Biological Anthropology Questions

The Laetoli footprintsA) Appear to have been made by a hominin with a striding gait and short, straight toesB) Fit perfectly with the reconstructed foot anatomy of A. afarensisC) were probably made by Homo habilisD) Were probably made by Homo erectus

The "Lucy" fossil is famous becauseA) She was the first australopith ever foundedB) She left footprints that were discovered at the same timeC) Her skeleton was 40% intact and undisturbedD) The Beatles wrote a song about her

The foramen magnum is theA) Hole formed by the pelvic bones that determines the size of the birth canalB) Hole at the base of the skull which the spinal cord passes on its way to the brainC) Space between the zygomatic arch and the skull through which the temporal muscle passesD) Angle of the spinal cord as it passes into the brain

The bones of the head, excluding the jaw, are referred to as theA) NoguineusB) MandibleC) CraniumD) Calvarium

The first hominoids appeared inA) AfricaB) AsiaC) South AmericaD) Europe

Bilophodont molars are now believed to beA) Found among all apes and human beingsB) Primitive for all Old World anthropoidsC) Later developments among Old World monkeysD) Uniquely derived traits of New World monkeys

Among gorillasA) Only males transfer out of the group in which they were bornB) Only females transfer out of the group in which they were bornC) Both females and males transfer out of the group in which they were bornD) Transfer out of the group in which they were born is random for both sexes

Which of the following is NOT an anthropoid?A) ChimpanzeeB) Howler monkeyC) Arnold SchwarzeneggerD) None of the above

Wings on birds and bats are an example ofA) An analogous traitB) A homologous traitC) AnagenesisD) Cladogenesis

When males and females of the same species show observable phenotype differences in, for example, size, the species is said to showA) Gender distinctivenessB) Phenotypic magnitudeC) Sexual differentiationD) Sexual dismorphism

The mandible is theA) Lower jawB) Upper jawC) CheekboneD) Hole at the bottom of the skull

Walking on two feet rather than four is calledA) BipedalismB) QuadrupedalismC) BipolarismD) Taphonomy

The circumstances in which two species with very different evolutionary histories develop similar physical features as a result of adapting to a similar environment is known as aA) HomologyB) AnalogyC) Natural selectionD) Descent with modification

Y-5 molars are found in which of the following primate groups?A) ApesB) HumansC) New World monkeysD) Both A and B

The phenotypic pattern that shows how different traits of an organism, responding to different selection preassures, may evolve at different rates is calledA) Phenotypic variabilityB) Mosaic evolutionC) Taxonomic evolutionD) Hominin evolution

Which of the following is NOT an ancestral characteristic of primates?A) A collar boneB) Five digits on hands and feetC) Plantigrade locomotionD) Stereoscopic vision

Primates that walk on two feet are now calledA) AnthropoidsB) ApesC) HominoidsD) Hominins

What species eats, how it finds mates, raises its young, relates to companions, and protects itself from predators is known the species'A) Home baseB) LifewayC) Ecological nicheD) Constructed niche

Tarsiers are included with anthropoids in the primate suborder Haplorhini becauseA) Their upper lips are attached to their gums by a web of skinB) None of them have moist nosesC) The placenta of tarsiers is similar to the placenta of anthropoidsD) Both B and C

Which of the following is NOT an evolutionary trend in the primate order?A) Reduction in the number of digits on hands and feetB) Reduction of the projection of the faceC) Reduction in the number of teethD) Increase in brain size, relative to body size