Question

give three specific examples of how life in los alamos was not "primitive" as one might have expected

Answer 1

One example is that they had a school. In 1943, they established a school with 16 teachers and 12 grades in order to educate the children that lived there with their families because they understood how important education was. This was one sign that they weren't primitive because primitive societies don't have schools.

Another example is that they had a democratic governmental system in their small community. They formed a town council where they picked members through a popular vote and this council served as advisers to the community administration. This also doesn't appear that often in primitive communities which are mostly autocratic.

Third can be that they created over 30 recreational and cultural facilities during the years with the purpose of satisfying the needs of  the community. They could use it in their free time or apply for courses and educate themselves more or could work out or practice a sport or do anything similar that contemporary societies do.