ANTH Physical and Biological Anthropology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which dating method measures the decay of carbon-14 and is useful for organic remains up to about 50,000 years old?
- Radiocarbon dating (Correct answer)
- Potassium-argon dating
- Dendrochronology
- Thermoluminescence
Correct answer: Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating uses carbon-14 decay and is effective on organic material up to roughly 50,000 years.
Question 2: The famous 3.2-million-year-old 'Lucy' fossil belongs to which species?
- Australopithecus afarensis (Correct answer)
- Homo habilis
- Homo neanderthalensis
- Ardipithecus ramidus
Correct answer: Australopithecus afarensis
Lucy is a well-known specimen of Australopithecus afarensis.
Question 3: Which of the following is a New World (platyrrhine) monkey characteristic?
- Prehensile tail in many species (Correct answer)
- Downward-facing nostrils
- Ischial callosities
- Cheek pouches
Correct answer: Prehensile tail in many species
Many New World monkeys have prehensile tails used for grasping.
Question 4: The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium describes a population in which what is true?
- Allele frequencies remain constant without evolutionary forces (Correct answer)
- All individuals are genetically identical
- Mutation rates are maximized
- Natural selection is always occurring
Correct answer: Allele frequencies remain constant without evolutionary forces
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium models stable allele frequencies absent evolutionary influences.
Question 5: Which trait is most associated with Neanderthals compared to modern humans?
- Robust body build and large nasal cavity (Correct answer)
- Small brain size
- Complete lack of tool use
- Fully arboreal lifestyle
Correct answer: Robust body build and large nasal cavity
Neanderthals had robust, cold-adapted bodies with large nasal openings.
Question 6: The variation in human skin pigmentation is primarily an adaptation to what environmental factor?
- Ultraviolet radiation levels (Correct answer)
- Average annual rainfall
- Altitude alone
- Dietary protein intake
Correct answer: Ultraviolet radiation levels
Skin pigmentation balances UV protection against vitamin D synthesis needs.
Question 7: Bergmann's rule predicts that within a species, populations in colder climates will tend to have what?
- Larger body size (Correct answer)
- Longer limbs
- Darker skin
- Smaller brains
Correct answer: Larger body size
Bergmann's rule links colder climates to larger bodies for heat retention.
ANTH Physical and Biological Anthropology 3
Which dating method measures the decay of carbon-14 and is useful for organic remains up to about 50,000 years old?