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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. According to the reading's example, what act can be purified through sacrifice?

2. According to Douglas, morality is wrongly assumed to protect who?

3. Which of the following are a part of primitive views, according to Douglas?

4. In African tribes, what is personality said to be influenced by?

5. Which of the following does Douglas believe rituals can alter by restating?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has anthropology shown the distinction between primitive and modern cultures?

2. What were Frazer's beliefs?

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

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

5. What does morality ensure, according to Douglas?

6. How does Douglas describe fortune as it is related to cosmic alliances in different cultures?

7. Describe economic reality in relation to primitive and modern cultures, according to Douglas.

8. Why is sequentiality vital to the rituals that Douglas describes?

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

10. What does Douglas believe has led to the belief that primitive cultures are inferior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the difference between holiness and blessing as Douglas defines them? How are both related to these concepts: morality, purity, pollution, classification, organization, separation?

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

How do some societies attempt to control danger, according to Douglas? Are they successful? Why or why not? What are the benefits to controlling power? Are there any downsides? How are marginal states related to danger? Can marginal states be controlled? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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