An accurate view of race today is that it is

• A. A well-defined biological category
• B. A biological myth based on social ideas
• C. An objective measure of difference
• D. A fixed taxonomy

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that race is a social construct rather than a precise biological reality. Scientific evidence shows that human genetic variation does not fall into clean, discrete racial boxes. In fact, most genetic differences are shared across populations, and variation within any so‑called race is often greater than variation between races. Traits commonly used to define race, such as skin color, reflect a small slice of the genome and do not map onto clear, separate biological lineages. Because classifications of race have varied across cultures and historical periods and are shaped by social and political forces, they are not fixed or objectively measurable in biology. So an accurate view today is that race is a biological myth grounded in social ideas, with real social consequences, rather than a well-defined, objective, or fixed biological taxonomy.