Meaning, Scope and development of Anthropology: Anthropology PYQs

1.1 Meaning scope and development of Anthropology.

1. Anthropology studies at the “micro” level, but aims at “macro” level theory. Elaborate. (1982)
2. Anthropology is a source of values. Substantiate. (1982)
3. Analyse the comparative method of the nineteenth century anthropology and its limitations as to the nature and purpose of social-cultural anthropology. (1983)
4. Discuss how Anthropology is concerned with common humanity and universal values. (1983)
5. Examine the influence of the humanistic tradition on the growth and development of anthropology. (1985)
6. Write a note on Anthropology in the service of humanity.(1987)
7. Discuss the relevance of anthropological approach in national character studies.(1987)
8. Write a note on Background of Anthropological Comparison. (1989)
9. Discuss the relevance of anthropological approach to national character studies. (1991) 
10. Do you think it is possible to bring uniformity of method in the natural and social sciences ? Will it lead to advancement of anthropological research? (1993)                                                            
11. Write a note on Holistic and atomistic approach.(1998)
12. Critically examine the contribution of Anthropologists in the interpretation of symbols.(2011)
13. Critically examine the role of anthropology in Contemporary India. (2014)
14. Define Anthropology. Describe the major branches of Anthropology elaborating on any one branch. (2017)
15. Write a note in 150 words on the Relevance of Anthropology. (2018)

1.2 Relationship with other disciplines:

History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Life Science, Medical Science, Earth Science and Humanities

1. Identify the controversies around the relation between History and Social Anthropology. (200 words) (1981)
2. In Anthropology, science and humanity converge. Examplify.(1982)
3. Assess the relative strength of anthropological techniques for scientific study in social sciences.(1983)
4. Write a note in 200 words on the relation of Anthropology to the social sciences.(1985)
5. Write a note on Relationship between Social anthropology and History.(1986)
6. Do you regard Social Anthropology as a Social Science or a humanistic discipline? Give reasons for you answer.(1986)
7. Write a note on Prehistoric anthropology and its relation to other science.(1987)
8. Write a note on Psychological anthropology.(1988)
9. Write a note on Relationship between Social Anthropology and History.(1989)
10. Discuss the relationship of anthropology with psychology and medicine.(1999)
11. Write a note in 150 words on How do you situate Anthropology in Social Sciences ? (2013)
12. Differentiate between Economics and Economic Anthropology. (150 words) (2013)
13. Write a note in 150 words on differences between Social Anthropology and Sociology.(2016)
14. Elaborate the scope of anthropology and elucidate the uniqueness in the field of other social sciences. (2021)
    
    
    
    

1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance:

1. Social- cultural Anthropology.
2. Biological Anthropology.
3. Archaeological Anthropology.
4. Linguistic Anthropology

1. Discuss the comparative method of cultural evolutionists, diffusionists and modern social anthropologists.(1982)
2. Does structuralism in social anthropology coincide with that in linguistics ? Critically assess their analogy.(1983)
3. What are the common aspects of structural anthropology and linguistics?(1985)
4. Discuss the types of comparison in social anthropology.(1985)
5. Write a note on Empiricism in social anthropology.
6.  Write a note on New Physical anthropology(1985)
7. Bring out the merits and demerits of different contributions on the methods of comparison in social-cultural anthropology.(1988)
8. Write a note on Theme of Linguistic Anthropology.(1989)
9. Write a note on ‘New Physical Write a note on ‘New Physical.(1989)
10. Write a note on Linguistic anthropology. (1990)
11. Write a note on Recent trends in psychological anthropology (1990)
12. Write a note on ‘Classical’ Physical Anthropology (1991)
13. Discuss the merits and demerits of different methods of comparison used in social-cultural anthropology. (1991)
14. Write a note on Archaeological Anthropology (1992)
15. Write an essay on the aims and scope of applied anthropology with special reference to India. (1992)
16. Write a note on Social and cultural anthropology.(1994)
17. Write a note on Action anthropology.(1995)
18. Write a note on Medical Anthropology.(1996)
19. What is cognitive approach ? Critically examine its implications in Sociocultural Anthropology. (1996)
20. Write a note on Action anthropology.(1999)
21. Write a note on Biological Anthropology.(2002)
22. Write a note on Biological Anthropology.(2008)
23. Write a note in 150 words on Linguistic Anthropology (2013)
24. Write a note in 150 words on Major sub-divisions of Anthropology (2014)
25. Write a note in 150 words on Archaeological Anthropology. (2015)
26. Give an account of- the field methods used in the study of Archaeological Anthropology.(2018)
27. Write a note in 150 words on the relationship between Linguistics and Social-Cultural Anthropology. (2019)
28. How can synergising the core branches Anthropology reinvigorate the holistic spirit of the discipline? (2020)
29. Mention the major branches of linguistic anthropology and discuss language use in social and cultural settings.(2021)

1.4 Human Evolution and emergence of Man;

Biological and Cultural factors in human evolution. Theories of Organic Evolution (Pre-Darwinian, Darwinian and Post-Darwinian). Synthetic theory of evolution; Brief outline of terms and concepts of evolutionary biology (Doll’s rule, Cope’s rule, Gause’s  rule, parallelism, convergence,adaptive radiation, and mosaic evolution).

1. Has biological evolution caused in man? Briefly substantiate your answer. (200 words)(1981)
2. Discuss the synthetic theory of human evolution. How does it differ from Darwinism? (1981)
3. Man has made himself. Justify. (1982)
4. Human evolution has cultural dimensions. Elaborate.(1982)
5. Sociocultural evolution is not parallel to biological evolution in man. Substantiate. (1983)
6. Microevolution has not ceased.Comment. (1983)
7. Darwinism is not adequate to explain Darwinism is not adequate to explain view. (1983)
8. Distinguish between : Lamarckism and Darwinism (1984)
9. Distinguish between : Macro-evolution and Micro-evolution (1984)
10. Discuss the inter-relation of biological and cultural dimensions in Human Evolution. (1984)
11. Write a note on Theory of organic evolution. (1985)
12. Write a note on Biological evolution and concept of new physical anthropology. (1986)
13. Write a note on Lamarckism and Darwinism. (1986)
14. Write a note on Relationship between cultural evolution and biological evolution. (1986)
15. ‘Evolution is biological and cultural’. Discuss. (1987)
16. How is Darwinism different from Lamarckism ? Critically evaluate their contribution to synthetic theory of evolution. (1987)
17. Give a critical account of the processes of organic evolution, and explain how they contribute to speciation. (1988)
18. Elucidate the Theory of Evolution as put forward by Lamarck. (1989)
19. Write a note on Meaning of Biological and Socio-cultural Evolution (1989)
20. Write a note on Micro evolution (1990)
21. Write a note on Synthetic theory of evolution (1990)
22. Evolution is biological and sociocultural. Discuss. (1990)
23. Write a note on Social-cultural evolution. (1991)
24. What is organic evolution ? Describe the theories of organic evolution. (1991)
25. Discuss the contemporary trends in evolutionary studies. (1992)
26. Write a note on Synthetic theory of evolution (1992)
27. What is organic evolution ? Give evidences for human evolution.(1992)
28. What is Synthetic Theory of Evolution?Discuss how this theory helps us in understanding the evolutionary mechanism. (1993)
29. How Darwinism differs from the synthetic theory of organic evolution ?(1994)
30. Discuss the geographic distribution and taxonomic issues concerning early hominids. Elucidate evidence in support of alternative positions. (1996)
31. Write a note on Biological evolution of early man (1997)
32. Write a note on Molecular evolution (1999)
33. What is Organic Evolution ? Explain the theories of evolution. (2002)
34. Discuss the modern theory of evolution with special reference to the concepts of gradualism and punctuationalism. (2008)
35. Distinguish between ‘chronological age’ and ‘biological age’. (2009)
36. What are the major craniofacial changes that occurred during Hominid evolution ? Discuss. (2010)
37. Critically examine the synthetic theory of human evolution. (2010)
38. Write a note in 150 words on Synthetic theory (2011)
39. Write a note in 150 words on Adaptive tradition in context of evolution (2012)
40. Discuss how Neo-Darwinism integrated the fields of Genetics and Evolution. (250 words) (2013)
41. Elucidate the biological and cultural factors in Human Evolution. (2015)
42. Critically examine Darwin’s theory of evolution in understanding evolution.(2015)
43. Elucidate the biological and cultural factors in human evolution. (2016)
44. Explain the biological changes that made human beings capable of making culture. (2018)
45. Write a note in 150 words on Advanced Molecular Anthropology Techniques .(2018)
46. Elucidate how Darwin and Post-Darwin theories of evolution resulted in the development of Synthetic theory of evolution. (2020)
47. “The bio-cultural approach is the hallmark of Biological Anthropology.” Explain. (in about 150 words). (2021)
48. Explain the genetic mechanisms of micro and macro evolution.(2021)

1.5 Characteristics of Primates; Evolutionary trend and primate Taxonomy; Primate Adaptations (Arboreal and Terrestrial) Primate Taxonomy; Primate Behaviour; Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates; Living Major Primates; Comparative Anatomy of Man and Apes; Skeletal changes due to erect posture and its implications

1. Discuss how man is unique primate. (1981)
2. Man has not descended from monkeys. Justify. (1982)
3. Discuss the claim of India to be the cradleland of man kind with references to fossil evidences. (1983)
4. Living anthropoid apes are our distant cousins. Discuss. (1983)
5. Give a brief account of the distribution and physical features of the Asiatic Anthropoid apes. (1985)
6. Discuss the evolution of primates with special reference to dentition. (1986)
7. What are different fossil primates of the Palaeocene and Eocene times ?(1986)
8. Discuss critically the contribution of these primates to human origin. (1986)
9. Write a note on Anthropoid apes.(1987)
10. Write a note on Characters of primates.(1988) 
11. Write a note on Causes of human variation (1990) 
12. Why is Man a primate ? Describe the place of Man in the animal kingdom. (1991)
13. What are the characteristic physical features of the Primate ? Show the position of Man among the other Primates in a tabular form. (1992)
14. Write a note on Anthropoid apes (1992)
15. Discuss similarities and difference between Chimpanzee and Man in salient physical and anatomical Characteristics. (1993)
16. Describe the various way of getting mate in primitive society. Give examples from Indian context. (1994)
17. Write a note on Primate. (1994)
18. Narrate with reasons man’s place in Primate order. (1994)
19. Write a note on Adaptive tradition in primates (1995)
20. Discuss primate locomotion with special reference to adaptations to arboreal life. (1996)
21. Discuss the gradualist view of evolutionary change vis-a-vis the punctuationalist view giving an example from primate evolution that supports one view or the other. (1997)
22. ‘Man can stand erect while anthropoid apes cannot.’ Discuss the anatomical changes that occurred in Man due to erect posture. (1998)
23. Write a note on Fossil men (1999)
24. Describe the range of locomotive behavior of contemporary non-human primates and state how does it help in understanding the structural-functional correlations of their limb structure. (2000)
25. List the major skeletal modifications in humans due to assumption of erect posture·. (2009)
26. ‘Man is a primate.’ Discuss. (2011)
27. Compare and contrast the skull of Gorilla and Man. (2012)
28. Write a note in 150 words on Role of primatology in Anthropological studies (2013)
29. Elucidate the skeletal differences between humans and chimpanzees. (2014)
30. Explain the skeletal changes due to erect posture and their implications. (2016)
31. Bring out the comparative anatomical features of man and apes. Discuss their evolutionary significance. (2017)
32. Discuss the evolutionary significance of bipedalism and erect posture. (2019)
33. Write a note in 150 words on Adaptive primate radiation. (2019)
34. Write notes on Jane Goodall’s contributions in studying primate behaviour in about 150 words.(2020)
35. Illustrate with examples the various types of locomotion patterns among the non-human primates. (2020)
36. Write notes on : The losses and gains of erect posture. (in about 150 words) (2022)

1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and geographical distribution of the following:

(A) Prepleistocence fossil primates- Oreopithecus.
(B) South and East African hominids-Plesianthropus/Australopithecus Africau ​​Paranthropus, Australopithecus.
(C) Paranthropus, Australopithecus. .Paranthropus-Homo erectus-Homo erectus javanicus, Homo erectus pekinensis.
(D) Homo Heidelbergensis.
(E) Neanderthal man-La-chapelle-aus-saints (Classical type), Mt.Carmelites types (Progressive type).
(F) Rhodesian man.
(G) Homo sapiens-Cromognon, Grimaldi, Chancelede.

1. “Homo Erectus was too specialized to have been the direct ancestor of Homo Sapiens.” Discuss. (1981)
2. Dryopithecus holds the clue for human origin. Discuss. (1982)
3. Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis was less capable than Homo Sapiens to Survive. Critically examine the views. (1982)
4. Homo erectus was not the earliest erect man of prehistoric times. Justify. (1983)
5. Distinguish between : Homo sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis (1984)
6. Determine the phylogenetic position of Homo-erectus. (1984)
7. What do you understand by the term ‘homo sapiens’ ? Give an account of the distribution and physical features of the earliest fossil homo sapiens. (1985)
8. Write a note on Homo Sapiens Sapiens and Homo Sapiens neanderthalensis. (1986)
9. Discuss the spatial distribution, physical features, cultural status or origin of Australopithecines. (1987)
10. Discuss the different types of evidence of the Pithecanthropines, and give a critical appraisal of their place in human evolution in the light of latest discoveries in Africa. (1988)
11. Write a note on Morphological Character of Homo erectus. (1989)
12. Write what you know about Homo sapiens and Neanderthalensis. (1989)
13. Discuss the origin of Australopethecines. Describe their spatial distribution and growth and development. (1990)
14. Write a note on La Chapelle-aux-Saints.(1991)
15. Write a note on Ramapithecus (1991)
16. Compare the fossil remains of ‘Progressive’ and ‘Classic’ Neanderthal men for anatomical characteristics and spatial distribution. Examine their phylogenetic position in human evolution. (1993)
17. Write a note on Homo Sapiens – Neanderthalensis (1994)
18. Write a note on Homo erectus finds from Africa (1995)
19. Write a note on Homo sapiens sapiens (1996)
20. Discuss the question of single sources vs. multiple sources of the origin of Homo sapiens. Which one of the two hypotheses do you think is more tenable? Give reasons in support of your answer. (1995) 
21. Write a note on Homo habilis (1997)
22. Write a note on Pithecanthropus erectus.(1998)
23. Write a note on Australopithecus .(1999)
24. Write a note on Erect Postrute (2001)
25. Write a note on Homo Erectus (2003)
26. Write a note on Neanderthal Man .(2004)
27. Write a note on Australopithecus .(2005)
28. Write a note on Rhodesian Man .(2006)
29. Write a note on Homo erectus (2007)
30. Write a note on Homo habilis (2009)
31. Distinguish between major categories of Australopithecines. How are Australopithecines different from Apes? (2009)
32. Write a note in 150 words on Culture of Homo erectus (2010)
33. Why are Neanderlands called Premodern humans ? The Upper Palaeolithic period provides evidence of their coexistence with modern man. Discuss. (2010)
34. Write a note in 150 words on Neanderthal Man (2011)
35. Describe major skeletal similarities and differences between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. (2011)
36. Comment briefly on the phylogenetic position of Austrolopithecines. (2012)
37. Write a note in 150 words on Asian Homo erectus (2014)
38. Describe the salient characteristics and geographical distribution of Homo erectus. (2015)
39. Write a note in 150 words on Rhodesian Man (2016)
40. Describe the culture related to Homo erectus. (2018)
41. “Europeans are closer to Neanderthals”. Critically discuss in view of the African origin of humankind. (2019)
42. Write a note in 150 words on Olduvai Gorge (2019)
43. Critically evaluate the contesting theories of the emergence and dispersal of modern Homo Sapiens. (2020)
44. What are the physical and cultural characteristics of Homo erectus ? Discuss its phylogenetic status.(2021)

1.7 The biological basis of life:

The Cell, DNA structure and Replication, Protein Synthesis, Gene, Mutation, Chromosomes and Cell Division

1. Give an outline of the anthropological perspective of genetics and -critically evaluate the genetic significance of meiotic cell division. (1988)
2. Write a note on Genes (1992)
3. Write a note on Protein Synthesis (2008)
4. Write a note on Thrifty genotype.(2009) 
5. Write a note in 150 words on Implications of mutation in evolution.(2019) 

1.8 Principles of Pre-historic:

Archaeology, Chronology, Relative and Absolute Datings Methods; Cultural Evolution – Broad Outlines of Prehistoric cultures: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Copper-Bronze Age and Iron Age 

1. Write a note on Chronometric dating methods .(1995)
2. What is the neolithic phase of culture in Europe called revolution ? Describe its distinctive features. (1995)
3. Write a note on Radiometric methods of dating fossils (1996)
4. Write a note on Problems of dating in Prehistoric Archaeology (1997)
5. Neolithic is a ‘self-sufficient food producing economy.’ Critically examine this expression. (1998)
6. Write a note on Carbon dating method (1999)
7. Describe any chalcolithic site in India with particular reference to mdustry and town planning. (1999)
8. Write a note on Copper-Bronze Age. (2000)
9. Write a note on Mesolithic culture in India. (2001)
10. Write a note on Neolithic Culture (2002)
11. Write a note on Universal Cultural Evolution (2002)
12. Write a note on Chalcolithic Culture (2004)
13. Write a note on Microlith (2005)
14. Write a note on Lower Paleolithic Culture (2006)
15. Write a note on Neolithic (2007)
16. Write a note in 150 words .on Importance of chronology in prehistory (2010)
17. Write a note in 150 words on Relative dating methods (2012)
18. Discuss the typology and distribution of Upper Paleolithic cultures in India. (2012)
19. Write a note in 150 words on Carbon -14 method of dating (2013)
20. Give a broad outline of Paleolithic culture emphasizing upon its tool technology. (250 words) (2013)
21. Describe the absolute dating methods in Archaeology, highlighting the importance of each method. (2014)
22. Describe the Neolithic culture of India.(2014)
23. Write a note in 150 words on Paleolithic culture. (2015)
24. Delineate the salient features of Chalcolithic cultures. (2016)
25. Write a note in 150 words on Neolithic Cultures of India (2016)
26. Write a note in 150 words on salient features of Mesolithic culture (2017) 
27. What are dating methods? Discuss one a solute method and one relative method in detail.(2017) 
28. Give an account of the consequences of  food production of Neolithic culture.(2018)
29. Describe the principles of radiocarbon dating. Mention its limitations. (2018)
30. Write a note in 150 words on Town Planning of Harappan Culture.(2018)
31. Write a note in 150 words on Relative Dating Methods (2019)
32. Elucidate’ Mesolithic culture and associated rock art with examples from India. (2019)
33. Discuss briefly the major traditions in the Upper Paleolithic culture of Europe.(2019)
34. Discuss with examples the Megalithic culture of India in the archaeological context. (2019)
35. Write notes on Natufian culture in about 150 words. (2020)
36. Differentiate between Lower Palaeolithic culture and Middle Palaeolithic culture with suitable examples. (2020)
37. Write notes on Thermoluminescence (TL) dating in about 150 words.(2021)
38. Describe the features of early farming cultures and Neolithic of the Near East.(2021)
39. Discuss the salient features of different traditions of European Mesolithic.(2021)