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

The pressurized cabin of an airplane exemplifies cultural adaptation, as it is a solution developed by humans to address specific environmental challenges associated with flying at high altitudes. This adaptation reflects the ways in which human ingenuity and technological advancement have modified the environment to facilitate travel, making it safe and comfortable despite the low atmospheric pressure at high elevations.

In this context, cultural adaptations are practices and tools created by societies to cope with their surroundings. The design of pressurized cabins allows individuals to maintain a stable internal environment (in terms of oxygen levels and pressure) that humans would otherwise find difficult to endure in high-altitude situations. This adaptation shows how culture, technology, and social practices work together to enhance human survival and comfort in challenging environments.

In contrast, the other types of adaptations listed involve different processes. Genetic adaptations refer to changes in the genetic makeup of a population over generations in response to environmental pressures. Long-term physiological adaptations are alterations in bodily functions that occur over extended periods of time to improve survival in specific environments. Short-term physiological adaptations, also known as acclimatization, occur in individuals and are reversible responses to immediate environmental stress. The pressurized cabin does not fit into these categories, as it is not a biological or physiological change, but rather a