Race and Racism: Biological vs. Social Construct – MCQs

1. How is race primarily understood in modern anthropology?
(A) A biological category
(B) A social construct
(C) A genetic determinant
(D) A cultural phenomenon

2. Which of the following is NOT a biological determinant of race?
(A) Skin color
(B) Blood type
(C) Genetic predisposition
(D) Hair texture

3. Racism is best described as:
(A) A form of prejudice based on social constructs of race
(B) A biological hierarchy of species
(C) A genetic classification system
(D) A natural human tendency

4. Genetic studies have shown that humans are approximately:
(A) 25% genetically different across races
(B) 50% genetically similar
(C) 99.9% genetically similar
(D) 75% genetically different across regions

5. Which of the following disciplines has largely debunked biological race theories?
(A) Sociology
(B) Genetics
(C) Anthropology
(D) All of the above

6. Skin color variation among humans is mainly attributed to:
(A) Differences in lifestyle
(B) Cultural adaptation
(C) Melanin levels and adaptation to UV radiation
(D) Genetic superiority

7. Which organization declared that race has no biological basis?
(A) American Anthropological Association
(B) World Health Organization
(C) United Nations
(D) Human Genome Project

8. Racism in history has often been justified by:
(A) Scientific discoveries
(B) Social hierarchies and pseudoscience
(C) Cultural practices
(D) Genetic evidence

9. The concept of “ethnicity” differs from race because it emphasizes:
(A) Physical characteristics
(B) Genetic makeup
(C) Cultural and social identity
(D) Biological determinism

10. Racism as a system is designed to:
(A) Promote genetic diversity
(B) Maintain power and privilege for certain groups
(C) Encourage cultural exchange
(D) Foster human rights

11. The Human Genome Project concluded that:
(A) Race determines intelligence
(B) Humans are genetically diverse across racial lines
(C) There is no genetic basis for race
(D) Skin color correlates with genetic superiority

12. What is the primary purpose of understanding race as a social construct?
(A) To validate biological differences
(B) To promote cultural relativism
(C) To highlight societal impacts of perceived differences
(D) To encourage genetic testing

13. Which historical event heavily influenced the concept of race?
(A) Industrial Revolution
(B) European colonization
(C) French Revolution
(D) The Age of Enlightenment

14. The term “colorblindness” in discussions of race refers to:
(A) Ignoring skin color in social interactions
(B) A genetic condition
(C) Overemphasizing cultural identity
(D) Promoting racial hierarchies

15. The “one-drop rule” historically classified individuals based on:
(A) Physical appearance
(B) Skin pigmentation
(C) Any African ancestry
(D) Citizenship status

16. Which concept explains how racism can become embedded in laws and institutions?
(A) Individual bias
(B) Structural or systemic racism
(C) Cultural relativism
(D) Genetic determinism

17. Which of the following terms refers to prejudice or discrimination based on skin color within the same racial group?
(A) Racism
(B) Colorism
(C) Ethnocentrism
(D) Cultural bias

18. The eugenics movement was primarily based on:
(A) Social equality theories
(B) Scientific racism and genetic hierarchy
(C) Religious tolerance
(D) Economic advancements

19. Who is often credited with introducing the concept of race as a classification in science?
(A) Charles Darwin
(B) Carl Linnaeus
(C) Gregor Mendel
(D) Louis Pasteur

20. Which of the following is an example of systemic racism?
(A) Individual prejudices
(B) Racial profiling in law enforcement
(C) Biological differences in skin color
(D) Genetic variations