Physical anthropologists are interested in tool use in nonhuman primates because it:
A.probably resembles tool use in early hominids
B.is a recently developed behavior
C.demonstrates that chimpanzees are on their way to becoming more human
D.all of these
E.none of these
The possibility that early hominins from South Africa may not have been habitual
bipeds is suggested by what physical trait?
A.the intermediate position of the foramen magnum
B.the presence of a divergent big toe
C.a very short/broad pelvis
D.the modern leg/arm proportions
E.lack of forward curvature in the spine
What is the relationship between the adoption of agriculture and climate change in
South America?
A.The presence of serious periodic droughts inhibited the development of agriculture
B.Periodic droughts led to the production of crops that could be stored for future
shortages.
C.Agriculture was adopted to minimize shortfalls in marine resources due to changes in
sea currents.
D.The relative stability in climate in South America favored the development of
agriculture and domestication.
E.none of these
The modern interest in human physical variation by physical anthropologists is:
A.because of its adaptive significance
B.part of a plan to more completely classify human racial types
C.linked to the development of osteology
D.It is not part of physical anthropology.
E.all of these
The fact that the distribution of one pair of alleles into gametes does not influence the
distribution of another pair is known as:
A.independent assortment
B.crossing over
C.recombination
D.a Mendelian trait
E.mutation
Skin color has historically been used as a means of classifying humans because:
A.it is a surface reflection of deeper biological differences
B.it is so noticeable
C.it corresponds with other human polymorphisms
D.it comprises a large extent of our genetic code
E.all of these
Which of the following statements best describes the nature of primate habitat?
A.Although most are arboreal, some non-human primates are completely terrestrial.
B.Many primates have adopted terrestrial lifestyles.
C.Primates typically adopt terrestrial adaptation in areas with little predation.
D.All non-human primates are arboreal to some extent.
E.Primates are commonly found in temperate areas.
Which of the following statements best summarizes the nature of long-term
morphological changes in Homo erectus?
A.There is a trend towards less robust body build.
B.There is no change in cranial capacity.
C.There is a clear and significant increase in cranial capacity.
D.all of the above
E.only A and C
Which of the following was central in the development of Darwin’s theory of natural
selection?
A.his observation of the similarities between South American and Galapagos birds and
vegetation
B.published reports on the adaptive shift in peppered moth coloration
C.his extensive experience collecting dinosaur fossils in Patagonia
D.his knowledge of the process of producing plant hybrids
E.all of these
Which of the following is NOT an example of a polygenic trait?
A.hair color
B.stature
C.eye color
D.All of the above are polygenic traits.
E.only A and C
What of the following explanations is NOT offered to explain the demise of the Indus
Valley civilizations?
A.failure of the irrigation systems
B.the presence of competing trade routes
C.inability to maintain urban centers
D.military defeat/conquest
E.destruction by flooding
The current roots of the misunderstanding of evolutionary theory, can in part be traced
to:
A.the continued debate within the scientific community concerning its validity
B.the anti-Christian attitudes of many early proponents of transmutation
C.the fact that the genetic basis for natural selection is still largely unknown
D.all of the above
E.only B and C
The fact that anatomical structures appear to be fitted to the functions they serve was
the basis for the:
A.theory of uniformitarianism
B.theory of natural selection
C.theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics
D.theory of catastrophism
E.argument from design
The physical expression of an individual’s genetic code is referred to as their:
A.genotype
B.phenotype
C.karyotype
D.chromosome
E.genetic potential
Homo erectus differs most from modern humans in:
A.the postcranial skeleton
B.the way they walked
C.height
D.the cranium
E.none of these
Which of the following statements about modern infectious diseases is INCORRECT?
A.Infectious diseases will become more prominent with global warming.
B.They no longer represent a significant source of natural selection.
C.Drug resistant pathogens represent an emerging threat.
D.all of the above
E.Only answers A and C are incorrect.
Which of the following are NOT included within the Order Primates?
A.humans
B.monkeys
C.marsupials
D.prosimians
E.apes
Pollen is an example of what type of archaeobotanical remain?
A.macrofossil
B.feature
C.microfossil
D.cultigen
E.carbonization
The practice of living in a single location for much of the year is known as:
A.sedentism
B.domestication
C.foraging
D.transhumance
E.gathering
Why is it important to understand the environmental conditions associated with Middle
Pleistocene hominins?
A.There were pronounced cycles of glacials and interglacials.
B.Changes in climate impacted the availability of food resources.
C.Climate shifts impacted population movements in and out of Africa.
D.all of the above
E.only A and B
The descriptive accounts of the cultural aspects of human societies are known as:
A.ethnographies
B.osteology
C.linguistics
D.entomology
E.economic anthropology
The Neolithic Revolution is associated with:
A.the development of agriculture
B.the beginning of social differentiation
C.the development of state level societies
D.the transition to intensive hunting and gathering
E.the beginning of fully modern human behavior
The term hominin is a common term used to describe:
A.members of the tribe Hominin
B.modern humans
C.any bipedal ape
D.all of the above
E.only A and C
Which African fossil does NOT support the suggestion that significant differences exist
between African and Asian forms of Homo erectus?
A.Nariokotome
B.Bouri
C.OH 9
D.East Turkana
E.Dmanisi
Which of the following is NOT one of the basic processes of evolution defined by
Darwin?
A.the tendency for environment to equally favor all traits
B.the presence of inherent variability within species
C.the production of more offspring than can survive
D.the presence of individuals who possess more advantageous traits
E.the transmission of traits between generations
Neandertal populations are always associated with which tool industry?
A.Chatel-Perronian
B.Mousterian
C.Acheulian
D.Magdalenian
E.both A and B
What is the principal characteristic that distinguishes Acheulian from Oldowan tools?
A.the use of hard hammer percussion
B.the importance of flakes
C.the presence of a predefined tool form
D.their use in hunting
E.all of these
Primatology is defined as:
A.the study of apes, monkeys, and prosimians
B.the study of hominin evolution
C.the study of ancient disease
D.the study of modern human genetic variability
E.none of these
Structural similarities between species that are based upon function and not upon
common evolutionary descent are called:
A.acquired
B.generalized
C.nonadaptive
D.analogies
E.homologies
What factor is associated with the concentration of wealth and the emergence of social
hierarchies in the Longshan period?
A.control of irrigation technology
B.the circulation of luxury products
C.trade with the Indus Valley civilization
D.population nucleation associated with climate shifts
E.the establishment of a standing military
Which of the following describes the adoption of a bifacial stone tool form?
A.It represents an intentional design.
B.It produced sharper edges.
C.It represented a more efficient implement.
D.all of the above
E.only B and C
Modern humans may have been present in Australia as early as:
A.100,000 years ago
B.50,000 years ago
C.75,000 years ago
D.15,000 years ago
E.125,000 years ago
The non-intrusive study of archaeological sites is known as:
A.excavation
B.reconnaissance
C.site survey
D.field work
E.taphonomy