What is the primary focus of cultural ecology?
A) The study of ancient civilizations
B) The study of human adaptation to social and physical environments
C) The analysis of genetic evolution
D) The study of linguistic patterns Answer: B) The study of human adaptation to social and physical environments
Who is considered a founding figure of cultural ecology?
A) Franz Boas
B) Julian Steward
C) Bronislaw Malinowski
D) Clifford Geertz Answer: B) Julian Steward
Which concept in cultural ecology refers to the way in which human populations adapt to their environment?
A) Cultural relativism
B) Ecological adaptation
C) Ethnocentrism
D) Symbolic interaction Answer: B) Ecological adaptation
What does the term “ecosystem” refer to in human ecology?
A) A closed, artificial environment
B) A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system
C) A collection of human artifacts
D) A social organization Answer: B) A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system
Which of the following is a key concept in human ecology?
A) Genetic mutation
B) Kinship patterns
C) Resource management
D) Historical linguistics Answer: C) Resource management
What is the focus of environmental anthropology?
A) The study of ancient texts
B) The relationship between humans and their environment
C) The development of technology
D) The analysis of language structures Answer: B) The relationship between humans and their environment
Which anthropologist is known for their work on the “cultural core”?
A) Clifford Geertz
B) Marvin Harris
C) Julian Steward
D) E. E. Evans-Pritchard Answer: C) Julian Steward
What is a primary concern of human ecology?
A) The genetic evolution of species
B) The interaction between humans and their environment
C) The classification of languages
D) The political organization of societies Answer: B) The interaction between humans and their environment
Which term refers to the practice of sustainable resource use and management in human ecology?
A) Overexploitation
B) Conservation
C) Degradation
D) Industrialization Answer: B) Conservation
What does “cultural landscape” refer to?
A) A natural, untouched environment
B) A region characterized by homogeneous cultural traits
C) A geographic area that includes cultural and natural resources
D) A purely urban environment Answer: C) A geographic area that includes cultural and natural resources
Who is known for the concept of cultural materialism in anthropology?
A) Franz Boas
B) Marvin Harris
C) Clifford Geertz
D) Julian Steward Answer: B) Marvin Harris
Which approach in human ecology focuses on the relationship between economic systems and ecological systems?
A) Symbolic interactionism
B) Political ecology
C) Structuralism
D) Postmodernism Answer: B) Political ecology
What is the significance of studying “traditional ecological knowledge” (TEK)?
A) It helps understand genetic variations
B) It provides insights into sustainable practices and conservation
C) It focuses on the development of new technologies
D) It analyzes historical documents Answer: B) It provides insights into sustainable practices and conservation
Which concept in cultural ecology examines how cultural beliefs and practices influence human interaction with the environment?
A) Cultural diffusion
B) Environmental determinism
C) Cultural adaptation
D) Cultural relativism Answer: C) Cultural adaptation
What does the term “human-environment interaction” encompass?
A) The genetic study of human populations
B) The relationship between human activities and the natural environment
C) The classification of human societies
D) The historical evolution of human language Answer: B) The relationship between human activities and the natural environment