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

Total Questions: 100

31. Who among the following Anthropologists distinguished mana from taboo based on the belief to be touched or not?

Correct Answer: A. Anthony Wallace
Solution:Anthony Wallace distinguished mana from taboo based on the belief of whether something can be touched or not. Mana is considered a supernatural force or power that can imbue objects, people, or places with special properties. It can be beneficial or harmful and is often transferable through touch. In contrast, taboo refers to prohibitions against touching, using, or even approaching certain objects or individuals because they are considered sacred or cursed.

Touching something that is taboо can lead to negative consequences. James Frazer, R.R. Marett, and Victor Turner also explored concepts related to mana and taboo, but it was Anthony Wallace who explicitly distinguished them based on the belief in touchability. Therefore, Wallace's work provides the most direct basis for understanding this distinction in anthropological terms.

32. 'Arboreal hypothesis' of primate adaptation was proposed by:

Correct Answer: A. F. Wood-Jones and G. Elliot
Solution:The arboreal hypothesis of primate adaptation was proposed by F. Wood-Jones and G. Elliot. This hypothesis suggests that many primate characteristics, such as grasping hands and feet, binocular vision, and large brains, evolved as adaptations to life in the trees.

These features would have provided primates with advantages in navigating and surviving in an arboreal environment. J. Neel and R.C. Punnell, G. Elliot and M. Cartnill, and L. Gerber and D. Crews did not propose this hypothesis, making the work of Wood-Jones and Elliot the correct answer.

33. In prehistoric tool technology, pecking is associated with the fabrication of:

Correct Answer: B. Axes of Neolithic period
Solution:Pecking is associated with the fabrication of axes during the Neolithic period. This technique involves repeatedly striking a stone with a harder tool to shape it into a desired form. Neolithic axes were often made using pecking to create a rough shape, which was then ground and polished for a smooth finish.

Hand axes of the Lower Palaeolithic period were typically made by flaking rather than pecking, while scrapers and burins of the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods involved different tool-making techniques. Thus, pecking is specific to the Neolithic period.

34. Which of the following characteristics signify a human skull?

(a) Presence of chin
(b) Elevated nasal bridge
(c) No diastema
(d) Presence of Simian shelf
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: B. (a), (b) and (c) only
Solution:Human skulls are characterized by the presence of a chin, an elevated nasal bridge, and no diastema.

These features distinguish human skulls from those of other primates. The presence of a chin is unique to modern humans, providing structural support for the jaw. The elevated nasal bridge allows for the attachment of facial muscles and supports the nose. The lack of diastema, or a gap between the teeth, is due to the alignment of human teeth.

The simian shelf, a bony ridge in the lower jaw, is found in non-human primates and is absent in humans.

35. Which of the following fall under the domain of Interactive perspective?

(a) Processualism
(b) Feminism
(c) Post Structuralism
(d) Structuralism
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: A. (a), (b) and (c) only
Solution:The interactive perspective includes:
• Processualism focuses on dynamic and systemic processes in cultural evolution, emphasizing how cultural systems change over time.
• Feminism in anthropology addresses gender inequalities and explores how gender shapes cultural practices and beliefs.
• Post-Structuralism critiques established structures and explores the fluidity of meanings and identities.
Structuralism, on the other hand, focuses on identifying underlying structures that shape human culture and is not considered part of the interactive perspective, which emphasizes dynamic interactions and changes.

36. The term 'idiom of distress' to understand an illness is attributed to:

Correct Answer: D. Mark Nichter
Solution:The term 'idiom of distress' to understand an illness is attributed to Mark Nichter. This concept refers to the ways in which individuals express and communicate their suffering and distress through culturally specific language and behavior. Nichter's work highlights the importance of understanding these expressions to provide culturally appropriate healthcare. Benjamin D. Paul, John Ingham, and Byron Good have also made significant contributions to medical anthropology but did not coin this specific term. Nichter's focus on culturally nuanced expressions of distress makes his work central to this concept.

37. Match List-I with List-II

LIST-I (Concepts)LIST-II (Explanations)
(a) Culture brokerI. A culturally specific causal explanation for the problems and suffering
(b) PhytotherapyII. The study of cross-cultural health system
(c) EthnoetiologyIII. Healing through the use of plants
(d) EthnomedicineIV. Someone who is familiar with two cultures and can promote communication and understanding across them

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: C.
Solution:Matching the concepts with their explanations:
•  Culture broker is someone familiar with two cultures who can promote communication and understanding across them.
•  Phytotherapy refers to healing through the use of plants.
• Ethno-etiology is a culturally specific casual explanation for problems and suffering.
• Ethno-medicine is the study of crosscultural health systems.

These matches correctly align the concepts with their respective explanations, reflecting the accurate definitions and applications of each term.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

38. Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Study of non-human primate behaviour helps us to understand our own behaviour
Reason (R): Jane Goodall is known for her work on Orangutan In the light of the above statements.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: C. (A) is true, but (R) is false
Solution:The assertion (A) that studying nonhuman primate behaviour helps us understand our own behaviour is true. Observations of primates provide insights into social structures, communication, and behaviors that are similar to those of humans.

The reason (R), stating that Jane Goodall is known for her work on orangutans, is false. Jane Goodall is renowned for her extensive research on chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania.

39. Who among the following Anthropologists defined social structure as a sum of mutually defined statuses in a society?

Correct Answer: C. Radcliffe-Brown
Solution:Radcliffe-Brown defined social structure as the sum of mutually defined statuses in a society. His structural-functionalism approach emphasized the interdependence of social institutions and their roles in maintaining societal stability.

Levi Strauss focused on structuralism, S.F. Nadel on social roles and dynamic processes, and Ralph Linton on status and role theory, but it was Radcliffe-Brown who specifically articulated the concept of social structure as a network of relationships and statuses.

40. Erythroblastosis foetalis majorly occurs due to:

Correct Answer: C. Rh incompatibility
Solution:Erythroblastosis fetalis, also known as hemolytic disease of the newborn, primarily occurs due to Rh incompatibility. This condition arises when an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus, leading to the mother's immune system attacking the fetal red blood cells.

G6PD deficiency and thalassemia involve different genetic disorders affecting red blood cells, while MN incompatibility is a rare cause of hemolytic disease. Rh incompatibility is the major cause of erythroblastosis fetalis, making it the correct answer.