Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Culture and Personality
2020 · Paper I
Anthropology Optional Paper I PYQ 2020
Explore 28 official UPSC Anthropology Optional 2020 Paper I questions, organised by section, marks, syllabus and topic. Model answers are coming soon.
Q1(a)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Natufian culture
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.8(b) Cultural Evolution: broad outlines of prehistoric cultures > Mesolithic > Natufian
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q1(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Syllabus: Paper I > 7. Culture, language and communication > Language and thought
Culture & Society
Q1(c)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Human rights and Cultural relativism
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.1 The Nature of Culture > Ethnocentrism vis-a-vis Cultural Relativism
Culture & Society
Q1(d)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Victor Turner and Liminality
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Symbolic Anthropology > Turner; liminality
Anthropological Theories
Q1(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Jane Goodall's contributions in studying primate behaviour
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.5 Characteristics of Primates > Primate behaviour
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q2(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Critically evaluate the contesting theories of the emergence and dispersal of modern Homo Sapiens.
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and distribution > Homo sapiens
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q2(b)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Discuss Erving Goffman's concept of total institutions and its relevance in contemporary society.
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.2 The Nature of Society > Social institutions
Culture & Society
Q2(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Differentiate between Lower Palaeolithic culture and Middle Palaeolithic culture with suitable examples.
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.8(b) Cultural Evolution: broad outlines of prehistoric cultures > Palaeolithic
Prehistoric Archaeology
Q3(b)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
Critically examine the demographic and epidemiological consequences with rise in food production and sedentism.
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology > Health and disease transitions
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q3(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Explain the impact of feminist movement on universality of marriage and family structure.
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.4 Family > Universality and changing structure of the family
Marriage & Family
Q3(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Elucidate how Darwin and Post-Darwin theories of evolution resulted in the development of Synthetic theory of evolution.
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.4 Human Evolution > Theories of evolution > Synthetic theory
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q4(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Discuss various anthropological approaches to the study of personality and culture.
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Culture and Personality
Anthropological Theories
Q4(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Illustrate with examples the various types of locomotion patterns among the non-human primates.
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.5 Characteristics of Primates > Primate adaptations: arboreal and terrestrial
Human Evolution & Primatology
Q4(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
How is the construct of power linked to the notion of conspicuous consumption and its impact on distributive justice ?
Syllabus: Paper I > 3. Economic Organization > Distribution and exchange > Conspicuous consumption
Economic & Political Anthropology
Q5(a)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Racism and Eugenics
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.5 Race and racism > Racial differentiation; eugenics
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q5(b)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Genetic drift
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.3 Mendelian population and Hardy-Weinberg law > Genetic drift
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q5(c)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Experiential Ethnography
Syllabus: Paper I > 8.1 Research Methods > Fieldwork tradition and ethnography
Research Methods in Anthropology
Q5(d)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Ethics and Genetic engineering
Syllabus: Paper I > 12. Applications of Anthropology > Applied human genetics and eugenics
Applied & Forensic Anthropology
Q5(e)
10 Marks 150 words Model Answer Available
Senescence
Syllabus: Paper I > 10. Human growth and development > Ageing and senescence
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q6(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Secular trend in human growth can be positive, negative or neutral. Illustrate with examples.
Syllabus: Paper I > 10. Human growth and development > Secular trend
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q6(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Describe the impact of infectious diseases on indigenous populations.
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology > Infectious diseases
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q6(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
How may numerical aberrations in sex chromosomes lead to genetic disorders ?
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.4(b) Sex chromosomal aberrations
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q7(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
Explain how variations in language usage is related to social inequality.
Syllabus: Paper I > 7. Culture, language and communication > Social context of language use
Culture & Society
Q7(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
Describe the biocultural responses to extreme climatic events.
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.7 Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology > Bio-cultural adaptations
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q7(c)
15 Marks Answer Coming Soon
How do marriage rules impact the gene pool of populations ?
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.3 Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating > Genetic effects
Human Genetics & Human Biology
Q8(a)
20 Marks Model Answer Available
How can synergising the core branches of anthropology reinvigorate the holistic spirit of the discipline ?
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance
Foundations of Anthropology
Q8(b)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
What are the applications of human genomic research in human welfare ?
Syllabus: Paper I > 12. Applications of Anthropology > DNA technology and genome study
Applied & Forensic Anthropology
Q8(c)
15 Marks Model Answer Available
How have interpretation and presentation of data changed from classical to contemporary writings in anthropological texts ?
Syllabus: Paper I > 8.4 Research Methods > Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data
Research Methods in Anthropology
Plugin content area ends here · site footer rendered by the theme.
UPSC Anthropology Optional 2020 — Paper I
28 questionsSyllabus: Paper I > 9.7 Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology > Bio-cultural adaptations
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.4 Human Evolution > Theories of evolution > Synthetic theory
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and distribution > Homo sapiens
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.2 The Nature of Society > Social institutions
5(d) Ethics and Genetic engineering
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 12. Applications of Anthropology > Applied human genetics and eugenics
5(c) Experiential Ethnography
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 8.1 Research Methods > Fieldwork tradition and ethnography
3(a) Explain the impact of feminist movement on universality of marriage and family structure.
20 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.4 Family > Universality and changing structure of the family
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology > Health and disease transitions
5(b) Genetic drift
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.3 Mendelian population and Hardy-Weinberg law > Genetic drift
Syllabus: Paper I > 12. Applications of Anthropology > DNA technology and genome study
1(c) Human rights and Cultural relativism
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.1 The Nature of Culture > Ethnocentrism vis-a-vis Cultural Relativism
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology > Infectious diseases
Syllabus: Paper I > 8.4 Research Methods > Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data
1(e) Jane Goodall's contributions in studying primate behaviour
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.5 Characteristics of Primates > Primate behaviour
Syllabus: Paper I > 7. Culture, language and communication > Social context of language use
4(b) Illustrate with examples the various types of locomotion patterns among the non-human primates.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.5 Characteristics of Primates > Primate adaptations: arboreal and terrestrial
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.8(b) Cultural Evolution: broad outlines of prehistoric cultures > Palaeolithic
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.3 Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating > Genetic effects
1(a) Natufian culture
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.8(b) Cultural Evolution: broad outlines of prehistoric cultures > Mesolithic > Natufian
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.4(b) Sex chromosomal aberrations
Syllabus: Paper I > 3. Economic Organization > Distribution and exchange > Conspicuous consumption
5(a) Racism and Eugenics
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.5 Race and racism > Racial differentiation; eugenics
1(b) Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 7. Culture, language and communication > Language and thought
6(a) Secular trend in human growth can be positive, negative or neutral. Illustrate with examples.
20 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > 10. Human growth and development > Secular trend
5(e) Senescence
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 10. Human growth and development > Ageing and senescence
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance
1(d) Victor Turner and Liminality
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Symbolic Anthropology > Turner; liminality