Practice Quiz for
Overview of Ethnicity and Race

No. of Questions= 6

INSTRUCTIONS: To answer a question, click the button in front of your choice. A response will appear in the window below the question to let you know if you are correct. Be sure to read the feedback. It is designed to help you learn the material. You can also learn by reading the feedback for incorrect answers.


1

Which of the following statements is true of ethnicity?

a)

It is another word for minority.

b)

It refers to cultural and sometimes physical characteristics used to classify people into groups or categories considered to be significantly different from others.

c)

All ethnic groups are coherent subcultures with a shared language and body of tradition.

2

Ethnic groups:

a)

are biological subspecies, or varieties of a species, consisting of more or less distinct populations of people with shared distinguishing anatomical traits

b)

include American Indians, Latinos, and African Americans but not Irish or German Americans

c)

neither of the above

3

Which of the following is true of human biological variation?

a)

We are biologically an extremely homogenous species.

b)

Our human races are biologically distinct groups, not socio-cultural creations.

c)

Physical anthropologists have proven that anatomical traits, such as skin color and facial features, cluster together in single distinct races of people.

4

Which of the following statements is true regarding human biological variation?

a)

The patterns of variation are complex and constantly changing.

b)

Each of us can be legitimately classified into only one race (e.g., European, African, Asian, etc.)

c)

Historically, human races usually have been defined on the basis of a large number of unambiguous anatomical characteristics.

5

In trying to define human biological races, anthropologists have discovered that:

a)

skin color and hair texture are the best criteria to use for accurately classifying people into races

b)

focusing on a small number of traits is scientifically more reliable.

c)

Sub-Sahara Africans are a race distinct from Asians and Europeans.

d)

none of the above

6

Which of the following statements is true?

a)

Ethnic and racial groups are largely cultural and historical constructs rather than biological facts.

b)

Biological races exist but ethnic groups are a fantasy.

c)

We must reject the cultural relativity approach in order to understand people in other ethnic groups.

 


 

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