Introduction to Anthropology – MCQs

1. What does anthropology primarily study?
(A) Human cultures, societies, and biological diversity
(B) Historical events and timelines
(C) Geological formations and natural resources
(D) Political systems and governance

2. Which of the following is a subfield of anthropology?
(A) Biological anthropology
(B) Historical anthropology
(C) Linguistic anthropology
(D) Both A and C

3. What is the main focus of cultural anthropology?
(A) Human biological evolution
(B) Analysis of cultural norms, practices, and traditions
(C) Fossil records of early humans
(D) Language development over time

4. What does linguistic anthropology study?
(A) The origin of languages and their cultural significance
(B) The anatomy of vocal cords
(C) Written scripts and alphabets exclusively
(D) Economic trade languages

5. What is the main concern of biological anthropology?
(A) Human linguistic evolution
(B) Human biological and physiological development
(C) Ancient trade systems
(D) The study of myths and folklore

6. Who is considered the father of modern anthropology?
(A) Franz Boas
(B) Charles Darwin
(C) Sigmund Freud
(D) Bronisław Malinowski

7. What does the concept of ethnocentrism refer to in anthropology?
(A) The belief in the superiority of one’s own culture
(B) The practice of studying ancient texts
(C) The avoidance of cultural diversity
(D) The acceptance of all cultural practices

8. What is the primary method used in cultural anthropology?
(A) Laboratory experiments
(B) Ethnographic fieldwork
(C) Statistical surveys
(D) Fossil excavation

9. Which subfield of anthropology focuses on material remains of past societies?
(A) Biological anthropology
(B) Archaeology
(C) Linguistic anthropology
(D) Social anthropology

10. What is the “Out of Africa” theory in anthropology?
(A) The migration of early humans from Africa to other continents
(B) The cultural diffusion from African tribes
(C) The isolation of African civilizations in history
(D) The extinction of early human species in Africa

11. What does the term “hominin” refer to?
(A) Modern humans only
(B) Early ancestors and relatives of humans
(C) Primates excluding humans
(D) Fossilized plants and animals

12. Which type of anthropology focuses on current societal structures?
(A) Biological anthropology
(B) Social anthropology
(C) Archaeological anthropology
(D) Paleontology

13. What is participant observation in anthropology?
(A) Observing societies from a distance
(B) Actively engaging in the daily life of a studied group
(C) Collecting biological samples
(D) Analyzing statistical reports

14. What does the study of kinship in anthropology examine?
(A) Animal breeding patterns
(B) Human family relationships and social structures
(C) Trade networks in ancient times
(D) The evolution of linguistic structures

15. What is the primary focus of forensic anthropology?
(A) Solving crimes using skeletal remains
(B) Preserving ancient manuscripts
(C) Studying language evolution
(D) Mapping human migration routes

16. What is the significance of the “Neolithic Revolution”?
(A) The start of fossil excavation
(B) The transition to agriculture and settled communities
(C) The development of metal tools
(D) The migration out of Africa

17. What does cultural relativism advocate?
(A) Judging cultures based on universal standards
(B) Understanding cultures on their own terms
(C) Promoting ethnocentric beliefs
(D) Ignoring cultural practices entirely

18. What is an artifact in archaeological terms?
(A) A natural rock formation
(B) A tool or object made by humans in the past
(C) A fossilized plant
(D) A scientific hypothesis

19. What do anthropologists mean by “holistic approach”?
(A) Focusing on one aspect of culture
(B) Considering all aspects of human life and culture
(C) Ignoring biological factors in human evolution
(D) Relying solely on ancient texts

20. What does paleopathology study?
(A) Ancient tools and artifacts
(B) Human diseases in the past
(C) Fossilized plants and animals
(D) Linguistic changes over time