Question 1

Why might A.garhi be a reasonable candidate for the direct ancestor of Homo?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is found in the right place, the right time, and has the right set of physical traits. 
B)  It is the only one of the australopithecines associated with tool use. 
C)  It has the most advanced suite of bipedal characteristics of any of the hominins. 
D)  It has the largest brain relative to body size of any of the australopithecines. 
A)  It is found in the right place, the right time, and has the right set of physical traits. 
B)  It is the only one of the australopithecines associated with tool use. 
C)  It has the most advanced suite of bipedal characteristics of any of the hominins. 
D)  It has the largest brain relative to body size of any of the australopithecines. A

Question 2

Which of the following features would you expect to find in any early Homo specimen?

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced size of the face, teeth, and jaw 
B)  a long, plate-like pelvis 
C)  short stature 
D)  comparatively equal length of the arms and legs 
A)  reduced size of the face, teeth, and jaw 
B)  a long, plate-like pelvis 
C)  short stature 
D)  comparatively equal length of the arms and legs A

Question 3

What purpose might the caches of stone tools and stones for toolmaking left at various sites in East Africa serve for the hominins who made them?

Accepted Answer

A)  They facilitated recurrent food collecting and processing at the site. 
B)  They were depositories of tools, which were used as a symbol of wealth. 
C)  They were religious offerings. 
D)  They were abandoned suddenly when the groups had to flee from predators. 
A)  They facilitated recurrent food collecting and processing at the site. 
B)  They were depositories of tools, which were used as a symbol of wealth. 
C)  They were religious offerings. 
D)  They were abandoned suddenly when the groups had to flee from predators. A

Question 4

How might you determine whether hominins were hunters or scavengers?

Accepted Answer

A)  investigate which marks were made first on animal bones-predator tooth marks, or stone tool cuts 
B)  use chemical analysis to determine whether or not hominins had regular meat in their diet 
C)  determine whether stone tools and animal remains in the same deposit have the same date 
D)  experiment with Oldowan-style tools to see if they are capable of butchering an animal 
A)  investigate which marks were made first on animal bones-predator tooth marks, or stone tool cuts 
B)  use chemical analysis to determine whether or not hominins had regular meat in their diet 
C)  determine whether stone tools and animal remains in the same deposit have the same date 
D)  experiment with Oldowan-style tools to see if they are capable of butchering an animal

Question 5

What makes Ardipithecus ramidus unique?

Accepted Answer

A)  It combined apelike dentition with bipedalism. 
B)  It had the modified pelvis and flattened face seen in much later hominin species. 
C)  It was massive, with body sizes much larger than a modern gorilla. 
D)  It was neither bipedal nor big-brained, but used tools. 
A)  It combined apelike dentition with bipedalism. 
B)  It had the modified pelvis and flattened face seen in much later hominin species. 
C)  It was massive, with body sizes much larger than a modern gorilla. 
D)  It was neither bipedal nor big-brained, but used tools.

Question 6

What is notable about the Homo erectus skull found at Dmanisi?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has some features that are reminiscent of Homo habilis. 
B)  It is much older than expected for Homo erectus. 
C)  It seems to be a hybrid of Homo erectus and Homo rudolfensis. 
D)  It is found much farther south than expected for Homo erectus. 
A)  It has some features that are reminiscent of Homo habilis. 
B)  It is much older than expected for Homo erectus. 
C)  It seems to be a hybrid of Homo erectus and Homo rudolfensis. 
D)  It is found much farther south than expected for Homo erectus.

Question 7

The earliest identifiable stone tools from East Africa date from about __________ million years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  2.5 
B)  4.5 
C)  3.5 
D)  5.5 
A)  2.5 
B)  4.5 
C)  3.5 
D)  5.5

Question 8

Identify three important trends in early hominin evolution,and describe the anatomical changes associated with each.

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should includ

Question 9

Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis important in understanding evolution? What evidence is missing that is required to identify the species as a true hominin?

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should includ

Question 10

Which of these is the most accurate depiction of early hominin evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  There were at least two lines of early hominins, one of which led to the genus Homo and the other of which went extinct. 
B)  There was only one dominant species of hominin, with a great deal of intra-specific variation. 
C)  There were at least four lines of early hominins, but they all became extinct long before the emergence of Homo. 
D)  There is very little consensus among paleoanthropologists about which features identify the true hominins. 
A)  There were at least two lines of early hominins, one of which led to the genus Homo and the other of which went extinct. 
B)  There was only one dominant species of hominin, with a great deal of intra-specific variation. 
C)  There were at least four lines of early hominins, but they all became extinct long before the emergence of Homo. 
D)  There is very little consensus among paleoanthropologists about which features identify the true hominins.

Question 11

What do we know about Lower Paleolithic culture? Describe the cultural life of a Homo erectus family.

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should includ

Question 12

The A.africanus fossil that Raymond Dart discovered was that of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a young child 
B)  an adult man 
C)  an old woman 
D)  a teenager 
A)  a young child 
B)  an adult man 
C)  an old woman 
D)  a teenager

Question 13

If a paleoanthropologist has discovered a bone-the lower back of the skull-what feature would she be able to examine?

Accepted Answer

A)  occipital torus 
B)  sagittal keel 
C)  postorbital constriction 
D)  foramen magnum 
A)  occipital torus 
B)  sagittal keel 
C)  postorbital constriction 
D)  foramen magnum

Question 14

How does sexual dimorphism compare between Homo erectus and other hominin species?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was about the same as in Homo sapiens. 
B)  It was greater than that found in Homo sapiens. 
C)  It was greater than that found in Homo habilis. 
D)  It was about the same as in Homo habilis. 
A)  It was about the same as in Homo sapiens. 
B)  It was greater than that found in Homo sapiens. 
C)  It was greater than that found in Homo habilis. 
D)  It was about the same as in Homo habilis.

Question 15

Homo erectus dates from __________ million years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  1.8 
B)  3.8 
C)  2.8 
D)  4.8 
A)  1.8 
B)  3.8 
C)  2.8 
D)  4.8

Question 16

Discuss how archaeologists know that something is a tool.What information can be determined from which methods? What areas of hominin lifestyles remain speculative?

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should includ

Question 17

One early tool of the Acheulian tradition is known as the hand axe.Scientists think the hand axe was mostly used for __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  butchering large animals 
B)  cutting down trees 
C)  digging trenches 
D)  artistic expression 
A)  butchering large animals 
B)  cutting down trees 
C)  digging trenches 
D)  artistic expression

Question 18

A fossil skeleton with a basin-shaped pelvis,a central foramen magnum,and arched feet would most likely be classified as a(n)__________.

Accepted Answer

A)  hominin 
B)  ape 
C)  monkey 
D)  prosimian 
A)  hominin 
B)  ape 
C)  monkey 
D)  prosimian

Question 19

According to Theodosius Dobzhansky,socialization and learning processes on which the transmission of culture wholly depends are tied to the length of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the dependency period of human infants 
B)  the average human life span 
C)  the growing season 
D)  gestation 
A)  the dependency period of human infants 
B)  the average human life span 
C)  the growing season 
D)  gestation

Question 20

Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis an unusual specimen?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was found outside Eastern or Southern Africa. 
B)  It is the most recently extinct hominin species. 
C)  It was fully bipedal but had no other hominin traits. 
D)  There was a fairly complete post-cranial skeleton, but no skull. 
A)  It was found outside Eastern or Southern Africa. 
B)  It is the most recently extinct hominin species. 
C)  It was fully bipedal but had no other hominin traits. 
D)  There was a fairly complete post-cranial skeleton, but no skull.

Why might A.garhi be a reasonable candidate for the direct ancestor of Homo?

Which of the following features would you expect to find in any early Homo specimen?

What purpose might the caches of stone tools and stones for toolmaking left at various sites in East Africa serve for the hominins who made them?

How might you determine whether hominins were hunters or scavengers?

What makes Ardipithecus ramidus unique?

What is notable about the Homo erectus skull found at Dmanisi?

The earliest identifiable stone tools from East Africa date from about __________ million years ago.

Identify three important trends in early hominin evolution,and describe the anatomical changes associated with each.

Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis important in understanding evolution? What evidence is missing that is required to identify the species as a true hominin?

Which of these is the most accurate depiction of early hominin evolution?

What do we know about Lower Paleolithic culture? Describe the cultural life of a Homo erectus family.

The A.africanus fossil that Raymond Dart discovered was that of __________.

If a paleoanthropologist has discovered a bone-the lower back of the skull-what feature would she be able to examine?

How does sexual dimorphism compare between Homo erectus and other hominin species?

Homo erectus dates from __________ million years ago.

Discuss how archaeologists know that something is a tool.What information can be determined from which methods? What areas of hominin lifestyles remain speculative?

One early tool of the Acheulian tradition is known as the hand axe.Scientists think the hand axe was mostly used for __________.

A fossil skeleton with a basin-shaped pelvis,a central foramen magnum,and arched feet would most likely be classified as a(n)__________.

According to Theodosius Dobzhansky,socialization and learning processes on which the transmission of culture wholly depends are tied to the length of __________.

Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis an unusual specimen?

What Is Anthropology?

Research Methods in Anthropology

Genetics and Evolution

Human Variation and Adaptation

Primates: Past and Present

The Emergence of Homo sapiens and the Upper Paleolithic World

Food Production and the Rise of States

Culture and Culture Change

Communication and Language

Economics

Social Stratification: Class, Ethnicity, and Racism

Sex and Gender

Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Political Life: Social Order and Disorder

Religion and Magic

The Arts

Global Problems

Practicing and Applying Anthropology

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Exam 6: The First Hominins and the Emergence of Homo

Why might A.garhi be a reasonable candidate for the direct ancestor of Homo?

Which of the following features would you expect to find in any early Homo specimen?

What purpose might the caches of stone tools and stones for toolmaking left at various sites in East Africa serve for the hominins who made them?

How might you determine whether hominins were hunters or scavengers?

What makes Ardipithecus ramidus unique?

What is notable about the Homo erectus skull found at Dmanisi?

The earliest identifiable stone tools from East Africa date from about __________ million years ago.

Identify three important trends in early hominin evolution,and describe the anatomical changes associated with each.

Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis important in understanding evolution? What evidence is missing that is required to identify the species as a true hominin?

Which of these is the most accurate depiction of early hominin evolution?

What do we know about Lower Paleolithic culture? Describe the cultural life of a Homo erectus family.

The A.africanus fossil that Raymond Dart discovered was that of __________.

If a paleoanthropologist has discovered a bone-the lower back of the skull-what feature would she be able to examine?

How does sexual dimorphism compare between Homo erectus and other hominin species?

Homo erectus dates from __________ million years ago.

Discuss how archaeologists know that something is a tool.What information can be determined from which methods? What areas of hominin lifestyles remain speculative?

One early tool of the Acheulian tradition is known as the hand axe.Scientists think the hand axe was mostly used for __________.

A fossil skeleton with a basin-shaped pelvis,a central foramen magnum,and arched feet would most likely be classified as a(n)__________.

According to Theodosius Dobzhansky,socialization and learning processes on which the transmission of culture wholly depends are tied to the length of __________.

Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis an unusual specimen?

What Is Anthropology?

Research Methods in Anthropology

Genetics and Evolution

Human Variation and Adaptation

Primates: Past and Present

The Emergence of Homo sapiens and the Upper Paleolithic World

Food Production and the Rise of States

Culture and Culture Change

Communication and Language

Economics

Social Stratification: Class, Ethnicity, and Racism

Sex and Gender

Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Political Life: Social Order and Disorder

Religion and Magic

The Arts

Global Problems

Practicing and Applying Anthropology

Filters