Ideas of Race is one of 8 topics in the Grade 11 History CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. What term describes the pseudo-science that proposed improving human populations through selective breeding, discouraging reproduction among those deemed "unfit"?
Eugenics
Social Darwinism
Genetics
Anthropology
Answer: Eugenics — Eugenics was the pseudo-science proposing selective breeding to "improve" human populations, discouraging or preventing reproduction among those deemed biologically "unfit."
Easy
2. What term describes the distorted, misapplied extension of Darwin's theory of evolution to claim certain "races" or social groups were destined to dominate others?
Social Darwinism
The Human Genome Project
Marxism-Leninism
The Enlightenment
Answer: Social Darwinism — Social Darwinism was a distorted, misapplied extension of Darwin's theory of natural selection, wrongly used to claim certain human "races" or social groups were naturally destined to dominate others.
Medium
3. Which English scientist is most closely associated with founding the pseudo-science of eugenics in the late 19th century?
Answer: Francis Galton — Francis Galton, an English scientist, is most closely associated with founding eugenics in the late nineteenth century.
