Question 1

Early hominids display the same high level of sexual dimorphism in body size as living gorillas and living orangutans do.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

At which site would you be most likely to find fossil remains of Australopithecus africanus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sterkfontein,South Africa
B)  Hadar,Ethiopia
C)  Laetoli,Tanzania
D)  Swartkrans,South AfricaE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 3

The ravine in northern Tanzania where many early hominid fossils have been recovered (often referred to as the "cradle of humankind") is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Lake Turkana.
B)  Olduvai Gorge.
C)  Swartkrans.
D)  Hadar.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 4

The only early hominid that lacks the thick enamel coating on its teeth typical of other hominids is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Australopithecus.
B)  Sahelanthropus.
C)  Ardipithecus.
D)  Orrorin.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 5

Among living nonhuman primates,which is Homo sapiens' closest relative?

Accepted Answer

A)  baboon
B)  gorilla
C)  orangutan
D)  chimpanzeeE) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 6

The discovery of Kenyanthropus platyops was important mainly because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it had a small brain like an ape's.
B)  it was discovered in Kenya.
C)  it showed diversity in the hominid fossil record 3.5 mya.
D)  it probably lived in woodlands.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 7

The oldest known possibly bipedal hominid genus is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Sahelanthropus.
B)  Australopithecus.
C)  Homo.
D)  Ardipithecus.E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 8

Bipedal locomotion preceded the appearance of large brains during the course of hominid evolution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which hominid has the largest molar teeth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Kenyanthropus platyops
B)  Australopithecus afarensis
C)  Sahelanthropus tchadensis
D)  Australopithecus boiseiE) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 10

Australopithecus garhi has been proposed as an ancestor for Homo mainly because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it had a bigger brain than other australopithecines.
B)  it had smaller molar teeth than other australopithecines.
C)  it had longer legs relative to arm length than other australopithecines.
D)  it was bipedal.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 11

Geologically speaking,why is East Africa's Great Rift Valley such an important region for conducting paleoanthropological research?

Accepted Answer

The Great Rift Valley,which extends from...

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT considered a robust australopithecine?

Accepted Answer

A)  Australopithecus boisei
B)  Australopithecus anamensis
C)  Australopithecus aethiopicus
D)  Australopithecus robustusE) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 13

In which of the following species would you expect to find a large projecting canine tooth with a sharp edge on its back?

Accepted Answer

A)  modern human
B)  Australopithecus afarensis
C)  Australopithecus boisei
D)  gorillasE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 14

Which of the following species is a good candidate for being directly ancestral to Australopithecus afarensis?

Accepted Answer

A)  Australopithecus africanus
B)  Kenyanthropus platyops
C)  Sahelanthropus tchadensis
D)  Australopithecus anamensisE) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 15

Which of the following hominids had a brain significantly larger than a chimpanzee's?

Accepted Answer

A)  Australopithecus afarensis
B)  Sahelanthropus tchadensis
C)  Kenyanthropus platyops
D)  none of the aboveE) A) and B)
F) C) and D) D

Question 16

Describe in detail three theories aiming to explain the adaptive success of bipedal locomotion.

Accepted Answer

Ever since Darwin's time,scientists have generated hypotheses to explain the presumed advantage conferred to early hominids who adopted a habitual bipedal way of moving around the landscape.Since this is a singular event among primates,and in fact among placental mammals,these hypotheses have proven difficult to test.Nonetheless,several plausible ideas have been proposed,including:
•Bipedalism is an energetically efficient way of moving over longer distances,for example between patches of trees in an increasingly open paleoenvironment.•Bipedalism would have allowed hominids to see over tall savanna grasses and thus to identify predators,competitors,water sources,fruiting trees,etc.,at a safe distance.•Compared to quadrupedalism,bipedalism would have provided a thermoregulatory advantage,since less body surface would have been exposed to direct sunlight.•Using the lower limbs exclusively for locomotion would have freed the hands for carrying things like food,babies,tools,etc.•Bipedalism,like the giraffe's long neck,would have allowed individuals to reach food items out of a quadruped's reach.•Standing on two legs may have made early hominids appear bigger and more threatening,discouraging predators and quadrupedal competitors alike.

Question 17

Australopithecus (Kenyanthropus) platyops is distinct from contemporary Australopithecus afarensis in having:

Accepted Answer

A)  a much larger body size.
B)  greater cranial capacity.
C)  a flatter face.
D)  bigger molar teeth.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 18

The only pre-Australopithecine found outside the East African Rift Valley is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Orrorin tugenensis.
B)  Ardipithecus kadabba.
C)  Sahelanthropus tchadensis.
D)  Ardipithecus ramidus.E) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 19

Your friend is asking your opinion on a recent hominid fossil he heard about on the news.He is unable to remember the species name but knows that it lacked the specialized teeth seen in living apes,had elongated toes,an opposable big toe,and was part of a multidisciplinary study that reconstructed the early hominids' habitat.The fossil he is referring to is most likely:

Accepted Answer

A)  Homo floresiensis.
B)  Ardipithecus kadabba.
C)  Sahelanthropus tchadensis.
D)  Ardipithecus ramidus.E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 20

You find a fossil that you are sure shows evidence of bipedalism.You know this because which of the following anatomical traits are present?

Accepted Answer

A)  a narrow pelvis
B)  posterior position of the foramen magnum
C)  opposable hallux
D)  thigh bones that angle in toward the kneesE) A) and C)
F) B) and D)

Exam 10: Early Hominid Origins and Evolution: The Roots of Humanity

Early hominids display the same high level of sexual dimorphism in body size as living gorillas and living orangutans do.

Correct Answer
verified
False

At which site would you be most likely to find fossil remains of Australopithecus africanus?

Correct Answer
verified

The ravine in northern Tanzania where many early hominid fossils have been recovered (often referred to as the "cradle of humankind") is:

Correct Answer
verified

The only early hominid that lacks the thick enamel coating on its teeth typical of other hominids is:

Correct Answer
verified

Among living nonhuman primates,which is Homo sapiens' closest relative?

Correct Answer
verified

The discovery of Kenyanthropus platyops was important mainly because:

Correct Answer
verified

The oldest known possibly bipedal hominid genus is:

Correct Answer
verified

Bipedal locomotion preceded the appearance of large brains during the course of hominid evolution.

Correct Answer
verified

Which hominid has the largest molar teeth?

Correct Answer
verified

Australopithecus garhi has been proposed as an ancestor for Homo mainly because:

Correct Answer
verified

Geologically speaking,why is East Africa's Great Rift Valley such an important region for conducting paleoanthropological research?

Correct Answer
verified
The Great Rift Valley,which extends from...
View Answer

Which of the following is NOT considered a robust australopithecine?

Correct Answer
verified

In which of the following species would you expect to find a large projecting canine tooth with a sharp edge on its back?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following species is a good candidate for being directly ancestral to Australopithecus afarensis?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following hominids had a brain significantly larger than a chimpanzee's?

Correct Answer
verified
D

Describe in detail three theories aiming to explain the adaptive success of bipedal locomotion.

Australopithecus (Kenyanthropus) platyops is distinct from contemporary Australopithecus afarensis in having:

Correct Answer
verified

The only pre-Australopithecine found outside the East African Rift Valley is:

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

You find a fossil that you are sure shows evidence of bipedalism.You know this because which of the following anatomical traits are present?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 10: Early Hominid Origins and Evolution: The Roots of Humanity

Early hominids display the same high level of sexual dimorphism in body size as living gorillas and living orangutans do.

Correct AnswerverifiedFalse

At which site would you be most likely to find fossil remains of Australopithecus africanus?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ravine in northern Tanzania where many early hominid fossils have been recovered (often referred to as the "cradle of humankind") is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The only early hominid that lacks the thick enamel coating on its teeth typical of other hominids is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Among living nonhuman primates,which is Homo sapiens' closest relative?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The discovery of Kenyanthropus platyops was important mainly because:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The oldest known possibly bipedal hominid genus is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Bipedal locomotion preceded the appearance of large brains during the course of hominid evolution.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which hominid has the largest molar teeth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Australopithecus garhi has been proposed as an ancestor for Homo mainly because:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Geologically speaking,why is East Africa's Great Rift Valley such an important region for conducting paleoanthropological research?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe Great Rift Valley,which extends from...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following is NOT considered a robust australopithecine?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which of the following species would you expect to find a large projecting canine tooth with a sharp edge on its back?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following species is a good candidate for being directly ancestral to Australopithecus afarensis?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following hominids had a brain significantly larger than a chimpanzee's?

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Describe in detail three theories aiming to explain the adaptive success of bipedal locomotion.

Australopithecus (Kenyanthropus) platyops is distinct from contemporary Australopithecus afarensis in having:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The only pre-Australopithecine found outside the East African Rift Valley is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

You find a fossil that you are sure shows evidence of bipedalism.You know this because which of the following anatomical traits are present?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
False

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
The Great Rift Valley,which extends from...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
D

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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