Traditionally, anthropology has been distinguished from history by the

Traditionally, anthropology has been distinguished from history by the presence or absence of written documents in the societies studied. Beyond question, the absence of written documents in many primitive societies has forced the anthropologist to develop methods and techniques appropriate to the study of activities that remain “imperfectly” conscious on all the levels in which they are expressed. Apart from the fact that this limitation is often overcome by oral tradition (so rich among certain African and Oceanic peoples), it should not be regarded as a rigid barrier. Anthropology is equally concerned with cultures that employ writing, such as those of ancient Meso-America, the Arab world, and the Far East. Similarly, historians have reconstructed the history of a people like the Zulu, who have never known a written language.

Ultimately, distinctions between these fields are a matter of degree, not of kind. The anthropologist is interested in unwritten data, not because the peoples studied are incapable of writing, but because the discipline’s principal concerns differ from the information people ordinarily record on stone or paper. Historians find the concrete examples particularly illuminating regarding transition from the explicit to the implicit. Both disciplines seek an understanding of man in the theater of culture. The complementary nature of their inquiries suggests that neither will achieve that understanding without the other.

1) The primary purpose of this passage is to

A) mediate a contentious dispute between two disciplines
B) describe the underlying connections between two different academic fields
C) delineate the ways in which anthropology and history diverge
D) argue that the essential difference between history and anthropology lies in the presence or absence of written documents
E) criticize anthropologists for failing to acknowledge the contributions of historians



2) The author uses the phrase "theater of culture" in paragraph two to describe

A) the richness and complexity of oral traditions as compared to the written traditions of the west
B) the momentous historical events and epochs that anthropologists have previously ignored
C) the artistic and religious aspects of a pre-literate society that are used to piece together its history
D) the contextual beliefs and behaviors that must be studied in order to arrive at a more complete understanding of human nature
E) the necessity for social scientists to consider the spoken word as well as written documents in their study of society



3) According to the author, the presence of written data is

A) useful in addressing the confusion between anthropology and history
B) not important, because historians have described the history of cultures who have never had a written language
C) the single essential element used in determining whether a culture can be subjected to study by historians
D) functions as an important check on the techniques and methods used to assess cultures in Africa and Oceania
E) not a consideration in determining whether a society is appropriate for anthropological study


4) Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph?

A. Exceptions to a conventional definition are presented in order to emphasize that the definition is less useful than previously thought.
B. A distinction between academic fields is explained and then examples are given of the distinction.
C. A conceptual difference between two disciplines is proven to be invalid.
D. Examples are given that amplify and support a traditional concept.
E. A tradition is descrihed and then repercussions of that tradition are criticized.


5) According to the passage, which of the following are common to the fields of history and anthropology?

I. A strict adherence to factual, documented material
II. A belief that knowledge about human nature is revealed through the study of culture
III. A dependence on the study of oral traditions

A. I only
B. II only
C. II and III only
D. I and III only
E. I, II, and III


6) Which of the following statements, if true, would most seriously weaken the author's assertion that history and anthropology are interrelated?

A. Historians find the study of human social interactions to be of no value in achieving an understanding of human nature.
B. The overlap of history and anthropology has allowed for greater accuracy in the study of some cultures.
C. Because anthropology studies cultures without written documents, knowledge about such cultures has been difficult to verify.
D. Some historical documents uncovered in the 19/Us were subsequently used by both anthropologists and historians.
E. The anthropologist's emphasis on information not expressed consciously is clearly separate from the historian's interest in specific, concrete events.


7) It can be inferred from the passage that one possible method of reconstructing the history of the ancient Zulus might be to study

A. the history of modern Zulus
B. oral traditions of the Zulus
C. the history of other cultures that do not possess a written language
D. the written records of ancient Zulus
E. anthropological research on ancient cultures of Meso-America