Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Eugenics
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question examines your awareness of a controversial but historically important concept in social and biological thought. The phrase "a science of race, culture and human development" points towards a field that studies how inherited traits and selective breeding might influence the future of human populations. While modern science strongly critiques and limits this concept, the term remains relevant in history, ethics, and sociology discussions and is often tested in exams for vocabulary and general awareness.
Given Data / Assumptions:
We are given a description involving race, culture, and human development.
We must choose the one-word term historically associated with such ideas.
We assume the question refers to the classical, not modern, evaluation of the concept.
Concept / Approach:
The word "eugenics" refers to the study or belief in improving the genetic quality of the human race, often through selective breeding or other measures. It has been associated with attempts to classify races and guide human development based on hereditary characteristics. Because of its misuse, it is now considered ethically problematic, but the vocabulary term is still important to know. The remaining options have no connection with race or human development as a science.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the phrase is pointing to a supposed scientific study of human heredity and development.
Step 2: Recall that "eugenics" historically claimed to improve human populations by controlling reproduction.
Step 3: Check the options and see that only "eugenics" fits this description.
Step 4: Confirm that the other options refer to unrelated activities or objects.
Step 5: Choose Option B as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of phrases such as "the eugenics movement" or "laws influenced by eugenics". These always involve ideas about hereditary improvement of humans, often linked with race and population control. If you tried replacing "eugenics" with "tannery" or "volley", the sentences would lose all meaning. This clearly confirms that "eugenics" is the intended term for the phrase in the question.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, "Tannery", is a place where animal hides are processed into leather; it is an industrial term. Option C, "Volley", refers to a burst or sequence of things (like bullets, questions, or shots) that are discharged together, or to a particular way of hitting a ball in games. Option D, "Treak", is not a recognised standard word matching the phrase and appears incorrect in this context. None of these terms describes a scientific study of race, culture, and human development.
Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may hesitate to choose "eugenics" because they associate it with negative historical events and assume such a word cannot be the answer. However, vocabulary questions often refer to terms that are politically or ethically sensitive, precisely because educated readers must know them. The key is to focus on the definition given in the stem, not on whether you personally agree with the idea. Learning words like "eugenics" helps you better understand discussions of history and social policy.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is "Eugenics".
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