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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 the allegiance established through marriage determine in Purity and Danger?

2. Why do men and women avoid sex in Lele culture before important events?

3. What does Douglas claim that pollution annihilates?

4. What does Douglas believe unsuccessful structures invite?

5. If a husband's life is threatened, who is to blame in Nuer beliefs?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the four types of pollutions that Douglas introduces.

2. Describe the Israeli rejection of dirt. How is it destructive and creative at the same time, in Douglas' view?

3. How is infidelity handled in a Nuer society?

4. Why does Douglas say that social consequences cannot be reversed?

5. How do internal and external boundaries, described by Douglas, relate to the human body?

6. Describe the treatment of ambiguities as described in Chapter 10.

7. Describe Mae Enga culture and beliefs.

8. How do Vann Gennep's conclusions relate to the Maoris people?

9. Compare and contrast the Nuers and Bedouins on political structure.

10. How do escapism and realism relate to the dirt and primitive cultures that Douglas describes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the four types of pollutions that Douglas introduces. Give one example of each in primitive culture and in modern culture. How do these cultures overcome pollutions?

Essay Topic 2

What do you need to study to understand purity, according to Douglas? What is purity? What is contagion? What is pollution? How are these concepts related?

Essay Topic 3

In Coorgs society, how does the caste system work? What is the goal of the lower caste? What is the goal of the upper caste? How do women serve as gatekeepers in a caste society such as this one?

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