Matrilineal and Patrilineal Societies – MCQs

1. In a matrilineal society, lineage is traced through the:
(A) Father
(B) Mother
(C) Grandfather
(D) Uncle

2. Which of the following is a characteristic of a patrilineal society?
(A) Inheritance through the mother
(B) Lineage through both parents
(C) Lineage through the father
(D) Women hold primary authority

3. The Khasi tribe of India is an example of a:
(A) Patrilineal society
(B) Bilateral society
(C) Matrilineal society
(D) Patriarchal society

4. In patrilineal societies, property is usually inherited by:
(A) Daughters
(B) Sons
(C) Nieces
(D) Cousins

5. A society that traces descent through both the mother and father is:
(A) Patrilineal
(B) Matrilineal
(C) Bilateral
(D) Unilineal

6. Which anthropologist is known for studying matrilineal societies?
(A) Bronisław Malinowski
(B) Claude Lévi-Strauss
(C) Margaret Mead
(D) Franz Boas

7. Which of the following best describes matrilocal residence?
(A) Couples live with the husband’s family
(B) Couples live with the wife’s family
(C) Couples live independently
(D) Couples live with the father’s brother

8. In patrilineal societies, authority in the family is usually held by the:
(A) Wife
(B) Mother’s brother
(C) Father
(D) Daughter

9. Which society is typically matrilineal in structure?
(A) Maasai
(B) Minangkabau
(C) Zulu
(D) Pashtun

10. Unilineal descent systems include:
(A) Only matrilineal systems
(B) Only patrilineal systems
(C) Both matrilineal and patrilineal systems
(D) Neither matrilineal nor patrilineal systems