Question 1

Microscopic analysis of cut marks on bones reveals that the earliest members of the genus Homo were actually what kind of scavenger?

Accepted Answer

A) Primary scavenger 
B) Secondary scavenger 
C) Tertiary scavenger 
D) Opportunistic scavenger 
E) They were not scavengers;they were hunters. 
A) Primary scavenger 
B) Secondary scavenger 
C) Tertiary scavenger 
D) Opportunistic scavenger 
E) They were not scavengers;they were hunters. C

Question 2

Modern-day humans do have wild predators that threaten them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

What does the hypoglossal canal refer to,and why is it important to the study of human evolution?

Accepted Answer

The hypoglossal canal is a pair of small passageways in the occipital bone at the base of the skull, through which the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) passes. This nerve is responsible for controlling the movements of most of the muscles of the tongue, which is crucial for speech and swallowing.

In the study of human evolution, the hypoglossal canal is important because its size and morphology have been used as indirect evidence for the capacity for speech in fossil hominins, our ancient human ancestors. The theory is that a larger hypoglossal canal could indicate a more complex innervation of the tongue, which in turn could suggest the potential for a greater range of tongue movements and thus more sophisticated vocal capabilities, including speech.

However, the interpretation of the hypoglossal canal's size and its implications for speech capabilities in ancient hominins is a subject of debate among paleoanthropologists. Some researchers argue that the size of the canal is not necessarily a reliable indicator of speech capabilities, as there are other factors that could account for variations in canal size, such as general body size, sexual dimorphism, and genetic factors unrelated to speech.

Moreover, the ability to produce complex speech also depends on other anatomical features beyond the hypoglossal nerve, such as the structure of the larynx, pharynx, and oral cavity, as well as the cognitive capacity to process and produce language. Therefore, while the hypoglossal canal can provide some clues about the evolution of speech, it is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

In summary, the hypoglossal canal is a small but significant feature of the human skull that has implications for our understanding of the evolution of speech. Its study contributes to the broader investigation of how and when our ancestors developed the ability to communicate using complex vocalizations, which is a key aspect of what makes us human.

Question 4

Skulls found at Steinheim and Swanscombe have larger brains than H.erectus;the skull at Sale is small but looks modern from the back.Jaws from Morocco and France combine H.erectus and European Neandertal characteristics.The skulls are more robust than modern H.sapiens,and their maximum breadth is lower on the skull.The dates for these skulls are between:

Accepted Answer

A) 200,000 and 400,000 years ago. 
B) 500,000 and 1 million years ago. 
C) 2.9 and 3.2 million years ago. 
D) 3.0 and 5.5 million years ago. 
E) 10,000 years ago. 
A) 200,000 and 400,000 years ago. 
B) 500,000 and 1 million years ago. 
C) 2.9 and 3.2 million years ago. 
D) 3.0 and 5.5 million years ago. 
E) 10,000 years ago.

Question 5

Percussion method of tool manufacture is a form of technology that is associated with all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A) marked the beginning of the Lower Paleolithic. 
B) utilized fossils. 
C) was evidenced in Oldowan tool tradition. 
D) made possible the butchering of meat from scavenged carcasses. 
E) used sharp-edged flakes from stones. 
A) marked the beginning of the Lower Paleolithic. 
B) utilized fossils. 
C) was evidenced in Oldowan tool tradition. 
D) made possible the butchering of meat from scavenged carcasses. 
E) used sharp-edged flakes from stones.

Question 6

What is the Oldowan tool tradition,and how were the tools constructed?

Accepted Answer

The Oldowan tool tradition, named after

Question 7

From its appearance about 2.5 million years ago,the genus Homo began a course of brain expansion through variational change that continued until about how many years ago?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 million years 
B) 500,00 years 
C) 200,000 years 
D) 40,000 years 
E) 10,000 years 
A) 1 million years 
B) 500,00 years 
C) 200,000 years 
D) 40,000 years 
E) 10,000 years

Question 8

Which of the following is an incorrect statement about speech and language capabilities of Neandertal?

Accepted Answer

A) The hypoglossal canal was much larger than what we find in contemporary humans. 
B) The vocal tract was adequate for speech. 
C) Neandertals had the neural development necessary for spoken language. 
D) Features are evident that allow the increased breath control required for speech. 
E) The larynx is identical to that of a modern human. 
A) The hypoglossal canal was much larger than what we find in contemporary humans. 
B) The vocal tract was adequate for speech. 
C) Neandertals had the neural development necessary for spoken language. 
D) Features are evident that allow the increased breath control required for speech. 
E) The larynx is identical to that of a modern human.

Question 9

Compare Oldowan,Acheulian,Levalloisian,and Mousterian tool traditions.Show evidence for human biological and cultural evolution through the evolution of tools.

Accepted Answer

The Oldowan, Acheulian, Levalloisian, an

Question 10

The Neandertals were once believed to be direct ancestors to contemporary peoples.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which scientist was instrumental in establishing the "Man the Hunter" scenario that argues that humans emerged as "killer ape-men"?

Accepted Answer

A) Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 
B) Raymond Dart 
C) Mary Leakey 
D) Don Johansson 
E) Davidson Black 
A) Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 
B) Raymond Dart 
C) Mary Leakey 
D) Don Johansson 
E) Davidson Black

Question 12

Larger hominid brains required parallel improvements in diet.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Neandertals used manganese dioxide as a pigment source.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Was the spread of Homo out of Africa possible without the benefit of a rapidly developing culture? Explain your answer and provide evidence.

Accepted Answer

The spread of Homo out of Africa was lik

Question 15

Remains of H.erectus have been found only on three continents: Europe,Asia,and Africa.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Taking place around 200,000 years ago in Africa,a technological breakthrough called__________________required the affixing of small stone bifaces and flakes in handles of wood to make improved spears and knives.

Accepted Answer

A) gluing 
B) smelting 
C) hafting 
D) wrapping 
E) grooving 
A) gluing 
B) smelting 
C) hafting 
D) wrapping 
E) grooving

Question 17

The hypoglossal canal in its near-modern large size was seen in fossil skulls dated to:

Accepted Answer

A) 500,000 years ago. 
B) 1 million years ago. 
C) 30,000 years ago. 
D) 4 million years ago. 
E) 200,000 years ago. 
A) 500,000 years ago. 
B) 1 million years ago. 
C) 30,000 years ago. 
D) 4 million years ago. 
E) 200,000 years ago.

Question 18

Scientists have found that scalpels made from obsidian are sharper and more effective at preventing scaring than those of more modern steel.What other lessons do you think we could learn today from our ancestors?

Accepted Answer

The discovery that obsidian scalpels are

Question 19

What event was a major turning point in better understanding the subsistence roles of men and women in early human societies?

Accepted Answer

A) The development of experimental archaeology that allowed paleoanthropology to test more than one theory at a time 
B) The ability of male paleoanthropologists to recreate examples of early human foraging lifestyles and gather evidence of different gender roles 
C) The work of cultural anthropologists in studying modern foragers and projecting ethnographic analogies back onto our early foraging beginnings 
D) The development of female physical anthropologists who introduced a more balanced perspective into the scientific record 
E) The introduction of new forms of data collection that allowed scientists to find actual evidence of female foraging abilities in the fossil record 
A) The development of experimental archaeology that allowed paleoanthropology to test more than one theory at a time 
B) The ability of male paleoanthropologists to recreate examples of early human foraging lifestyles and gather evidence of different gender roles 
C) The work of cultural anthropologists in studying modern foragers and projecting ethnographic analogies back onto our early foraging beginnings 
D) The development of female physical anthropologists who introduced a more balanced perspective into the scientific record 
E) The introduction of new forms of data collection that allowed scientists to find actual evidence of female foraging abilities in the fossil record

Question 20

Hafting tools begins around the time of the Mousterian tradition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 7: Origins of the Genus Homo

Microscopic analysis of cut marks on bones reveals that the earliest members of the genus Homo were actually what kind of scavenger?

Modern-day humans do have wild predators that threaten them.

What does the hypoglossal canal refer to,and why is it important to the study of human evolution?

Percussion method of tool manufacture is a form of technology that is associated with all of the following except:

What is the Oldowan tool tradition,and how were the tools constructed?

From its appearance about 2.5 million years ago,the genus Homo began a course of brain expansion through variational change that continued until about how many years ago?

Which of the following is an incorrect statement about speech and language capabilities of Neandertal?

Compare Oldowan,Acheulian,Levalloisian,and Mousterian tool traditions.Show evidence for human biological and cultural evolution through the evolution of tools.

The Neandertals were once believed to be direct ancestors to contemporary peoples.

Which scientist was instrumental in establishing the "Man the Hunter" scenario that argues that humans emerged as "killer ape-men"?

Larger hominid brains required parallel improvements in diet.

Neandertals used manganese dioxide as a pigment source.

Was the spread of Homo out of Africa possible without the benefit of a rapidly developing culture? Explain your answer and provide evidence.

Remains of H.erectus have been found only on three continents: Europe,Asia,and Africa.

Taking place around 200,000 years ago in Africa,a technological breakthrough called__________________required the affixing of small stone bifaces and flakes in handles of wood to make improved spears and knives.

The hypoglossal canal in its near-modern large size was seen in fossil skulls dated to:

Scientists have found that scalpels made from obsidian are sharper and more effective at preventing scaring than those of more modern steel.What other lessons do you think we could learn today from our ancestors?

What event was a major turning point in better understanding the subsistence roles of men and women in early human societies?

Hafting tools begins around the time of the Mousterian tradition.

The Essence of Anthropology

Biology, Genetics, and Evolution

Living Primates

Primate Behavior

Field Methods in Archaeology and Paleoanthropology

From First Primates to First Bipeds

The Global Expansion of Homo Sapiens and Their Technology

The Neolithic Revolution: the Domestication of Plants and Animals

The Emergence of Cities and States

Modern Human Diversity: Race and Racism

Human Adaptation to a Changing World

Characteristics of Culture

Ethnographic Research: Its History, Methods, and Theories

Language and Communication

Social Identity, Personality, and Gender

Patterns of Subsistence

Economic Systems

Sex, Marriage, and Family

Kinship and Descent

Grouping by Gender, Age, Common Interest, and Social Status

Politics, Power, War, and Peace

Spirituality, Religion, and Shamanism

The Arts

Processes of Cultural Change

Global Challenges, Local Responses, and the Role of Anthropology

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