EDUC 5260 CUA1 Culture

Explanation:

An ethnic religion is one that is closely associated with a particular ethnic, tribal, or national group and often does not actively seek converts. Its beliefs, practices, and rituals are deeply tied to the history, culture, and traditions of that group. Ethnic religions are typically passed down through generations and are geographically concentrated, reflecting the cultural identity and heritage of the people who practice them.

Correct Answer:

a religion that is identified with a specific ethnic, tribal, or national group

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

a religion that seeks the highest ethical values

This is incorrect because seeking ethical values is a characteristic that can be found in many religions, not specifically in ethnic religions. The defining feature of an ethnic religion is its association with a particular cultural group.

a religion that originates within a small, relatively isolated geographic area

This is incorrect because while some ethnic religions may originate in specific areas, not all are isolated or geographically limited. The key factor is the connection to a particular ethnic or cultural group rather than geographic origin alone.

a religion that rejects any converts

This is incorrect because although ethnic religions typically do not actively seek converts, they do not universally reject them. The defining aspect is cultural association, not conversion policy.

an animist religion

This is incorrect because animism, which attributes spiritual essence to natural objects, is a type of belief system, not synonymous with ethnic religion. Ethnic religions can include various belief systems, including animism, but the term itself is broader.

Explanation:

The term 'theocracy' is derived from Greek roots: 'theo-' meaning god and '-cracy' meaning rule or government. Therefore, a theocracy is a system of government in which religious authorities or principles govern the state, often claiming divine guidance or authority. This form of governance integrates religion directly into the political framework, and religious leaders may hold supreme power in both spiritual and civil matters.

Correct Answer:

Government ruled by a religious authority

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Absolute rule or sovereignty

This is incorrect because absolute rule or sovereignty refers generally to centralized, unrestricted power, but it does not specify governance by religious authority, which is essential to the definition of theocracy.

A government by many persons

This is incorrect because a government by many persons refers to democracy or oligarchy, not a theocracy. Theocratic rule is centered on religious authority, not collective governance.

A political system where the wealthy govern

This is incorrect because a government ruled by the wealthy is known as a plutocracy, which is unrelated to the religious basis implied by a theocracy.

Explanation:

In response to severe drought, communities often adopt adaptive strategies that mitigate environmental stress while maintaining economic stability. Developing new irrigation techniques, water-saving methods, and drought-resistant practices enables the community to continue agriculture, conserve water resources, and sustain livelihoods. Such strategies reflect practical adaptation to environmental conditions, ensuring survival without abandoning core cultural practices.

Correct Answer:

Developing new irrigation techniques and water conservation practices

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Increasing reliance on traditional farming methods without change

This is incorrect because continuing traditional methods without adaptation may fail under drought conditions, leading to crop failure and economic instability.

Focusing solely on exporting goods to other regions

This is incorrect because relying only on external trade does not address local survival needs or resource scarcity. Adaptation requires proactive environmental management, not just economic dependency.

Abandoning their cultural practices in favor of those from a neighboring community

This is incorrect because survival and adaptation do not necessitate abandoning cultural identity. Effective adaptation focuses on practical strategies to cope with environmental challenges while maintaining cultural continuity.

Explanation:

Cultural adaptation occurs when individuals or groups adjust their behaviors, practices, or beliefs to better fit a new cultural environment while often retaining elements of their original culture. In this scenario, immigrants maintain their own cultural practices while simultaneously learning about and integrating aspects of the host culture. This allows them to function effectively in the new society without losing their cultural identity, creating a balance between preservation and adaptation.

Correct Answer:

The immigrants maintain their cultural practices while learning about the new culture.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The immigrants completely abandon their native language and adopt the local dialect.

This is incorrect because full abandonment of one’s original culture represents assimilation, not cultural adaptation.

The immigrants refuse to interact with locals and isolate themselves.

This is incorrect because isolation prevents adaptation; cultural adaptation requires interaction and adjustment within the new environment.

The immigrants establish a community that mirrors their homeland without any local influence.

This is incorrect because such an approach limits integration and does not reflect the adaptive process of blending elements of the new culture with the original one.

Explanation:

Adaptive strategies examine how human societies adjust their behavior, technology, and resource use to survive and thrive within their physical environments. These strategies reflect the relationship between humans and nature, including how communities exploit natural resources, modify landscapes, and develop economic or social systems suited to environmental conditions. Understanding adaptive strategies helps explain cultural practices and how they evolve in response to ecological and geographic constraints.

Correct Answer:

The relationship between humans and their physical environments

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The influence of religion on cultural practices

This is incorrect because adaptive strategies focus on environmental interactions rather than spiritual or religious factors.

The process of cultural assimilation

This is incorrect because assimilation involves adopting another culture, which is not the primary focus of adaptive strategies.

The characteristics of cultural landscapes

This is incorrect because while adaptive strategies may affect landscapes, their main focus is the interaction between humans and their environment, not the landscape itself.

Explanation:

Linguistic diversity strengthens cultural identity by allowing members of a community to communicate in their native languages, preserving traditions, oral histories, and cultural expressions. Shared language fosters a sense of belonging, continuity, and connection to heritage, distinguishing one cultural group from others. It plays a central role in maintaining social cohesion and transmitting cultural values across generations.

Correct Answer:

It fosters a sense of belonging and shared heritage among speakers.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

It creates barriers to communication and understanding.

This is incorrect because while linguistic diversity can pose communication challenges, its primary contribution is the reinforcement of cultural identity, not creating obstacles.

It leads to the extinction of less dominant languages.

This is incorrect because the question focuses on the positive role of linguistic diversity in identity, not the negative effect of language loss.

It simplifies the process of cultural assimilation.

This is incorrect because linguistic diversity does not simplify assimilation; in fact, it can make assimilation more complex while helping preserve cultural identity.

Explanation:

Linguistic diversity refers to the range and variation of languages spoken within a particular region, country, or community. It highlights the coexistence of multiple languages, dialects, and linguistic traditions, reflecting the cultural, historical, and social complexity of a population. Recognizing linguistic diversity is essential for understanding communication patterns, cultural identity, and the preservation of minority languages.

Correct Answer:

The variety and differences of languages spoken within a specific region or community

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The study of language structures and grammar

This is incorrect because studying grammar or linguistic structure pertains to linguistics as a discipline, not the concept of linguistic diversity itself.

The historical development of a single language over time

This is incorrect because the evolution of a single language relates to language change or historical linguistics, not the coexistence of multiple languages.

The use of language in digital communication

This is incorrect because linguistic diversity is not limited to digital contexts; it encompasses all spoken and written languages in a community or region.

Explanation:

Assimilation is the process in which minority or subordinate groups adopt the cultural norms, values, and behaviors of the dominant society, often resulting in the loss or significant reduction of their original cultural identity. This process can occur voluntarily or through social pressures and is a key concept in understanding how societies integrate diverse populations.

Correct Answer:

assimilation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Transmigration.

This is incorrect because transmigration refers to the movement of people from one region to another, not the cultural absorption of minority groups.

acculturation.

This is incorrect because acculturation involves adopting certain elements of another culture while retaining aspects of the original culture, rather than full absorption.

reciprocation.

This is incorrect because reciprocation refers to mutual exchange, not the process of a minority group being absorbed into a dominant culture.

Explanation:

Expansion diffusion occurs when cultural traits, ideas, or innovations spread outward from a central point while remaining strong at the origin. The three main types are hierarchical diffusion, where ideas spread through an ordered sequence such as from leaders to the general population; contagious diffusion, where traits spread rapidly and widely through direct contact; and stimulus diffusion, where an underlying idea spreads and inspires innovation in other cultures. These processes explain how cultural practices propagate without the original culture being displaced.

Correct Answer:

Contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus diffusion

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Relocation, hierarchical, and cultural diffusion

This is incorrect because relocation diffusion involves physical movement of people carrying cultural traits, which is distinct from expansion diffusion.

Contagious, assimilation, and sequent occupancy

This is incorrect because assimilation and sequent occupancy are not types of expansion diffusion; assimilation refers to cultural absorption, and sequent occupancy refers to layering of cultures over time.

Stimulus, cultural identity, and adaptive strategies

This is incorrect because cultural identity and adaptive strategies are concepts related to culture and environment, not specific types of expansion diffusion.