Deck 30: Human Evolution

Question 1

Most researchers believed that modern humans evolved from

A) Australopithecus afarensis.
B) Australopithecus africanus.
C) Proconsul.
D) Homo ergaster.
E) Homo erectus.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The earliest fossils of archaic humans known to have produced tools are

A) Homo ergaster.
B) Australopithecus.
C) Proconsul.
D) Homo habilis.
E) Homo erectus.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Modern humans are

A) hominoids.
B) hominids.
C) anthropoids.
D) primates.
E) All of the choices apply to humans.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The early evolution of higher apes and early ancestors of modern humans most closely resembles

A) a straight-line vine with one main trunk and many unsuccessful short branches, with only one or two forms coexisting at any one time.
B) two main trunks leading to apes or humans, and where each newly advanced species of Homo immediately eliminated any coexisting hominids.
C) a many-branched tree with all modern forms extending back relatively unchanged until reaching the common "missing link" at an origin about 33 million years ago.
D) a complex bush with many branches and perhaps as many as ten species of hominins 2 million years ago.
E) two streams, Australopithecus and Homo, that merge into one lineage leading to humans.

Question 5

What were the tools of Cro-Magnon man made from?

A) stone
B) metal
C) wood
D) wood that had been hardened in a fire to increase it's strength
E) No answer choice is correct.

Question 6

The main features that place Homo habilis in the genus Homo rather than Australopithecus are

A) human facial appearance and lack of hair.
B) advanced use of language and total carnivorous diet.
C) brain size, dentition, and tool use.
D) care of young and altruistic behavior.
E) hand grip, extensive use of tools, and house-building.

Question 7

Prosimians include

A) lemurs.
B) baboons.
C) gibbons.
D) All of the answer choices are correct.
E) No answer choice is correct.

Question 8

Which of the following statements best describes the replacement model for the evolution of early humans?

A) Modern humans evolved from archaic humans in Africa and then migrated to Asia and Europe.
B) Modern humans evolved from archaic humans in Africa, Asia and Europe simultaneously.
C) Modern humans evolved from archaic humans in Asia and then migrated to Africa and Europe.
D) Modern humans evolved from Neanderthals in Europe and then migrated to Asia.
E) Modern humans evolved from apes in Africa and then migrated to Asia and Europe.

Question 9

What geographic region does the "Replacement Model" propose that modern humans arose in?

A) Africa
B) Asia
C) Europe
D) Africa, Asia and Europe simultaneously
E) None of these choices.

Question 10

The evolutionary trends in primates include all of the following EXCEPT

A) mobile limbs.
B) stereoscopic vision.
C) a rounded, protruding face.
D) large, complex brain.
E) reduced reproductive rate.

Question 11

Which of the following is not an anthropoid?

A) chimpanzee
B) human
C) New World monkey
D) lemur

Question 12

The fossil called Lucy is a member of the species __________ that lived over 3 million years ago.

A) Australopithecus afarensis
B) Australopithecus africanus
C) Proconsul
D) Homo habilis
E) Homo erectus

Question 13

The probable transitional link between the hominoids and the monkeys is

A) Australopithecus afarensis.
B) Australopithecus africanus.
C) Proconsul.
D) Homo habilis.
E) Homo erectus.

Question 14

The stone tools and the dentition of Homo habilis indicate that early humans were

A) strictly herbivores.
B) strictly carnivores.
C) strictly scavengers.
D) omnivores that could either scavenge or hunt for meat.

Question 15

It is proposed that Cro-Magnons were responsible for the extinction of many large mammals during the Pleistocene epoch. How could this feat have been accomplished?

A) Cro-Magnon man had an increase in tool technology that enabled them to kill animals from a distance.
B) Cro-Magnon man was the first species of hominid to use fire. This would have increased their success during hunting.
C) Cro-Magnon man was the most efficient bipedal species. They would have been able to run after prey species more efficiently than any of their predecessors.
D) Cro-Magnon man was the first species of hominids to hunt in groups. This would have increased their chance of killing larger animals.

Question 16

People often refer to chimpanzees as monkeys. What characteristic(s) do chimpanzees lack that monkeys have?

A) a tail
B) protruding noses
C) nails
D) binocular vision

Question 17

What are the advantages of bipedalism?

A) Allows the hands to be free for tool use.
B) Enables an adult to carry an offspring easier.
C) Would have allowed males to forage for food more efficiently.
D) Would allow the individual to spot danger further away.
E) All of these are advantages of bipedalism.

Question 18

All of the following are characteristics of primates EXCEPT the

A) five long dexterous digits on hands and feet.
B) three-dimensional binocular vision.
C) well-developed brain.
D) opposable thumb.
E) rapid postnatal maturation.

Question 19

Which of the following species, in the human evolutionary line, are believed to have been bipedal but still spent time living in the trees?

A) Australopithecus afarensis
B) Homo habilis
C) Ardipithecus ramidus
D) Australopithecus africanus
E) Dryopithecus

Question 20

Mistakenly, it is sometimes said that "man comes from monkeys." A more correct way to explain the apparent sequence of human evolution is

A) monkeys have evolved less than humans.
B) humans and monkeys share a common ancestor.
C) humans and monkeys are biologically identical.
D) evolution leads toward more perfect forms and humans therefore came after modern monkeys.

Question 21

All hominoids walk upright.

Question 22

The reduced reproductive rate in primate evolution involves

A) a reduction in the number of offspring.
B) extended life spans.
C) lengthy gestation periods with one birth at a time.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 23

Which features enabled Homo erectus to be successful in Asia?

A) They were able to control fire.
B) They were able to incorporate meat into their diet.
C) Higher degree of intellectual abilities.
D) All of these made Homo erectus succesful.

Question 24

The most widely accepted model for the evolution of modern humans is pictured here. What is this model called?

A) Out-of-Africa
B) Replacement Model
C) Multiregional continuity
D) Hardy-Weinberg
E) Out-of-Africa and Replacement Model

Question 25

Australopithecines were apelike above the waist and humanoid below the waist. This is an example of

A) quadripedalism.
B) mosaic evolution.
C) multiregional continuity.
D) None of the choices are correct.

Question 26

On the phylogenetic tree of primate evolution, where do you find the first primates to diverge from the common ancestor of the primates?

A) No. 1
B) No. 4
C) No. 5
D) No. 6
E) No. 7

Question 27

The evolution of genus Homo began about

A) 4.6 BYA (billion years ago).
B) 7 MYA (million years ago).
C) 2.0 MYA (million years ago).
D) 55 MYA (million years ago).

Question 28

Explain how mitochondrial DNA studies of Africans and Europeans support the replacement model for the evolution of modern humans.

Question 29

Which species of Homo is most closely related to the Australopithecines?

A) erectus
B) habilis
C) sapiens
D) ergaster

Question 30

Which species is believed to have been the first ones to develop stone tool technology?

A) Homo erectus
B) Homo habilis
C) Cro-Magnon man
D) Neanderthal man

Question 31

A major development in the evolution of primates is stereoscopic vision. This development is associated with

A) a decline in the importance of smell.
B) eyes in front of the head.
C) a binocular field of vision.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 32

Where on this phylogenetic tree of primate evolution do you find evolution of the hominines?201

A) No. 1
B) No. 2
C) No. 3
D) No. 4
E) No. 5

Question 33

Explain how mitochondrial DNA studies of Africans and Europeans support the replacement model for the evolution of modern humans.

A) a fossil must have an anatomy consistent with standing erect and bipedalism.
B) the individual would have a broader pelvis and hip joint to prevent swaying when walking.
C) the individual would have an arch instead of an opposable toe.
D) All of the choices are qualifications.

Question 34

The most widely accepted model for the evolution of modern humans is pictured here. What is this model called?

Question 35

The proposed advantages of bipedalism, which characterizes hominin evolution, include making it easier to

A) collect food from overhead.
B) travel and move about.
C) carry food back to their camp or their young.
D) carry their young from place to place.
E) All of these are correct.

Question 36

Where on this phylogenetic tree of primate evolution do you find evolution of the anthropoids?13

A) No. 2
B) No. 6
C) No. 5
D) No. 4
E) No. 3

Question 37

A shortened snout and a relatively flat face are associated with

A) a decline in the importance of vision and an increase in reliance on smell.
B) bilateral symmetry and aquatic reproduction.
C) a decline in the importance of smell and an increase in reliance on vision.
D) a terrestrial life style.

Question 38

Where on this phylogenetic tree of primate evolution do you find the evolution of humans and species very closely related to humans?1

A) No. 1
B) No. 2
C) No. 3
D) No. 4
E) No. 5

Question 39

Fossils are considered to belong to the genus Homo if which of the following is true?

A) The brain size is 600cc or larger.
B) The jaw and teeth are human like.
C) Tool use is evident.
D) All of the choices are characteristics of this group

Question 40

What were the major disadvantages of our early ancestors becoming bipedal?

A) Lower back problems developed.
B) Increased predation by faster predators.
C) Decrease in speed and mobility.
D) Decreased protection of the abdominal region.

Question 41

Which two species are believed to have evolved from Homo ergaster?

A) Homo erectus & Homo floresiensis
B) Homo erectus & Homo rudolfensis
C) Homo rudolfensis & Homo floresiensis
D) Homo habilis & Cro Magnon man

Question 42

Which group of primates has the closest evolutionary relatedness to the lemurs?

A) Tarsiers
B) Gibbons
C) Gorillas
D) Old World Monkeys
E) Chimpanzees

Question 43

Apes walk on their feet and knuckles, which have opposable thumbs and big toes, like the ancestral form from which apes and humans evolved.

Question 44

All primates have thumbs, but only Old World monkeys, great apes, and humans have truly opposable thumbs.

Question 45

Which species shows the first solid evidence of bipedalism?

A) Ardipithecus ramidus
B) Sahelanthropus tchadensis
C) Homo habilis
D) Australopithecus afarensis

Question 46

Old World monkeys have a prehensile tail and a flattened nose.

Question 47

Identify which of the following scenarios is most probable for the evolution of members of genus Homo.

A) Australopithecus afarensis gave rise to Homo habilis who gave rise to Homo ergaster who gave rise to Homo erectus
B) Australopithecus afarensis gave rise to Homo erectus who gave rise to Homo ergaster who gave rise to Homo habilis
C) Ardipithecus ramidis gave rise to Homo habilis who gave rise to Homo ergaster who gave rise to Homo erectus
D) Australopithecus afarensis gave rise to Homo habilis who gave rise to Homo sapiens who gave rise to Homo erectus

Question 48

Explain the features that would have enabled Homo ergaster to have migrated out of Africa.

Question 49

Explain how becoming a more bipedal organism increased the chances of survival among the genus Homo.

Question 50

Which European species is believed to have evolved from Homo ergaster?

A) Homo heidelbergensis
B) Homo erectus
C) Homo floresiensis
D) Homo sapiens
E) Australopithecus africanus

Question 51

In what order did these organisms diverge from the lineage of the common ancestral primate?

A) H. neandertalensis, H. ergaster, H. habilis, gorillas and chimpanzees, hominins
B) prosimians, monkeys, gibbons, orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees, hominins
C) monkeys, gibbons, prosimians, orangutans, H. habilis, H. ergaster, humans
D) gibbons, lemurs, tarsiers, H. habilis, monkeys, H. neandertalensis, hominins

Question 52

Where on this phylogenetic tree of primate evolution do you find evolution of the hominids?

A) No. 1
B) No. 2
C) No. 3
D) No. 4
E) No. 5