Deck 6: The Living Primates

Question 1

Which of the following in NOT a prosimian?

A) lemurs
B) tarsiers
C) lorises
D) chimpanzees

Answer 1

chimpanzees

Question 2

Most primate males have

A) a pendulous penis.
B) an attached penis.
C) no penis.
D) a retractable penis.

Answer 2

a pendulous penis.

Question 3

Anthropologists study primates primarily to understand the behavior and evolution of the

A) howler monkey.
B) bonobo.
C) orangutan.
D) human primate.

Answer 3

human primate.

Question 4

The prosimians resemble other mammals _________ the anthropoid primates do.

A) less than
B) the same as
C) more than
D) The prosimians don't resemble other mammals at all.

Question 5

Compared with other primates, the human dependency period is much ________.

A) longer
B) shorter
C) about the same
D) Humans have no dependency period.

Question 6

Primatology is the study of

A) insects.
B) plants.
C) stars.
D) primates.

Question 7

Differing adaptations of living primates may suggest why certain ___________ occurred.

A) convergences
B) divergences
C) subversions
D) inversions

Question 8

The largest of the surviving apes are

A) gorillas.
B) chimpanzees.
C) gibbons.
D) orangutans.

Question 9

The order Primates is usually subdivided into two suborders: the prosimians and the

A) humans.
B) ceboids.
C) anthropoids.
D) catarrhines.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is NOT true of gibbons and siamangs?

A) They mate for life.
B) They are brachiators.
C) There is great sexual dimorphism.
D) They live in small family groups.

Question 11

Which of the following traits do most primates NOT share?

A) warm blooded
B) two bones in the lower portion of the hind limbs
C) long period of dependence of the young
D) monoscopic vision

Question 12

Anthropoids include all of the following except _________.

A) monkeys
B) apes
C) lorises
D) humans

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a hominoid characteristic?

A) relatively large brains
B) a tail
C) fairly large arms
D) longer and stronger hands than other primates

Question 14

The Y-5 pattern of hominids refers to

A) expanded cerebral cortex capacity.
B) lower cuspids have five cusps with a Y shaped groove.
C) bipedalism.
D) all of the above

Question 15

The hominoid group contains all of the following families except __________.

A) hylobates
B) pongids
C) cercopithecines
D) hominids

Question 16

Harry Harlow's experiments strongly suggest that mothering is

A) purely instinctive.
B) more than instinctive.
C) totally learned behavior.
D) genetic.

Question 17

Which is NOT a characteristic of New World monkeys?

A) three premolars
B) arboreal
C) two premolars
D) prehensile tail

Question 18

Fossil evidence, together with anatomical and behavioral evidence, may help us understand what early __________ were like.

A) dinosaurs
B) mammals
C) primates
D) rats

Question 19

Females of most primate species have ________ nipples on their chest.

A) two
B) many
C) three
D) no

Question 20

Harry Harlow's experiments demonstrated that play is

A) important in the development of young monkeys.
B) frivolous.
C) harmless.
D) harmful.

Question 21

As with humans, other primates need play time to help develop normally. This is because play

A) is important for learning.
B) provides a way to learn social skills.
C) teaches them status positions.
D) all of the above.

Question 22

List and discuss the importance of the major hominid behavioral traits.

Question 23

Compare the similarities and differences between the hylobates and pongids.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a behavioral ability of hominids?

A) tool making
B) language
C) gender-role specialization
D) being arboreal

Question 25

A much greater proportion of hominid behavior is learned and culturally patterned because

A) hominids are not very inventive.
B) hominids avoid social contact.
C) hominids have a greater capacity to learn.
D) hominids actually care little for culture.

Question 26

One major difference between hominids and almost all other primates is

A) total equality of labor between genders.
B) a division of labor by gender.
C) far less aggressiveness.
D) none of the above.

Question 27

Primatologists are most interested in _________ brain size.

A) absolute
B) relative
C) infinite
D) pongid

Question 28

Primates have a fairly long dependency period which allows them

A) more time to observe and learn complex behaviors essential to survival.
B) few options for their self-care.
C) to grow old around their parents.
D) very little chance for growth and development.

Question 29

Hominid females can have sex

A) only when they are likely to conceive.
B) at any time during the year.
C) when the moon is blue.
D) when the moon is full.

Question 30

List and discuss the importance of the major hominid physical traits.

Question 31

Explain the reasons for primate variability.

Question 32

Hominids have a division of labor by

A) size of males.
B) birth order.
C) gender.
D) intelligence.

Question 33

Hominids are distinguished from other primates by

A) a lack of intellectual thought.
B) consistent erect walking on two feet.
C) the inability to plan ahead.
D) the inability to make tools.

Question 34

Only modern humans have spoken, symbolic language because

A) of the size of our brains and the presence of vocal cords.
B) other primates have no ability to communicate.
C) other primates do not have the ability to vocalize in the wild.
D) other primates have no rules of grammar.

Question 35

Regarding the primate brain, primatologists are not just interested in the size of the brain but are more interested in

A) how old the primate is.
B) how the primte was raised.
C) the relative brain size, or ratio of brain size to body size.
D) how often any particular species is studied.

Question 36

What is an important factor that might account for different sizes of primate groups?

A) nocturnal activity.
B) amount and density of food.
C) competition over resources.
D) all of the above.

Question 37

Compare the New and Old World monkeys. What is the significance of their differences?

Question 38

There are three main factors which influence body size of primates. They are

A) time of day species is active, where it is active, and the kinds of foods eaten.
B) time of day species is active, where it is active, and time of year it was born.
C) time of day species is active, the kinds of foods eaten, and how much is eaten.
D) where it is active, the kinds of foods eaten, and how much is eaten.

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a distinct hominid trait?

A) consistently walks erect
B) dish-shaped pelvis
C) straight lower limbs
D) prehensile feet

Question 40

What is the importance of the differences between prosimians and other primates?

Question 41

What is the importance of the varying dependency periods for different primates?

Question 42

List the major social features of primates. Discuss the significance of these features.

Question 43

Skeletal and dentition similarities of hominoids point to a common ancestry. Explain this statement. Discuss its significance.

Question 44

The purpose of Chapter 4 is to aid in understanding more about humans through studying primates. What are some of the areas of this study that you find most helpful in understanding humans?