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

Total Questions: 100

61. Arrange the following bones of human body as per their size (from longest to smallest).

A. Humerus
B. Atlas
C. Sternum
D. Femur
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 1. D, A, C, B
Solution:The bones listed from longest to smallest are:
D. Femur: The longest bone in the human body. It extends from the hip to the knee and supports the body's weight during standing and walking. Average adult femur is about 48 cm in length.
A. Humerus: The second-longest bone, found in the upper arm, connecting the shoulder to the elbow. Average length is about 36 cm.
C. Sternum: Also called the breastbone, it is a flat bone in the center of the chest. It measures about 15-17 cm in adults.
B. Atlas: The first cervical vertebra (C1) in the spine, it supports the skull. It is a small ring-shaped bone, much smaller than the others listed.
Thus, the correct order is Femur → Humerus → Sternum - Atlas, matching Option 1.

62. With............, alleles always end up becoming either lost (frequency = 0) or fixed (frequency =1).

Correct Answer: 1. Genetic drift
Solution:Genetic drift is a random process that affects allele frequencies in a population, especially small populations. Over time, due to chance, alleles can become either:
• Lost (frequency = 0)
• Fixed (frequency = 1)
This happens independent of selection, purely due to sampling error in the transmission of genes from one generation to the next.
In contrast:
• Natural selection is directional and not random.
• Gene flow introduces new alleles.
• Admixture combines gene pools of previously separated populations.
Hence, only genetic drift inevitably leads to allele fixation or loss.

63. Special multipurpose tribal blocks were set up during .......

Correct Answer: 4. Fourth Five Year Plan
Solution:Special multipurpose tribal blocks (SMPTBs) were introduced during the Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-1974).
Their purpose was to:
• Integrate tribal development with mainstream development planning.
• Provide education, healthcare, irrigation, and employment tailored to tribal needs.
This replaced the earlier Community Development Block approach and led to the development of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) areas later. The Fourth Plan marked a strategic shift toward region-specific and need-based tribal welfare planning.

64. Which of the following urban relations were identified by Wirth under the urban way of life?

A. Impersonal
B. Cumulative
C. Fragmented
D. Unpredictable
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 3. A, C and D only
Solution:Louis Wirth, in his work Urbanism as a Way of Life (1938), identified these key traits of urban relationships:
A. Impersonal: Urban interactions are often anonymous, short-term, and formal, with little emotional attachment.
C. Fragmented: Individuals in cities often belong to multiple non-overlapping social groups, leading to fragmented identities.
D. Unpredictable: Urban environments are dynamic, making social interactions and life outcomes less predictable than in rural areas.
B. Cumulative is not a characteristic identified by Wirth in this context.
Thus, correct traits as per Wirth are A, C, and D, matching Option 3.

65. .......... is a non-parametric statistical test of association.

Correct Answer: 2. Chi-square test
Solution:The Chi-square (x²) test is a non-parametric statistical test used to assess association between categorical variables. It is called non-parametric because it does not assume a normal distribution of the data. Common uses include:
• Goodness-of-fit tests
• Tests of independence in contingency tables
In contrast:
• Student's t-test and ANOVA are parametric tests for comparing means.
• Linear regression is a parametric modeling technique for predicting a continuous dependent variable.
Hence, only Chi-square is the non-parametric test of association in the given options.

66. A ridge of bone running along the top of the skull in apes and early hominins:

Correct Answer: 2. Sagittal crest
Solution:The sagittal crest is a ridge of bone that runs along the midline of the skull from front to back. It is most prominent in some non-human apes (e.g., gorillas) and early hominins such as Paranthropus boisei.

This structure serves as an anchor point for large jaw muscles, especially the temporalis muscles, used in heavy chewing. It is absent in modern humans, whose dietary evolution led to smaller jaw musculature. The occipital fossa and frontal fossa refer to depressions in the skull, not ridges, and suture process is not an anatomical ridge.

67. The Law of Burial denotes the study of:

Correct Answer: 2. Deposited of Animal remains
Solution:The Law of Burial, also known as taphonomy, refers to the study of how organisms decay and become fossilized, especially in archaeological and paleontological contexts. It examines the processes affecting the remains after death: decomposition, burial, transport, and preservation.

In archaeological terms, it applies particularly to how animal and human remains are deposited in specific contexts-natural or cultural. It helps differentiate between intentional burial practices and natural accumulation of bones, aiding in accurate site interpretation.

68. Which of the following is known as 'Mediterranean anemia'?

Correct Answer: 1. Thalassemia
Solution:Thalassemia is often called "Mediterranean anemia" because it is highly prevalent among populations from the Mediterranean region, including Italy, Greece, and Cyprus. It is a genetic blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin production, leading to anemia and fatigue.

There are two main types: Alpha and Beta Thalassemia, with Beta being more common in the Mediterranean. Sickle cell anemia is more prevalent in Africa and India, while haptoglobinemia is not a standard term, and anorexia nervosa is a psychological eating disorder, not anemia.

69. The European prehistoric cultural succession from the earliest to the latest:

A. Natufian
B. Chatelperronian
C. Maglemosean
D. Solutrean
E. Azilian
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 3. B, D, A, E, C
Solution:The correct chronological order of the European prehistoric cultural phases, from the earliest to the latest, is as follows:
B. Chatelperronian (c. 35,000 – 30,000 ВСE): A transitional culture of the late Neanderthals in France and northern Spain, combining Mousterian and Upper Paleolithic traits. It's one of the earliest Upper Paleolithic industries.
D. Solutrean (c. 22,000 - 15,000 BCE): A later phase of the Upper Paleolithic in western Europe, known for finely made bifacial points and laurel-leaf blades, found especially in France and Spain.
A. Natufian (c. 12,500 – 10,200 BCE): Though this is a Levantine (not European) culture, it is often considered for comparison due to its early sedentism and proto-agriculture. It overlaps with the Mesolithic and precedes Neolithic cultures in the Near East.
E. Azilian (c. 12,000 – 10,000 ВСE): A transitional culture from Upper Paleolithic to Mesolithic, with microliths and painted pebbles. It succeeded the Magdalenian culture in France and Spain.
C. Maglemosean (c. 9500 - 7700 ВСE): An early Mesolithic culture of northern Europe (mainly Denmark and southern Scandinavia). It reflects adaptations to postglacial environments with tools made from microliths and bone.
Hence, the correct chronological succession is: Chatelperronian → Solutrean → Azilian → Maglemosean Natufian. Correct option: 3.

70. Match the LIST-I with LIST-IІ.

LIST-I (Blood groups)LIST-II (Discoverer)
A. ABO blood GroupI. Landsteiner and Weiner (1940)
B. Rh blood GroupII. Landsteiner (1900)
C. MN blood GroupIII. Duffy (1950)
D. Duffy blood GroupIV. Landsteiner and Levine (1927)

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 1. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
Solution:A. ABO blood Group - II. Landsteiner (1900): Discovered by Karl Landsteiner, this was the first human blood group system to be identified.
B. Rh blood Group - I. Landsteiner and Weiner (1940): Identified by Landsteiner and Alexander Weiner, Rh is crucial in blood transfusion compatibility.
C. MN blood Group - IV. Landsteiner and Levine (1927): This group is used in population genetics and paternity testing, not usually for transfusions. D. Duffy blood Group - III. Duffy (1950): Named after a patient, the Duffy antigen is important in malaria resistance studies and blood transfusion reactions.
Hence, the correct matches are:
A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III = Option 1.