WBCS Anthropology Optional Previous Years’ Questions Chapter 10, Chapter 11, and Chapter 12 of Paper 1

WBCS ANTHROPOLOGY OPTIONAL PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS CHAPTERWISE

We have started a series of posts evaluating the detailed previous years’ WBCS Anthropology question papers. We will publish all previous years’ WBCS Anthropology optional question papers chapter by chapter.

We have assembled these chapter-by-chapter questions following the WBCS mains previous exam questions from 2001 through the most recent exam of 2021.

Below is the detailed syllabus of Chapters 10, 11, and 12 of  Anthropology optional Paper-I (WBCS mains):

10. Culture and civilization :

10.1 Definition and features of culture and civilization.
10.2 Cultural relativism, Acculturation, Enculturation, Diffusion, Cultural lag, World view, symbols.
10.3 Anthropological approaches to the study of civilization.

11. Elements of social organization :

11.1 Family – Definition, Types, functions, recent changes.
11.2 Marriage – Definition, Types, functions, recent changes.
Marriage payments (dowry and bridewealth). Incest regulation, Preferential and prescribed forms of
marriage.
11.3 Kinship – Definition of the kinship system. Importance, Types of kinship systems, kin term
classification.
11.4 Rules of Descent and alliance, Rules of residence, Descent groups.

12.  Economic Anthropology :

12.1 Concept and approaches.
12.2 Major ways of subsistence – Hunting-gathering, Pastoralism, Horticulture, and Settled Agriculture.
12.3 Production, Distribution (Reciprocity, Market exchange, Re-distribution), Consumption, Gift
exchange.
12.4 Peasant.

All the previous years’ questions of WBCS mains Anthropology optional Chapters 10,11, and 12  of Paper-I:

10. Culture And Civilization

Q1. What Major Characteristic Features Of Culture?  [2020] 10 

Q2. Define And State Features Of Culture And Civilization.

Give An Account Of Cultural Relativism With Suitable Examples. [2017] 15+15 

Q3. Discuss The Relationship Between Culture And Civilisation With Special Emphasis On  Redfield-Krober Model. [2015] 30 

Q4. The Spatial Distribution Of Houses In A Village Often Reflects The Social Cleavages In  A Society.

Explain With Examples.

Also, Discuss How House Type And Settlement Pattern May Be Influenced By Environment.  [2002] 20 

Q5. Acculturation And Socialization. [2002] 10 Q6. Role Of Culture In Personality Formation. [2002] 10 

11. Elements Of Social Organization

Q1. Enumerate the relationship of marriage and kinship.

Discuss incest and consanguinity in relation to the kinship system.

Give an account of the possibility of a genetic disorder in consanguinity.  [2019] 10+10+10=30

Q2. (a) Define marriage.

What do you mean by preferential and prescribed forms of marriage? Discuss its different forms.

(b) Define Kinship. [2012] 

What are different types and major patterns of Kinship systems found  Worldwide(by Morgan).  [2020] (5+5+5)+(3+12)  

Q3.Define marriage.

What do you mean by preferential and prescribed forms of marriage?   [2016] 30

Q4. Establish relations of Kinship with family and marriage.  [2012] 15  

Q5. Define ‘Rules of Descent”.

Discuss the importance of “Rules of Descent” for understanding society.  [2010] 20 

Q6. Give an account of the importance of marriage institutions in human society. Bring out consequences of the impact of modern civilization on marriage institutions.   [2008] 20

Q7. Define family.

Discuss the characteristic features of a joint family.

Discuss the recent changes in “Joint Family”.  [2006]  20 

Q8. Delineate the changes in family In Indian society due to urbanization.  [2005] 20

Q9. Consanguineous marriages. [2005] 10 

Q10. Define family. Describe its major functions and bring out the role of the family organization in contemporary society. [2001] 20

Q11. Polygamy and Polyandry.  [2001] 10 

Q12. Forms of Marriage payments. [2015] 10

Q13. The concept of family as a social institution. [2015] 10 

Q14. Marriage.  [2010, 2011] 10

Q15. Kinship. [2021] 10

12. Economic Anthropology

Q1. Discuss The Relationship Of Peasants And Agrarian Society.

Give An Account Of Social Organisation Of Indian Agrarian Society.  [2017] 15+15 

Q2. State The Characteristic Features Of Primitive Economy.

Discuss The Characteristic Features Of A Tribal Market With Empirical Examples Known To You. [2015] 30 

Q3. What Is Economic Anthropology? Discuss Its Different Approaches For Studying  Societies Known To Anthropologists. [2014] 8+24 

Q4.  Define Economic Anthropology.

Briefly Discuss With Suitable Examples In What Way Anthropological Knowledge Could Be  Utilized To Improve The Present Status Of Economic Anthropology In A Rural Society.  [2008] [2009] 20 

Q5. Food Collection In Hunter-Gatherer Stage. [2004] 10

Q6.Pastoralism. [2004] 10

Q7. Primitive Economy [2001] 10 

Q8. What Is The Scope Of Economic Anthropology?

Briefly Discuss On Reciprocity, Redistribution, And Market Exchange. What Is Potlatch? Discuss Its Significance. [2018] 6+18+6 

Q9. Kula King.  [2019] 10 

Q10. Hunter-Gatherer Society. [2016] 10

Q10. Barter And Ceremonial Exchange. [2006] 10

Q11. Economic Anthropology. [2021] 10

That’s all questions that have been asked in these two chapters from 2001 to 2021. Keep visiting us regularly for further updates.

We have already published all the previous years’ questions in earlier chapters. You can check them using the references provided below.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapter 9.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapter 8.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapters 6 and 7.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapter 5.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapter 4.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapter 3.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapter 2.

Click here to view the WBCS anthropology optional Questions of Chapter 1.

You can check the detailed analysis of the syllabus of the WBCS Anthropology optional paper by clicking here.

Keep visiting us for further updates.

Thank You!