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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Douglas say primitive cultures represent more than modern cultures?

2. How can ideas of contagion be understood, according to Douglas' beliefs?

3. What example of a people is given to demonstration insulation from wrong practices, according to Douglas?

4. According to Douglas, what rules are humans meant to adhere to?

5. To maintain universal order, what does Douglas believe must occur?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Old Testament relate to purity, in Douglas' opinion?

2. What is the anti-ritual prejudice that Douglas describes?

3. What does Douglas describe as being the factors that rituals require?

4. What do rituals embrace as described in the reading?

5. What were Durkheim's beliefs?

6. What are the differences between primitive cultures and modern cultures in regard to the rules Douglas states?

7. What conclusions did Malinowski come to when he studied primitive cultures?

8. What does Douglas believe you need to understand to study purity?

9. How does Douglas describe the ways in which purity can be achieved?

10. Describe the role of compatibility for the Israelites.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Douglas' social structures. What is the significance of a formal power structure? What happens with a system lacks a power structure? Are there any benefits to these systems? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the rationale behind classifying animals. If you were to classify animals, would your method be comparable? Why or why not? Why do you think the animals are categorized this way?

Essay Topic 3

According to the reading, how is harmony assured in society both externally and internally? What does collaboration have to do with internal lines? What does sexual collaboration have to do with harmony? Give examples of harmony's role in society in both primitive and modern cultures.

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This section contains 598 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample