Question 1

Phylogeny is important to the study of human evolution because:

Accepted Answer

All of the given options are correct and highlight the importance of phylogeny in understanding human evolution. By studying the evolutionary relationships between different species, including our closest living relatives, we can better understand the processes that led to changes in our anatomy and behavior over time. This, in turn, can help us make predictions about how our species may continue to evolve in the future.

Question 2

The absolute dating technique that emerged as a result of research into constructing the atomic bomb during World War II is:

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Question 3

Darwin had very few fossils to support his theory of evolution by means of natural selection when he published On the Origin of Species (1859).Why are fossils considered essential for the study of biological evolution?

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Question 4

Differentiate between absolute and relative dating techniques,giving one example of each.

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Question 5

In an excavation you notice that near the surface there are multiple strata in which you find the remains of multiple trilobites with the same type of exoskeleton.Beneath this is a layer where you see an individual with this type of exoskeleton in addition to many with a differing type of exoskeleton.Farther beneath this layer you find multiple strata containing the remains of trilobites with the second type of exoskeleton.This indicates which of the following?

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Question 6

Which of the following is NOT one of the main methods for reconstructing ancient environments?

Accepted Answer

Stable carbon isotope analysis, oxygen isotope analysis, and faunal analysis are all commonly used methods for reconstructing ancient environments. However, 40K/40Ar analysis is a dating method used to determine the age of lava flows and ash layers, rather than a method for reconstructing ancient environments.

Question 7

How has the "molecular clock" aided paleontologists in testing theories about the timing of significant evolutionary events?

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Question 8

The dating technique in which proteins are examined under high magnification using polarized light is:

Accepted Answer

The dating technique in which proteins are examined under high magnification using polarized light is amino acid dating.

Question 9

In a 1 ??1-meter excavation you find the remains of two human skeletons along with the antler of an antelope.How can you attempt to date these skeletons?

Accepted Answer

By researching the antler bone to find out which species it belongs to, you can use faunal dating to estimate the age of the skeletons. This method works by comparing the age of the animal bones found at the site to known ages of those species. This can provide a rough estimate of the age of the skeletons, which can then be corroborated with other dating methods if possible. The other options listed may not be as reliable for determining the age of the skeletons.

Question 10

While on a paleontological dig in the United Kingdom,you come across a completely preserved (including skin)extinct species of mammal within a bog.You note that for a mammal it is relatively hairless.In order to determine the adaptive significance of hairlessness,you must:

Accepted Answer

In order to determine the adaptive significance of hairlessness, it is important to understand the environment and climate of the time in which the extinct species lived. Collecting data that will help to reconstruct the environment will provide insight into why the species may have evolved to be hairless. Simply turning the find over to an expert on mammals or studying the closest extant relative may not provide the necessary information needed to determine the adaptive significance of hairlessness.

Question 11

Why is it critical that paleontologists reconstruct past environments to provide a complete picture of a particular lineage's evolution? Name one way in which paleontologists reconstruct paleoenvironments.

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Question 12

The time it takes for 50% of an unstable isotope to decay to a stable form is called the:

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the time it takes for 50% of an unstable isotope to decay to a stable form is called the half-life.

Question 13

How might living organisms' evolution have been affected by the movement of landmasses over time (plate tectonics)?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Electron spin resonance dating would be most useful in attempting to date which object?

Accepted Answer

Electron spin resonance dating is a method used to date fossils, particularly those with teeth or bones, by measuring radiation-induced electrons in the minerals within them. Therefore, the most suitable object for ESR dating would be a fossilized tooth. The other options, such as an ancient stone artifact, an old lava flow, and a limestone cave deposit, are better suited for other dating techniques, such as radiocarbon dating, potassium-argon dating, and uranium-series dating, respectively.

Question 15

At a site in the American Southwest,you find only a single ceramic pot in association with an individual within a burial.You can use the pot to date the burial based on:

Accepted Answer

The presence of a single ceramic pot in association with a burial suggests that it was a part of the funerary ritual of the culture that buried the individual. Based on the style and decoration of the pot, it may be possible to identify the culture and time period it belongs to, thus providing a cultural dating for the burial. The other options are not viable for dating the burial based on a single pot.

Quiz 8: Fossils and Their Place in Time and Nature