NTA UGC NET/JRF Exam, June 2023 (Anthropology)

Total Questions: 100

1. Penck and Bruckner identified which of the following glacial stages?

(a) Weichsel
(b) Gunz
(c) Wurm
(d) Holstein
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: C. (b) and (c) only
Solution:Penck and Bruckner identified the glacial stages in the Alpine region, notably naming the Gunz and Wurm stages. These stages represent different periods of glaciation during the Pleistocene epoch.

The Gunz glaciation is one of the earliest glaciations, while the Wurm glaciation is one of the last major glaciations before the current Holocene epoch. The Weichsel glaciation refers to the last glacial period in northern Europe, and the Holstein interglacial is a warm period between glaciations. Hence, the correct answer is Gunz and Wurm stages only, making options A and D incorrect.

2. Which of the following are the features of 'habitus'?

(a) Durability
(b) Not related to past
(c) Only associated with individual
(d) Related to both past and present
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: B. (a) and (d) only
Solution:The concept of 'habitus,' as introduced by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, refers to the deeply ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions that individuals acquire through their life experiences. These are durable and lasting, hence (a) Durability is correct.

Habitus is related to both past experiences and present actions, making (d) correct. It is not limited to the individual but extends to groups and social structures, making (c) incorrect. Thus, the correct features of 'habitus' include durability and its relation to both past and present.

3. Who discovered the first prehistoric tool in the Indian subcontinent?

Correct Answer: A. R.B. Foote
Solution:Robert Bruce Foote is credited with discovering the first prehistoric tool in the Indian subcontinent. He found a hand axe at Pallavaram near Chennai in 1863.

This discovery was significant as it provided evidence of the presence of early human activity in the region. B. Allchin, K. Paddaya, and H.D. Sankalia also made significant contributions to Indian archaeology but did not make this particular discovery. Foote's work laid the foundation for prehistoric research in India.

4. The approach in anthropology which opposes dualistic way of thinking about the world, using binary opposition is called as:

Correct Answer: B. Embodiment
Solution:The concept of 'embodiment' in anthropology, especially as discussed by thinkers like Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Thomas Csordas, opposes the dualistic way of thinking that separates mind and body, or subject and object.

It focuses on the lived experience of the body and how it interacts with the world. This approach contrasts with binary oppositions such as nature/culture or mind/body, which are often used in traditional anthropological studies. Thus, embodiment is the correct approach here, opposing dualistic thinking.

5. The site Bagor belongs to which culture?

Correct Answer: B. Mesolithic
Solution:The site of Bagor, located on the Kothari River in Rajasthan, India, is one of the largest Mesolithic sites in the country. Excavations revealed a rich assemblage of microlithic tools, animal bones, and evidence of domesticated animals.

This indicates a semi-nomadic lifestyle with early forms of animal husbandry. The Lower Palaeolithic, Neolithic, and Chalcolithic periods are characterized by different technological and cultural developments, making the Mesolithic period unique to Bagor.

6. Communitas is characterised as:

(a) Structured state
(b) Hetrogenous state
(c) Homogenous state
(d) Liminal state
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: B. (c) and (d) only
Solution:The concept of 'communitas,' introduced by Victor Turner, refers to an unstructured state where all members of a community are equal, experiencing a collective sense of togetherness.

It is often associated with rites of passage and liminality (d), where individuals are in a transitional phase. Communitas is homogeneous (c) in nature, focusing on equality and solidarity among members. It is not structured (a) or heterogeneous (b), making the correct characteristics of communitas homogeneous and liminal.

7. Mutation Theory was proposed by:

Correct Answer: A. Hugo de Vries
Solution:Hugo de Vries proposed the Mutation Theory in the early 20th century. Hе observed sudden changes in organisms, which he termed mutations, suggesting these were the source of new species.

This theory was significant in explaining the mechanism of evolution beyond natural selection. R.A. Fisher, August Weismann, and Gregor Mendel contributed to genetics and evolutionary theory, but de Vries specifically proposed the Mutation Theory, marking a critical advancement in understanding evolutionary processes.

8. Which of the following shows high negative correlation?

Correct Answer: C. Between -0.75 to -1
Solution:A high negative correlation indicates a strong inverse relationship between two variables, where an increase in one variable corresponds to a decrease in the other.

This is represented by a correlation coefficient between -0.75 and -1. A positive correlation (+0.75 to +1) indicates a strong direct relationship, while values closer to zero (-0 to -0.25, -0 to -0.50) indicate weak correlations. Therefore, a high negative correlation is accurately represented by values between -0.75 and -1.

9. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a cohort study?

Correct Answer: D. It involves uniform exposure of risk to all the participants
Solution:Cohort studies are a type of longitudinal study where a group of people sharing a common characteristic is followed over time to observe outcomes. They are significant in epidemiological studies for understanding disease risk factors.

However, Cohort studies do not involve uniform exposure of risk to all participants. This variability in exposure is essential for assessing the impact of different risk factors. Therefore, option (d) is not a characteristic of Cohort studies, making it the correct answer here.

10. Who among the following held that cultural evolution was ranked on subsistence patterns and depended on technological complexity?

Correct Answer: B. L.H. Morgan
Solution:Lewis Henry Morgan, an American anthropologist, argued that cultural evolution was ranked based on subsistence patterns and technological complexity. He proposed that societies evolve from savagery through barbarism to civilization, with technological advances playing a crucial role.

E.B. Tylor, Herbert Spencer, and J.J. Bachofen contributed to evolutionary theories but did not specifically rank cultural evolution based on subsistence patterns and technological complexity like Morgan did. His work laid the foundation for understanding cultural development through technological advancements.