Branches of Anthropology (Cultural, Physical, Linguistic, Archaeology) – MCQs

1. Which branch of anthropology focuses on human biological and physiological characteristics?
(A) Cultural anthropology
(B) Physical anthropology
(C) Linguistic anthropology
(D) Archaeology

2. What is the primary focus of cultural anthropology?
(A) Human biological evolution
(B) Analysis of cultural norms, practices, and traditions
(C) Fossil records of early humans
(D) The development of ancient tools

3. Which branch of anthropology studies human communication and language development?
(A) Archaeology
(B) Linguistic anthropology
(C) Cultural anthropology
(D) Physical anthropology

4. What does archaeology primarily investigate?
(A) Ancient texts and literature
(B) Material remains of past societies
(C) Modern-day languages
(D) Evolution of human behavior

5. What is the main concern of physical anthropology?
(A) Cultural diversity
(B) Biological and evolutionary aspects of humans
(C) Social structures and hierarchies
(D) Ancient trade networks

6. Which of the following is a key focus of linguistic anthropology?
(A) The history of agriculture
(B) The relationship between language and culture
(C) The excavation of ancient artifacts
(D) The biological evolution of humans

7. What is the primary method used in archaeology?
(A) Laboratory experiments
(B) Excavation of sites
(C) Statistical surveys
(D) Ethnographic interviews

8. What does cultural anthropology examine?
(A) Human remains from ancient civilizations
(B) The traditions, customs, and practices of societies
(C) The biological evolution of humans
(D) The fossil record of early primates

9. Which branch of anthropology studies fossils to understand human evolution?
(A) Archaeology
(B) Physical anthropology
(C) Cultural anthropology
(D) Linguistic anthropology

10. What is the relationship between archaeology and cultural anthropology?
(A) Archaeology focuses on ancient cultures, while cultural anthropology examines modern cultures
(B) Archaeology and cultural anthropology are unrelated fields
(C) Archaeology focuses on biology, while cultural anthropology studies artifacts
(D) Both fields study human fossils exclusively

11. What does linguistic anthropology study about language?
(A) Only its written form
(B) Its historical development and cultural impact
(C) The biology of speech organs
(D) The mathematical structure of grammar

12. Which branch of anthropology deals with human behavior in social contexts?
(A) Archaeology
(B) Cultural anthropology
(C) Physical anthropology
(D) Linguistic anthropology

13. What is the primary goal of archaeological studies?
(A) To explore modern human languages
(B) To understand past human life through material remains
(C) To examine cultural traditions
(D) To analyze human biological features

14. Which method is often used in cultural anthropology?
(A) Radiocarbon dating
(B) Participant observation
(C) Genetic sequencing
(D) Artifact analysis

15. What is studied in forensic anthropology, a subfield of physical anthropology?
(A) Social customs
(B) Skeletal remains in legal contexts
(C) Ancient tools and pottery
(D) Language systems

16. How does linguistic anthropology contribute to understanding human culture?
(A) By analyzing economic systems
(B) By exploring how language shapes cultural identity
(C) By studying ancient artifacts
(D) By examining biological traits

17. What is the main focus of ethnography in cultural anthropology?
(A) Recording historical data
(B) Detailed study of living cultures through observation
(C) Analysis of linguistic structures
(D) Biological adaptations in human populations

18. What do physical anthropologists use to study human evolution?
(A) Historical documents
(B) Fossil records
(C) Contemporary cultural practices
(D) Linguistic patterns

19. What is the difference between physical anthropology and cultural anthropology?
(A) Physical anthropology studies human biology, while cultural anthropology studies traditions
(B) Physical anthropology focuses on tools, while cultural anthropology focuses on artifacts
(C) Physical anthropology and cultural anthropology are the same
(D) Physical anthropology studies languages, while cultural anthropology studies biology

20. Which branch of anthropology might study cave paintings?
(A) Linguistic anthropology
(B) Cultural anthropology
(C) Archaeology
(D) Physical anthropology

21. What does the study of kinship in cultural anthropology examine?
(A) Biological relationships
(B) Social and familial relationships in societies
(C) Linguistic structures
(D) Fossil evidence

22. What does paleoanthropology, a subfield of physical anthropology, focus on?
(A) Modern languages
(B) Ancient human ancestors and their fossils
(C) Social hierarchies in current societies
(D) Artifacts of ancient civilizations

23. What is the primary focus of historical archaeology?
(A) Modern human societies
(B) Cultures of the prehistoric era
(C) Societies with written records
(D) Analysis of human biological features