20 MCQs on Culture: Elements, Material & Non-Material Culture, and Cultural Lag

Test your knowledge on culture with these 20 MCQs. Covering elements of culture, material and non-material aspects, and the concept of cultural lag, this set includes answers and detailed explanations for better understanding.

1. What does the term "culture" encompass in sociology?

a) Physical environment only
b) Beliefs, norms, values, and artifacts
c) Political structures only
d) Genetic traits and heredity

Answer: b) Beliefs, norms, values, and artifacts
Explanation: Culture includes the learned behaviors, beliefs, norms, values, symbols, and material objects shared by members of a society.

2. Which of the following is an example of material culture?

a) Language
b) Religion
c) Tools and technology
d) Values

Answer: c) Tools and technology
Explanation: Material culture refers to physical objects like tools, clothing, and buildings that people create and use.

3. Non-material culture refers to:

a) Tangible objects
b) Physical tools
c) Ideas, beliefs, and values
d) Geographical features

Answer: c) Ideas, beliefs, and values
Explanation: Non-material culture consists of intangible elements such as customs, traditions, and philosophies.

4. What is a primary characteristic of cultural elements?

a) They are static and unchanging
b) They are unique to one individual
c) They are learned and shared
d) They are always material

Answer: c) They are learned and shared
Explanation: Cultural elements are passed from generation to generation through socialization and are shared within a group.

5. Which of the following is NOT part of non-material culture?

a) Art
b) Laws
c) Morals
d) Language

Answer: a) Art
Explanation: Art is part of material culture because it is a physical object, while laws, morals, and language are intangible.

6. The term "cultural lag" refers to:

a) The adoption of foreign cultures
b) A delay in cultural adaptation to new technology
c) The disappearance of traditional values
d) Conflicts between different cultures

Answer: b) A delay in cultural adaptation to new technology
Explanation: Cultural lag occurs when non-material culture takes time to catch up with advancements in material culture.

7. Who coined the term "cultural lag"?

a) Max Weber
b) Emile Durkheim
c) William Fielding Ogburn
d) Karl Marx

Answer: c) William Fielding Ogburn
Explanation: William Fielding Ogburn introduced the concept of cultural lag in his analysis of social change.

8. An example of cultural lag is:

a) Instant acceptance of new norms
b) Legal systems struggling with the regulation of artificial intelligence
c) Rapid industrialization
d) A traditional dance losing its popularity

Answer: b) Legal systems struggling with the regulation of artificial intelligence
Explanation: When laws and ethics lag behind technological advancements, it demonstrates cultural lag.

9. Material culture primarily influences which aspect of society?

a) Ethical norms
b) Communication styles
c) Economic development
d) Spiritual beliefs

Answer: c) Economic development
Explanation: Material culture includes tools and technologies that directly impact economic activities and growth.

10. Non-material culture is most directly linked to:

a) Physical tools
b) Intellectual and emotional processes
c) Economic systems
d) Urban infrastructure

Answer: b) Intellectual and emotional processes
Explanation: Non-material culture includes intangible aspects like ideas, norms, and values that shape intellectual and emotional life.

11. Which of the following is a cultural element?

a) Language
b) Water bodies
c) Climate
d) Biodiversity

Answer: a) Language
Explanation: Language is a fundamental element of culture as it facilitates communication and the transmission of cultural values.

12. What is a common cause of cultural lag?

a) Overpopulation
b) Uneven rates of innovation
c) Universal education
d) Decline in agriculture

Answer: b) Uneven rates of innovation
Explanation: When material culture advances faster than non-material culture, a gap or "lag" occurs.

13. Cultural diffusion refers to:

a) A delay in cultural evolution
b) The blending of genetic traits
c) The spread of cultural elements from one society to another
d) Conflict between traditional and modern values

Answer: c) The spread of cultural elements from one society to another
Explanation: Cultural diffusion occurs when cultural elements such as practices or technologies spread across different societies.

14. Values are considered a part of:

a) Material culture
b) Non-material culture
c) Technological culture
d) Genetic inheritance

Answer: b) Non-material culture
Explanation: Values are intangible principles that guide behavior and are a part of non-material culture.

15. The phenomenon where traditional practices struggle to adapt to modern innovations is known as:

a) Cultural diffusion
b) Cultural assimilation
c) Cultural lag
d) Cultural divergence

Answer: c) Cultural lag
Explanation: Cultural lag describes the struggle of traditional practices to adapt to modern technological and social changes.

16. Which of the following best demonstrates the role of non-material culture in shaping material culture?

a) The invention of the telephone influencing communication norms
b) A traditional festival celebrated with modern gadgets
c) Building religious institutions based on beliefs
d) The use of smartphones to access global information

Answer: c) Building religious institutions based on beliefs
Explanation: Non-material culture, like religious beliefs, influences the design and construction of physical institutions.

17. How does cultural lag impact social systems?

a) It stabilizes social harmony
b) It creates temporary disruptions
c) It eliminates traditional practices
d) It promotes immediate cultural assimilation

Answer: b) It creates temporary disruptions
Explanation: Cultural lag leads to mismatches between societal systems, causing temporary disruptions until adaptation occurs.

18. Which of these is an example of non-material cultural resistance to technological advancement?

a) Religious objections to stem cell research
b) Using advanced farming tools
c) Creating new languages for coding
d) Upgrading healthcare infrastructure

Answer: a) Religious objections to stem cell research
Explanation: Non-material cultural values, such as religious beliefs, may resist changes introduced by advancements in technology.

19. What distinguishes material culture from non-material culture?

a) Its adaptability
b) Its physical existence
c) Its universal nature
d) Its ability to resist change

Answer: b) Its physical existence
Explanation: Material culture includes tangible objects, while non-material culture includes intangible aspects like norms and values.

20. Cultural lag can be reduced by:

a) Limiting technological innovation
b) Encouraging awareness and education
c) Restricting the spread of new ideas
d) Increasing traditional rituals

Answer: b) Encouraging awareness and education

Explanation: By promoting awareness and education, societies can bridge the gap between technological advancements and societal norms.