Question 1

Discuss the different hypotheses that the chapter presents for how the first primates adapted to share the same suite of diagnostic characteristics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the different hypotheses that the chapter...

Question 2

Apes from the Middle Miocene adapted to have ________ because they ate harder foods than their predecessors.

Accepted Answer

A)  molars with thick enamel and rounded cusps. 
B)  narrow zygomatic arches. 
C)  robust upper jaws. 
D)  molars with thin enamel and sharp cusps.

Question 3

Carbon-14 is described as unstable because

Accepted Answer

A)  it starts to decay after a plant or animal dies. 
B)  it changes to carbon-12 faster than carbon-12 changes to carbon-14. 
C)  it is more susceptible to radiation than is carbon-12. 
D)  it never changes and is not a good isotope for radiometric dating.

Question 4

Although Pierolapithecus shared some derived morphological characteristics with modern great apes, it lacked

Accepted Answer

A)  flexible wrists. 
B)  a stiff and short lumbar spine. 
C)  highly curved fingers. 
D)  a wide, shallow rib cage.

Question 5

The hominoid radiation occurred during the

Accepted Answer

A)  Eocene. 
B)  Oligocene. 
C)  Miocene. 
D)  Pliocene.

Question 6

________ provides the first evidence for suspensory locomotion among the fossil hominoids.

Accepted Answer

A)  Morotopithecus 
B)  Dryopithecus 
C)  Chororapithecus 
D)  Proconsul

Question 7

The Eocene primates had most of the features that modern primates share, including

Accepted Answer

A)  grasping hands and feet. 
B)  claws. 
C)  small brains. 
D)  long snouts.

Question 8

________ is based on an effect of high-energy nuclear particles traveling through rock.

Accepted Answer

A)  Radioactive decay 
B)  Electron-spin-resonance 
C)  Thermoluminescence 
D)  Carbon-14

Question 9

________ are characterized by small incisors and large premolars with sharp crests.

Accepted Answer

A)  Frugivores 
B)  Folivores 
C)  Insectivores 
D)  Faunivores

Question 10

Modern ________ were most likely derived from the propliopithecids.

Accepted Answer

A)  lemurs 
B)  Old World monkeys 
C)  tarsiers 
D)  New World monkeys

Question 11

Fossil New World primates

Accepted Answer

A)  were small bodied. 
B)  first evolved during the Eocene. 
C)  were terrestrial. 
D)  had three premolars.

Question 12

________ are important in electron-spin-resonance dating.

Accepted Answer

A)  Apatite crystals 
B)  Volcanic rocks 
C)  Unstable carbon isotopes 
D)  High-energy nuclear particles

Question 13

What is Pangaea?

Accepted Answer

A)  A single landmass that contained all present-day continents. 
B)  The view that all mammals evolved in Gaea. 
C)  The specific geographic location where all life originated. 
D)  Evidence of an ancient underwater biome.

Question 14

Fossils are formed when

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks are heated by volcanic activity. 
B)  rocks are cooled after volcanic activity. 
C)  bone is mineralized by surrounding rock. 
D)  animals die slowly through starvation.

Question 15

Multiple hypotheses seek to explain how New World monkeys arrived in South America. According to the chapter, what are some of these hypotheses?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Multiple hypotheses seek to explain how New...

Question 16

In general, larger continents have

Accepted Answer

A)  calmer weather than smaller continents. 
B)  the same weather as smaller continents. 
C)  more severe weather than smaller continents. 
D)  more consistent weather than smaller continents.

Question 17

Plesiadapiforms had several primitive features, including

Accepted Answer

A)  nails instead of claws. 
B)  eyes that were placed on the sides of their heads. 
C)  the presence of a postorbital bar. 
D)  habitual terrestrial behavior.

Question 18

Laurasia was a landmass that consisted of

Accepted Answer

A)  all present-day continents. 
B)  all present-day continents except for Asia. 
C)  none of the continents that are present today. 
D)  North America, Europe, and Asia.

Question 19

Which of the following characteristics did the first hominoids share with modern apes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Limbs of equal length 
B)  A narrow thorax 
C)  Larger brains than monkeys 
D)  Tooth adaptations for insectivory and frugivory

Question 20

________ dating determines an accurate age of single rock crystals.

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon-14 
B)  Thermoluminescence 
C)  Electron-spin-resonance 
D)  Argon-argon

Exam 9: From Tree Shrew to Ape