Ethnicity is defined as a social division based on which factors?

• A. A physical trait
• B. National origin, religion, language, and often race
• C. Economic status
• D. Personal interests

Answer: (B)

Ethnicity refers to a group’s shared cultural heritage and identity that comes from common national origin, language, religion, and related cultural practices. These factors create a sense of belonging and a shared history that goes beyond how people look. Language helps pass down traditions, religion shapes common rituals and community life, and national origin links people to a common ancestry and homeland. Race often intersects with ethnicity in social life, so mentioning race acknowledges how societies sometimes categorize people by perceived racial traits as part of ethnic identity, even though ethnicity centers on culture and origin rather than biology alone.

A physical trait describes race, not ethnicity; economic status describes social class; personal interests are about individual activities, not group-based identity.