Question
A hominid fossil discovered in Java in 1891, now extinct having cranial capacity of about 900 cc was [NEET (Oct.) 2020]
(a) Homo erectus
(b) Neanderthal man
(c) Homo sapiens
(d) Australopithecus
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (a)
A Hominid fossil discovered in Java in 1891 now extinct having cranial capacity of about $900 \mathrm{cc}$ was Homo erectus. It probably ate meat.
Question
Which of the following statements is correct about the origin and evolution of men? [NEET (Odisha) 2019]
(a) Agriculture came around 50,000 years back
(b) The Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus primates existing 15 million years ago, walked like men
(c) Homo habilis probably ate meat
(d) Neanderthal men lived in Asia between $1,00,000$ and 40,000 years back
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (d)
Statement (d) is correct about the origin and evolution of men. Neanderthal men lived in Asia between $1,00,000$ and 40,000 years back. Other statements are corrected as follows
Agriculture came around 10,000 years back About 15 mya, primates called Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus were existing. They were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees. Homo habilis probably did not eat meat while Homo erectus probably ate meat.
Question
Match the hominids with their correct brain size [NEET (National) 2019]
A. Homo habilis
(i) $900 \mathrm{cc}$
B. Homo neanderthalensis
(ii) $1350 \mathrm{cc}$
C. Homo erectus $\quad$ (iii) $650-800 \mathrm{cc}$
D. Homo sapiens
(iv) $1400 \mathrm{cc}$
Select the correct option.
A B C D
(a) (iii) (ii) (i) (iv)
(b) (iii) (iv) (i) (ii)
(c) (iv) (iii) (i) (ii)
(d) (iii) (i) (iv) (ii)
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (b)
(A)-(iii)(BH-(iv), (C)-(i)(D)-(ii)
The brain capacity of Homo habilis or the tool maker was $650-800 \mathrm{cc}$. Homo neanderthalensis, who existed in the late Pleistocene period had the brain size of about $1400 \mathrm{cc}$. Homo erectus were the first to walk upright and stand erect.
Their brain size was about $900 \mathrm{cc}$. Homo sapiens or the living modern man has the brain size of about $1350 \mathrm{cc}$, which is lesser than their immediate ancestors, Cro-Magnon man.
Question
The chronological order of human evolution from early to the recent is
(a) Australopithecus $\rightarrow$ Ramapithecus $\rightarrow$ Homo habilis $\rightarrow$ Homo erectus
(b) Ramapithecus $\rightarrow$ Australopithecus $\rightarrow$ Homo habilis $\rightarrow$ Homo erectus
(c) Ramapithecus $\rightarrow$ Homo habilis $\rightarrow$ Australopithecus $\rightarrow$ Homo erectus
(d) Australopithecus $\rightarrow$ Homo habilis $\rightarrow$ Ramapithecus $\rightarrow$ Homo erectus
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (b)
The fossils of Ramapithecus was discovered by Edward Levis from Pliocene rocks of Shivalik hills in India. They were present in Pliocene era nearly 14-15 million years ago (mya).Australopithecus was first ape man found in African Pliocene era rocks present 5 mya. Homo habilis were believed to be present in East Africa 2 mya in Pliocene era. Homo erectus appeared nearly $1.5$ mya with cranial capacity of 800-1300 cc. Thus, the correct sequence is Ramapithecus $\rightarrow$ Australopithecus $\rightarrow$ Homo habilis $\rightarrow$ Homo erectus
Question
What was the most significant trend in the evolution of modern man (Homo sapiens) from his ancestors? [CBSE AIPMT 2012, 11]
(a) Shortening of jaws
(b) Binocular vision
(c) Increasing brain capacity
(d) Upright posture
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (c)
The most significant trend in the evolution of modern man is the increased brain capacity from the ancestors. The first human being was the hominid, called Homo habilis. The brain capacities were between 650-800 cc. They probably did not eat meat. Fossils discovered in Java in 1891 revealed the next stage, i.e. Homo erectus. Homo erectus had a large brain and probably ate meat.
The Neanderthal man with a brain size of $1400 \mathrm{cc}$ lived in near east and central Asia between 1,00,00-40,000 year back. They used hides to protect their body and burried their dead. Homo sapiens arose in Africa and moved across continents and developed into distinct races. During ice age between $75,000-10,000$ years back modern Homo sapiens arose.
Question
The extinct human who lived 100000 to 40000 years ago, in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa, with short stature, heavy eye brows, retreating fore heads, large jaws with heavy teeth, stocky bodies, a lumbering gait and stooped posture was [CBSE AIPMT 2012]
(a) Homo habilis
(b) Neanderthal human
(c) Cro-magnon humans
(d) Ramapithecus
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (b)
Neanderthal man with a brain size of $1400 \mathrm{cc}$ lived in near East and Central Asia, Europe and North Africa between 100000 to 40000 years back. It had slightly prognathus face, sloping forehead, eye brow ridges, smaller or no chin, large receding jaws, thick-boned skull and high domed head. They used hides to protect their body and buried their dead.
Question
Among the human ancestors the brain size was more than $1000 \mathrm{cc}$ in [CBSE AIPMT 2007]
(a) Homo neanderthalensis
(b) Homo erectus
(c) Ramapithecus
(d) Homo habilis
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (a)
The cranial capacity of Homo neanderthalensis was about $1450 \mathrm{cc}$, roughly to that of modern man.
Question
There are two opposing views about origin of modern man. According to one view Homo erectus in Asia were the ancestors of modern man. A study of variation of DNA however, suggested African origin of modern man. What kind of observation on DNA variation could suggest this? [CBSE AIPMT 2005]
(a) Greater variation in Asia than in Africa
(b) Greater variation in Africa than in Asia
(c) Similar variation in Africa and Asia
(d) Variation only in Asia and no variation in Africa
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (a)
There are two models about origin of modern man (Homo sapiens sapiens), i.e.
(a) Multiregional model According to this view, modern humans evolved in many parts of the world from regional descendants of Homo erectus who dispersed from Africa between 1 and 2 million years ago.
(b) Monogenesis model According to this view only African descendants of Homoerectus gave rise to modern humans. In late 1980s Rebecca Cann and other geneticists supported this view on the basis of DNA of living humans. They compared the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of a multiathenic sample of more than 100 people representing four continents. The greater the difference between the mtDNAs of two peoples, the longer ago that $\mathrm{mt} D N A s$ diverged from a common source. By using bioinformatics, they concluded that the divergence of mtDNA of Africans from common source began just 200000 year ago, much too late to represent the dispersal of Homo erectus. Thus, there are greater variation in Asia than in Africa.
Question
In recent years, DNA sequences (nucleotide sequence) of mtDNA and $Y$-chromosomes were considered for the study of human evolution, because [CBSE AIPMT 2003]
(a) they can be studied from the samples of fossil remains
(b) they are small and, therefore, easy to study
(c) they are uniparental in origin and do not take part in recombination
(d) their structure is known in greater detail
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (c)
Wilson and Sarich choose mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) for the study of maternal line inheritance. While, Y-chromosomes were considered for the study of human evolution particularly male domain. It is possible because they are uniparental in origin and do not take part in recombination.
Question
Which of the following is correct order of evolutionary history of man? [CBSE AIPMT 2001]
(a) Peking man, Homo sapiens, Neanderthal, Cro-magnon
(b) Peking man, Neanderthal, Homo sapiens, Cro-magnon
(c) Peking man, Heidalberg man, Neanderthal, Cro-magnon
(d) Peking man, Neanderthal, Homo sapiens, Heidalberg man
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (c)
Peking man $\rightarrow$ Heidalberg man $\rightarrow$ Neanderthal man $\rightarrow$ Cro-magnon man is the correct order/sequence of evolution man.
Question
Which of following is closest relative of man? [CBSE AIPMT 2001]
(a) Chimpanzee
(b) Gorilla
(c) Orangutan
(d) Gibbon
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (a)
Banding patterns of human chromosome number 3 and 6 are remarkably similar to that of chimpanzee indicating common origin for both.
Question
Homo sapiens evolved during [CBSE AIPMT 2000]
(a) Pleistocene
(b) Oligocene
(c) Pliocene
(d) Miocene
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (a)
The family-Hominidae includes humans of today. These are the most intelligent of the hominoids. They are distinguished from the other families of hominoids in that they are bipedal, i.e. they walk upright on two legs. Hominids appeared during Pliocene but modern human (Homo sapiens) are believed to have arisen about 1,50,000 year back during Pleistocene.
Question
Which one of the following features is closely related with the evolution of humans? [CBSE AIPMT 2000]
(a) Loss of tail
(b) Shortening of jaws
(c) Binocular vision
(d) Flat nails
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (b)
Evolution of modern man is accompanied by the reduction in length of jaw bones and teeth lines becoming semi-circular instead of U-shaped.
Question
Which of the following primate is the closest relative of humans? [CBSE AIPMT 2000]
(a) Rhesus monkey
(b) Orangutan
(c) Gorilla
(d) Gibbon
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (c)
Chimpanzees and gorillas are our closest relatives of humans among the living primates.
Question
Which is not a vestigial part in humans? [CBSE AIPMT 2000]
(a) Segmental muscles of abdomen
(b) Finger nails
(c) Third molar
(d) Coccyx
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (b)
Finger nails are not a vestigeal part in humans. Structures or organs which are present in an organism in a diminished size but no longer useful are called vestigial organ. About 90 vestigial organs have been reported from human body. These include coccyx (tail bone), third molar (wisdom tooth) and segmental muscles of abdomen.
Question
Which one of the following statements is correct? [CBSE AIPMT 1998]
(a) Cro-magnon man’s fossil has been found in Ethiopia
(b) Homo erectus is the ancestor of man
(c) Neanderthal man is the direct ancestor of Homo sapiens
(d) Australopithecus is the real ancestor of modern man
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (b)
Homo erectus(0.25-1.7 million years, middle Pleistocene man) is known as erect man, who walked erect over legs. Homo sapiens (late Pleistocene man, 5 lakh year) is parent species to which modern man belongs. It evolved from Homo erectus in Africa. Homo sapiens sapiens is the modern man, evolved about 25000 year back but spread to various parts of the world about 10000-11000 year ago.
Question
Common origin of man and chimpanzee is best shown by [CBSE AIPMT 1997]
(a) banding pattern in chromosomes number 3 and 6
(b) cranial capacity
(c) binocular vision
(d) dental formula
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (a)
A comparative study of the banding of chromosomes of man and the great apes has shown that the total amount of DNA in human diploid cells and that of apes is more or less similar. The banding pattern of human chromosome numbers 3 and 6 are compared with those of particular autosomes in the chimpanzee, which shows a common origin. More over, blood protein test also proves that man is most closely related to great apes (chimpanzee and gorilla).
Question
Which one of the following statements about fossil human species is correct? [CBSE AIPMT 1997]
(a) Fossils of Homo neanderthalensis have been found recently in South America
(b) Neanderthal man and Cro-magnon man did exist for sometime together
(c) Australopithecus fossils have been found in Australia
(d) Homo erectus was preceded by Homo habilis
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (d)
Homo erectus was a large hominid. It had a length of about 150 to $170 \mathrm{~cm}$ (5 to $5.5$ feet) with a low but distinct forehead strong browridge and a brain capacity of about $1000 \mathrm{cc}$. Homo erectus was social and living in tribes of 20 to 50 people and thus had a successful and complex culture. It became widespread throughout the tropical and temperate old world.
Question
Which one of the following sets includes only the vestigial structures in man? [CBSE AIPMT 1996]
(a) Body hair olecranon process, coccyx, patella
(b) Wisdom teeth, mammary glands, coccyx, patella
(c) Coccyx, nictitating membrane, vermiform appendix, ear muscles
(d) Coccyx, body hair, ear ossicles, vermiform appendix
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (c)
Vestigial organs are non-functional, degenerate and rudimentary organs that correspond to fully developed and functional organs of related organisms, e.g. nictitating membranes, muscles of ear pinna and third molar (wisdom tooth), mammary gland in males, coccyx (caudal vertebrae), vermiform appendix etc.
Question
Which one of the following is regarded as the direct ancestor of modern man? [CBSE AIPMT 1996]
(a) Homo erectus
(b) Ramapithecus
(c) Homo habilis
(d) Cro-magnon man
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (d)
Homo sapiens sapiens is the modern man evolved about 25000 years ago. The direct ancestor of the living man was the Cro-magnon (Homo sapiens fossilis), discovered in 1868 from Cro-magnon rocks of France by ‘Mac Gregor’ from Holocene epoch. Cro-magnon was emerged about 34000 years ago. It is believed that Cro-magnon man was somewhat more intelligent and cultured than the man of today.
Question
Which one is irrelevant to evolution of man? [CBSE AIPMT 1994]
(a) Perfection of hand for tool making
(b) Change of diet from hard nuts/roots to soft food
(c) Increased ability to communicate or develop community behaviour
(d) Loss of tail
Answer/Explanation
Ans. (d)
Evolution simply means an orderly change from one condition to another. It is often called descent with modification. Tail provides an evidence of atavism or reversion, i.e.
reappearance of certain ancestral characters which had disappeared or were reduced. Tail is absent in man, but occasionally early embryo of man possesses an external tail (vestigial tail vertebrae). In adults the tail is represented by a string of caudal vertebrae, which constitute the coccyx (tail bone).