Visit our textbook-specific Online Learning Center Web site at www.mhhe.com/relethford8e to access the exercises that follow.
What Do Anthropologists Do?
http://anthro.fullerton.edu/anthropologists.htm.
For a list of some of the many different types of work done by anthropologists, visit California State University–Fullerton's "What Do Anthropologists Do?" Web site and examine its list.
Which of these occupations surprised you?
Is it easy to match the occupation with a particular subfield in anthropology?
How many of these occupations relate specifically to biological anthropology? To cultural anthropology?
Pre-Darwinian Theories
http://anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_1.htm.
Go to the "Pre-Darwinian Theories" page from the Anthropology Department at Palomar College. Read the page that discusses pre-Darwinian evolutionary theories. Now, select two scientists whose work is unfamiliar to you. Additional information about these scientists can be found on a link to the University of California Museum of Paleontology site: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/evothought.html.
What effect did the intellectual climate have on formulating their theories?
What were their contributions to the theory of evolution as we know it today?
Were you at all surprised by their ideas?
Do you think their work helped provide a foundation for later discoveries in evolution? If so, how?
Considering modern scientific theories we now accept as true, do you think anyone will ever disprove them? if so, which theory or theories?
What do the various topics tell you about the subject of evolution today? Is there controversy? If so, why? What are some of the issues?
Choose the issue that you find the most interesting or that helps expand on an important point from your text. You can watch it with QuickTime or RealPlayer.
Can you think of an example of evolutionary forces at work that you see in today's world?
