Arrange the following social units from the smallest/most specific to the largest/most inclusive grouping: 1) Caste 2) Family 3) Newly married couple 4) Clan 5) Species (human species as the broadest biological category) Select the order that best reflects increasing breadth.
-
A2, 3, 1. 4. 5
-
B3, 2, 1, 4, 5
-
C3, 4, 5, 1, 2
-
D4, 5, 3, 2, 1
-
ENone of these
Answer
Correct Answer: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Sequence-of-words problems often ask you to arrange entities by size, inclusiveness, or hierarchy. Here the items represent social/biological groupings. The task is to move from the narrowest unit to the broadest category logically and consistently.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- A newly married couple (3) is a dyad—two individuals.
- A family (2) is a household unit that includes the couple and possibly children/elders.
- Caste (1) is a larger social category spanning multiple families.
- Clan (4) is a broader lineage grouping that can encompass many families/castes depending on cultural definition; for exam logic it is placed broader than a single caste unit.
- Species (5) denotes the entire human species, the broadest category here.
Concept / Approach:We rank from smallest to largest by typical inclusiveness: individual dyad → household → socio-cultural grouping(s) → entire biological species. Where terms overlap in real anthropology, standardized exam convention still expects a clear progression from micro to macro.
Step-by-Step Solution:Smallest: 3 (Newly married couple).Next: 2 (Family) as the immediate larger unit.Then: 1 (Caste) as a wider social category of many families.Then: 4 (Clan) as an even broader lineage grouping.Largest: 5 (Species) encompassing all humans.Hence: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5.
Verification / Alternative check:Switching caste and clan can be debated culturally, but typical reasoning test keys place clan as equal or broader than caste to preserve a strict micro→macro chain ending at species.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- 2, 3, 1, 4, 5: Puts family before the couple; we want increasing scope from smallest upwards.
- 3, 4, 5, 1, 2 or 4, 5, 3, 2, 1: Break the logical nesting by mixing social and biological categories and misplacing the micro units.
- None of these: Not needed, as a valid micro→macro chain exists.
Common Pitfalls:Overthinking anthropological nuances or reversing micro units. Stick to exam-standard inclusiveness.
Final Answer:3, 2, 1, 4, 5