Comparing Hominid Skull Anatomy Pre-Test
Covers standards:
SC.912.L.15.10: Identify basic trends in hominid evolution from early ancestors six million years ago to modern humans, including brain size, jaw size, language, and manufacture of tools. SC.912.L.15.1: Explain how the scientific theory of evolution is supported by the fossil record, comparative
anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography, molecular biology, and observed evolutionary change.
MACC.912.N-Q.1.3: Choose a level of accuracy appropriate to limitations on measurement when reporting
quantities.
______1. According to the graph below, which of the following is a true statement?
A. Hominid brains appear to increase in size as you go back in time.
B. Hominid brains appear to have remained about the same size for the last million years.
C. Hominid brains of the same species are all the same size.
D. Hominid brains have been increasing in size for at least three million years.
______2. How many degrees are there in a circle?
A. 45°
C. 180°
B. 90°
D. 360°
______3. Of the primates listed below, which has the largest cranial capacity?
A. Gorilla
B. Australopithecus
C. Modern humans (Homo species)
D. All have equal cranial capacity
______4. Of the primates, listed below, whose jaw protrudes the farthest forward?
A. Modern humans (Homo species)
B. Gorilla
C. Australopithecus
D. All have equal jaw protrusions
______5. The science of studying the fossils of humans is
A. Paleoanthropology
C. paleontology
B. geology
D. Anthropology
______6. What of the following units is used in science to measure lengths?
A. inches
C. centimeters
B. liters
D. feet
______7. Which sequence correctly traces the order of hominid evolution?
A. Australopithecus Gorilla  Modern humans
B. Gorilla  Australopithecus  Modern humans
C. AustralopithecusModern Humans  Gorilla
D. Modern humans  Australopithecus  Gorilla
______8. What is the term for the biological process by which kinds of organisms on Earth change over time?
A. superposition
B. biogeography
C. uniformitarianism
D. evolution
______9. Cytochrome c is a small protein involved in cellular respiration. The table compares the cytochrome c of
various organisms to that of chimpanzees. The left column indicates the organism, and the right column
indicates the number of amino acids that are different from those in chimpanzee cytochrome c.
A. dog
B. moth
Organism
Number of amino acids that are different
Dog
10
Moth
24
Penguin
11
Yeast
38
C. penguin
D. yeast
______10. Throughout the history of hominid evolution, how did the skulls change?
A. Brain size increased as size of face decreased
B. Brain size decreased as size of face decreased
C. Brain size increased as size of face increased
D. Brain size decreased as size of face increased
______11. The earliest hominids lived in
A. Africa, Asia, North America, Europe
B. Africa, Asia
C. Africa
D. North America and Europe
Answer Key
1. D
2. D
3. C
4. A
5. A
6. C
7. B
8. D
9. A
10. A
11. C