Explain cultural universals and cultural specifics.

• A. Universals are beliefs about the afterlife; specifics are language features.
• B. Universals are traits unique to all cultures; specifics are patterns shared across cultures.
• C. Universals are traits common to all cultures; specifics are patterns unique to particular cultures.
• D. Universals refer to material artifacts; specifics refer to dietary practices.

Answer: (C)

Universals are traits common to all cultures. They arise because humans share basic biology and social needs, so certain patterns show up across different societies—things like forming family units, teaching children the norms that help a group function, and using language and emotional expression in ways that facilitate communication and cooperation. Cultural specifics are the patterns that vary from one culture to another, the unique beliefs, practices, symbols, and daily ways people live out their lives. These specifics give each culture its distinctive flavor while the universals provide the underlying structure that many cultures share.

So, universals being traits common to all cultures and specifics being patterns unique to particular cultures is the best fit. The other options misplace what universals or specifics refer to: limiting universals to afterlife beliefs or to language features, or suggesting universals are unique to each culture, or focusing only on material artifacts or dietary practices.