Q.1 What does human ecology primarily study?
The interaction between humans and their environment
The evolutionary history of humans
The genetic variations in human populations
Human cultural practices unrelated to the environment
Explanation - Human ecology examines how humans adapt to and interact with their environment, including biological, cultural, and technological factors.
Correct answer is: The interaction between humans and their environment
Q.2 Which of the following is an example of physiological adaptation to high altitude?
Increased lung capacity
Use of clothing to stay warm
Agricultural practices
Cultural rituals
Explanation - People living at high altitudes often develop larger lung capacities and more red blood cells to cope with lower oxygen levels.
Correct answer is: Increased lung capacity
Q.3 What is Bergmann's Rule?
Populations in colder climates tend to have larger body mass
Populations in warmer climates tend to have darker skin
Human populations adapt culturally rather than biologically
Humans evolve only in tropical regions
Explanation - Bergmann's Rule states that within a species, populations in colder environments tend to have larger body mass to conserve heat.
Correct answer is: Populations in colder climates tend to have larger body mass
Q.4 Which concept explains skin color variation among human populations?
Adaptation to UV radiation
Genetic drift
Bipedal locomotion
Cultural diffusion
Explanation - Skin pigmentation is influenced by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, balancing protection against sun damage with vitamin D synthesis.
Correct answer is: Adaptation to UV radiation
Q.5 Allen's Rule refers to which type of human adaptation?
Limb proportions based on climate
Cultural tool use
Skin color variation
Dietary practices
Explanation - Allen's Rule states that populations in colder climates have shorter limbs to conserve heat, while those in warmer climates have longer limbs to dissipate heat.
Correct answer is: Limb proportions based on climate
Q.6 Which of the following is an example of cultural adaptation to the environment?
Wearing insulated clothing in cold climates
Increased red blood cells at high altitudes
Sweating to cool the body
Developing dark skin in sunny regions
Explanation - Cultural adaptations involve learned behaviors and technologies, such as clothing or shelters, to survive environmental challenges.
Correct answer is: Wearing insulated clothing in cold climates
Q.7 What is hypoxia?
A deficiency of oxygen in the body
An increase in body temperature
A cultural adaptation to cold climates
A type of skin pigmentation
Explanation - Hypoxia occurs when the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply, often seen in high-altitude environments.
Correct answer is: A deficiency of oxygen in the body
Q.8 Which of the following best illustrates long-term evolutionary adaptation?
Lactose tolerance in some adult populations
Wearing sunglasses
Using sunscreen
Building houses
Explanation - Lactose tolerance evolved genetically in populations with a long history of domesticating dairy animals, showing natural selection over generations.
Correct answer is: Lactose tolerance in some adult populations
Q.9 Thermoregulation in humans involves:
Maintaining a stable body temperature despite environmental changes
Developing cultural rituals
Migration to other regions
Genetic mutations unrelated to environment
Explanation - Thermoregulation is a physiological adaptation allowing humans to maintain internal temperature through sweating, shivering, and blood flow adjustments.
Correct answer is: Maintaining a stable body temperature despite environmental changes
Q.10 Which of the following is a short-term physiological response to cold?
Shivering
Increased body mass
Cultural clothing choices
Limb shortening over generations
Explanation - Shivering generates heat as an immediate response to cold, whereas genetic or cultural adaptations occur over longer periods.
Correct answer is: Shivering
Q.11 What does the term 'ecogeographical rules' refer to in anthropology?
Patterns of human adaptation to environmental conditions
Rules of cultural etiquette in different regions
Legal regulations regarding ecology
Genetic inheritance of cultural traits
Explanation - Ecogeographical rules like Bergmann's and Allen's Rules describe consistent patterns of physical adaptation to climate among populations.
Correct answer is: Patterns of human adaptation to environmental conditions
Q.12 Which human adaptation is most closely associated with tropical climates?
Longer limbs and leaner body
Shorter limbs and stocky body
Increased fat storage
Shivering to generate heat
Explanation - Long limbs and a leaner body help dissipate heat efficiently in hot tropical climates, consistent with Allen's Rule.
Correct answer is: Longer limbs and leaner body
Q.13 What role does diet play in human ecological adaptation?
It influences genetic traits like lactose tolerance and amylase production
It has no role in biological adaptation
It is solely a cultural phenomenon
It only affects skin color
Explanation - Dietary pressures can lead to genetic adaptations, such as increased amylase production in populations consuming high-starch diets.
Correct answer is: It influences genetic traits like lactose tolerance and amylase production
Q.14 Which adaptation allows humans to survive in desert environments?
Efficient water retention and heat dissipation
Shivering to generate heat
Developing thicker body hair
Decreasing lung capacity
Explanation - Desert adaptation includes physiological mechanisms to conserve water and maintain body temperature in extreme heat.
Correct answer is: Efficient water retention and heat dissipation
Q.15 Why are human adaptations to the environment considered both biological and cultural?
Because humans change their bodies and behaviors to cope with environmental challenges
Because humans rely only on culture for survival
Because only genetics matter in adaptation
Because adaptation is entirely random
Explanation - Human adaptation is a combination of genetic, physiological, and cultural responses to environmental conditions.
Correct answer is: Because humans change their bodies and behaviors to cope with environmental challenges
Q.16 Which of the following is an example of developmental adaptation?
Larger lung capacity in children growing up at high altitude
Wearing hats to block the sun
Building irrigation systems
Shivering in cold weather
Explanation - Developmental adaptations occur during growth and development in response to environmental stressors, like high-altitude hypoxia.
Correct answer is: Larger lung capacity in children growing up at high altitude
Q.17 How does urbanization affect human ecological adaptation?
It creates novel environmental pressures influencing behavior and health
It eliminates all need for adaptation
It only affects skin color
It has no impact on physiology or culture
Explanation - Urban environments introduce new stressors like pollution, crowding, and dietary changes, requiring both cultural and biological adaptations.
Correct answer is: It creates novel environmental pressures influencing behavior and health
Q.18 What is acclimatization?
A short-term, reversible physiological adjustment to environmental stress
A permanent genetic change
A cultural practice
An evolutionary adaptation over thousands of years
Explanation - Acclimatization allows the body to temporarily adjust to factors like temperature or altitude without altering the genome.
Correct answer is: A short-term, reversible physiological adjustment to environmental stress
Q.19 Which adaptation is critical for survival in cold Arctic environments?
Stocky body shape and high basal metabolic rate
Long limbs and lean body
High UV protection
Increased sweating
Explanation - Shorter limbs, stocky body shape, and high metabolism help conserve heat in extremely cold climates, consistent with ecogeographical rules.
Correct answer is: Stocky body shape and high basal metabolic rate
Q.20 Which human trait is an example of genetic adaptation to malaria?
Sickle-cell trait
Blond hair
Large lung capacity
Thick body fat
Explanation - The sickle-cell trait provides resistance to malaria, illustrating a genetic adaptation to environmental disease pressures.
Correct answer is: Sickle-cell trait
Q.21 Which type of adaptation occurs within an individual’s lifetime and is not inherited?
Physiological acclimatization
Genetic adaptation
Evolutionary adaptation
Cultural transmission
Explanation - Acclimatization is a reversible adjustment to environmental stress within an individual's lifetime and is not passed to offspring.
Correct answer is: Physiological acclimatization
Q.22 Which of the following demonstrates cultural adaptation to seasonal flooding?
Building homes on stilts
Increasing basal metabolic rate
Developing more sweat glands
Shortening limbs
Explanation - Cultural adaptations, like elevated houses, allow humans to cope with environmental hazards without genetic change.
Correct answer is: Building homes on stilts
Q.23 What is the main factor driving human adaptation to high UV radiation?
Skin pigmentation
Height
Body mass
Limb length
Explanation - Darker skin provides protection against harmful UV rays, while lighter skin improves vitamin D synthesis in areas with low UV exposure.
Correct answer is: Skin pigmentation
Q.24 Which term describes the combined influence of climate, diet, and culture on human biology?
Human ecological adaptation
Genetic drift
Bipedalism
Cultural diffusion
Explanation - Human ecological adaptation considers both biological and cultural factors that influence survival and reproduction in specific environments.
Correct answer is: Human ecological adaptation