Question at position 38 As a sociological concept, race refers to a socially constructed category rooted in the belief that there are fundamental differences among humans associated with phenotype and ancestry.a set of distinct physical characteristics that form the basis for a scientific classification of human beings.the four clearly defined groups into which humans are categorized based on physical phenotype.cultural practices and outlooks, including language, history, ancestry, religion, and styles of dress or adornment that tend to set people apart.

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The question presents four answer choices about the sociological concept of race and asks which statement best reflects that definition.
Option 1: 'a socially constructed category rooted in the belief that there are fundamental differences among humans associated with phenotype and ancestry.' This captures the standard sociological understanding that race is not a fixed biological fact but a social construct built on perceived differences in appearance and lineage, which are used to categorize people.
Option 2: 'a set of distinct physical characteristics that form the basis for a scientific classification of human beings.' This describes a biological or essentialist view of race, implying that race is determined by objective, scientific criteria. In sociology, race is not accepted as a purely scientific taxonomic category because genetic variation within so-called racial groups often exceeds variation between them, and the concept is socially rather than biologically constructed.
Option 3: 'the four clearly defined groups into which humans are categorized based on physical phenotype.' This implies a rigid, universally accepted division into a small number of groups, which is inaccurate. Sociological concepts of race do not posit a fixed, universally agreed-upon quartet; racial categories vary across cultures and historical periods, and the idea of exactly four groups is not a general or accurate depiction.
Option 4: 'cultural practices and outlooks, including language, history, ancestry, religion, and styles of dress or adornment that tend to set people apart.' While culture can influence identity and how groups are perceived, this description aligns more with ethnicity than with race. Race, as defined sociologically, centers on perceived biological differences and social meaning assigned to those differences, not solely on culture or lifestyle.
In summary, the first option aligns with the sociological definition of race as a socially constructed category tied to perceived differences in phenotype and ancestry, while the remaining options reflect biological essentialism (Option 2), an oversimplified grouping (Option 3), or ethnicity/cultural markers rather than race (Option 4).

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