WorksheetsHuman Evolution EOT Quiz
Total questions: 48
Worksheet time: 48mins
Name the structure at the base of the skull where the spinal cord connects to the brain.
Cranium
Mandible
Nuchal crest
Foramen magnum
Describe the trend in the feature from the previous question as we move from earlier hominins to modern humans.
It gets larger
It moves from the rear of the skull to a more central position
It moves from the centre of the skull to the rear of the skull
It gets smaller
Name the skull structures that are more prominent in apes compared to modern humans.
Foramen magnum, valgus angle and sagittal crest
Zygomatic arch, mandible and nuchal crest
Nuchal crest, humerus and chin
Sagittal crest, cranium capacity and nuchal crest
When the upper and lower jaw sticks out from the face, this is called...
Prognathism
Maxillary angle
Valgus angle
Cranium capacity
Describe the trend in the feature described in the question above as we move from earlier hominins to modern humans.
It decreases
It stays the same
It increases
Many skull features change as we move from earlier hominins to modern humans. What was the main reason for these changes?
Hominins moved from being arboreal to living on the ground
Hominins became bipedal
Hominins diet changed
Hominins engaged in less fighting
Name the skeletal features that indicates a organism is bipedal.
Long narrow pelvis, short legs, long arms
No valgus angle, opposable big toe, arched foot
Wide bowl shaped pelvis, valgus angle, arched foot
S-shaped spine, long narrow pelvis, opposable big toe
Bipedalism most likely evolved because...
Our ancestors relied on trees less and less
The climate in Africa changed which lead to less rain forest and woodland to more open/savannah areas
The climate in Africa changed which lead to less rain forest and more woodland areas
The climate in Africa changed which meant our ancestors needed to communicate using language
What advantages did bipedalism result in (select all those that apply)
Freed up hands
Saves energy when walking long distances
Faster travel
Improved dorsiflexion
What is the correct order of species from earliest to modern humans?
Paranthropus boisei, Australopithecus afarensis, Homo ergaster, Homo sapiens
Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Paranthropus boisei, Homo ergaster
Australopithecus afarensis, Homo erectus, Homo habilis, Homo heidelbergensis
Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens
What is special about Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy)
There have been many fossils of this species found
This species can be found in Africa and Asia
This species has features of both primates and modern humans
This species has a large brain
Name the oldest member of the Homo genus, which could be found in Africa 2.4 - 1.6 million years ago
Homo sapiens
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
Homo ergaster
Name the main aspect of cultural evolution the hominin named in the previous question is recognised for.
First hominin to use a sophisticated language
First hominin to wear clothes
First hominin to walk bipedally
First hominin to use stone tools
What biological trend did the answer to the previous question result in?
Reduced selection for large jaws
Reduced selection for body hair
Increased selection for big ears
Increased selection for long legs
Homo erectus is recognised as the first Homo species that
Used composite tools
Appeared in Asia
Buried their dead
Ate meat
According to the fossil record, when did Homo erectus exist on Earth?
10 - 5 million years ago
1.9 million to 30,000 years ago
1.9 - 1.5 million years ago
1.5 - 1.3 million years ago
Based on current evidence, Homo heidelbergensis evolved in Africa and dispersed into Europe.
True
False
Based on current evidence, which hominin species did modern humans evolve from?
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo erectus
Homo ergaster
Homo heidelbergensis
Homo neanderthalensis is known for the following characteristics:
Tall, slender with a big brain and a large, broad nose
Tall, stocky with short arms and a longer, narrow nose
Short body and legs, with long arms and a longer, narrow nose
Short body and limbs with a large, broad nose.
What is the advantage of a large, broad nose in Homo neanderthalensis’ environment?
Moistens, warms and humidifies the air
Allows more oxygen in and carbon dioxide out
Ensures they get enough oxygen as they are very mobile organisms
They could smell prey from longer distances
Describe the trend in cranial capacity from early hominins to modern humans.
It decreases
It starts high, decreases, then increases again
It increases
It increases initially, then decreases at a steady rate
Describe the trend in the dental arcade from early hominins to modern humans.
It changes from U-shaped to V-shaped
It changes from V-shaped to U shaped
It doesn’t change over that time
It changes from C-shaped to V-shaped
As we move from Homo habilis to Homo sapiens, describe the trend in body mass and postcanine teeth surface area.
As body mass increases, postcanine teeth surface area increases
As body mass increases, postcanine teeth surface area decreases
Describe the change in diet as we move from Australopithecines, to Homo erectus, to Homo sapiens.
No change as they all had the same diet
From vegetarian to meat supplemented by plants to broad omnivores
From vegetarians to omnivores to meat eaters
From omnivores to carnivores
Name the endocranial features that suggest a species may have had a spoken language.
Specific structures in the upper and lower jaw
Reduced sagittal crest and zygomatic arches
Bulges in the Wernicke’s and Broca's areas of the brain
Bulges in the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain
The absence of a sagittal crest is also linked to a reduction in which other cranial features.
Zygomatic arches, brow ridge, mandible
Nuchal crest, cranial capacity, mandible
Teeth, upper jaw, cranial capacity
Brow ridge, cranial capacity, nuchal crest
What is the best explanation for the changes from the previous question?
Climate change from forest to savannah
A change in diet from tough plant material to a softer diet
A requirement for increased verbal communication
Moving from quadrupedal to bipedal mode of locomotion
What is the the best definition of cultural evolution?
The change in biological features through genetic variation, reproduction and natural selection
The change in biological features through the transmission of ideas
The change in culture due to transmission of learned behaviour and ideas
The change in culture due to genetic variation, reproduction and natural selection
What takes place faster, cultural or biological evolution?
Cultural evolution
Biological evolution
Both types of evolution take place over the same time frames.
What is the best reason that explains why cultural evolution takes place faster?
Because cultural evolution allows for instant advantages only
Because culture can be passed between individuals whether they are related or not
Because cultural evolution relies on sexual reproduction
Because culture has allows the brain to expand rapidly
What is included as evidence of cultural evolution?
Caves, fossils, skull anatomy
Tools, use of fire, art
Tools, caves, graves
Footprints, cranial capacity, bowl shaped pelvis
Put the tool cultures below in order, from earliest to more recent.
Mousterian, Oldowan, Upper Paleolithic, Acheulean
Oldowan, Mousterian Acheulean, Upper Paleolithic
Oldowan, Acheulean, Mousterian, Upper Paleolithic
Oldowan, Acheulean, Upper Paleolithic, Mousterian
What period of time is Oldowan tool culture associated with?
1.7 - 1.0 million years ago
100,000 - 10,000 years ago
1.7 million - 30,000 years ago
2.5 - 1.7 million years ago
What is the best description of the characteristics of Acheulean tools?
Diverse shapes, materials and functions and the use of composite materials
Finely worked, often tear drop shaped hand axes and cleavers.
Very finely worked over the whole surface with smooth, sharp edges
Few blows used to create crude shaped tools with original cobble-stone edges still present
Homo neanderthalensis is associated with which tool culture?
Mousterian
Upper Paleolithic
Oldowan
Acheulean
Which species is thought to have been the first to control fire?
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
What advantages did fire bring to those early hominin species who learnt how to control it?
Allowed them to deforest large areas to find prey
Allowed them to see where others were and communicate with them
Allowed them to stay warm, cook food and deter predators
Allowed them to melt metals and make more sophisticated tools
Using fire to cook food has been linked to biological evolution. Which statement below best describes this link?
Cooking food increases its digestibility so cooked food can support a larger brain
Cooking food provides the body with more protein and fat for taller bodies
Cooking food makes it tougher so results in larger jaws and teeth
Cooking food allows more individuals to be feed so supports a larger population
What is the main advantage of hunters using projectile weapons?
They are less time consuming to make, so more can be made over a period of time
Many can be carried during a hunt, which increases the chances of success
They allow hunters to kill prey from a distance, so decreasing the risk of injury
They are more accurate, which results in a more successful hunt
Over time, early humans moved from hunter-gathers lifestyles to settled lifestyles. What is an advantage of this change?
Larger populations in close proximity increases the risk of spreading diseases
Steady food/water supply results in less time spend searching for food/resources
Less threat of attack from other groups
Less reliance on a few key resources
Sheep were one of the animals to be domesticated. What advantages did this bring?
Companionship, warmth and sheppard roles
Carrying heavy loads so less energy is spend moving from place to place
Increases the chances of spreading diseases and parasites
A steady source of meat, wool, skins and milk
Based on current evidence, which species was the first to disperse from Africa into Asia?
Homo sapiens
Homo habilis
Homo ergaster
Homo neanderthalensis
At what time did Homo sapiens leave Africa?
Approximately 1.3 million years ago
10,000 years ago
Approximately 100,000 years ago
Approximately 200,000 years ago
For the next four questions, decide whether the statement refers to the Out of Africa model or the Multiregional model of human dispersal.
Modern Homo sapiens evolved in Africa first, then spread to other areas.
Out of Africa model
Multiregional model
Modern humans evolved simultaneously in different locations.
Out of Africa model
Multiregional model
Members of isolated populations breed with members of other populations. This ensured no speciation occurred.
Out of Africa model
Multiregional model
Modern Homo sapiens replaced descendants of Homo erectus who were from an earlier migration out of Africa.
Out of Africa model
Multiregional model
Describe the lines of evidence which supports the Out of Africa model of dispersal.
The oldest fossils of Australopithecines/hominins/bipedals have been found in Europe. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA shows the oldest females ancestors of modern humans are from Europe. Analysis of Y chromosomes shows the oldest male ancestors of modern humans are from Europe.
The oldest fossils of Australopithecines/hominins/bipedals have been found in Asia. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA shows the oldest females ancestors of modern humans are from Asia. Analysis of Y chromosomes shows the oldest male ancestors of modern humans are from Asia.
The oldest fossils of Australopithecines/hominins/bipedals have been found in Africa. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA shows the oldest females ancestors of modern humans are from Africa. Analysis of Y chromosomes shows the oldest male ancestors of modern humans are from Africa.
