Studies of contemporary hunter-gatherers generally show that
a. they readily abandon foraging in favor of agriculture when agricultural techniques
become known to them
b. they have great difficulty learning the essentials of agricultural production
c. they know the essentials of agricultural methods but generally strongly resist using
these methods
d. none of the above
Question 2Sanderson's evolutionary materialism claims that as societies evolve they function more efficiently. His approach is therefore in agreement with Parsons's concept of increased adaptive capacity.
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Question 3Carol Ember's study of 181 contemporary hunter-gatherer societies indicates that
a. gathering is about as important a subsistence activity as hunting and fishing
combined
b. while hunting is more prestigious, gathering contributes the bulk of the calories in
most hunter-gatherer societies
c. hunting (including fishing) is the dominant subsistence activity in most cases
d. when the care of domesticated animals is included under the heading of gathering,
gathering is the dominant subsistence activity in most hunter-gatherer societies
Question 4Parsons and Spencer both emphasized social differentiation or increasing complexity as the key dimension of social evolution.
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Question 5Societies evolving in similar ways at similar rates is what is meant by parallel evolution.
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Question 6The key difference between Harris's evolutionism, and the evolutionism of Childe, White, and Lenski, is that Harris sees technological change occurring because of environmental depletion,
whereas the others see technological change resulting from the gradual accumulation of knowledge.
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
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