HSC Society and Culture Practice Exam 2026 - Free Society and Culture Practice Questions and Study Guide

Cultural adaptation refers to the process by which individuals or groups adjust to a new cultural environment while still retaining elements of their original culture. This concept highlights the dynamic interaction between the newly adopted cultural traits and the existing cultural identity of an individual or community.

In essence, cultural adaptation is about finding a balance between integrating into a new cultural context and preserving one’s unique cultural identity. This can involve adopting new practices, languages, and social norms of the new culture while still valuing and maintaining one's own traditions, beliefs, and practices.

The other options illustrate different concepts. Abandoning one's original culture implies a complete rejection of it, which does not characterize cultural adaptation. The outright rejection of all foreign influences suggests a resistance to change, contradicting the essence of adaptation, which involves some level of integration. Lastly, the ability to experience culture without change does not align with the concept of adaptation, as it implies a static interaction with culture rather than an evolving one.