Sample MCQs with explanations

Q1. Which fossil specimen is famously associated with Australopithecus afarensis and provides evidence of early bipedalism?
A. Turkana Boy
B. La Ferrassie skull
C. Lucy
D. Java Man
Correct: C — Lucy. Explanation: Lucy (A. afarensis), found at Hadar (Ethiopia), shows anatomical features (pelvis, leg bones) indicating habitual bipedal walking.

Q2. The Oldowan stone tool industry is primarily characterized by:
A. Bifacial handaxes
B. Polished microliths
C. Simple flakes and cores
D. Pottery shards
Correct: C — Simple flakes and cores. Explanation: Oldowan tools are the earliest known stone tools (simple flakes and hammerstones), linked with early Homo species.

Q3. Which dating method is most appropriate for organic remains up to ~50,000 years old?
A. Potassium-argon dating
B. Radiocarbon (C-14) dating
C. Dendrochronology
D. Uranium-series dating
Correct: B — Radiocarbon (C-14) dating. Explanation: C-14 is the standard method for dating organic materials within the last ~50k years; other methods suit much older contexts.

Q4. Which anatomical change most directly supports long-distance bipedal walking in early hominins?
A. Opposable big toe
B. S-shaped spine
C. Enlarged canines
D. Prehensile tail
Correct: B — S-shaped spine. Explanation: An S-shaped spine, plus pelvic changes and limb proportions, helps balance and shock absorption for upright walking.

Q5. Evidence of symbolic behaviour in early Homo sapiens is best indicated by:
A. Large handaxes only
B. Shell beads and ochre pigments
C. Animal bones with cut marks only
D. Simple hammerstones
Correct: B — Shell beads and ochre pigments. Explanation: Personal ornaments and pigments indicate symbolic thought, social identity, and cognitive complexity.

Titles

1. NCERT-Aligned CBSE Class 11 History MCQs: Evolution of Early Humans Practice Test

2. The Evolution of Early Humans — CBSE Class 11 Online MCQs with Instant Scoring

3. CBSE Class 11 History: Top MCQs on Early Hominins, Tools, and Migration

4. Practice Test: From Bipedalism to Symbolic Behavior — Class 11 History MCQs

5. Free Online MCQs for CBSE Class 11 — Theme 1: From the Beginning of Time

Introduction paragraph

This practice set of CBSE Class 11 History MCQs Evolution of Early Humans offers a focused, NCERT-aligned way to revise Part A: Early Societies — Theme 1, From the Beginning of Time. Carefully designed to match CBSE exam patterns, the quiz covers core topics such as bipedalism, early hominin species (like Australopithecus, Homo habilis, and Homo erectus), key archaeological sites, stone tool industries (Oldowan, Acheulean, Levallois) and dating methods used by archaeologists. Each question comes with instant scoring and concise per-question feedback to help you understand not just the correct answer but the reasoning behind it — essential for building conceptual clarity. Whether you’re revising for the term test or preparing for board-level questions, these MCQs sharpen factual recall and analytical thinking. Use this online practice test to identify weak areas, reinforce NCERT concepts, and improve exam confidence through repeated practice and immediate feedback.