Anthropology (ANTH) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The statement that asserts cultural patterns are adaptive in the long term if they are beneficial is misleading because it assumes that just because a cultural practice is beneficial in the short term, it will automatically remain beneficial in the long term. Cultural patterns may provide advantages in specific contexts or during certain conditions, but they can also lead to negative consequences over time.

For example, a practice that effectively utilizes resources might promote short-term survival but could lead to depletion of those resources, threatening long-term sustainability. Additionally, cultural practices can become maladaptive when environmental conditions change or when they no longer fit the needs of the society. Therefore, while a cultural pattern may seem beneficial at one point, it is not guaranteed to be adaptive over the long haul, contradicting the assertion in the statement.

In contrast, the other statements accurately reflect aspects of culture. Humans do continue to adapt biologically regardless of cultural influences, cultural traditions are indeed passed on through learning and socialization, and it is entirely possible for cultural patterns to pose threats to the long-term survival of a species or community when they lead to harmful practices or unsustainable resource use.