Q.1 What does 'material culture' refer to in anthropology?
The beliefs and values of a society
The physical objects, resources, and spaces people use
The language spoken by a community
The rituals and ceremonies of a culture
Explanation - Material culture includes all physical objects created or used by humans, such as tools, clothing, and buildings, which reflect cultural practices.
Correct answer is: The physical objects, resources, and spaces people use
Q.2 Which of the following is an example of material culture?
Religious beliefs
A handcrafted clay pot
Myths and legends
Social norms
Explanation - Material culture consists of tangible objects made or used by people, such as tools, art, or utensils.
Correct answer is: A handcrafted clay pot
Q.3 The study of technology in anthropology primarily examines:
How human societies create and use tools
Language development over time
Religious rituals
Political hierarchies
Explanation - Technology in anthropology focuses on tools, techniques, and knowledge humans develop to manipulate their environment.
Correct answer is: How human societies create and use tools
Q.4 Which term describes tools and objects that help humans adapt to their environment?
Material culture
Social institutions
Ideology
Kinship
Explanation - Material culture includes tools and objects that reflect how humans adapt to, manipulate, and interact with their environment.
Correct answer is: Material culture
Q.5 In anthropology, 'technology' can be best understood as:
A set of religious beliefs
Knowledge and techniques used to make and use tools
A form of government
A type of language
Explanation - Technology refers to the practical knowledge and methods humans use to create tools and solve problems.
Correct answer is: Knowledge and techniques used to make and use tools
Q.6 Which of the following is NOT typically considered part of material culture?
Stone tools
Traditional clothing
Oral myths
Household utensils
Explanation - Material culture refers to tangible objects, while oral myths are part of intangible cultural heritage.
Correct answer is: Oral myths
Q.7 Ethnographers often study material culture to:
Understand human adaptation and social behavior
Analyze grammar and syntax
Predict climate change
Document political revolutions
Explanation - Studying material culture allows anthropologists to infer how societies organize their lives, adapt to environments, and express identity.
Correct answer is: Understand human adaptation and social behavior
Q.8 Which of these best illustrates the link between technology and culture?
A smartphone influencing communication habits
A historical treaty
A ceremonial chant
A kinship diagram
Explanation - Technological tools like smartphones can shape cultural practices, such as communication patterns and social interaction.
Correct answer is: A smartphone influencing communication habits
Q.9 Archaeologists study ancient material culture primarily through:
Excavation of artifacts and sites
Reading modern newspapers
Interviewing political leaders
Recording oral literature
Explanation - Archaeologists examine physical remnants of past societies, such as tools, pottery, and buildings, to understand historical human behavior.
Correct answer is: Excavation of artifacts and sites
Q.10 Which of the following reflects the concept of 'technological adaptation'?
Using irrigation tools to farm in arid regions
Wearing ceremonial attire during festivals
Reciting traditional songs
Following kinship rules
Explanation - Technological adaptation involves using tools and techniques to cope with environmental challenges.
Correct answer is: Using irrigation tools to farm in arid regions
Q.11 Material culture can provide insights into:
Economic practices and social hierarchy
Philosophical debates
Meteorological phenomena
Political treaties
Explanation - Objects like tools, dwellings, and clothing often reveal patterns of production, consumption, and status in a society.
Correct answer is: Economic practices and social hierarchy
Q.12 A bow and arrow is an example of:
Non-material culture
Material culture
Political ideology
Social ritual
Explanation - As a physical tool created and used by humans, a bow and arrow falls under material culture.
Correct answer is: Material culture
Q.13 Which statement best describes the relationship between material culture and identity?
Objects have no influence on identity
Material objects can express social status and cultural affiliation
Identity is purely biological
Technology is unrelated to culture
Explanation - Artifacts, clothing, and tools can symbolize a person's role, group membership, and social standing.
Correct answer is: Material objects can express social status and cultural affiliation
Q.14 The study of how tools evolve over time in a society is called:
Technological anthropology
Cultural diffusion
Linguistic anthropology
Political anthropology
Explanation - Technological anthropology focuses on the development, use, and social impact of tools and technology.
Correct answer is: Technological anthropology
Q.15 Which of the following illustrates 'cultural transmission' in material culture?
Learning pottery-making techniques from elders
Memorizing a song
Eating a traditional meal
Observing a ritual dance
Explanation - Cultural transmission is the passing of knowledge, skills, and practices from one generation to the next, including technology and craftsmanship.
Correct answer is: Learning pottery-making techniques from elders
Q.16 Which anthropologist is famous for linking material culture to social organization?
Margaret Mead
Leslie White
Claude Lévi-Strauss
Bronislaw Malinowski
Explanation - Leslie White emphasized that technology and material culture drive cultural evolution and influence social structures.
Correct answer is: Leslie White
Q.17 Which type of material culture includes everyday household items?
Folk material culture
Elite material culture
Industrial artifacts
Symbolic artifacts
Explanation - Folk material culture includes tools, utensils, clothing, and other items used in daily life by ordinary people.
Correct answer is: Folk material culture
Q.18 Technological innovation in a culture often leads to:
Changes in social roles and economic structures
Elimination of all rituals
Language extinction
Decline in population
Explanation - New tools and technologies can alter work patterns, status hierarchies, and economic relationships.
Correct answer is: Changes in social roles and economic structures
Q.19 Which of the following is an example of symbolic material culture?
Religious icons
Cooking pots
Hunting weapons
Agricultural tools
Explanation - Symbolic material culture includes objects imbued with meaning beyond their practical use, such as religious or ceremonial items.
Correct answer is: Religious icons
Q.20 The concept of 'technological determinism' suggests that:
Culture shapes technology
Technology shapes society
Politics shapes culture
Language shapes thought
Explanation - Technological determinism argues that the introduction of new tools or techniques drives changes in social structure and cultural practices.
Correct answer is: Technology shapes society
Q.21 Which of these is a key method for studying material culture?
Artifact analysis
Textual criticism
Participant observation
Genealogical method
Explanation - Anthropologists analyze artifacts to infer cultural practices, technological skills, and social organization.
Correct answer is: Artifact analysis
Q.22 How does material culture reflect environmental adaptation?
Through tools designed for local climate and resources
Through myths and stories
Through political organization
Through social etiquette
Explanation - Material culture shows how societies adapt to environmental conditions using appropriate technologies and materials.
Correct answer is: Through tools designed for local climate and resources
Q.23 Which of the following is an example of industrial material culture?
Automobile assembly lines
Stone axes
Hand-woven baskets
Clay figurines
Explanation - Industrial material culture includes mass-produced tools and technology associated with industrial societies.
Correct answer is: Automobile assembly lines
Q.24 Material culture studies can help anthropologists understand:
Trade networks, social inequality, and cultural values
Philosophical theories
Meteorological patterns
Language syntax
Explanation - Objects and artifacts reveal economic, social, and symbolic aspects of societies.
Correct answer is: Trade networks, social inequality, and cultural values