_____ refers to a group whose inherited physical characteristics distinguish it from other groups.

• A. Ethnicity
• B. Culture
• C. Race
• D. Nation

Answer: (C)

This item focuses on categorizing groups by inherited physical traits that people can recognize. The term that best fits is race, which describes a group distinguished in part by physical characteristics passed down through generations. In sociology, race is understood as a social category that has real social effects, even though biological variation isn’t neatly divided into discrete races. Ethnicity centers on culture, language, and shared ancestry rather than physical features. Culture refers to beliefs, practices, and norms, while a nation is a political or geographic community. So the descriptor that captures a group defined by inherited physical traits is race.