ACBS FINAL FALL 2025 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100%
SOLVED ANSWERS!!
1
Which of the following foci will NOT typically be covered in a course
discussing the human-animal bond and animal domestication?
A) The close relationship humans have to particular species of animals.
B) The ethical implications of animal use.
C) The causes and consequences of animal domestication.
D) Appropriate methods for training your dog and cat.
E) The historical changes in human perception of animals.
Correct Answer: D) Appropriate methods for training your dog and cat.
Rationale: The course themes provided focus on the broader
scientific, ethical, and historical aspects of human-animal
interactions, not practical pet training techniques.
2
The "human-animal" distinction, as understood in Western philosophy and
culture, most likely:
A) Probably originated many millions of years ago with our ape-like
ancestors.
B) Likely originated with the domestication of animals, and was subsequently
justified by Western philosophers.
C) Is supported by our biological understanding of humans and animals
which shows how fundamentally different they are.
D) Is a universally accepted concept across all human cultures.
E) Is solely based on the capacity for language.
Correct Answer: B) Likely originated with the domestication of
animals, and subsequently justified by Western philosophers.
Rationale: The idea suggests that as humans began to control and
use animals, a philosophical framework developed to separate
humans from other animals, often to justify their exploitation or
distinct status.
,3
Which of the following are the three common types of symbiotic relationships
observed in nature?
A) Competition, predation, herbivory.
B) Mutualism, commensalism, parasitism.
C) Amensalism, neutralism, competition.
D) Commensalism, herbivory, predation.
E) Mutualism, competition, amensalism.
Correct Answer: B) mutualism, commensalism, parasitism
Rationale: Mutualism (both benefit), commensalism (one benefits,
other unaffected), and parasitism (one benefits, other harmed) are
the three primary classifications of symbiotic relationships.
4
People of different cultures categorize non-human animals into groupings
that primarily reflect:
A) Cultural opinion on how intelligent an animal is.
B) The zoological (scientific) classification system.
C) How the animal(s) are used.
D) How similar they look to humans.
E) Their vocalization patterns.
Correct Answer: C) how animals are used
Rationale: Cultural categorization of animals is largely utilitarian,
reflecting the roles animals play in human societies (e.g., food,
labor, pet, pest, spiritual).
5
As described in Chapter 1, humans generally place animals into different
categories according to their use. However, some animals can have multiple
uses and thus can fall into multiple cultural categories. For example, in the
United States, pigs are considered food and sometimes also pets. In other
countries, such as ______________, dogs are considered pets and also food.
,A) India
B) Argentina
C) South Korea
D) Mongolia
E) Germany
Correct Answer: C) South Korea
Rationale: South Korea is widely known for cultures where dogs are
consumed as food, while also being kept as companions.
6
As it relates to the Hominin Family Tree, please select the correct
chronological order from oldest to most recent.
A) Early Homo species, Australopithecus species, Homo sapiens.
B) Homo sapiens, early Homo species, Australopithecus species.
C) Australopithecus species, early Homo species, Homo sapiens.
D) Early Homo species, Homo sapiens, Australopithecus species.
E) Homo sapiens, Australopithecus species, early Homo species.
Correct Answer: C) Australopithecus species, early Homo species,
Homo sapiens
Rationale: The generally accepted evolutionary timeline for hominins
places Australopithecus species as earlier ancestors, followed by
various early Homo species, and then modern Homo sapiens.
7
Why do people today find savanna-like settings attractive?
A) Because savanna grasses were an important food source.
B) Because such settings offer more opportunities for recreation (tree-
climbing, camping).
C) Because most people today grow up or live in a savanna-like setting.
D) Because our ancestors evolved in that type of landscape.
E) Because savannas are typically free of dangerous predators.
Correct Answer: D) because our ancestors evolved in that type of
, landscape
Rationale: The "savanna hypothesis" suggests that humans have an
innate preference for savanna-like environments because it was the
ancestral environment in which early hominins evolved, offering
resources and visibility.
8
Based on current evidence, what kind of empathy is a trait found in
humans AND many other animals?
A) High levels of cognitive empathy.
B) Both high levels of cognitive empathy and emotional empathy are found
in humans and other animals.
C) High levels of emotional empathy.
D) Neither cognitive nor emotional empathy is found in other animals.
E) Only very rudimentary forms of empathy are found in animals.
Correct Answer: C) High levels of emotional empathy
Rationale: Emotional empathy (feeling what another feels) is
observed in many species, particularly mammals. Cognitive empathy
(understanding another's perspective or thoughts - Theory of Mind)
is much more complex and considered far more developed, if not
unique, to humans.
9
As described in Chapter 2, there are different perspectives on the emergence
of cognitive empathy in the human lineage. The archeologist Stephen Mithen
has argued that the capacity to read an animal's mind, to see the world from
an animal's perspective, first appeared in fully modern humans (i.e., only
very recently in human evolution). In Mithen's view, earlier pre-modern
ancestral humans, although successful hunters:
A) Only occasionally were able to read another animal's mind.
B) Had no mind-reading capacity.
C) Used mind reading only for other humans but not for other animals.
SOLVED ANSWERS!!
1
Which of the following foci will NOT typically be covered in a course
discussing the human-animal bond and animal domestication?
A) The close relationship humans have to particular species of animals.
B) The ethical implications of animal use.
C) The causes and consequences of animal domestication.
D) Appropriate methods for training your dog and cat.
E) The historical changes in human perception of animals.
Correct Answer: D) Appropriate methods for training your dog and cat.
Rationale: The course themes provided focus on the broader
scientific, ethical, and historical aspects of human-animal
interactions, not practical pet training techniques.
2
The "human-animal" distinction, as understood in Western philosophy and
culture, most likely:
A) Probably originated many millions of years ago with our ape-like
ancestors.
B) Likely originated with the domestication of animals, and was subsequently
justified by Western philosophers.
C) Is supported by our biological understanding of humans and animals
which shows how fundamentally different they are.
D) Is a universally accepted concept across all human cultures.
E) Is solely based on the capacity for language.
Correct Answer: B) Likely originated with the domestication of
animals, and subsequently justified by Western philosophers.
Rationale: The idea suggests that as humans began to control and
use animals, a philosophical framework developed to separate
humans from other animals, often to justify their exploitation or
distinct status.
,3
Which of the following are the three common types of symbiotic relationships
observed in nature?
A) Competition, predation, herbivory.
B) Mutualism, commensalism, parasitism.
C) Amensalism, neutralism, competition.
D) Commensalism, herbivory, predation.
E) Mutualism, competition, amensalism.
Correct Answer: B) mutualism, commensalism, parasitism
Rationale: Mutualism (both benefit), commensalism (one benefits,
other unaffected), and parasitism (one benefits, other harmed) are
the three primary classifications of symbiotic relationships.
4
People of different cultures categorize non-human animals into groupings
that primarily reflect:
A) Cultural opinion on how intelligent an animal is.
B) The zoological (scientific) classification system.
C) How the animal(s) are used.
D) How similar they look to humans.
E) Their vocalization patterns.
Correct Answer: C) how animals are used
Rationale: Cultural categorization of animals is largely utilitarian,
reflecting the roles animals play in human societies (e.g., food,
labor, pet, pest, spiritual).
5
As described in Chapter 1, humans generally place animals into different
categories according to their use. However, some animals can have multiple
uses and thus can fall into multiple cultural categories. For example, in the
United States, pigs are considered food and sometimes also pets. In other
countries, such as ______________, dogs are considered pets and also food.
,A) India
B) Argentina
C) South Korea
D) Mongolia
E) Germany
Correct Answer: C) South Korea
Rationale: South Korea is widely known for cultures where dogs are
consumed as food, while also being kept as companions.
6
As it relates to the Hominin Family Tree, please select the correct
chronological order from oldest to most recent.
A) Early Homo species, Australopithecus species, Homo sapiens.
B) Homo sapiens, early Homo species, Australopithecus species.
C) Australopithecus species, early Homo species, Homo sapiens.
D) Early Homo species, Homo sapiens, Australopithecus species.
E) Homo sapiens, Australopithecus species, early Homo species.
Correct Answer: C) Australopithecus species, early Homo species,
Homo sapiens
Rationale: The generally accepted evolutionary timeline for hominins
places Australopithecus species as earlier ancestors, followed by
various early Homo species, and then modern Homo sapiens.
7
Why do people today find savanna-like settings attractive?
A) Because savanna grasses were an important food source.
B) Because such settings offer more opportunities for recreation (tree-
climbing, camping).
C) Because most people today grow up or live in a savanna-like setting.
D) Because our ancestors evolved in that type of landscape.
E) Because savannas are typically free of dangerous predators.
Correct Answer: D) because our ancestors evolved in that type of
, landscape
Rationale: The "savanna hypothesis" suggests that humans have an
innate preference for savanna-like environments because it was the
ancestral environment in which early hominins evolved, offering
resources and visibility.
8
Based on current evidence, what kind of empathy is a trait found in
humans AND many other animals?
A) High levels of cognitive empathy.
B) Both high levels of cognitive empathy and emotional empathy are found
in humans and other animals.
C) High levels of emotional empathy.
D) Neither cognitive nor emotional empathy is found in other animals.
E) Only very rudimentary forms of empathy are found in animals.
Correct Answer: C) High levels of emotional empathy
Rationale: Emotional empathy (feeling what another feels) is
observed in many species, particularly mammals. Cognitive empathy
(understanding another's perspective or thoughts - Theory of Mind)
is much more complex and considered far more developed, if not
unique, to humans.
9
As described in Chapter 2, there are different perspectives on the emergence
of cognitive empathy in the human lineage. The archeologist Stephen Mithen
has argued that the capacity to read an animal's mind, to see the world from
an animal's perspective, first appeared in fully modern humans (i.e., only
very recently in human evolution). In Mithen's view, earlier pre-modern
ancestral humans, although successful hunters:
A) Only occasionally were able to read another animal's mind.
B) Had no mind-reading capacity.
C) Used mind reading only for other humans but not for other animals.
