Deck 11: Early Hominins

Question 1

The Toumai fossil, or Sahelanthropus tchadensis was discovered in __________.

A) Chad
B) Mali
C) Ethiopia
D) Tanzania

Answer 1

Chad

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a feature of a hominin classification system?

A) it is based on genetic rather than morphological data
B) it shows modern humans and chimpanzees to be more closely related to each other than either are to gorillas
C) it has become less popular over the last two decades
D) it separates gorillas and orangutans into separate families

Answer 2

it has become less popular over the last two decades

Question 3

The reduction or loss of cranial crests in hominin species represents __________

A) the need for greater room for muscles associated with chewing
B) the de-emphasis on protection for the cranial case
C) a de-emphasis on chewing as well as a greater emphasis on brain size expansion.
D) a reduction in the size of neck muscles associated with quadrupedalism

Answer 3

a de-emphasis on chewing as well as a greater emphasis on brain size expansion.

Question 4

__________. is a tooth array in which different teeth have different forms and functions.

A) Homodont
B) Multidental
C) Parabolic dentition
D) Heterodont

Question 5

The sectorial premolar complex can be used to __________.

A) determine the diet of a primate
B) determine the age of primate fossils
C) differentiate between hominins and apes
D) differentiate between the sexes in hominin species

Question 6

Throughout hominin evolution over time __________

A) brain size and facial size vary between larger and smaller
B) facial size decreases while brain size long remains constant
C) brain size increases while facial size long remains constant
D) brain size increases while facial size decreases

Question 7

The majority of the fossil evidence of the earliest hominins has come from __________.

A) the Congo Basin in Central Africa
B) the Great Rift Valley of East Africa
C) sub-Saharan regions in Chad and Niger
D) South African caves

Question 8

The site where Toumai was found was __________.

A) a heavily forested tropical area
B) an open semi-arid area
C) an area of rolling grassland
D) a dry, lightly forested area near a lakeshore

Question 9

The tooth enamel of apes is __________ compared to that of hominins.

A) thinner
B) thicker
C) chemically distinct
D) ridged

Question 10

Molecular evidence suggests that the first signs of homininization should appear __________.

A) in the late Miocene
B) in the late Pliocene
C) in the early Holocene
D) in the early Pleistocene

Question 11

The footprints at Laetoli in Tanzania date to about __________.

A) 1.5 million years ago
B) 3.6 million years ago
C) 2 million years ago
D) 4 million years ago

Question 12

Australopithecines show __________.

A) no reduction of the canine, but partial reduction of the diastema
B) an essentially ape-like dentition
C) some reduction of the canine and partial reduction or absence of the diastema
D) some reduction of the canine, but an ape-like diastema

Question 13

The Toumai fossil is estimated to be __________.

A) between 3.5 million and 4 million years old
B) approximately 9 million years old
C) between 5.2 million and 7 million years old
D) approximately 8 million years old

Question 14

The __________ is a space in the tooth row that allows the canine of the lower jaw to slide past the third premolar in apes and early hominins.

A) maxilla
B) mandible
C) diastema
D) double cusp

Question 15

Fossil hominins can be recognized by __________.

A) bipedal characteristics and greatly reduced facial prognathism
B) Increases in the size of the CP3 complex along with a U-shaped dental arcade
C) bipedal characteristics, reduced canine and CP3 complex size and palate shape
D) increased cranial size as well as bipedal characteristics

Question 16

The Great Rift Valley is the result of __________.

A) ancient floods
B) river erosion
C) volcanic eruptions
D) tectonic activity

Question 17

In hominins the anterior teeth are __________ compared to those of apes.

A) smaller
B) sharper
C) larger
D) similar

Question 18

The dental arcade of modern humans is __________, while that of apes is__________.

A) U-shaped/ curved
B) larger/ smaller
C) prognathic/ curved
D) curved/ U-shaped

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a reason why the earliest hominin species has not been identified?

A) The fossil record for hominins between 10 and 6 million years ago is poorly represented
B) no hominin finds date from the period from 7 to 4.4 million years ago
C) hominin fossils from the late Miocene are very fragmentary and show only slight differences from apes
D) there are several possible candidates still under analysis

Question 20

In apes the sectorial premolar has one cusp, while in hominins it has two cusps.

Question 21

At present the most likely candidate for the stem hominin is __________.

A) Australopithecus anamensis
B) Orrorin tugenensis
C) Ardipithecus ramidus
D) Sahelanthropus tchadensis

Question 22

The only two species of early hominin known from western Africa are __________.

A) Australopithecus afarensis and Ardipithecus ramidus
B) Orrorin tugenensis and Sahelanthropus tchadensis
C) Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Austrolapithecus bahrelghazali
D) Australopithecus africanus and Ardipithecus ramidus

Question 23

The famous fossil specimen "Lucy" is a representative of which Australopithecine species?

A) anamensis
B) afarensis
C) africanus
D) garhi

Question 24

The early hominin that has so far been best represented by fossil discoveries is __________.

A) Australopithecus garhi
B) Australopithecus afarensis
C) Ardipithecus kadabba
D) Australopithecus boisei

Question 25

Australopithecus anamensis is more ape-like than other australopithecines because of __________.

A) its smaller size
B) its longer arms and numerous adaptations for brachiation
C) its ape-like dentition
D) its transitional bipedal adaptations

Question 26

Although accomplished as a biped, certain feature such as curved phalanges in the toes and fingers suggest that Australopithecus afarensis __________.

A) may have been partially arboreal
B) could have had difficulty walking
C) were also accomplished brachiators
D) could swim quite well

Question 27

The earliest definite biped currently known is __________.

A) Australopithecus afarensis
B) Ardipithecus ramidus
C) Australopithecus robustus
D) Australopithecus anamensis

Question 28

Australopithecus anamensis is known to have existed __________.

A) 4.2 to 3.9 mya
B) 3.4 to 3 mya
C) 4.5 to 3 mya
D) 4 to 2.5 mya

Question 29

Orrorin tugenensis dates to approximately __________ and was discovered in __________.

A) 5 mya, Tanzania
B) 6 mya, Kenya
C) 4.6 mya; South Africa
D) 6.8 mya, Ethiopia

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT true of the genus Australopithecus?

A) the genus represents an adaptive radiation that covers southern, central and western Africa
B) there are questions about whether the genus should be included in the hominin group
C) the genus lived from around 4.2 milliom to 1 million years ago
D) the first specimen of the genus was found by Raymond Dart in the 1920s

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a feature of Australopithecus afarensis' dentition?

A) a U-shaped dental arcade
B) a CP3 honing complex
C) thick enamel
D) reduced canine size

Question 32

Lucy was discovered by Donald Johanson at Hadar, in the Awash Valley of __________ in 1974.

A) Kenya
B) Tanzania
C) South Africa
D) Ethiopia

Question 33

The footprints at Laetoli were made by __________.

A) Australopithecus africanus
B) Australopithecus afarensis
C) Australopithecus robustus
D) Australopithecus boisei

Question 34

Martin Pickford and Brigitte Senut have claimed Orrorin tugensis to be a biped based __________.

A) on a nearly complete pelvis
B) tarsal and metatarsal fragments
C) femoral fragments
D) cranial fragments

Question 35

Australopithecus afarensis lived from __________.

A) 4.2 to 3.5 mya
B) 5.1 to 4.5 mya
C) 3.9 to 2.9 mya
D) 3.2 to 2.5 mya

Question 36

The cranial capacity range for Australopithecus afarensis is __________.

A) 400-650 cc
B) 350-500 cc
C) 320-450 cc
D) 500-650 cc

Question 37

Ardipithecus ramidus and Ardipithecus kadabba have defied expectations about early hominins because __________.

A) both lived in densely forested environments
B) each shows evidence of a highly developed bipedal physiology
C) both are far larger than typical Miocene primates
D) neither shows evidence for increased cranial capacity

Question 38

With respect to cranial capacity and dentition Australopithecus afarensis may be considered __________.

A) far more apelike than human
B) intermediate between living apes and modern humans
C) more human than apelike
D) completely distinct from both living apes and modern humans

Question 39

The _________ is a bony crest running lengthwise down the center of the cranium on the parietal bones for the attachment of the temporalis muscles.

A) compound temporonucha crest
B) temporalis maxilis
C) mandibular attachment
D) sagittal crest

Question 40

Lucy is significant because __________.

A) of her surprisingly small brain size
B) the very early date of the specimen
C) the very complete nature of the skeleton
D) it is the sole representative of the afarensis species

Question 41

The other animals at Au. africanus sites suggest that these hominins were living in __________.

A) water
B) open plains
C) mountainous terrain
D) open woodlands

Question 42

__________ is a cement-like matrix of fossilized rock and bone.

A) Slag
B) Granite
C) Breccia
D) Basalt

Question 43

The oldest known stone tools come from Bouri and Gona, Ethiopia and date to about __________.

A) 3 million years ago
B) 2.5 million years ago
C) 2 million years ago
D) 1.7 million years ago

Question 44

Because of their anatomical features, robust australopithecines are considered to be __________.

A) much more aggressive than gracile australopithecines
B) meat eaters
C) an evolutionary dead end
D) more social than gracile australopithecines

Question 45

In eastern Africa fossil finds are often dated using __________ dating techniques, while in southern Africa fossils are usually dated using __________ techniques.

A) absolute, relative
B) relative, absolute
C) radiocarbon, type-analysis
D) seriation, absolute

Question 46

The Taung child was identified by __________.

A) Mary Leakey
B) Richard Leakey
C) Donald Johanson
D) Raymond Dart

Question 47

Australopithecus afarensis shows ___________ sexual dimorphism.

A) little
B) no
C) extreme
D) average

Question 48

Robust australopithecines exhibit a group of adaptations that indicate they were specialized for __________.

A) defending themselves against predators
B) hard object feeding
C) carrying large loads over distances
D) hunting small to medium sized animals

Question 49

Based on stratigraphic association the hominin associated with the earliest stone tools is __________.

A) Australopithecus garhi
B) Kenyanthropus platyops
C) Australopithecus afarensis
D) Australopithecus africanus

Question 50

The Taung child belongs to which hominin species?

A) Australopithecus afarensis
B) Australopithecus africanus
C) Australopithecus bahrelghazali
D) Homo erectus

Question 51

The high degree of sexual dimorphism in A. afarensis suggests __________.

A) that individuals of the species lived alone
B) that the species was monogamous
C) that the social group was comprised of a nuclear family
D) that the species was not monogamous

Question 52

Australopithecus africanus has been found throughout __________.

A) central Africa
B) southern Africa
C) eastern Africa
D) western Africa

Question 53

Most Australopithecus africanus finds have been dated to between __________.

A) 4.3 to 3.5 mya
B) 3 to 1.5 mya
C) 3.5 to 2.4 mya
D) 4 to 1.2 mya

Question 54

In an article in the British science journal Nature, Dart argued that Taung was a hominin, based on __________.

A) its generalized teeth
B) the broad and short iliac blade of the pelvis
C) the position of the foramen magnum
D) the funnel-shaped thorax

Question 55

The response of the British scientific establishment to Dart's argument regarding Piltdown Man and Taung was generally supportive.

Question 56

Most hominin fossil finds in southern Africa come from caves because __________.

A) hominins in southern Africa tended to live in caves
B) predators often dragged hominins they had killed into caves
C) hominins bones fell into caves through holes in the ceiling
D) hominins seemed to have crawled into caves to die

Question 57

The Kenyanthropus platyops find at Lake Turkana, Kenya, while still debated, could mean __________.

A) that the early hominin line is a complex one, represented by multiple species
B) that the early hominin line's membership is well understood
C) that Australopithecus is not in fact a hominin
D) that the hominin line is more clearly linear than previously thought

Question 58

Habitat reconstructions at A. afarensis sites suggest __________.

A) these hominins lived in open savannas
B) these hominins lived in marshy areas
C) these hominins lived in forests
D) these hominins lived in brushy regions

Question 59

A. africanus is considered to be more derived than A. afarensis for all the following reasons EXCEPT __________.

A) A. africanus has a cranial capacity of 450-550 cc
B) A. africanus lacks cranial crests
C) A. africanus shows greater facial prognathism
D) A. africanus has small anterior teeth

Question 60

In order to accommodate massive jaw muscles robust australopithecines have flared __________.

A) sagittal crests
B) mandibles
C) brow ridges
D) zygomatic arches

Question 61

Based on hand anatomy, robust australopithecines may have __________.

A) never used tools
B) been among the earliest makers of stone tools
C) been limited to using natural objects as tools
D) been clumsier tool makers than contemporary gracile australopithecines

Question 62

Robust australopithecines probably had a diet that was __________.

A) highly variable but completely vegetarian
B) composed completely of tough roots and nuts
C) highly variable and omnivorous
D) specialized for eating termites

Question 63

__________ is the most primitive of the robust australopithecines and possibly the root ancestor.

A) Au. robustus
B) Au. aethiopicus
C) Au. boisei
D) Au. garhi

Question 64

The hominin that is the direct ancestor of the genus Homo is __________.

A) Au. africanus
B) Au. boisei
C) Au. garhi
D) not certain

Question 65

The wear patterns on animal bones associated with A. robustus suggest they were used __________.

A) as clubs for defense
B) as digging sticks for termites
C) as hammers for cracking nuts
D) as pestles for grinding grass seeds

Question 66

Outline the known characteristics of Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Orrorin tugenensis, and Ardipithecus ramidus including locations and dates. Which of these is considered the best candidate as the ancestor of hominins? Why is there still disagreement over the ancestry of hominins?

Question 67

Australopithecus robustus represents robust australopithecines in __________.

A) Ethiopia
B) east Africa
C) southern Africa
D) Kenya

Question 68

What clues concerning the social lives of early hominins are revealed by australopithecine physiology? What is a likely scenario for australopithecine social group composition and organization based on this evidence?

Question 69

The robust australopithecines are today sometimes referred to by the genus name __________.

A) Paranthropus
B) Aethiopicus
C) Zinjanthropus
D) Orrorin

Question 70

Most hominin fossil finds have come from the Afar Triangle in east Africa or southern Africa. What conditions led to the preservation of so many fossils in these two areas? How have these conditions led to differences in dating techniques and information known about the hominins represented by these fossils?

Question 71

Disagreement among scientists on the phylogeny of hominins shows __________.

A) that very little is understood about hominins at all
B) that personality is the primary factor in getting one's theories widely accepted
C) that previous ideas are always being retested in light of new data
D) that no progress is ever made in understanding human origins

Question 72

Most scientists agree that __________ is the most likely root ancestor of the australopithecines.

A) Au. aethiopicus
B) Au. anamensis
C) Au. bahrelghazali
D) K. playtops

Question 73

At 2.5 million years ago __________ were all contemporaries on the African continent.

A) A. robustus, A. afarensis and A. garhi
B) A. aethiopicus, A. anamensis, and A. africanus
C) A. boisei, A. anamensis, and A. robustus
D) A. garhi, A. aethiopicus, and A. africanus

Question 74

In considering possible ancestors to the genus Homo, a good ancestor would NOT have which trait?

A) be highly specialized
B) be less derived than potential descendants
C) exist substantially earlier than descendant groups
D) have characteristics that will develop further in descendant groups

Question 75

Compare and contrast the dentition of hominoids and humans. In what ways does the dentition of early hominins show the transition between the two?

Question 76

The masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoid muscles are as a group called the muscles of mastication.

Question 77

Provide an overview of australopithecine physiology as represented by A. afarensis. What does this physiology reveal about the environment in which early hominins lived and how they adapted to their surroundings?

Question 78

Australopithecus boisei lived between __________.

A) 2.3 and 1.2 mya
B) 3.1 and 2.5 mya
C) 3.5 and 2.2 mya
D) 2.3 and 1.5 mya

Question 79

Australopithecine species that shared the same environments at the same time show __________.

A) the quick extinction of one of the species based on food competition
B) a symbiotic relationship between the species
C) morphological differences that suggest a lack of direct competition for food
D) evidence for interbreeding between the species

Question 80

How do the taxonomic classifications of hominins versus hominins differ? What kinds of evidence do the two use? What conclusions does each reach?