Multiple Choice Quiz

1		Which field of anthropology concentrates on the human past?
			A)	paleoanthropology
			B)	archaeology
			C)	primatology
			D)	both A and B
2		A proposed explanation for some phenomenon that may be derived initially from empirical observation by a process called induction is a:
			A)	hypothesis.
			B)	theory.
			C)	scientific method.
			D)	deduction.
3		How do artifacts differ from ecofacts?
			A)	Artifacts are objects made and used by past people, while ecofacts are environmental elements that exhibit traces of human use or activity.
			B)	Ecofacts are objects made and used by past people, while artifacts are environmental elements that exhibit traces of human use or activity.
			C)	Artifacts are made out of materials that last longer than ecofacts.
			D)	None of the above.
4		A site’s spatial arrangement is:
			A)	not as important as the recovered artifacts
			B)	more important than the recovered artifacts
			C)	ruined once digging begins
			D)	none of the above
5		Taphonomy is
			A)	a systematic classification based on similarities and differences.
			B)	the study of how materials become part of the paleontological or archaeological record.
			C)	the spatial relationships among artifacts, ecofacts, and features.
			D)	a dating technique based on the decay of a radioactive isotope of carbon.
6		Clusters of archaeological material that can be analyzed in the attempt to reconstruct a particular activity or set of behaviors are called:
			A)	sites.
			B)	test pits.
			C)	features.
			D)	trace elements.
7		The most likely example of secondary refuse would be a:
			A)	garden.
			B)	trash pit.
			C)	stone wall.
			D)	grave site.
8		Which of the following material requires particular conditions to survive?
			A)	bone
			B)	seeds
			C)	nut fragments
			D)	all the above
9		Which of the following is an unlikely way to uncover an archaeological site?
			A)	Wind blowing sand
			B)	Volcanoes spewing lava
			C)	Waves eroding a beach
			D)	Rivers cutting banks
10		Which of the following is a remote-sensing device used to find archaeological sites?
			A)	ground-penetrating radar
			B)	proton magnetometers
			C)	electrical resistivity meters
			D)	all the above
11		Which archaeological method is best for identifying large-scale land modifications?
			A)	test pits
			B)	ground-penetrating radars
			C)	aerial photography
			D)	proton magnetometers
12		Which of the following methods is the best way to remove the culturally sterile overburden from a site?
			A)	brushes
			B)	handheld trowels
			C)	shovels
			D)	dental picks
13		The context in which an artifact is found:
			A)	is lost once digging begins.
			B)	is not as important as the artifact.
			C)	provides only a fraction of information.
			D)	is crucial to understanding the site.
14		Trace element analysis:
			A)	determines the geographic source of materials used by ancient peoples
			B)	is used to discover archaeological sites without digging
			C)	classifies items based on similarities and differences.
			D)	determines spatial distribution of buried materials by digging holes
15		Scientists can deduce the use an artifact served from its
			A)	morphology.
			B)	location.
			C)	wear patterns.
			D)	all of the above
16		The subsistence patterns of pre-historic people refer to:
			A)	what they ate
			B)	where they lived
			C)	how they buried their dead
			D)	both A and C
17		The presence of caribou bones found near the Hudson River valley in New York from a site dated 10,000 years ago implies:
			A)	there were good relations between Canada and the United States.
			B)	a much colder climate during that time period.
			C)	the main food source was caribou meat.
			D)	the pre-historic people who lived at this site had high cholesterol
18		Which of the following signifies that a person was very young when they died?
			A)	The fusion of the epiphyses to the diaphysis.
			B)	The absence of cranial sutures.
			C)	The presence of deciduous dentition.
			D)	All of the above.
19		What is the difference between an absolute date and a relative date?
			A)	An absolute date refers to a year or a range of years, while a relative date indicates a chronological order.
			B)	A relative date is derived from radiometric dating techniques, while an absolute date comes from guesswork.
			C)	A relative date refers to a year or a range of years, while an absolute date indicates a chronological order.
			D)	An absolute date involves two people drinking vast quantities of vodka, while a relative date is against the law in most states.
20		Which dating technique is based on the fact that the position of magnetic north has fluctuated over time?
			A)	radiocarbon dating
			B)	fission-track dating
			C)	paleomagnetic dating
			D)	luminescence dating