Week 5 try 1

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Questions and Answers

What is the most powerful influence over what we eat?

Personal preferences

Genetics

Culture (correct)

Health concerns

What does the term 'taboo' derive from?

Greek concept of 'forbidden'

Latin concept of 'prohibited'

Sanskrit concept of 'unclean'

Polynesian concept of 'to set apart' (correct)

Which culture has a taboo against consuming human flesh?

Jewish culture

Muslim culture

Western cultures

Currently universally pervasive (correct)

In which culture is there a taboo against consuming pigs?

Jewish and Muslim cultures Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of food taboos does 'becoming a vegetarian' reflect?

Moralisation Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of the lecture mentioned in the text?

To examine how culture influences food choice Signup and view all the answers

What are food taboos?

Nutritious and edible things that a culture does not tolerate as food Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for Hinduism's avoidance of beef and all beef products?

Compassion and the concept of non-violence Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential reason for the existence of food taboos?

Defining cultural identity and resisting change Signup and view all the answers

What is a risk associated with consuming human flesh, as mentioned in the text?

Transmission of blood-borne diseases and prions Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of food taboos in relation to cultural identity?

Defining cultural identity and resisting change Signup and view all the answers

What was the Catholic church's stance on Andes survivors who resorted to cannibalism for survival?

Spoke in favor of them Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the avoidance of specific foods during different life stages?

Danger-related beliefs and magical effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the key factor that continues to influence the debate on food taboos?

Religious, cultural, and health factors Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the occurrence of cannibalism at many Neolithic sites?

Bone dumps containing human remains mixed with animal bones Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of ritually sacrificing individuals in the Aztec empire?

To appease the angry gods and produce more food Signup and view all the answers

What led to institutionalized flesh eating in the Aztec empire?

Protein-deficient diet due to the lack of large game and domestic animals Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of human coprolites in providing evidence of cannibalism?

They contain human myoglobin, providing definitive evidence of human flesh consumption Signup and view all the answers

What does the genetic evidence from the Fore people suggest?

A selective advantage for resistance to prion diseases Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the grain harvest failure during the Cairo famine?

Widespread cannibalism, as recorded by Iraqi doctor Abd al-Latif Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of ritually sacrificing around 0.25 million people per year in the Aztec empire?

To appease the angry gods and produce more food Signup and view all the answers

What are some historical examples of cannibalism mentioned in the text?

In Egypt and during the Nazi siege of Leningrad Signup and view all the answers

What are some reasons behind the avoidance of pigs, cows, and insects as food sources?

Cultural and ecological factors Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of cows in India?

Considered sacred and culturally important Signup and view all the answers

What are some moral and environmental drivers behind the emergence of vegetarianism in the West?

Moral and ecological motivations Signup and view all the answers

What are the environmental and social impacts of mass meat production?

Increased greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation Signup and view all the answers

What are the energy, water, and land requirements for animal production?

Substantial energy, water, and land requirements Signup and view all the answers

What is the speculation regarding the potential for meat consumption to become a new taboo?

Due to its ecological costs and the rise of vegetarianism Signup and view all the answers

What are some statistics mentioned in the text?

Prevalence of vegetarianism and attitudes towards reducing meat intake Signup and view all the answers

What are the waste generation and pollution impacts of animal production according to the text?

Negative impact on health and the environment Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Taboos and Ecological Impacts of Meat Consumption

Historical examples of cannibalism in Egypt and during the Nazi siege of Leningrad
Cultural and ecological factors influencing cannibalism and other food taboos
Reasons behind the avoidance of pigs, cows, and insects as food sources
Ecological explanations for cultural practices regarding pig and cow consumption
The significance of cows in India and the social and ecological impacts of insect consumption
Emergence of vegetarianism in the West and its moral and environmental drivers
Statistics on the prevalence of vegetarianism and attitudes towards reducing meat intake
Moral and ecological motivations behind vegetarianism, with a focus on environmental impacts
The environmental and social impacts of mass meat production
The energy, water, and land requirements for animal production
Waste generation and pollution from animal production, and its impact on health and the environment
Speculation on the potential for meat to become a new taboo due to its ecological costs and the rise of vegetarianism

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Description

Explore the complex relationship between cultural taboos, ecological impacts, and meat consumption in this thought-provoking quiz. Delve into historical examples of cannibalism, reasons behind food taboos, and the ecological implications of meat production. Discover the emergence of vegetarianism, its moral and environmental drivers, and the social and ecological impacts of mass meat production. Gain insights into the potential for meat consumption to become a new taboo due to its ecological costs and the rise of vegetarianism.