Week 9 Test Bank 2 PDF

**What is an example of a leveling mechanism used in egalitarian societies?**\ a) Taxation systems designed to redistribute wealth.\ b) Formalized laws enforcing social equality.\ c) Hereditary leadership ensuring balanced power.\ d) Gossip that limits individuals from accumulating excessive influen...

**What is an example of a leveling mechanism used in egalitarian societies?**\ a) Taxation systems designed to redistribute wealth.\ b) Formalized laws enforcing social equality.\ c) Hereditary leadership ensuring balanced power.\ d) Gossip that limits individuals from accumulating excessive influence.\ e) Ceremonial exchanges that centralize authority. **Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Leveling mechanisms like gossip prevent the accumulation of disproportionate power by maintaining social equilibrium in egalitarian societies. 42. **What is the main function of redistribution in chiefdoms?**\ a) To eliminate wealth inequality through equal sharing of resources.\ b) To replace kin-based leadership with meritocratic systems.\ c) To establish permanent alliances with external groups.\ d) To decentralize economic power among all social classes.\ e) To strengthen class stratification and reinforce the chief's authority. **Answer:** e\ **Explanation:** Redistribution in chiefdoms reinforces the chief's power by highlighting their ability to control and distribute surplus goods, thereby upholding hierarchical structures. 43. **How do bands resolve disputes differently than states?**\ a) Bands rely on legal codes, while states use informal methods like mediation.\ b) Bands use community-based approaches like song duels, while states institutionalize conflict resolution through courts.\ c) Bands enforce disputes through hereditary leaders, while states depend on redistribution.\ d) Bands rely on economic exchanges, whereas states rely on kinship.\ e) Bands avoid disputes entirely by preventing power accumulation. **Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Bands resolve disputes through informal, community-driven methods like song duels, contrasting with the formalized legal systems of states. 44. **What distinguishes ascribed status from achieved status?**\ a) Ascribed status is permanent, while achieved status can change.\ b) Ascribed status is based on individual merit, while achieved status is inherited.\ c) Both statuses depend on rigid social hierarchies.\ d) Achieved status is involuntarily assigned, unlike ascribed status.\ e) Achieved status is defined by tradition, whereas ascribed status rewards skill. **Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Ascribed status is typically fixed and assigned at birth, while achieved status is earned through personal effort and is subject to change. 45. **Why is the leadership of a "Big Man" in tribal societies considered fragile?**\ a) It is hereditary and depends on kinship ties.\ b) It relies solely on wealth accumulation.\ c) It requires continuous acts of generosity and charisma to maintain influence.\ d) It is granted by formal legal institutions.\ e) It is enforced through centralized authority. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** \"Big Man\" leadership is fragile because it depends on their ability to consistently demonstrate generosity and maintain reciprocal alliances. 46. **What role do kinship ties play in tribes compared to states?**\ a) They define social hierarchy in both systems.\ b) They undermine egalitarian values in both systems.\ c) They are replaced by redistributive systems in tribes and taxation in states.\ d) They formalize laws in states, while being irrelevant in tribes.\ e) They are the primary basis for leadership and decision-making in tribes but less significant in states. **Answer:** e\ **Explanation:** Kinship ties are central to tribal organization, influencing leadership and unity, whereas states rely on institutionalized systems for governance. 47. **What is a significant difference between bands and chiefdoms?**\ a) Bands have formalized legal systems, while chiefdoms rely on consensus.\ b) Chiefdoms are egalitarian, while bands are stratified.\ c) Bands resolve disputes through informal consensus, while chiefdoms use redistributive authority.\ d) Chiefdoms lack hereditary leadership, unlike bands.\ e) Bands are centralized, while chiefdoms are not. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Bands use informal consensus for dispute resolution, whereas chiefdoms rely on the authority of hereditary leaders who redistribute goods to maintain control. 48. **How does internalized control differ from external control in political systems?**\ a) Internalized control relies on cultural norms, while external control uses laws and enforcement mechanisms.\ b) External control depends on kinship systems, while internalized control requires consensus.\ c) Internalized control applies only to hierarchical societies, whereas external control is egalitarian.\ d) Both forms of control are irrelevant in bands and tribes.\ e) External control focuses on redistributive ceremonies, while internalized control focuses on taxation. **Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Internalized control is guided by shared cultural values and morality, while external control involves formalized systems like laws and enforcement. 49. **What is one reason states developed institutionalized authority?**\ a) To replace kinship-based decision-making.\ b) To reduce the influence of redistributive ceremonies.\ c) To maintain order in small, egalitarian groups.\ d) To emphasize reciprocal relationships over formal laws.\ e) To eliminate taxation systems. **Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** States developed institutionalized authority to manage large, diverse populations, moving away from kinship-based governance models. 50. **What is a significant feature of tribes that bands lack?**\ a) Centralized legal institutions.\ b) Kinship-based leadership through "Big Men."\ c) Stratified social hierarchies.\ d) Redistribution of goods controlled by a chief.\ e) Permanent territorial boundaries. **Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Tribes often have leaders like "Big Men" who gain influence through kinship ties and acts of generosity, a structure not found in bands. 51. **Why are ceremonial exchanges, like Ongka's Moka, critical in tribal societies?**\ a) They formalize laws and governance.\ b) They ensure wealth equality among all members.\ c) They allow leaders to demonstrate influence and strengthen alliances.\ d) They replace kinship ties as the primary organizational structure.\ e) They centralize authority under institutionalized leadership. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Ceremonial exchanges are essential for tribal leaders to display generosity, build reciprocal relationships, and maintain their influence within the community. 52. **What was the primary role of pharaohs in Ancient Egypt's political organization?**\ a) To act as divine rulers with centralized control over agricultural and infrastructural projects.\ b) To mediate disputes through informal consensus.\ c) To oversee redistributive feasts to promote social equality.\ d) To enforce meritocratic systems of leadership.\ e) To maintain egalitarian systems through reciprocal trade. **Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Pharaohs were seen as divine rulers with centralized authority, overseeing critical aspects like irrigation, agriculture, and monumental projects, reflecting state-level governance. 53. **How do Maisin hybrid leadership systems function?**\ a) By integrating ceremonial exchanges with centralized taxation.\ b) By blending traditional egalitarian roles with formal governmental positions.\ c) By replacing kinship-based leadership with bureaucratic structures.\ d) By maintaining hereditary leadership alongside redistributive systems.\ e) By combining song duels with legal codes. **Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Maisin leadership systems combine traditional egalitarian practices with modern bureaucratic roles, allowing them to navigate both cultural traditions and governmental needs. 54. **Why are disputes in bands often resolved through community mechanisms like song duels?**\ a) Bands lack centralized authority or formal legal institutions.\ b) Bands rely on redistributive ceremonies to enforce agreements.\ c) Bands are structured around rigid social hierarchies.\ d) Bands use these methods to reinforce stratification.\ e) Bands prioritize external alliances over internal harmony. **Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Bands resolve disputes through informal, community-based methods like song duels due to their lack of centralized authority or formal legal systems. 55. **What distinguishes authority from influence in political systems?**\ a) Authority is enforced through coercion, while influence is consensual.\ b) Authority is socially recognized as legitimate, while influence relies on persuasion.\ c) Influence is institutionalized, while authority is informal.\ d) Authority depends on charisma, while influence depends on heredity.\ e) Influence is static, while authority is flexible. **Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Authority is legitimate and accepted within a society, while influence refers to the ability to shape decisions or opinions without relying on formal power structures. 56. **What is a defining feature of political authority in states?**\ a) Informal leadership based on personal charisma.\ b) Redistribution of goods through reciprocal exchange.\ c) Institutionalized power recognized as legitimate by society.\ d) Kinship ties determining leadership roles.\ e) Conflict resolution through community song duels. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Authority in states is institutionalized and recognized as legitimate, distinguishing it from informal or kinship-based leadership structures. 57. **Why are leveling mechanisms important in egalitarian societies?**\ a) To redistribute resources through formalized taxation systems.\ b) To promote strict hierarchies that limit social mobility.\ c) To prevent individuals from gaining excessive wealth or power.\ d) To enforce equality through institutionalized authority.\ e) To eliminate the need for redistributive ceremonies. **Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Leveling mechanisms maintain equality by ensuring that no individual accumulates undue influence, often through social norms rather than formal institutions. 58. **How does a chief maintain their authority in a chiefdom?**\ a) By enforcing legal systems through bureaucratic processes.\ b) By relying on informal consensus among kin groups.\ c) By redistributing surplus goods to reinforce social hierarchies.\ d) By organizing ceremonial exchanges to eliminate competition.\ e) By appealing to divine status as the sole basis for leadership. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Chiefs maintain their authority by redistributing goods during public ceremonies, which reinforces their prestige and hierarchical position. 59. **What distinguishes influence from power in political systems?**\ a) Power is always institutionalized, while influence is personal.\ b) Influence depends on coercion, while power is consensual.\ c) Influence shapes decisions without coercion, while power compels actions.\ d) Power only exists in centralized states, while influence is found in bands.\ e) Influence requires formal recognition, while power does not. **Answer:** e\ **Explanation:** Influence shapes decisions informally, while power compels actions; however, influence typically operates without requiring institutional validation. 60. **What role does reciprocity play in the social organization of bands?**\ a) It reinforces formal legal systems.\ b) It enables centralized redistribution of wealth.\ c) It sustains cooperative relationships and resource sharing.\ d) It ensures hierarchical structures are preserved.\ e) It replaces kinship ties as the main form of social cohesion. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Reciprocity fosters cooperation and equitable sharing of resources, forming the backbone of economic and social organization in bands. 61. **Which method do the Inuit use to resolve disputes?**\ a) Formalized courts and legal systems.\ b) Redistribution of surplus goods during feasts.\ c) Song duels where the audience decides the winner.\ d) Ceremonial exchanges that foster alliances.\ e) Taxation systems that incentivize cooperation. **Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Inuit disputes are resolved through community-centered activities like song duels, fostering harmony without formalized legal systems. 62. **What characterizes achieved status in egalitarian societies?**\ a) It is assigned based on kinship and lineage.\ b) It is granted through formal governmental roles.\ c) It reflects personal accomplishments and efforts.\ d) It reinforces hereditary hierarchies.\ e) It limits social mobility by emphasizing tradition. **Answer:** e\ **Explanation:** Achieved status can be fluid in egalitarian societies, yet external factors, such as tradition, can play restrictive roles. 63. **What is a common characteristic of leadership in tribes?**\ a) It depends on formal bureaucratic systems.\ b) It is determined by hereditary succession.\ c) It relies on charisma and acts of generosity to maintain influence.\ d) It formalizes authority through institutionalized power.\ e) It enforces rigid legal codes to ensure stability. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Tribal leadership, exemplified by \"Big Men,\" depends on personal charisma and generosity to gain and sustain influence within the community. 64. **Why is gossip considered a leveling mechanism in societies like the Maisin?**\ a) It centralizes decision-making authority in leaders.\ b) It redistributes goods among all members of society.\ c) It discourages individuals from acquiring excessive power.\ d) It reinforces hierarchical systems by promoting accountability.\ e) It serves as the primary method for resolving disputes. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Gossip in egalitarian societies like the Maisin functions as a leveling mechanism by scrutinizing individuals and curbing behaviors that might lead to dominance. 65. **What is a defining feature of leadership in bands?**\ a) It is formalized through hereditary succession.\ b) It is institutionalized in bureaucratic systems.\ c) It is informal and based on consensus within the group.\ d) It relies on redistribution to reinforce authority.\ e) It emphasizes class stratification and social hierarchy. **Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Band leadership is informal and consensus-built. 66. **What is the primary role of ceremonial exchanges in tribal societies?**\ a) To enforce formal laws and regulations.\ b) To redistribute wealth equally among all members.\ c) To strengthen social bonds and build alliances.\ d) To establish hereditary leadership roles.\ e) To resolve disputes through formal agreements. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Ceremonial exchanges, such as feasts, foster alliances and reinforce social cohesion within tribal societies. 67. **What is a key characteristic of chiefdom economies?**\ a) They rely exclusively on subsistence-based practices.\ b) They avoid any form of surplus redistribution.\ c) They emphasize redistributive systems managed by hereditary leaders.\ d) They focus on reciprocal exchanges to ensure equality.\ e) They replace kinship systems with bureaucratic taxation. **Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Chiefdoms manage surplus redistribution through hereditary control which is necessary to maintain hierarchy. 68. **What is a significant aspect of state governance that differs from tribes?**\ a) States rely on kinship ties for leadership roles.\ b) States maintain power solely through redistributive ceremonies.\ c) States institutionalize authority through defined legal systems.\ d) States focus solely on ceremonial exchanges.\ e) States lack centralized leadership compared to tribes. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** States institutionalize power within bureaucratic systems, enabling centralized governance over large populations. 69. **What distinguishes informal leadership in bands from tribal leadership?**\ a) Band leadership is hereditary, while tribal leadership is achieved through skill.\ b) Band leadership relies on redistribution, while tribal leadership is hierarchical.\ c) Band leadership is consensus-driven and situational.\ d) Tribal leadership emphasizes permanent positions.\ e) Band leadership incorporates song dueling. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Bands depend on consensus and temporary leaders emerging from their skill sets rather than formalized leadership roles. 70. **How does the Trobriand Island kula exchange function within chiefdoms?**\ a) It redistributes resources equally across all classes.\ b) It resolves disputes through ritual performance.\ c) It maintains alliances and reinforces the chief's prestige.\ d) It formalizes legal contracts between rival groups.\ e) It integrates governance into religious practices. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** The kula exchange builds political alliances while enhancing the social standing of leaders, integral to chiefdom dynamics. 71. **What is a primary difference between bands and chiefdoms?**\ a) Bands rely on redistributive ceremonies, while chiefdoms are kin-based.\ b) Bands have centralized authority, while chiefdoms are informal.\ c) Bands are egalitarian, while chiefdoms have hierarchical leadership.\ d) Chiefdoms maintain a strict legal system, while bands lack it.\ e) Bands depend on bureaucracy, whereas chiefdoms use gossip. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Bands emphasize egalitarian values and informal leadership, while chiefdoms rely on hereditary leaders and hierarchy. 72. **How does Maisin leadership exemplify a hybrid system?**\ a) By enforcing equality through redistributive taxation.\ b) By combining traditional kinship roles with government positions.\ c) By eliminating traditional practices in favor of formal leadership.\ d) By using informal methods to limit social stratification.\ e) By applying legal codes to ceremonial governance. **Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Maisin leadership combines traditional roles with formal government functions, balancing cultural practices with modern needs. 73. **Why do tribes rely on rituals and ceremonies?**\ a) To enforce legal standards across kin groups.\ b) To replace kinship systems with redistributive authority.\ c) To create unity and foster cooperation among members.\ d) To institutionalize leadership into fixed positions.\ e) To maintain economic equality between clans. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Rituals and ceremonies in tribes foster social cohesion and reinforce cultural bonds, helping unify members. 74. **How does the concept of \"Big Man\" leadership differ from hereditary leadership in chiefdoms?**\ a) It depends entirely on redistributive taxation.\ b) It is based on divine authority rather than personal skill.\ c) It is earned through acts of generosity and persuasion rather than inheritance.\ d) It centralizes power in bureaucratic systems.\ e) It formalizes authority into institutionalized roles. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** \"Big Man\" leadership is achieved through acts of charisma and generosity, contrasting with the inherited authority of chiefs in chiefdoms. 75. **What distinguishes bands from tribes in terms of economic organization?**\ a) Bands use redistribution, while tribes depend on taxation.\ b) Bands rely on formal trade systems, while tribes are subsistence-based.\ c) Bands emphasize reciprocity, while tribes rely on surplus redistribution.\ d) Tribes utilize large-scale trade alliances, unlike bands.\ e) Tribes depend on bureaucratic systems, unlike bands. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Bands rely on reciprocity as their economic foundation, while tribes focus on redistributing surplus goods to build alliances and maintain leadership. 76. **What is an example of internalized control in a band?**\ a) Redistribution of surplus goods during feasts.\ b) Enforcement of rules by a centralized authority.\ c) Behavior guided by shared cultural values and norms.\ d) Leadership determined through inheritance.\ e) Authority institutionalized through legal codes. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Internalized control relies on cultural norms and values to regulate behavior, essential in the egalitarian structure of bands. 77. **How does the Code of Hammurabi illustrate state-level governance?**\ a) By enforcing laws solely through religious institutions.\ b) By redistributing wealth equally among all social classes.\ c) By institutionalizing authority through a formal legal system.\ d) By relying on kinship ties for governance.\ e) By maintaining egalitarian values across communities. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** The Code of Hammurabi demonstrates state-level governance by using written laws to maintain order and regulate stratified societies. 78. **Why are gossip and ridicule effective leveling mechanisms in egalitarian societies?**\ a) They redistribute wealth among community members.\ b) They formalize authority into leadership roles.\ c) They prevent individuals from accumulating excessive power.\ d) They ensure fairness through institutionalized systems.\ e) They limit social mobility to maintain hierarchy. **Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Gossip and ridicule discourage dominance by holding individuals accountable to group norms, maintaining balance in egalitarian societies. 79. **What role does kinship play in tribal societies?**\ a) It centralizes authority within legal frameworks.\ b) It replaces leadership roles with redistributive systems.\ c) It restricts economic transactions to subsistence farming.\ d) It diminishes the importance of ceremonial exchanges.\ e) It forms the basis of social organization and leadership. **Answer:** e\ **Explanation:** Kinship structures in tribes determine social roles and leadership, serving as the foundation for decision-making and alliances. 80. **How does redistribution in chiefdoms support hierarchical structures?**\ a) By ensuring that surplus goods are shared equally among all members.\ b) By replacing kin-based organization with merit-based systems.\ c) By abolishing hereditary leadership in favor of elected roles.\ d) By decentralizing economic power to reduce inequality.\ e) By reinforcing the authority of chiefs who control the flow of goods. **Answer:** e\ **Explanation:** Redistribution in chiefdoms strengthens the chief\'s power by showcasing their ability to manage resources, reinforcing their hierarchical status.