Part 7: Adaptive Radiation & Human Evolution (25 MCQs)
Part 7: Adaptive Radiation & Human Evolution (25 MCQs)
Q151. Adaptive radiation refers to:
a) Evolution of new species from a common ancestor in a new habitat
b) Migration of species to new areas
c) Random mutations in DNA
d) Convergent evolution
Answer: a
- a) Correct: Adaptive radiation = diversification from a common ancestor into multiple forms in new habitats.
Q152. The classic example of adaptive radiation studied by Darwin is:
a) Australian marsupials
b) Galapagos finches
c) Dinosaurs
d) Horses
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Darwin’s finches → different beak shapes for feeding niches.
Q153. Which is an example of adaptive radiation in mammals?
a) Marsupials of Australia
b) Monotremes of Australia
c) Placental mammals of Africa
d) All of the above
Answer: d
- d) Correct: Adaptive radiation is seen in Australian marsupials, placental mammals, monotremes.
Q154. Convergent evolution differs from adaptive radiation because:
a) Convergent → similar traits, different origin; Adaptive radiation → diverse forms from one ancestor
b) Both mean the same
c) Convergent leads to new species always
d) Adaptive radiation leads to extinction
Answer: a
- a) Correct: Convergent = analogy, adaptive radiation = divergence from common ancestor.
Q155. Adaptive radiation occurs most rapidly when:
a) Population is stable
b) New habitats with unoccupied niches are available
c) No variations exist
d) Competition is high and uniform
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Empty niches in new habitats → rapid radiation.
Q156. Which of the following is NOT an example of adaptive radiation?
a) Darwin’s finches
b) Australian marsupials
c) Industrial melanism in moths
d) Placental mammals
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Industrial melanism = directional selection, not radiation.
Q157. Human evolution belongs to which order of mammals?
a) Carnivora
b) Primates
c) Rodentia
d) Lagomorpha
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Humans belong to order Primates.
Q158. The closest relatives of humans are:
a) Gorillas
b) Chimpanzees and bonobos
c) Orangutans
d) Lemurs
Answer: b
- b) Correct: DNA similarity shows humans are closest to chimpanzees/bonobos (~98–99%).
Q159. Which among the following is the earliest hominid?
a) Homo habilis
b) Australopithecus
c) Homo erectus
d) Neanderthals
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Australopithecus (~4 mya) = earliest hominid.
Q160. Homo habilis is called:
a) Man the upright
b) Handy man (tool maker)
c) Java man
d) Neanderthal man
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Homo habilis = handy man due to tool use (~2 mya).
Q161. Homo erectus is known as:
a) Handy man
b) Upright man
c) Cro-Magnon man
d) Ape-man
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Homo erectus = upright man (~1.5 mya).
Q162. The first hominid to use fire was:
a) Australopithecus
b) Homo habilis
c) Homo erectus
d) Neanderthals
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Homo erectus used fire and lived in caves.
Q163. Neanderthals lived about:
a) 4 mya
b) 1 mya
c) 100,000 years ago
d) 5,000 years ago
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Neanderthals existed ~100,000–40,000 years ago.
Q164. Which hominid is directly ancestral to modern humans?
a) Homo habilis
b) Homo erectus
c) Neanderthals
d) Cro-Magnon
Answer: d
- d) Correct: Cro-Magnon (early Homo sapiens) gave rise to modern humans.
Q165. Modern humans (Homo sapiens) arose about:
a) 10,000 years ago
b) 1 million years ago
c) 200,000 years ago
d) 2 million years ago
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Modern humans appeared ~200,000 years ago in Africa.
Q166. Human evolution followed which pattern?
a) Linear progression
b) Branching evolution
c) Convergent evolution
d) Adaptive radiation only
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Human evolution = branching, not strictly linear.
Q167. The Out-of-Africa hypothesis suggests:
a) Humans evolved independently in many places
b) Modern humans originated in Africa and spread globally
c) Humans evolved first in Asia
d) Neanderthals migrated from Europe
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Out-of-Africa model → Homo sapiens evolved in Africa, migrated worldwide.
Q168. Which of the following is a unique feature of Homo sapiens?
a) Bipedalism
b) Opposable thumb
c) Large brain size and language
d) Use of tools
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Many hominids used tools and were bipedal, but language and advanced brain size define Homo sapiens.
Q169. Which fossil is called the “ape-man”?
a) Australopithecus
b) Neanderthal
c) Homo erectus
d) Cro-Magnon
Answer: a
- a) Correct: Australopithecus = ape-man (ape-like face, man-like body).
Q170. Which hominid buried their dead, showing social behavior?
a) Homo habilis
b) Homo erectus
c) Neanderthals
d) Cro-Magnon
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Neanderthals buried their dead → social & cultural evolution.
Q171. Which was the first hominid to show art and cave paintings?
a) Homo erectus
b) Neanderthals
c) Cro-Magnon
d) Australopithecus
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Cro-Magnon (~40,000 years ago) created art.
Q172. Increase in brain size in human evolution is associated with:
a) Bipedalism
b) Diet changes (meat eating)
c) Tool use and social behavior
d) All of the above
Answer: d
- d) Correct: Brain expansion linked to bipedalism, diet, tool use, society.
Q173. Which evolutionary trend is seen in humans?
a) Reduction in jaw size
b) Enlargement of cranium
c) Bipedal locomotion
d) All of the above
Answer: d
- d) Correct: All are distinct evolutionary trends in Homo sapiens.
Q174. Which skeletal feature best distinguishes humans from apes?
a) Large canine teeth
b) S-shaped vertebral column and pelvis structure
c) Opposable thumb
d) Hair on body
Answer: b
- b) Correct: S-shaped spine, broad pelvis → efficient bipedalism in humans.
Q175. The cultural evolution of humans began with:
a) Homo habilis
b) Homo erectus
c) Neanderthals
d) Cro-Magnon
Answer: d
- d) Correct: Cro-Magnon = advanced tools, language, art → cultural evolution.
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