APY1501 Exam Pack

APY1501 Exam Pack. Anthropology In A Diverse World. Sociocultural anthropologists focus on the ___. 1. relation between language and the other aspects of the life of a society. 2. lifestyles of the rich diversity of societies as they are found worldwide. 3. influence of biological and hereditary characteristics on behaviour of members of a society. 4. material remains of societies which are collected during excavation of sites where people once lived. Answer: The correct answer is 2 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 49 Reasoning: Anthropology’s has “four fields” of study (biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistic and sociocultural anthropology) that is closely related. Anthropologists from all four fields study notions of the body – each in a different context: 1. Sociocultural anthropologists, for example, examine how culture affects societal and individual bodily ideas, ideals and practices. They provide ethnographic records of how various sociocultural groups value appearancerelated practices. Option 2 refers to this field. 2. Biological/physical anthropologists classify human diversity related to body size, shape, composition and appearance. They investigate how geographical, social, economic and other aspects affect physical development, health and well-being. Option 3 refers to this field. 3. Linguistic anthropologists research how the body communicates; how messages are sent within a particular social context and how a language shapes bodily concepts – for example, male and female bodies. Option 1 refers to this field. 4. Archaeologists record physical variations, modification and adornment practices over time through examining material remains. Option 4 refers to this field. QUESTION 2 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: Archaeology as a subfield of anthropology studies ___. 1. past living conditions and changes that occurred in human populations during prehistoric times. 2. the development of human beings from very early times. 3. the physical adaptation of human populations to their environment. 4. fossil remains of prehistoric human-like beings which have been preserved in the earth’s crust. Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 9 Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 3 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context Reasoning: Archaeology, which is derived from the Greek arkhaios (ancient) and logos (study), studies the past living conditions and changes that occurred in human populations during prehistoric times. QUESTION 3 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: An holistic approach to the study of culture means that anthropologists ___. 1. attempt to obtain an overall impression of the development of culture. 2. draw generalisations about the human condition. 3. study the cultural systems of societies within a global cultural pattern. 4. study all facets of human life, including the environmental factors to which people must adapt for survival. Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 10 Reasoning: The notion of holism is based on the expectation that each patterned element or system is dependent upon or linked to some other elements within a specific time, situation and locality. Anthropologists study not only varieties of people, but also many aspects of human experience. For example, when describing a group of people, an anthropologist might discuss the history of the area in which the people live, the physical environment, the organisation of family life, the general features of their language, the group’s settlement patterns, political and economic systems, religion and styles of art and dress (Ember et al 2005:2). In other words, anthropologists take the whole context of a particular group of people into account in an attempt to get “the big picture”. QUESTION 4 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: If an excessively cultural relativistic approach is followed in anthropology ___. 1. cultural practices that have a harmful impact on a society may not be questioned. 2. the researcher might adopt an ethnocentric approach to the study of people. 3. statistical data relevant to an investigation might be misinterpreted. 4. the researcher’s beliefs may influence the results of his/her investigation. Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 22 Reasoning: Counteracting ethnocentrism is the notion of cultural relativism. This suggests that behaviour in a specific sociocultural system should not be judged by the values and norms of another system. In other words, a group, community or society’s behaviour, ideas, beliefs and customs should be studied and understood within their own context and judged as equally valid. If taken to the extreme, cultural relativism can, however, also be problematic. It could imply that there is no such thing as a universal human morality. If a person adopts this view, then, for example, s/he has to accept the practice of female genital mutilation; clitoridectomy (the removal of a girl’s clitoris), which is still carried out in parts of Africa and the Middle Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 4 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context East. One would have to find acceptable the atrocities committed by the South African police forces during apartheid, the extermination of minority groups such as Jews, gypsies and homosexuals in Nazi Germany during World War II, the cultural cleansing of the Sinhala Buddhist by Islamic extremists in Sri Lanka, the killing of albinos for their body parts in East Africa, the mass extermination of people and “ethnic cleansing” that has occurred in several countries in the last decade. There is also, of course, the issue of human rights violations, crimes against humanity and the unequal rights for many minority groups, which are still denied in many countries of the world. QUESTION 5 Which one of the following best illustrates how an application of the concept of cultural relativism influences the work of anthropologists? An anthropologist ___. 1. determines which one of two cultural groups has developed a more effective approach to combating crime. 2. compares the social structure and social behaviour of different social groups. 3. interprets the behaviour of people in terms of the sociocultural context in which the behaviour is found. 4. demonstrates how a social group’s culture has been influenced by other social groups with which it has been in contact. Answer: The correct answer is 3 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 22 Reasoning: Counteracting ethnocentrism is the notion of cultural relativism. This suggests that behaviour in a specific sociocultural system should not be judged by the values and norms of another system. In other words, a group, community or society’s behaviour, ideas, beliefs and customs should be studied and understood within their own context and judged as equally valid. QUESTION 6 Which one of the following combinations pertaining to anthropological method and explanation has been linked CORRECTLY? 1. Participant observation Immersion of the researcher in the daily lives of the people being studied 2. Genealogical method Tracing social and friendship relations within a community 3. In-depth interviewing Gathering information mainly through quantitative strategies 4. Social network analysis Questioning informants about relatives to reconstruct family histories Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pp. 23, 26 Reasoning: • Participant observation is fieldwork done by an anthropologist, who studies the way of life of a group of people by sharing in and observing their activities. Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 5 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context • The genealogical method essentially entails questioning informants about their relatives (kin), naming all those they can remember, living or dead, and indicating the nature of the relationship between them. Therefore options 2 and 4 are incorrectly matched. • To trace and understand social relations in a wider sense than just those based on kinship, anthropologists make use of personal social network analysis. This strategy incorporates relationships beyond those established by kinship and marriage and includes relationships derived from friendship, the workplace, sport or a common interest. • In-depth interviewing is part of qualitative research (and not quantitative) – therefore option 3 is incorrectly matched. QUESTION 7 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: All of the following perspectives or approaches are characteristic of anthropology, EXCEPT ___. 1. a contextual approach which takes the entire sociocultural and environmental settings of a human population, as well as the dynamic interaction between them into account. 2. a comparative approach that brings similarities and differences between human populations to the fore. 3. the concept of sociocultural systems that anthropologists use to try to understand the ways in which people organise their lives. 4. a research method which enables the anthropologist to produce quantitative data by means of statistical methods, surveys and questionnaires. Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 6 Reasoning: Sociology studies the social life of people, particularly the social relations, organisation and human behaviour of human societies. Anthropologists share these interests, but there are significant differences between the disciplines. Initially, sociologists were inclined to study societies in the industrial, modernised world, while anthropologists mainly studied pre-industrial, traditional societies. The two disciplines developed different methods of data collection. To study complex societies, sociologists came to rely on questionnaires and other techniques to produce quantitative data, using sampling and statistical methods. The populations that anthropologists originally concentrated on were smaller nonliterate (without writing) societies in mainly rural settings. Anthropologists used qualitative research strategies – in other words, they lived with the people for extended periods of time, participated in their daily activities and observed, at first hand, the normal routine of their lives. It is also called fieldwork or field research. Therefore option 4 is incorrect, and the correct answer. QUESTION 8 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: A recent survey of the University of South Africa’s Bureau of Market Research indicates that despite the significant growth in the number of so-called ‘black diamonds’ in the country, ___. Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 6 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context 1. more than half of all South Africans still fall in the lowest income bracket. 2. the skills shortage is worsening and preventing millions of South Africans from gaining access to the modern knowledge-economy 3. socioeconomic inequalities in the country are greater than ever. 4. 1 and 3 5. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 13 Reasoning: The latest survey by Unisa’s Bureau of Market Research (BMR) indicates that more than half of all South Africans still fall in the lowest income bracket (R0 – R50 000 per household per annum). Although there has been significant growth in the number of “black diamonds” (successful/ wealthy black business people), this has further widened the gap between rich and poor. Socioeconomic inequalities are greater than ever. There is a skills shortage, (there are no mention of the skills shortage worsening in the Studyguide, just mentioning the shortage) which means that millions of South Africans do not have access to the modern knowledge economy. QUESTION 9 Which of the following is NOT applicable to the anthropologist’s involvement in development projects? 1. Providing technical information on the geographical area targeted for the development project 2. Doing social impact studies to avoid disrupting the local community during the implementation of a project 3. Co-operating with other scientists as part of a multidisciplinary team which is planning a development project 4. Acting as a mediator between the local community and the planners of a project Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 15 Reasoning: Experience has shown that the successful planning and execution of a development project is virtually impossible without the input of anthropologists. When they become involved in the sort of issues referred to above, anthropologists’ responsibilities include the following: • cooperating with agriculturists, geographers, engineers and other scientists in multidisciplinary teams on development projects in a local community (option 3) • doing sociocultural impact studies so that communities are not disrupted when buildings are erected, highways and dams constructed and oil pipelines laid (option 2) • playing the role of cultural broker or mediator between the government or planners and the local community when the latter has to be moved for some reason, for example during dam construction or a resettlement campaign (option 4) QUESTION 10 Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 7 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context From the options below, select the species that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: The species ___ lived in camps of piled stone or bushes, had a highly developed toolkit and, possibly, the use of fire. 1. Australopithecus afarensis 2. Homo erectus 3. Australopithecus africanus 4. Homo habilis Answer: The correct answer is 2 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 40 Reasoning: Homo erectus lived from about 1.8 million to 150,000 years ago. Their name indicates that this species were able to stand and walk upright (erect). They were the first to master the use of fire and are associated with Acheulian tools – highly developed hand-axes. They had home bases in caves or camps of piled stone or bushes. While males hunted game, females probably gathered vegetable foods to bring to the common camp. H. erectus were the first to migrate from Africa. A relatively complete fossil, found in China, is known as “Peking Man” and one found in Indonesia, is called “Java Man”. QUESTION 11 According to physical anthropologists, which of the following statements regarding ‘human nature’ is/are CORRECT? a) There are limitations on human behaviour and only specific variations are possible. b) The capacity of speech is what distinguishes humans from animals. c) Despite the huge diversity found among humans, they are remarkably similar. d) Human nature is unchangeable and characteristic of a specific group of people. Choose the CORRECT option. 1. a, b and c 2. b and c 3. b 4. a, b, c and d 5. c Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 47 Reasoning: We know that only humans have the capacity for speech, not only because of our vocal apparatus, (statement b is correct) but also because of the size and structure of our brains. By providing answers to the question of what makes human beings unique among animals, biological/ physical anthropology gives us the first clues in understanding human behaviour. It tells us what the basis for that behaviour is and what the limitations upon it are. It tells us why we should expect others to behave within those limitations and what variations are possible (statement a is correct). In other words, biological/physical anthropology spells out the limits of human behaviour. Perhaps most important of all, biological/physical anthropology teaches us that no matter how much diversity we might find in the world around us, the most remarkable fact is not how different Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 8 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context people are but how similar they are, and this is a crucial lesson in getting along in the world today (Friedl 1976:12–13) (statement c is correct). Anthropologists currently are careful not to make simplistic generalisations about “human nature”. There was a time when a kind of pseudoscience was practiced with reference to “human nature”. It tended to regard human nature as unchangeable and even characteristic of a particular group of people – and everything from differences in suicide rates to the different kinds of mental illness and thought patterns, and even apparent intellectual abilities, were ascribed to the “human nature” of a particular group rather than to sociocultural, contextual and historical variables. (statement d is incorrect) QUESTION 12 Which of the following statements regarding the concept of race is/are CORRECT? a) The superficial or external features of humans in particular were initially used to classify them into races. b) The classification of humans according to racial characteristics is unscientific and often based on stereotypes that stem from prejudice. c) Scientists are more likely than lay people to classify humans into races on the grounds of their biological features. d) Inborn behavioural predispositions such as alcoholism and drug abuse can be linked to specific races. Choose the CORRECT option. 1. a and b 2. b, c and d 3. a, b and c 4. a, b, c and d 5. a Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pp. 44-45 Reasoning: There is no agreement about how many differences constitute a race. No one race has exclusive possession of any particular variant of any gene or genes. The differences among individuals and within a population are generally greater than the differences among populations. Therefore, statements c and d are incorrect. QUESTION 13 Indicate the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: Tattooing ___. 1. in all probability already was practised during the Upper Paleolithic era. 2. has become a rite of passage that aims to empower tattooed people. 3. is a means by which humans establish themselves as sociocultural beings. 4. 1, 2, and 3 5. 1 and 3 Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 9 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context Answer: The correct answer is 5 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 54 Reasoning: Tattooing is one of the most persistent and universal forms of body art. It possibly dates back 10,000 – 40,000 years to the Upper Palaeolithic era (also known as the Stone Age). The earliest solid evidence of human tattoos was found on the mummified body of Ötzi, the Iceman, who lived in the Alps, between Austria and Italy, around 5,000 years ago. Tattoos are a way in which people transform and express themselves and a way that human beings establish themselves as part of a specific sociocultural group. QUESTION 14 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: All of the following are functions of bodily decorations and adornments EXCEPT ___. 1. accentuating erogenous areas of the body. 2. indicating changes in the status of individuals. 3. signifying gender equality in societies. 4. designating occupations of individuals. Answer: The correct answer is 3 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 54 Reasoning: To look sexually attractive, erogenous areas of the body are also accentuated, for example, women’s red lips, short skirts, low-cut dresses or an exposed stomach (option 1 is correct). In addition to aesthetic considerations, body decoration and adornments are also used to designate social status, rank, gender, occupation (option 4 is correct) and identity within a community – and usually in keeping with its sociocultural pattern. Such “markers” include the queen’s crown, the red hunting jacket of an English gentleman, the gold-embroidered jacket of an Indian rajah, the leopard skin regalia of a Zulu king. Further, temporary modifications are also practised, in line with religious requirements, for example wearing the Christian Cross, Jewish Star of David or temporarily decorating the body with henna – as practiced by Muslim communities in India on religious occasions (option 2 is correct). QUESTION 15 Which one of the following statements regarding body language is CORRECT? 1. The study of people’s perceptions and use of space is known as kinesics. 2. Nonverbal signals complement spoken messages and thus cannot contradict such messages. 3. Nonverbal signals are not universally the same and therefore one cannot make generalisations about body language applicable to all societies. 4. It is said that at least 90% of verbal communication is transmitted by body language and tone of voice. Answer: The correct answer is 3 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 59 Reasoning: Proxemics, (not kinesics) the study of human beings’ perception and use of space, is also related to nonverbal communication (therefore option 1 is incorrect). Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 10 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context Non-verbal signals may contradict (not complement) the spoken messages, for example, if the verbal communication is not true, this can usually be “read” in the body, think about statements such as “I love you”, “Glad to see you again”, which can be contradicted by the eyes or facial expression (therefore option 2 is incorrect). Body language is not universally the same (therefore option 3 is correct). It is said that at least 90% of emotional information (not verbal communication) is transmitted by body language and tone of voice (Haviland et al. 2008:369) (therefore option 4 is incorrect). FIRST SEMESTER 2015 Assignment 2 – UNIQUE NUMBER QUESTION 1 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: Enculturation ___. 1. refers to the human ability and capacity to imitate and learn from the environment. 2. means that human behaviour is both inherited or instinctive and learned. 3. is the way culture is transmitted or carried over from one generation to the next. 4. refers to the acquisition of knowledge through informal learning activities only. Answer: The correct answer is 3 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 73 Reasoning: Enculturation is the way culture is transmitted or carried over from one generation to the next. QUESTION 2 Which of the following is/are raised by Eriksen as (an) objection(s) to use of the concept of culture in contemporary society? The concept of culture should no longer be used in anthropology because ___. 1. the use of the plural, cultures, divides human beings in that it emphasis differences between groups of people. 2. it has been used to discriminate against others and to justify exclusion by means of aggressive nationalism. 3. now that differences between people are no longer legislated in the world, it has become obsolete. 4. people at grassroots-level reject it on account of its use as a social engineering tool. 5. 1 and 2 Answer: The correct answer is 5 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 66 Reasoning: Because the word culture means so many different things, some academics, including a few anthropologists, suggest that it is no longer a valid word and should not be used anymore in academic disciplines. Eriksen (2004:27–31) claims that there are four basic objections as far as the concept of culture is concerned: (1) The use of the plural, “cultures”, of the word, “culture”. Culture unites people; all human beings are cultured and all have a language, religion, political and economic system and social organisation – this is what makes us uniquely Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 11 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context human. But the plural, “cultures”, divides human beings in that it emphasises differences between groups of people. (option 1) (2) Culture encourages delineation and the identification of differences between groups – yet there are often significant differences within a group. Also, globalisation has resulted in a transnational (transcultural) flow of cultural elements, and particularly younger people, throughout the world, now acquire the same cultural references. (3) The political use of the concept of culture. The anthropological concept of cultural relativism has been used (and abused) to promote the claims of a particular group, to discriminate against others and to justify exclusion by means of aggressive nationalism. This kind of use of the word culture reduces the complexities of societies to a few simple categories and encourages a kind of “us” versus “them” attitude. (option 2) (4) The whole concept of culture is rather general and vague, and is used to refer to a conglomerate of various things. Although anthropologists have refined the definition of culture over the years, the concept is still used to explain issues, problems and practices: young men killing a bull; the effects of immigration into another country; different ways of raising children; conflict in schools; attitudes to foreign workers; different styles and preferences for music or clothing. These examples suggest there is a need to be more precise and to closely consider specific circumstances, context and the historical development of people’s behaviour. QUESTION 3 Which one of the following statements regarding gender and/or sexuality is CORRECT? 1. In some societies the construction of gender identity is based on density of flesh and bone. 2. The increasing objectification of male bodies is indicative of a shift in the sociocultural ideal of beauty from women to men. 3. Most societies distinguish three gender categories, namely male, female and homosexual. 4. It is generally accepted that gender is a set of variable social constructions which is placed on differentiated bodies. Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 86 Reasoning: Categories can be strictly composed by genital anatomy, as in most Western communities, by density of flesh and bone (option 1 therefore correct), as in some Nepalese communities or by inclination and behaviour, as in communities where gender categories are more fluid. In Native American societies (not most societies), it is common for three gender categories to be accepted: male, female and a third, more mixed, category. The Kathoey in Thailand are also perceived as a third gender. The Bugis in Indonesia describe five gender categories (Strang 2009:139). Some African societies, such as the Nandi of Kenya, Igbo of Nigeria and Lovedu of South Africa, allow “female husbands” – women who marry other women (option 3 is therefore incorrect). Although it is fairly, generally accepted that differences of gender are located in all bodies, the sexed bodies – female and the male, as flesh and bone – are, of course, necessary features of bodily identity. Not as readily apparent, however, is whether sex necessarily differentiates between bodies and that gender is only the set of Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 12 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context variable social constructions placed upon such differentiated bodies (option 4 is therefore incorrect). QUESTION 4 Which of the following statements regarding human agency is/are CORRECT? a) Individual action or initiative always plays a role in environmental changes, whether physical or sociocultural. b) Revitalisation movements do not constitute an example of human agency in action. c) Individuals perceive, interpret and manipulate the rules of the system to meet their own interests. d) An example of human agency is an influential leader who mobilises a community to change their circumstances by action. Choose the CORRECT option. 1. b 2. a and b 3. c and d 4. a, c and d Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 77 Reasoning: If a significant number of individuals no longer find aspects of their system or culture acceptable, for example, because it has not sufficiently adapted to changing circumstances or has become oppressive, they will initiate or try to bring about change. An influential leader may come to the fore, who will mobilise, organise and direct their sentiments into action. In extreme cases, this may take the form of an uprising or even a revolution, but it can at least become a movement for change. Anthropologists often refer to these changes as “cultural adjustment” or revitalisation movements” – in other words, human agency in action (statement b is therefore incorrect). STUDY THE FOLLOWING DIAGRAM AND THEN ANSWER QUESTIONS 5 TO 8. QUESTION 5 Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 13 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context Which of the following persons belong to the same patrilineal descent group? 1. EGO, 10 and 22 2. 12, 14 and 21 3. 5, 7, 12 and 14 4. 4, 5, 14 and 20 5. 13, 1, 8 and 10 Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 100 Reasoning: Patrilineal descent groups trace their descent through the fathers (males ∆) QUESTION 6 Which of the following persons are cross cousins? 1. 14 and 15 2. 20, 21 and 22 3. 22 and 23 4. 23 and 44 Answer: The correct answer is none of the above Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 98 Reasoning: Anthropologists partly resolve the problem of the multiple meanings of the term “cousin”, by referring to the relationship between the children of a man and the children of his sister(s), as well as the relationship between the children of a woman and the children of her brother(s) as cross cousins. Option 1 – 14 and 15 is parallel cousins Option 2 refers to parallel cousins Option 3 refers to parallel cousins Option 4 refers to siblings QUESTION 7 Which of the following relatives are indicated correctly? 1. Parallel kin: EGO and 27 2. Matrilineal kin: 33, 34 and 35 3. Parallel cousins: 22 and 24 4. Affinal kin: 20 and 5 Answer: The correct answer is 3 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 98 Reasoning: Parallel cousins: the relationship between the children of a man and the children of his brother(s), as well as the relationship between the children of a woman and the children of her sister(s), may be referred to as parallel cousins. QUESTION 8 Which of the following marriages are indicated correctly in the diagram? The marriage of ___. Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 14 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context 1. 27, 28 and 29 – sororal polygyny 2. 30, 31 and 32 – heterogeneous polyandry 3. 39, 40 and 41 – fraternal polyandry 4. 33, 34 and 35 – sororal polygyny Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 105 Reasoning: Sororal polygyny is the marriage of a man to the sister of his wife. Polyandry is a marriage involving one woman and two or more men. Polygyny is a marriage involving one man and two or more women. QUESTION 9 Which of the following are core functions of the Makhadzi among the Venda? a) Naming of children b) Spiritual healing of clan members c) Being present when traditional leaders are appointed and confirmed d) Partaking when sacrifices are brought to the ancestor spirits Choose the CORRECT combination. 1. b and d 2. a and c 3. a, b, c and d 4. a, c and d Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 108 QUESTION 10 Indicate the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: Among indigenous societies in South Africa, the transfer of marriage goods ___. a) gives the groom and his descent group the right to marry the bride and the right to any children born of the marriage. b) essentially constitutes an economic transition because it transfers ownership of the wife to the groom and his descent group. c) occurs after agreement has been reached on the amount of the goods in consideration of the beauty, age, virginity and level of education of the bride. d) is compulsory and may take the form of money, food, agricultural implements and livestock. Choose the CORRECT combination. 1. a and d 2. b and c 3. a, c and d 4. a, b, c and d Answer: The correct answer is 3 Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 15 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 106 Reasoning: Traditionally, in southern Africa, bride wealth was a sociocultural custom with various functions. It was not an economic purchase of a wife (statement b is incorrect), but a link to women’s reproductive labour (that is, to her duty to bear children). It gave the groom and his descent group the right to marry the bride and to all children born of the marriage and created a bond between the two lineages. The amount and nature of transferred goods differ, depending on the bride’s status and wealth, as well as her level of education, beauty, age, virginity and so forth. QUESTION 11 Various theories have been proposed to explain the origin or religion. Match the theorist in Column A to the corresponding theory in Column B and then select the CORRECT option. COLUMN A COLUMN B a. Edward Tylor i. Religion is born from the universal need to find comfort in time of crises. b. Bronislaw Malinowski ii. Religion originates from society and serves social, rather than psychological, needs. c. Sigmund Freud iii. Religion originated in people’s speculation about dreams, trances and death. d. Emile Durkheim iv. Religion is a form of reversal to an infantile need for security and certainty. Choose the CORRECT combination. 1. a: i, b: ii, c: iv, d: iii 2. a: iii, b: iv, c: ii, d: i 3. a: ii, b: iii, c: i, d: iv 4. a: iii, b: i, c: iv, d: ii Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 127 Reasoning: • According to the psychoanalytical approach (Freud) people may look to gods or magic to do what they cannot do for themselves, just as they turned to their parents to take care of their needs. Therefore c – iv. • This (religion), he (Tylor 1958) thought, developed out of the experiences and speculations of early humans about dreams, trances and death. Therefore a – iii. • Malinowski - Religion is born from the universal need to find comfort in time of crises. • Durkheim - Religion originates from society and serves social, rather than psychological, needs. QUESTION 12 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: In anthropological theory the concept of myth is used to refer to ___. 1. tales of fictitious events based on irrational ideas. Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 16 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context 2. a primitive form of scientific thinking. 3. tales of cosmic origins and their meanings. 4. oral tradition of verifiable historical events. Answer: The correct answer is 3 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 136 Reasoning: The popular meaning of the term myth is that it is a false belief or a fictitious event or idea. Some people even view myths as superstitious mixtures of irrational ideas or fantasies. Anthropologists, however, use the term myth in a different sense. In anthropological theory, myths refer to tales that are sacred or religious in nature and transmitted from generation to generation. Myths are concerned with the origin or creation of natural, supernatural or sociocultural phenomena and give meaning to human beings and their world. QUESTION 13 Which of the following use beings with supernatural characteristics and qualities to achieve their own evil purposes? 1. Witches 2. Malopo 3. Alien spirits 4. Sorcerers 5. Diviners Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 134 Reasoning: Witches are believed to perform their evil acts at night, when they gather to eat the flesh of their victims and to indulge in their orgies. They are also said to achieve their goals by using familiars, that is, beings with supernatural characteristics that help the witch to achieve his or her evil purpose. Examples of familiars are baboons, cats, snakes, birds, exhumed corpses and beings that are half animal and half human. The best-known example of such a familiar among traditional African communities in South Africa is uThikoloshe. QUESTION 14 Which one of the following statements that refer to ideas, objects and concepts about the supernatural is CORRECT? 1. A totem is an animal or plant that can be used by members of the totemic group for good or evil purposes. 2. A fetish is the abode of influential ancestral spirits in some tribal groups and is kept in the homestead of the tribal leader. 3. Amulets are objects that contain supernatural powers and ingredients through which the supernatural may be evoked. 4. Mana is an impersonal power that is closely connected to the concept of taboo and therefore people with mana should be avoided. Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 103 Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 17 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context Reasoning: • A totem refers to the use of a plant, animal or object as guardian, and/or emblem of a group. The group normally celebrates and honours its totem and uphold certain rules of conduct with regard to its totem, such as ritual prohibitions against the killing of a totem. • Charms, talismans and amulets are objects to which supernatural powers are ascribed. These objects may contain ingredients such as parts of plants and parts of animals, notably bones, teeth, pieces of skin, strands of hair and claws. They can be used for offensive as well as defensive purposes. They are typically used for protection against witchcraft and misfortune, success or for securing strength, health and good fortune. They may be worn on the body or placed in positions where their influence is needed, for example, inside or under houses, under a threshold or in gardens and fields. • For the Melanesian and Polynesian people, mana is an impersonal supernatural force, which can be transmitted or inherited. It is mainly associated with divinities and rulers, but may also be associated with other people. Certain objects may also contain mana, particularly objects that are sacred, unusual or powerful, such as a weapon that kills an enemy or a hunting weapon. Although it is believed that mana, in itself, is neither good nor evil, it can be used for good or evil purposes. A person with mana must therefore know how to use this power, otherwise it may prove to be harmful to him/her and others. It must be treated with respect and the persons and objects, believed to contain mana, must be avoided. Mana is thus closely associated with the concept of taboo. QUESTION 15 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: Religious fundamentalists ___. 1. are generally regarded as antimodernists. 2. emphasise the use of modern technology to achieve their religious objectives. 3. identify themselves strongly with the larger religious groups from which they evolved. 4. do not distinguish clearly between a secular and a sacred life. Answer: The correct answer is 1 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 146 Reasoning: They create an identity separate from the larger religious group from which they have emerged – this reflects their belief that the principles on which the larger religion is based have been corrupted, neglected, compromised, forgotten or replaced with other principles (Kottak 2008:297) (therefore option 3 is incorrect). Religious fundamentalists reject modernity, although they exploit some of its processes and resources. They assume a non-modern position. SECOND SEMESTER 2015 Assignment 1 UNIQUE NUMBER QUESTION 1 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: Anthropology as an independent discipline is distinguished from other disciplines that study humankind by the fact that anthropology ___. Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 18 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context 1. is mainly concerned with the study of African societies. 2. is particularly concerned with the social aspect of human existence. 3. studies human societies of prehistoric as well as historic times. 4. is concerned with all facets of human existence. Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 10 Reasoning: Anthropology is concerned with the human condition in its entirety. In addition to its characteristic scope of studying people worldwide and throughout time, another distinguishing feature is its holistic approach to studying human beings. QUESTION 2 Choose the INCORRECT statement. Linguistic anthropologists ___. 1. initially studied the historical development of unwritten languages of non-western societies. 2. study societies to gain an understanding of how cultural phenomena are expressed verbally. 3. mainly focus attention on the evolution of languages in prehistorical societies. 4. study the way in which language is used in different social contexts. Answer: The correct answer is 3 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pp. 9-10 Reasoning: Initially, linguistic anthropologists studied the historical development of the unwritten languages of “non-Western societies”. Therefore option 1 is true. The emphasis has, however, shifted (therefore option 3 is false) and language is now viewed not only as an indispensable means of communication within the communities or societies being studied, but also as a means of obtaining an understanding of how sociocultural phenomena are expressed verbally. Therefore option 2 is true. Sociolinguistics (a specialist area within linguistic anthropology) is the study of the way in which language is used in different social contexts. Therefore option 4 is true. QUESTION 3 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: An anthropological study that sees the people being studied as actors in their own sociocultural context, and incorporates people’s own perceptions and categorisations of the world in which they are living has adopted a(n) ___. 1. etic approach. 2. emic approach. 3. reflexive approach. 4. ethnocentric approach. Answer: The correct answer is 2 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 21 Reasoning: In subsequent years, it has become increasingly important for anthropologists to recognise the people being studied, as actors in their own sociocultural context. To Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 19 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context be aware of how the people, themselves, perceive their world and what has meaning for them, is known as the emic or “insider”, approach. QUESTION 4 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: The tendency to judge another society by the values and the standards of one’s own culture is known as ___. 1. multivocality. 2. reflexivity. 3. ethnicity. 4. ethnocentrism. Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 22 Reasoning: Ethnocentrism is the inclination of people to regard their own sociocultural system or way of life as superior. They use the values and practices of their own system to judge the behaviour and beliefs of others. QUESTION 5 According to the applied anthropologist, John van Willigen, which of the following are fields of application and practical work by anthropologists? a) Conflict resolution b) Wildlife management c) Design and architecture d) Cultural tourism e) Missionary work Choose the CORRECT combination. 1. a and d 2. a, d and e 3. b, c and d 4. a, b, c, d and e 5. a, b and e Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 17 Reasoning: In 1991, the applied anthropologist, John van Willigen, identified no less than 42 fields of application and practical work by anthropologists. •• agriculture •• resettlement •• alcohol and drug abuse •• missionary work •• cultural resource management •• rural and urban development •• design and architecture •• women and development Downloaded by: yandycele | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace 20 APY1501 The Anthropological Study of Culture in a multicultural context •• community development •• conflict resolution •• education and schools •• war •• employment and labour relations •• wildlife management •• health and medicine •• social impact assessment •• land use and land claims •• succession disputes in chiefdoms •• cultural tourism QUESTION 6 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: The etic approach ___. 1. aims to understand how the people of a particular society see, hear, speak, think and act. 2. is the same as ethnocentrism because it gives a perspective from outside a culture. 3. is a recently developed, subjective research strategy to determine the attitudes of people during research. 4. is a research strategy that gives priority to the interpretations of an anthropologist as researcher. Answer: The correct answer is 4 Refer: APY1501 Study Guide, pg. 21 Reasoning: The etic approach is an approach that studies the sociocultural system from the “outside”, as a scientist. Here, the focus of research shifts from people’s own categories, explanations and interpretations to those of the anthropologist. The researcher works from the assumption that people are so subjectively involved in their own lifestyle that they find it difficult to have an impartial view of it. QUESTION 7 Select the option that CORRECTLY completes the following statement: Ethnographic fieldwork as research method in anthropology ___. 1. refers to a comparative study of culture. 2. is used to gather information on the culture of societies by means of the interviewing of informants and participant observation. 3. is primarily used to undertake statistical surveys and social network analysis. 4. has as its aim the recording of people’s own view of their culture.