View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In Lele culture, what is killed to challenge the notion of ambiguity?

2. Whose life is put at risk when a wife commits adultery in the Nuer society described?

3. What example is given to describe why a sorcerer would move animals to the human sphere?

4. Which of the following do cultures not involve, according to the reading?

5. What are Douglas' rules of pollution concerned with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is dirt regarded as being a powerful part of a ritual, according to Douglas?

2. Describe the structure of the Lugbara.

3. What is a moral situation? Can we define a moral? Why or why not?

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

5. Describe the Nuer beliefs and actions.

6. Describe Bemba culture and beliefs.

7. Describe the Coorgs' caste system.

8. Describe the beliefs of the Maoris.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What happens when order is absent from the cultures that Douglas describes? What factors create disorder? Do you think Douglas is accurate here?

Essay Topic 2

How do views of death differ from culture to culture? What about from primitive to modern cultures? How is death controlled by some cultures that Douglas describes? How does this differ from the religious view of sex?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 691 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample