Understanding Culture and Evolution

What are the components of culture as discussed in sociology?

• Only customs and values

• Behaviors and natural instincts

• Customs, knowledge, and behaviors

• Only knowledge and objects

What did Charles Darwin observe about finches that led to his theory?

• They all had long beaks

• They had the same beak size everywhere

• They had different beak sizes in different locations

• They could not adapt to new environments

How does natural selection affect species according to Darwin?

• It only affects individual organisms

• It selects the weakest traits

• It selects traits that help survival in specific environments

• It has no effect on species

What are cultural universals?

• Practices that are only found in ancient cultures

• Practices unique to one culture

• Common practices and beliefs shared by all human cultures

• Behaviors that are not influenced by culture

Which of the following is an example of a cultural universal?

• Unique language dialects

• Partnership ceremonies like marriage

• Specific regional cuisines

• Local sports traditions

Why might certain human behaviors be selected for evolutionarily?

• They are random and have no purpose

• They contribute to the fitness of the species

• They are only influenced by genetics

• They are not influenced by the environment

How does the concept of cultural universals relate to human evolution?

• They only apply to modern societies

• They suggest certain cultural traits were selected for

• They are irrelevant to evolution

• They are unique to each culture

How did the transition to agricultural societies influence human evolution?

• It had no impact on human evolution

• It led to a decrease in population size

• It exposed humans to more diseases, shaping immune systems

• It made humans more nomadic

What is the significance of lactose tolerance in certain populations?

• It shows how culture can direct evolution

• It is a random genetic mutation

• It only affects children

• It is unrelated to cultural practices

What role does culture play in shaping human evolution?

• Culture can influence genetic traits over generations

• Culture has no role in evolution

• Culture only affects dietary habits

• Culture only affects social behaviors