Which universal exists in all cultures and is used to solve the same problems?

• A. Functional universal.
• B. Existential universal.
• C. Accessibility universal.
• D. Non-universal.

Answer: (A)

Functional universal means a feature or practice that appears in every culture because it serves to solve the same kinds of problems humans face. Across cultures, people need to cooperate, regulate reproduction, care for offspring, share resources, and coordinate group life. The specific forms these solutions take differ—from family structures to social norms—yet the underlying problems and the need for a common solution are the same, so the functional universal emerges in every culture. By contrast, an existential universal would exist everywhere but not necessarily for the same reasons or functions, and an accessibility universal concerns what people have access to rather than solving similar problems. A non-universal simply isn’t present in all cultures.