Question 1

Genetic studies of mtDNA indicate that:

Accepted Answer

A)  all living humans have a common matrilineal ancestor. 
B)  there is less genetic variation in African populations. 
C)  early hominids had a very high incidence of disease. 
D)  there is more genetic variation farther from Africa. 
A)  all living humans have a common matrilineal ancestor. 
B)  there is less genetic variation in African populations. 
C)  early hominids had a very high incidence of disease. 
D)  there is more genetic variation farther from Africa.

Question 2

In order for an organism to become a fossil, it:

Accepted Answer

A)  must be buried in limestone caves. 
B)  needs to be totally skeletonized by scavengers. 
C)  has to be buried in oxygen-free sediment. 
D)  needs to be exposed to erosion. 
A)  must be buried in limestone caves. 
B)  needs to be totally skeletonized by scavengers. 
C)  has to be buried in oxygen-free sediment. 
D)  needs to be exposed to erosion.

Question 3

Around 15,000 yBP, where had modern Homo sapiens migrated to from Asia?

Accepted Answer

A)  Europe 
B)  North and South America 
C)  Australia 
D)  Indonesia 
A)  Europe 
B)  North and South America 
C)  Australia 
D)  Indonesia

Question 4

Calculations of DNA mutation rates indicate that Native Americans migrated about ________ yBP.

Accepted Answer

A)  15,000 
B)  30,000 
C)  100,000 
D)  150,000 
A)  15,000 
B)  30,000 
C)  100,000 
D)  150,000

Question 5

Which of the following emphasizes the deep underlying connection among all humans today?

Accepted Answer

A)  gene flow between populations 
B)  differing amounts of melanin between populations 
C)  acclimatization in various environments 
D)  differing cultural adaptations between populations 
A)  gene flow between populations 
B)  differing amounts of melanin between populations 
C)  acclimatization in various environments 
D)  differing cultural adaptations between populations

Question 6

A recent attempt to undermine evolution tries to avoid religions and instead claims that hard evidence shows life is too complex to be random. What is this theory called?

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection 
B)  founder effect 
C)  intelligent design 
D)  the "blueprint of life" 
A)  natural selection 
B)  founder effect 
C)  intelligent design 
D)  the "blueprint of life"

Question 7

How does marriage interact with human evolution and gene flow?

Accepted Answer

Marriage means that two individuals prod

Question 8

What significant fossil discoveries have emerged from the site at Middle Awash River valley in Ethiopia?

Accepted Answer

A)  fossils of both archaic and modern human ancestors 
B)  Neandertals 
C)  a primitive species dubbed "the Hobbit" 
D)  the skeletal remains of the Turkana Boy 
A)  fossils of both archaic and modern human ancestors 
B)  Neandertals 
C)  a primitive species dubbed "the Hobbit" 
D)  the skeletal remains of the Turkana Boy

Question 9

Discuss sickle cell anemia as an example of natural selection at work in the human population.

Accepted Answer

The sickle cell gene is predominant in a

Question 10

Explain the process of fossilization. Include some of the critical factors necessary for fossilization of an organism to be successful. Why are fossils rare?

Accepted Answer

Students should be able to detail how fo

Question 11

The role of ultraviolet light is significant in human evolution because:

Accepted Answer

A)  too little of this light can lead to overproduction of Vitamin D. 
B)  too much of this light can destroy folic acid, needed for healthy fetal development. 
C)  too much of this light can lead to cancer in old age. 
D)  too much of this light can impede the ability of the body to use vitamin C. 
A)  too little of this light can lead to overproduction of Vitamin D. 
B)  too much of this light can destroy folic acid, needed for healthy fetal development. 
C)  too much of this light can lead to cancer in old age. 
D)  too much of this light can impede the ability of the body to use vitamin C.

Question 12

The chance discovery of the Kennewick man in 1996 opened a window to early human life in North America. This success might not have been possible, however, without researchers making comparisons of the remains to nearby plants, animals, and other parts of the remains to understand the context. This approach to dating is called ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  absolute 
B)  stratigraphic 
C)  relative 
D)  radiometric 
A)  absolute 
B)  stratigraphic 
C)  relative 
D)  radiometric

Question 13

Which of the following was a contemporary hominid with Australopithecus, but had significantly increased cranial capacity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Homo erectus 
B)  Homo habilis 
C)  Australopithecus anamensis 
D)  Ardipithecus ramidus 
A)  Homo erectus 
B)  Homo habilis 
C)  Australopithecus anamensis 
D)  Ardipithecus ramidus

Question 14

Without gene mutations there would be no evolution. Explain why this is the case.

Accepted Answer

Mutations do not make any difference in

Question 15

What is one type of cultural adaptation to ultraviolet radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  vitamin D fortified milk 
B)  tanning 
C)  sweating 
D)  increased heart rate 
A)  vitamin D fortified milk 
B)  tanning 
C)  sweating 
D)  increased heart rate

Question 16

Until the mid-1800s, most peppered moths in Great Britain were white, while a few were dark. Why did these groups switch during the Industrial Revolution, when most of the peppered moth population evolved to have the darker coloration?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pollutants covered the moths and made them appear darker. 
B)  Some moths were able to turn black and pass the color to their offspring. 
C)  The pollution created mutagens that caused a widespread mutation for darker coloration. 
D)  Dark moths were selected because their color was an advantage in the new environment. 
A)  Pollutants covered the moths and made them appear darker. 
B)  Some moths were able to turn black and pass the color to their offspring. 
C)  The pollution created mutagens that caused a widespread mutation for darker coloration. 
D)  Dark moths were selected because their color was an advantage in the new environment.

Question 17

What is one possible explanation offered by some scholars to explain the "Hobbit" of Flores Island, Indonesia?

Accepted Answer

A)  The island climate evolved a unique species of human in a very short period of time. 
B)  This is a case of mixed-species breeding. 
C)  The "Hobbit" is actually not a human fossil at all. 
D)  This is a case of microcephaly. 
A)  The island climate evolved a unique species of human in a very short period of time. 
B)  This is a case of mixed-species breeding. 
C)  The "Hobbit" is actually not a human fossil at all. 
D)  This is a case of microcephaly.

Question 18

At about what date do DNA studies place the migration of humans out of Africa?

Accepted Answer

A)  780,000 yBP 
B)  1.2 million yBP 
C)  250,000 yBP 
D)  100,000 yBP 
A)  780,000 yBP 
B)  1.2 million yBP 
C)  250,000 yBP 
D)  100,000 yBP

Question 19

What is one of the unintended side effects of the Lascaux cave paintings discovery?

Accepted Answer

A)  Media interest in the caves has overshadowed the earlier art found in Africa. 
B)  The caves reveal clear evidence of early hominid cannibalism. 
C)  The spectacular artwork has confirmed the innate mental superiority of Homo erectus. 
D)  The discovery that the art was actually created by Neandertals. 
A)  Media interest in the caves has overshadowed the earlier art found in Africa. 
B)  The caves reveal clear evidence of early hominid cannibalism. 
C)  The spectacular artwork has confirmed the innate mental superiority of Homo erectus. 
D)  The discovery that the art was actually created by Neandertals.

Question 20

What are the five categories in which paleoanthropologists have grouped our immediate ancestors? Briefly define each.

Accepted Answer

Pre-Australopithecines lived between 7 m

Genetic studies of mtDNA indicate that:

In order for an organism to become a fossil, it:

Around 15,000 yBP, where had modern Homo sapiens migrated to from Asia?

Calculations of DNA mutation rates indicate that Native Americans migrated about ________ yBP.

Which of the following emphasizes the deep underlying connection among all humans today?

A recent attempt to undermine evolution tries to avoid religions and instead claims that hard evidence shows life is too complex to be random. What is this theory called?

How does marriage interact with human evolution and gene flow?

What significant fossil discoveries have emerged from the site at Middle Awash River valley in Ethiopia?

Discuss sickle cell anemia as an example of natural selection at work in the human population.

Explain the process of fossilization. Include some of the critical factors necessary for fossilization of an organism to be successful. Why are fossils rare?

The role of ultraviolet light is significant in human evolution because:

Which of the following was a contemporary hominid with Australopithecus, but had significantly increased cranial capacity?

Without gene mutations there would be no evolution. Explain why this is the case.

What is one type of cultural adaptation to ultraviolet radiation?

Until the mid-1800s, most peppered moths in Great Britain were white, while a few were dark. Why did these groups switch during the Industrial Revolution, when most of the peppered moth population evolved to have the darker coloration?

What is one possible explanation offered by some scholars to explain the "Hobbit" of Flores Island, Indonesia?

At about what date do DNA studies place the migration of humans out of Africa?

What is one of the unintended side effects of the Lascaux cave paintings discovery?

What are the five categories in which paleoanthropologists have grouped our immediate ancestors? Briefly define each.

Anthropology in a Global Age

Culture

Fieldwork and Ethnography

Language

Race and Racism

Ethnicity and Nationalism

Gender

Sexuality

Kinship, Family, and Marriage

Class and Inequality

The Global Economy

Migration

Politics and Power

Religion

Health, Illness, and the Body

Art and Media

Filters

Exam 5: Human Origins

Genetic studies of mtDNA indicate that:

In order for an organism to become a fossil, it:

Around 15,000 yBP, where had modern Homo sapiens migrated to from Asia?

Calculations of DNA mutation rates indicate that Native Americans migrated about ________ yBP.

Which of the following emphasizes the deep underlying connection among all humans today?

A recent attempt to undermine evolution tries to avoid religions and instead claims that hard evidence shows life is too complex to be random. What is this theory called?

How does marriage interact with human evolution and gene flow?

What significant fossil discoveries have emerged from the site at Middle Awash River valley in Ethiopia?

Discuss sickle cell anemia as an example of natural selection at work in the human population.

Explain the process of fossilization. Include some of the critical factors necessary for fossilization of an organism to be successful. Why are fossils rare?

The role of ultraviolet light is significant in human evolution because:

Which of the following was a contemporary hominid with Australopithecus, but had significantly increased cranial capacity?

Without gene mutations there would be no evolution. Explain why this is the case.

What is one type of cultural adaptation to ultraviolet radiation?

Until the mid-1800s, most peppered moths in Great Britain were white, while a few were dark. Why did these groups switch during the Industrial Revolution, when most of the peppered moth population evolved to have the darker coloration?

What is one possible explanation offered by some scholars to explain the "Hobbit" of Flores Island, Indonesia?

At about what date do DNA studies place the migration of humans out of Africa?

What is one of the unintended side effects of the Lascaux cave paintings discovery?

What are the five categories in which paleoanthropologists have grouped our immediate ancestors? Briefly define each.

Anthropology in a Global Age

Culture

Fieldwork and Ethnography

Language

Race and Racism

Ethnicity and Nationalism

Gender

Sexuality

Kinship, Family, and Marriage

Class and Inequality

The Global Economy

Migration

Politics and Power

Religion

Health, Illness, and the Body

Art and Media

Filters