthropology examines how economic systems influence social organization?
A) Structuralism
B) Marxism
C) Functionalism
D) Postmodernism

Correct Answer: B) Marxism
Explanation: Marxism analyzes how economic systems, like capitalism, shape class relations and social structures. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy outlines its anthropological applications. Structuralism focuses on mental structures, functionalism on social roles, and postmodernism on narratives.

Question 31

What is the term for a cultural system where individuals have multiple roles and identities depending on context?
A) Syncretism
B) Pluralism
C) Segmentary lineage
D) Role ambiguity

Correct Answer: B) Pluralism
Explanation: Pluralism describes societies where individuals navigate multiple cultural identities or roles based on context, like ethnicity or profession. Encyclopedia Britannica’s pluralism entry highlights its relevance in diverse societies. Syncretism blends beliefs, segmentary lineage is a kinship system, and role ambiguity is unrelated.

Question 32

Which hominin species is known for creating cave art and symbolic objects around 40,000 years ago?
A) Homo erectus
B) Homo neanderthalensis
C) Homo sapiens
D) Homo floresiensis

Correct Answer: C) Homo sapiens
Explanation: Early Homo sapiens created cave art, like Lascaux’s paintings, and symbolic items, indicating complex cognition. UNESCO’s World Heritage page on cave art details these achievements. Neanderthals had simpler symbols, Homo erectus lacked art, and Homo floresiensis has no such evidence.

Question 33

What is the primary focus of medical anthropology?
A) The study of ancient diseases in fossils
B) The intersection of culture, health, and illness
C) The development of modern surgical techniques
D) The genetic basis of immunity

Correct Answer: B) The intersection of culture, health, and illness
Explanation: Medical anthropology examines how cultural beliefs and social systems shape health practices and disease experiences. The Society for Medical Anthropology explains its cross-cultural approach. Options A, C, and D belong to paleopathology, medicine, or genetics, respectively.

Question 34

Which archaeological technique involves sifting soil through water to recover tiny artifacts?
A) Ground-penetrating radar
B) Flotation
C) Troweling
D) Magnetometry

Correct Answer: B) Flotation
Explanation: Flotation uses water to separate lightweight organic remains, like seeds or charcoal, from soil, aiding dietary studies. Journal of Archaeological Science describes its precision. Other methods detect structures or excavate broadly.

Question 35

What is the term for a gift-giving ceremony meant to redistribute wealth, often among Pacific Northwest tribes?
A) Kula ring
B) Potlatch
C) Dowry
D) Barter

Correct Answer: B) Potlatch
Explanation: Potlatch is a ceremonial feast where hosts give lavish gifts to gain status and redistribute resources, practiced by groups like the Kwakiutl. Canadian Encyclopedia’s potlatch entry explains its cultural role. Kula ring is Melanesian exchange, dowry is marital, and barter is direct trade.

Question 36

Which anthropologist is associated with the concept of “thick description” in cultural analysis?
A) Bronisław Malinowski
B) Clifford Geertz
C) E.E. Evans-Pritchard
D) Marcel Mauss

Correct Answer: B) Clifford Geertz
Explanation: Clifford Geertz’s “thick description” involves detailed interpretation of cultural acts to uncover meaning, like analyzing a wink. American Anthropological Association discusses his interpretive approach. Others focused on fieldwork, witchcraft, or gift economies.

Question 37

What is the term for a language isolate with no known relatives?
A) Creole
B) Dialect
C) Pidgin
D) Isolate

Correct Answer: D) Isolate
Explanation: A language isolate, like Basque, has no demonstrable connection to other languages. Ethnologue’s language isolate page lists examples. Creoles blend languages, dialects are regional variants, and pidgins are simplified contact languages.

Question 38

Which fossil discovery revealed a “hobbit-like” hominin species on the island of Flores?
A) Denisovan remains
B) Homo floresiensis
C) Ardipithecus ramidus
D) Sahelanthropus tchadensis

Correct Answer: B) Homo floresiensis
Explanation: Homo floresiensis, found in 2003 on Flores, Indonesia, had small stature and lived until about 50,000 years ago. National Geographic’s Homo floresiensis article covers its significance. Other fossils belong to different species or regions.

Question 39

What is the term for a cultural rule that encourages marrying within one’s own group?
A) Exogamy
B) Endogamy
C) Polygyny
D) Monogamy

Correct Answer: B) Endogamy
Explanation: Endogamy promotes marriage within a specific group, like a caste or tribe, to maintain cohesion. Encyclopedia.com’s endogamy entry explains its social role. Exogamy is outside marriage, polygyny is multiple wives, and monogamy is one spouse.

Question 40

Which hominin species is linked to the Oldowan tool industry, starting around 2.6 million years ago?
A) Homo sapiens
B) Homo habilis
C) Homo neanderthalensis
D) Australopithecus africanus

Correct Answer: B) Homo habilis
Explanation: Homo habilis is credited with the Oldowan tools—simple choppers and flakes—marking early technological advances. Smithsonian’s Human Origins details their use. Later species used advanced tools, and Australopithecus likely did not.

Question 41

What is the term for a social structure where leadership is based on age and experience?
A) Meritocracy
B) Gerontocracy
C) Plutocracy
D) Theocracy

Correct Answer: B) Gerontocracy
Explanation: Gerontocracy vests authority in elders, valued for wisdom, as seen in some traditional societies. Britannica’s gerontocracy entry describes its structure. Meritocracy rewards ability, plutocracy wealth, and theocracy religion.

Question 42

Which archaeological site in Turkey revealed a 9,000-year-old farming settlement?
A) Göbekli Tepe
B) Çatalhöyük
C) Jericho
D) Uruk

Correct Answer: B) Çatalhöyük
Explanation: Çatalhöyük, occupied around 7500–5700 BCE, shows early agriculture and dense housing. UNESCO’s Çatalhöyük page highlights its murals and artifacts. Göbekli Tepe is older but ritualistic, Jericho is Levantine, and Uruk is Mesopotamian.

Question 43

What is the term for attributing human-like qualities to non-human entities, like gods or animals?
A) Totemism
B) Anthropomorphism
C) Animatism
D) Fetishism

Correct Answer: B) Anthropomorphism
Explanation: Anthropomorphism assigns human traits, like emotions, to animals, gods, or objects, common in myths. BBC’s mythology guide links it to storytelling. Totemism involves clan symbols, animatism impersonal forces, and fetishism object worship.

Question 44

Which anthropologist studied the Trobriand Islanders and developed participant observation?
A) Franz Boas
B) Bronisław Malinowski
C) Margaret Mead
D) Claude Lévi-Strauss

Correct Answer: B) Bronisław Malinowski
Explanation: Malinowski’s Trobriand fieldwork, detailed in Argonauts of the Western Pacific, pioneered participant observation for immersive research. Royal Anthropological Institute honors his legacy. Others used different methods or regions.

Question 45

What is the term for a marriage system where one man has multiple wives?
A) Polyandry
B) Polygyny
C) Monogamy
D) Serial monogamy

Correct Answer: B) Polygyny
Explanation: Polygyny allows a man to have multiple wives simultaneously, seen in some traditional societies. Encyclopedia Britannica’s polygyny entry discusses its prevalence. Polyandry is multiple husbands, monogamy one spouse, and serial monogamy sequential spouses.

Question 46

Which dating method measures trapped electrons in quartz or pottery to date artifacts?
A) Radiocarbon dating
B) Thermoluminescence
C) Potassium-argon dating
D) Dendrochronology

Correct Answer: B) Thermoluminescence
Explanation: Thermoluminescence dates ceramics or sediment by measuring electrons released when heated, useful for 100,000 years. University of Oxford’s dating guide explains its process. Radiocarbon is organic, potassium-argon is volcanic, and dendrochronology is tree-based.

Question 47

What is the term for a society with no fixed leadership, often seen in foraging groups?
A) Egalitarian
B) Hierarchical
C) Stratified
D) Bureaucratic

Correct Answer: A) Egalitarian
Explanation: Egalitarian societies, like many hunter-gatherers, share resources and lack formal leaders. Anthropology Review describes their structure. Hierarchical and stratified imply rank, and bureaucratic is state-based.

Question 48

Which hominin species is associated with the Acheulean tool industry, starting 1.76 million years ago?
A) Homo habilis
B) Homo erectus
C) Homo sapiens
D) Homo rudolfensis

Correct Answer: B) Homo erectus
Explanation: Homo erectus developed the Acheulean industry, with handaxes and cleavers, showing advanced skill. Smithsonian’s tool timeline confirms its use. Homo habilis used simpler tools, Homo sapiens is later, and Homo rudolfensis is uncertain.

Question 49

What is the term for a cultural belief that certain actions or objects bring supernatural favor?
A) Taboo
B) Magic
C) Ritual
D) Myth

Correct Answer: B) Magic
Explanation: Magic involves practices believed to influence events supernaturally, like charms or spells. BBC’s anthropology of religion connects it to cultural systems. Taboos prohibit, rituals are ceremonies, and myths are narratives.

Question 50

Which theory views culture as a system of symbols and meanings to be interpreted?
A) Functionalism
B) Interpretive anthropology
C) Cultural materialism
D) Evolutionism

Correct Answer: B) Interpretive anthropology
Explanation: Interpretive anthropology, led by Geertz, sees culture as a web of symbols to decode, like reading a text. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy discusses its approach. Functionalism focuses on roles, cultural materialism on resources, and evolutionism on progress.

Question 51

What is the term for a cultural system where property and titles pass through the male line?
A) Matrilineal
B) Patrilineal
C) Bilateral
D) Cognatic

Correct Answer: B) Patrilineal
Explanation: In patrilineal systems, inheritance and descent are traced through males, common in many traditional societies. Encyclopedia Britannica’s kinship entry explains its prevalence. Matrilineal uses the female line, bilateral uses both, and cognatic is a flexible term.

Question 52

Which hominin species is known for burial practices and possible language use around 300,000–30,000 years ago?
A) Homo habilis
B) Homo erectus
C) Homo neanderthalensis
D) Australopithecus afarensis

Correct Answer: C) Homo neanderthalensis
Explanation: Neanderthals buried their dead with care and had anatomy suggesting speech, indicating complex behavior. Smithsonian’s Neanderthal page details these traits. Earlier hominins lacked such evidence, and Australopithecus was too primitive.

Question 53

What is the focus of ecological anthropology?
A) The study of ancient climates
B) The relationship between humans and their environments
C) The classification of plant species
D) The evolution of marine life

Correct Answer: B) The relationship between humans and their environments
Explanation: Ecological anthropology examines how cultures adapt to and shape their natural surroundings, like resource use or settlement patterns. American Anthropological Association outlines its scope. Other options belong to paleoclimatology, botany, or marine biology.

Question 54

Which archaeological method uses sound waves to detect buried structures without digging?
A) Ground-penetrating radar
B) Flotation
C) Stratigraphy
D) Seriation

Correct Answer: A) Ground-penetrating radar
Explanation: Ground-penetrating radar sends radio waves to map subsurface features like walls or graves nondestructively. Archaeological Institute of America describes its use. Flotation recovers small artifacts, stratigraphy studies layers, and seriation orders finds.

Question 55

What is the term for a ceremonial exchange system among Melanesian islanders involving shell valuables?
A) Potlatch
B) Kula ring
C) Bridewealth
D) Dowry

Correct Answer: B) Kula ring
Explanation: The Kula ring involves Trobriand Islanders exchanging shell armbands and necklaces to build social ties. BBC’s anthropology archive explains its symbolic value. Potlatch is Northwest, bridewealth is marital payment, and dowry is bride-to-groom.

Question 56

Which anthropologist is known for studying witchcraft among the Azande people?
A) E.E. Evans-Pritchard
B) Ruth Benedict
C) Claude Lévi-Strauss
D) Mary Douglas

Correct Answer: A) E.E. Evans-Pritchard
Explanation: Evans-Pritchard’s Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande analyzed how witchcraft explained misfortune logically within Azande culture. Royal Anthropological Institute honors his work. Others studied different topics like cultural patterns or symbolism.

Question 57

What is the term for a simplified language used for trade between groups with different tongues?
A) Creole
B) Pidgin
C) Dialect
D) Lexicon

Correct Answer: B) Pidgin
Explanation: Pidgins are basic languages blending elements for communication, like trade jargons. Ethnologue’s pidgin overview clarifies their role. Creoles are fully developed, dialects are regional, and lexicon is vocabulary.

Question 58

Which fossil site in Ethiopia yielded “Ardi,” a 4.4-million-year-old hominin?
A) Hadar
B) Aramis
C) Laetoli
D) Omo Kibish

Correct Answer: B) Aramis
Explanation: Aramis, in Ethiopia’s Middle Awash, revealed Ardipithecus ramidus (“Ardi”), showing early bipedalism. Nature’s Ardipithecus article details its discovery. Hadar yielded Lucy, Laetoli footprints, and Omo Kibish modern humans.

Question 59

What is the term for a cultural practice where a widow marries her deceased husband’s brother?
A) Levirate
B) Sororate
C) Avunculate
D) Ambilineal

Correct Answer: A) Levirate
Explanation: Levirate marriage ensures a widow’s support by marrying her to her husband’s brother, preserving family ties. Encyclopedia.com’s levirate entry explains its logic. Sororate involves sisters, avunculate uncles, and ambilineal is descent.

Question 60

Which hominin species is linked to the Mousterian tool industry, used 300,000–30,000 years ago?
A) Homo sapiens
B) Homo neanderthalensis
C) Homo erectus
D) Homo habilis

Correct Answer: B) Homo neanderthalensis
Explanation: Neanderthals used the Mousterian industry, with flake tools and Levallois techniques, showing sophistication. Smithsonian’s tool page confirms their use. Homo sapiens adopted it later, Homo erectus was earlier, and Homo habilis was primitive.

Question 61

What is the term for a society led by a single ruler with divine or sacred authority?
A) Chiefdom
B) Theocracy
C) Monarchy
D) Oligarchy

Correct Answer: B) Theocracy
Explanation: A theocracy vests power in a leader seen as divinely guided, like ancient Tibet’s Dalai Lama. Britannica’s theocracy entry defines its structure. Chiefdoms are kin-based, monarchies are hereditary, and oligarchies are elite-ruled.

Question 62

Which archaeological site in Peru is known for its 15th-century Incan city in the Andes?
A) Chavín de Huántar
B) Machu Picchu
C) Nazca Lines
D) Caral

Correct Answer: B) Machu Picchu
Explanation: Machu Picchu, built around 1450 CE, is an Incan city famed for its stonework and mountain setting. UNESCO’s Machu Picchu page highlights its cultural value. Others are earlier or unrelated Peruvian sites.

Question 63

What is the term for a belief system where animals or objects represent clan ancestors?
A) Animism
B) Totemism
C) Polytheism
D) Monotheism

Correct Answer: B) Totemism
Explanation: Totemism links clans to symbolic animals or objects as ancestral emblems, common in indigenous groups. BBC’s indigenous religions connects it to identity. Animism is broader, polytheism involves gods, and monotheism one god.

Question 64

Which anthropologist developed the concept of the “gift economy”?
A) Marcel Mauss
B) Franz Boas
C) Margaret Mead
D) A.R. Radcliffe-Brown

Correct Answer: A) Marcel Mauss
Explanation: Mauss’s The Gift (1925) argued that gifts create social obligations, shaping economies like the Kula ring. Royal Anthropological Institute honors his insight. Others focused on relativism, adolescence, or functionalism.

Question 65

What is the term for a marriage system where one woman has multiple husbands?
A) Polygyny
B) Polyandry
C) Monogamy
D) Endogamy

Correct Answer: B) Polyandry
Explanation: Polyandry allows a woman multiple husbands, often in resource-scarce areas like Tibet. Encyclopedia Britannica’s polyandry entry explains its rarity. Polygyny is multiple wives, monogamy one spouse, and endogamy is group-based.

Question 66

Which dating method uses tree rings to establish precise timelines?
A) Radiocarbon dating
B) Dendrochronology
C) Thermoluminescence
D) Potassium-argon dating

Correct Answer: B) Dendrochronology
Explanation: Dendrochronology counts tree rings to date wooden artifacts or events accurately, up to thousands of years. University of Arizona’s dendrochronology lab explains its precision. Others measure isotopes or electrons, less suited for wood.

Question 67

What is the term for a loosely organized society with shared customs but no central authority?
A) Band
B) Tribe
C) State
D) Chiefdom

Correct Answer: B) Tribe
Explanation: Tribes are kin-based groups with shared culture but decentralized leadership, like many Native American groups. Anthropology Review defines their structure. Bands are smaller, states are complex, and chiefdoms have hierarchy.

Question 68

Which hominin species is considered a possible ancestor of both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens?
A) Homo habilis
B) Homo erectus
C) Homo heidelbergensis
D) Homo floresiensis

Correct Answer: C) Homo heidelbergensis
Explanation: Homo heidelbergensis, living 700,000–200,000 years ago, likely gave rise to Neanderthals in Europe and Homo sapiens in Africa. Smithsonian’s Human Origins supports this view. Others are too early, late, or unrelated.

Question 69

What is the term for a cultural story explaining origins or natural phenomena?
A) Ritual
B) Myth
C) Taboo
D) Magic

Correct Answer: B) Myth
Explanation: Myths are narratives explaining creation, gods, or events, like the Greek Prometheus tale. BBC’s mythology guide ties them to culture. Rituals are actions, taboos are prohibitions, and magic is supernatural practice.

Question 70

Which theory emphasizes the role of environment and technology in shaping culture?
A) Cultural materialism
B) Structuralism
C) Functionalism
D) Interpretive anthropology

Correct Answer: A) Cultural materialism
Explanation: Cultural materialism, led by Marvin Harris, argues that environment and technology drive cultural practices, like diet or kinship. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains its focus. Structuralism examines thought, functionalism roles, and interpretive anthropology symbols

Question 71

What is the term for a cultural practice where a man marries his deceased wife’s sister?
A) Levirate
B) Sororate
C) Avunculate
D) Fraternal polyandry

Correct Answer: B) Sororate
Explanation: Sororate marriage involves a widower marrying his deceased wife’s sister to maintain family alliances. Encyclopedia.com’s sororate entry explains its role in kinship. Levirate involves a brother, avunculate uncles, and fraternal polyandry multiple brothers.

Question 72

Which hominin species is known for its small brain and island dwarfism, found in Indonesia?
A) Homo habilis
B) Homo floresiensis
C) Homo erectus
D) Homo heidelbergensis

Correct Answer: B) Homo floresiensis
Explanation: Homo floresiensis, dubbed the “hobbit,” lived on Flores and had a small brain due to island dwarfism, surviving until about 50,000 years ago. Smithsonian’s Human Origins details its traits. Others were larger or mainland-based.

Question 73

What is the focus of visual anthropology?
A) The study of ancient art styles
B) The use of images and media to understand culture
C) The analysis of color perception
D) The reconstruction of historical paintings

Correct Answer: B) The use of images and media to understand culture
Explanation: Visual anthropology uses photography, film, and art to study cultural practices and expressions. Society for Visual Anthropology outlines its methods, like ethnographic filmmaking. Other options belong to art history or psychology.

Question 74

Which archaeological technique analyzes soil chemicals to map ancient activity areas?
A) Flotation
B) Geoarchaeology
C) Phosphate analysis
D) Magnetometry

Correct Answer: C) Phosphate analysis
Explanation: Phosphate analysis detects high phosphorus levels in soil from organic waste, indicating past human activity like cooking or burials. Journal of Archaeological Science explains its precision. Flotation recovers artifacts, geoarchaeology studies landscapes, and magnetometry detects structures.

Question 75

What is the term for a ceremonial feast marking a community’s seasonal or life-cycle event?
A) Potlatch
B) Rite of passage
C) Festival
D) Kula ring

Correct Answer: C) Festival
Explanation: Festivals are communal celebrations tied to seasons, harvests, or life events, like Diwali or Thanksgiving. BBC’s cultural festivals ties them to identity. Potlatch is gift-giving, rites mark transitions, and Kula is exchange.

Question 76

Which anthropologist is known for the theory of structuralism in studying myths?
A) Clifford Geertz
B) Claude Lévi-Strauss
C) Ruth Benedict
D) E.E. Evans-Pritchard

Correct Answer: B) Claude Lévi-Strauss
Explanation: Lévi-Strauss’s structuralism analyzed myths as universal mental patterns, like binary oppositions. Royal Anthropological Institute highlights his work. Geertz was interpretive, Benedict studied culture, and Evans-Pritchard witchcraft.

Question 77

What is the term for a language that blends multiple tongues into a new, stable system?
A) Pidgin
B) Creole
C) Dialect
D) Jargon

Correct Answer: B) Creole
Explanation: Creoles are fully developed languages from mixed origins, like Haitian Creole, used as native tongues. Ethnologue’s creole page distinguishes them from pidgins. Dialects are variants, and jargon is specialized vocabulary.

Question 78

Which fossil site in Tanzania preserved 3.6-million-year-old hominin footprints?
A) Olduvai Gorge
B) Laetoli
C) Koobi Fora
D) Swartkrans

Correct Answer: B) Laetoli
Explanation: Laetoli’s footprints, likely from Australopithecus afarensis, show early bipedalism. National Geographic’s Laetoli article describes their discovery. Other sites yielded fossils or tools, not footprints.

Question 79

What is the term for a kinship system where uncles play a key role in raising nephews?
A) Avunculate
B) Levirate
C) Sororate
D) Bilateral

Correct Answer: A) Avunculate
Explanation: The avunculate emphasizes the maternal uncle’s role in a nephew’s upbringing, often in matrilineal societies. Encyclopedia.com’s avunculate entry explains its function. Others involve marriage or descent.

Question 80

Which hominin species is linked to the earliest controlled use of fire in hearths, around 400,000 years ago?
A) Homo sapiens
B) Homo heidelbergensis
C) Homo habilis
D) Australopithecus sediba

Correct Answer: B) Homo heidelbergensis
Explanation: Homo heidelbergensis used hearths for sustained fire control, evidenced at sites like Terra Amata. Nature’s fire study supports this timeline. Homo sapiens is later, Homo habilis too early, and Australopithecus lacked fire.

Question 81

What is the term for a society with ranked groups but no central ruler, like Polynesian islanders?
A) Tribe
B) Chiefdom
C) Band
D) State

Correct Answer: B) Chiefdom
Explanation: Chiefdoms have hereditary ranks and chiefs but lack state-level bureaucracy, as in Polynesia. Anthropology Review defines their structure. Tribes are less ranked, bands simpler, and states complex.

Question 82

Which archaeological site in Iraq is known for its 5th-millennium BCE Sumerian city?
A) Uruk
B) Göbekli Tepe
C) Çatalhöyük
D) Jericho

Correct Answer: A) Uruk
Explanation: Uruk, occupied around 4000–3100 BCE, was a major Sumerian city with early writing and ziggurats. UNESCO’s Mesopotamia page highlights its role. Others are from different regions or eras.

Question 83

What is the term for a belief in impersonal spiritual forces, like mana, rather than gods?
A) Animism
B) Animatism
C) Theism
D) Totemism

Correct Answer: B) Animatism
Explanation: Animatism attributes power to impersonal forces like mana, common in Pacific cultures. BBC’s Polynesian beliefs connects it to cosmology. Animism involves spirits, theism gods, and totemism clan symbols.

Question 84

Which anthropologist studied Japanese culture and wrote The Chrysanthemum and the Sword?
A) Margaret Mead
B) Ruth Benedict
C) Zora Neale Hurston
D) Mary Douglas

Correct Answer: B) Ruth Benedict
Explanation: Benedict’s The Chrysanthemum and the Sword (1946) analyzed Japanese values like honor and duty remotely during WWII. American Anthropological Association notes her impact. Others focused on Samoa, folklore, or symbolism.

Question 85

What is the term for a marriage system where partners alternate between spouses over time?
A) Polygyny
B) Polyandry
C) Serial monogamy
D) Endogamy

Correct Answer: C) Serial monogamy
Explanation: Serial monogamy involves one spouse at a time but multiple partners sequentially, common in modern societies. Encyclopedia Britannica’s marriage entry discusses its prevalence. Polygyny and polyandry are simultaneous, endogamy is group-based.

Question 86

Which dating method uses magnetic field changes in rocks to establish timelines?
A) Paleomagnetism
B) Radiocarbon dating
C) Thermoluminescence
D) Dendrochronology

Correct Answer: A) Paleomagnetism
Explanation: Paleomagnetism studies Earth’s magnetic reversals in rocks to date geological or archaeological sites, useful for millions of years. USGS’s paleomagnetism guide explains its process. Others are for organics, ceramics, or trees.

Question 87

What is the term for a small, nomadic group of hunter-gatherers with fluid membership?
A) Tribe
B) Band
C) Chiefdom
D) Clan

Correct Answer: B) Band
Explanation: Bands are small, mobile foraging groups with flexible kinship ties, like the San. Anthropology Review defines their adaptability. Tribes are larger, chiefdoms ranked, and clans are lineage-based.

Question 88

Which hominin species is known for its robust skull and large teeth, living 2.5–1 million years ago?
A) Homo sapiens
B) Homo erectus
C) Australopithecus robustus
D) Homo heidelbergensis

Correct Answer: C) Australopithecus robustus
Explanation: Australopithecus robustus had a sturdy skull and molars for tough diets, found in South Africa. Smithsonian’s Human Origins confirms its traits. Others were less robust or later.

Question 89

What is the term for a cultural practice believed to protect against harm, like wearing amulets?
A) Taboo
B) Magic
C) Charm
D) Ritual

Correct Answer: C) Charm
Explanation: Charms are objects or actions thought to ward off danger, like talismans. BBC’s anthropology of belief ties them to folk practices. Taboos prohibit, magic manipulates, and rituals are broader ceremonies.

Question 90

Which theory views society as a system where parts work to maintain stability?
A) Structuralism
B) Functionalism
C) Cultural materialism
D) Postmodernism

Correct Answer: B) Functionalism
Explanation: Functionalism, led by Radcliffe-Brown, sees institutions like family or religion stabilizing society. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains its logic. Structuralism focuses on thought, materialism on resources, and postmodernism on skepticism.

Question 91

What is the term for a cultural system where descent is traced flexibly through either parent?
A) Patrilineal
B) Matrilineal
C) Ambilineal
D) Unilineal

Correct Answer: C) Ambilineal
Explanation: Ambilineal descent allows individuals to choose affiliation through either the mother’s or father’s line, offering flexibility. Encyclopedia.com’s kinship entry explains its use in societies like Samoa. Patrilineal and matrilineal are fixed, and unilineal refers to either single line.

Question 92

Which hominin species is associated with the earliest seafaring evidence, around 800,000 years ago?
A) Homo sapiens
B) Homo erectus
C) Homo neanderthalensis
D) Homo habilis

Correct Answer: B) Homo erectus
Explanation: Homo erectus likely reached islands like Flores, suggesting basic seafaring by 800,000 years ago. Nature’s seafaring study discusses this evidence. Homo sapiens and Neanderthals sailed later, and Homo habilis lacked such capabilities.

Question 93

What is the focus of economic anthropology?
A) The study of ancient currencies
B) The analysis of production, exchange, and consumption in societies
C) The development of modern banking systems
D) The classification of trade routes

Correct Answer: B) The analysis of production, exchange, and consumption in societies
Explanation: Economic anthropology examines how cultures manage resources, from gift economies to markets. American Anthropological Association highlights its cross-cultural scope. Other options relate to numismatics, finance, or history.

Question 94

Which archaeological method uses aerial images to identify hidden sites?
A) LiDAR
B) Flotation
C) Stratigraphy
D) Thermoluminescence

Correct Answer: A) LiDAR
Explanation: LiDAR uses laser pulses from aircraft to map terrain and reveal structures, like Maya cities under jungle. National Geographic’s LiDAR article explains its impact. Flotation recovers artifacts, stratigraphy studies layers, and thermoluminescence dates objects.

Question 95

What is the term for a cultural practice where wealth is paid by the groom’s family to the bride’s?
A) Dowry
B) Bridewealth
C) Potlatch
D) Kula ring

Correct Answer: B) Bridewealth
Explanation: Bridewealth involves the groom’s family giving goods to the bride’s to formalize marriage, common in African societies. Encyclopedia Britannica’s bridewealth entry details its role. Dowry is bride-to-groom, potlatch is ceremonial, and Kula is symbolic exchange.

Question 96

Which anthropologist is known for studying body symbolism and purity in culture?
A) Margaret Mead
B) Mary Douglas
C) Ruth Benedict
D) Zora Neale Hurston

Correct Answer: B) Mary Douglas
Explanation: Mary Douglas’s Purity and Danger explored how cultures define cleanliness and taboo through the body. Royal Anthropological Institute honors her work. Mead studied youth, Benedict patterns, and Hurston folklore.

Question 97

What is the term for the study of how languages change over time?
A) Sociolinguistics
B) Historical linguistics
C) Phonetics
D) Semantics

Correct Answer: B) Historical linguistics
Explanation: Historical linguistics traces language evolution, like Latin to Romance languages. Linguistic Society of America explains its methods. Sociolinguistics studies social use, phonetics sounds, and semantics meaning.

Question 98

Which fossil site in China yielded evidence of Homo erectus using fire 600,000 years ago?
A) Zhoukoudian
B) Dmanisi
C) Trinil
D) Swartkrans

Correct Answer: A) Zhoukoudian
Explanation: Zhoukoudian’s Peking Man fossils show Homo erectus used fire for cooking and warmth. UNESCO’s Zhoukoudian page confirms its significance. Other sites lack clear fire evidence or are different species.

Question 99

What is the term for a cultural group defined by shared ancestry and identity?
A) Clan
B) Tribe
C) Band
D) Ethnicity

Correct Answer: D) Ethnicity
Explanation: Ethnicity refers to a group united by shared culture, language, or ancestry, like the Kurds. BBC’s ethnicity guide ties it to identity. Clans are kin-based, tribes are social, and bands are nomadic.

Question 100

Which theory argues that cultures evolve through stages from simple to complex?
A) Functionalism
B) Diffusionism
C) Evolutionism
D) Interpretive anthropology

Correct Answer: C) Evolutionism
Explanation: Evolutionism, proposed by 19th-century thinkers like Tylor, suggested cultures progress through stages like savagery to civilization. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy critiques its ethnocentrism. Functionalism focuses on roles, diffusionism on spread, and interpretive anthropology on symbols.