VCE Unit 3 & 4 biology



HUMAN EVOLUTION

Question 1

The skull of Kenyanthropus was discovered in 1999 in sediments between 3.2 and 3.5 million years old. The skull is unusual in that it shows the combination of a small braincase, flat face and small teeth. The following characteristics would be seen in the skull of Homo sapiens

a) A small braincase and small teeth

b) A small braincase and a flat face

c) A flat face and small teeth

d) A flat face and large teeth

Question 2

Homo neanderthalensis lived in Europe and Western Asia from approximately 250 000 to 28 000 years ago. In comparison to modern day humans the Homo neanderthalensis possessed relatively

a) Smaller brains

b) Smaller noses

c) Higher foreheads

d) More prominent brow ridges

Question 3

Evidence of hominid cultural evolution can be found in the fossil record. This would include:

a) Position of the attachment of the spine to the head

b) Length of arm bones in comparison to leg bones

c) Number of teeth present in the skull

d) Presence of stone tools

Question 4

Consider the following diagrams of Hominid skulls

[pic]

The correct sequence of evolution from oldest to youngest of the Hominid species shown is:

a) 2,3,1

b) 3,1,2

c) 1,2,3

d) 2,1,3

Question 5

Hominids are believed to have evolved in Africa because:

a) The oldest hominid fossils have been found in Africa

b) The most hominid fossils have been found in Africa

c) Monkey fossils were found in Africa

d) Africa is the oldest continent

Question 6

Consider the following diagrams of skulls.

[pic]

The most likely to be that of a chimpanzee is:

a) W

b) X

c) Y

d) Z

Question 7

There is evidence that Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis coexisted in Europe more than 30000 years ago. Both of these species left signs of cultural evolution from this period. An example of evidence which would show that cultural evolution was occurring in these groups at this time is:

a) Drawings and carvings on rocks

b) Animal remains close to a homo skeleton

c) Male and female skeletons in the same area

d) Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis skeletons in the same area

Question 8

This diagram illustrates one interpretation of the origin of humans. The dotted lines indicate possible evolutionary relationships, and the vertical bars show the period from which fossils are know for each species

[pic]

This diagram suggests that:

a) Homo habilis is an ancestor of modern humans

b) Homo sapiens is descended from Paranthropus aethiopicus

c) Homo erectus became extinct before modern humans appeared

d) Australopithecus species may have been given rise to modern humans

Question 9

Outcomes of cultural evolution in the genus Homo include the following, with the exception of:

a) The first use of shaped stone objects as tools

b) The cultivation of crops

c) The use of written language

d) The herding of animals

Question 10

Complex social activities require articulate speech. Evidence found with early Homo fossils suggests that this genus was the first to use articulate speech. This suggestion would be best supported by evidence of:

a) Burial ceremonies

b) Use of stone tools

c) Living in groups

d) Organised hunting of prey

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 1

The following photographs show 2 fossil hominid skulls.

[pic]

Which of the 2 skulls is the more ancient fossil?

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List 1 characteristic of this skull in support of your choice

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Although extensive searches have occurred, fossils classified in the genus Australopithecus and other early hominid genera have been found only in Africa. Assume that these fossils in fact only exist in Africa. What is a possible explanation for these fossils being limited to Africa alone?

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Question 2

In October 2004, on the remote Indonesian island of Flores, archaeologists discovered bones from a new species of human called Homo floresiensis. These humans were much smaller than modern humans, with adults being about 1 metre in height and weighing around 25 kilograms. Bones from six or seven individuals have been discovered in sediments ranging in age from 94 000 to 13 000 years. The skeletons indicate that these humans had relatively long arms and a very small brain relative to body size, about equivalent to that of a chimpanzee. They had hard, thick eyebrow ridges and a sharply sloping forehead and no chin. Modern humans, Homo sapiens, are thought to have evolved somewhere between 55 000 and 35 000 years ago.

It has been suggested that Homo floresiensis evolved from a population of Homo erectus. List two features from the fossil remains that support this view.

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Suggest a method by which the ages of the bones of Homo floresiensis were estimated if found in sediments 13 000 years old.

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Stone tools were found in the same sediments as the Homo floresiensis bones. This is an example of cultural evolution. From your studies in Biology, describe another example of cultural evolution in human populations.

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Question 3

The diagram below shows the fossilised lower jaws of 3 primates.

[pic]

Which jaw belongs to the most advanced primate? Give 2 reasons for your answer.

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