NTA UGC NET/JRF Exam, August 2024 (Anthropology)

Total Questions: 100

31. The earliest evidences of caring for the disabled are well represented in the fossil records as:

(a) an amputee discovered at Shanidar cave
(b) a man crippled by arthritis at LaChapelle
(c) a broken female femur at Swanscombe
(d) a broken skull of a child at Mas de Azil
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: B. (a) and (b) only
Solution:The earliest evidences of caring for the disabled in the fossil record include an amputee discovered at Shanidar cave (a) and a man crippled by arthritis found at La-Chapelle-aux-Saints (b). The Shanidar amputee demonstrates significant care within his community, as the individual lived for many years after his amputation, suggesting he was cared for by others.

Similarly, the elderly male found at La-Chapelle-aux-Saints showed severe signs of arthritis, yet he survived well into his old age, indicating that he, too, received community support despite his debilitating condition. These examples provide profound insights into the compassionate behaviours and social structures of early humans, highlighting their understanding and support for individuals with disabilities.

32. The term "prestation' is attributed to:

Correct Answer: C. Marcel Mauss
Solution:The term "prestation" is attributed to Marcel Mauss, a French sociologist and anthropologist known for his influential work on gift exchange. In his seminal book, "The Gift," Mauss describes "prestations" as the exchange of gifts, goods, or services that are not solely economic but embedded in social and spiritual obligations.

This concept helps in understanding the complex social networks and reciprocal relationships that define many societies, underscoring the non-economic motivations behind exchanges and their role in social cohesion and cultural expression.

33. Which of the following characteristics is not observed in a male pelvis?

Correct Answer: B. Broad and shallow sciatic notch
Solution:The characteristic of a broad and shallow sciatic notch is not observed in a male pelvis; it is instead a feature of the female pelvis. Male pelvic anatomy typically includes a small inferior aperture (A), a pelvic cavity that is smaller and deeper in size (C), and a small sub pubic angle (D).

These features contrast with those of a female pelvis, which is adapted for childbirth and thus exhibits a broader sub pubic angle, a larger and more circular inferior aperture, and a wider, shallower sciatic notch to accommodate the birthing process.

34. Match the List-I with List-II.

List-I (Primates)List-II (Habitat)
(a) MarmosetsI. Madagascar
(b) LemursII. Western & Central Africa
(c) OrangutansIII. Borneo & Sumatra
(d) GorillaIV. South Africa

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: (E) (*)

35. Who among the following anthropologists suggested that conflict is not pathological but contributes to the functional integration of a society?

Correct Answer: В. Max Gluckman
Solution:Max Gluckman is the anthropologist who suggested that conflict is not pathological but contributes to the functional integration of a society. Gluckman's perspective is rooted in the structural functionalism approach, where he viewed conflicts, and their resolutions, as mechanisms that reinforce societal norms and contribute to social cohesion.

By examining how societies manage internal conflicts and tensions, Gluckman demonstrated that these processes are vital for maintaining stability and order, thereby enhancing the understanding of social dynamics and structures.

36. Edmund Leach's study of the 'Political System of Highland Burma' showed that a group can be characterised as:

(a) Single social system
(b) Multiple social systems
(c) Uniform culture
(d) Multiple cultures
(e) Balanced equilibrium
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: С. В. Malinowski
Solution:Edmund Leach's study of the 'Political System of Highland Burma' demonstrated that the social organization within these groups can be characterized as comprising multiple social systems (b) and multiple cultures (d).

Leach argued that the Kachin groups, depending on their interactions and economic circumstances, alternated between hierarchical structures and more egalitarian systems, thus reflecting a diverse array of social structures within the same broader community. This study helped to challenge previous anthropological assumptions about static and homogenous tribal societies, showing instead the fluid and dynamic nature of their social and political organization.

37. At the end of the first year of postnatal life:

(a) the length of a child increases by 50% of the birth length
(b) the weight of a child increases by 200% of the birth weight.
(c) the length of face of a child increases by 10% of the facial length at birth.
(d) the head circumference of a child increases-by 15% of the head circumference at birth.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: C. (b) and (d) only
Solution:At the end of the first year of postnatal life, significant growth occurs in both length and weight of a child. The length of a child increases by 50% of the birth length (a), and the weight of a child triples, increasing by 200% of the birth weight (b).

These growth metrics highlight the rapid developmental changes that occur during the first year. The growth in facial length and head circumference, though present, does not align precisely with the percentages provided in the options (c) and (d), making them incorrect in this context.

38. The Cargo Cults of the Melanesian culture of the Pacific region are categorized as:

(a) Mobility movement
(b) Nativistic movement
(c) Millenarian movement
(d) Identity movement
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: D. (b) and (c) only
Solution:The Cargo Cults of the Melanesian culture in the Pacific region are best categorized as nativistic (b) and millenarian (c) movements. These movements often arise in response to oppressive external forces and the disruption of traditional. ways of life by colonial or other outsider influences.

Cargo cults specifically combine religious, economic, and cultural elements with the expectation of a sudden transformation of their circumstances by supernatural means, often envisioned as an abundance of goods ("cargo") delivered by ancestral spirits or mythological figures.

39. Match the List-I with List-II.

List-I (Anthropologists)List-II (Typologies/Major ideas)
(a) Marcel MaussI. Reciprocity, Redistribution and Market Exchange
(b) George DaltonII. Obligation to give, Obligation to receive, Obligation to reciprocate
(c) Marshall SahlinsIII. Generalized reciprocity, Balanced reciprocity, Negative reciprocity
(d) Karl PolanyiIV. Market less economies, Economies with peripheral markets, Market economies

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: C.
Solution:The correct matching of anthropologists to their major ideas or typologies is as follows: Marcel Mauss is associated with the concept of the obligation to give, to receive, and to reciprocate (II), central to his theories on the gift economy. George Dalton developed the typology of marketless economies, economies with peripheral markets, and market economies (IV), focusing on the economic forms and their influence on social structures.

Marshall Sahlins described forms of reciprocity including generalized, balanced, and negative reciprocity (III), which are fundamental in understanding exchange systems in different cultures. Karl Polanyi focused on reciprocity, redistribution, and market exchange (I), examining economic principles across various societies.

40. Match the List-I with List-II.

List-I (Concepts)List-II (Anthropologists)
(a) Cultural hegemonyI. Edward Said
(b) Cultural capitalII. Gramsci Antonio
(c) Symbolic violenceIII. Michel Foucault
(d) Cultural imperialismIV. Pierre Bourdieu

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: D.
Solution:The correct matching of concepts to anthropologists is as follows: Cultural hegemony is associated with Gramsci Antonio (II), who developed the theory to describe how dominant groups in society maintain their power not just through force but through controlling cultural institutions and norms. Cultural capital is a concept developed by Pierre Bourdieu (IV), describing the non-economic resources that enable social mobility.

Symbolic violence is also a concept articulated by Michel Foucault (III), referring to the subtle and often unnoticed social processes that normalize the existing social order and perpetuate inequality. Cultural imperialism is related to the ideas of Edward Said (I), particularly in how Western powers dominate and reshape the cultures of less powerful nations.