A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

According to Giddens, which type of society is characterized by hunting and gathering?

1. Industrial society

2. Pastoral society

3. Hunting-and-gathering society

4. Non-industrial civilization

The correct answer is: Hunting-and-gathering society

The correct answer reflects a society characterized specifically by its means of subsistence—hunting and gathering. In a hunting-and-gathering society, people rely on foraging for fruits, vegetables, and nuts, as well as hunting wild animals for food. This lifestyle is marked by a nomadic existence, where communities move frequently in search of food sources. Giddens emphasizes this form of societal organization as the earliest known type of human society, which contrasts sharply with industrial and pastoral societies. Industrial societies are characterized by technological advancements and a focus on manufacturing and production, while pastoral societies center around the herding and breeding of livestock. Non-industrial civilizations encompass a broader range that could include various forms of social organization, but hunting-and-gathering societies are distinctly defined by their reliance on natural resources for sustenance rather than on farming or industrial means.