Biological Capacities in Human Culture Quiz

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What is the primary mechanism that drives biological evolution?

Natural selection (correct)
Environmental factors
Intentional adaptation
Cultural influences

Which of the following best describes biological evolution?

The inheritance of genetic variations through reproduction (correct)
The conscious effort of individuals to adapt to their environment
The purposeful design of species by a higher power
The transfer of acquired traits from one generation to the next

Which of the following physical adaptations is associated with populations living in colder climates?

Reduced body fat
Elongated limbs
Broader hips and shorter extremities (correct)
Increased skin pigmentation

What is the primary difference between biological and cultural evolution?

Biological evolution involves genetic changes, while cultural evolution involves learned behaviors (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between biological and cultural evolution in humans?

They are interrelated processes that can influence each other (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary driving force behind the process of natural selection?

Variations in traits among individuals within a species (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a biological adaptation resulting from natural selection?

The increased skin pigmentation in populations living in warmer climates (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the principle of differential reproduction?

Organisms with traits better adapted to their environment will produce more offspring on average (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following hominid species was the first to develop the ability to make stone tools?

Homo habilis (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between the gracile and robust Australopithecines?

The robust Australopithecines (Paranthropus) and gracile Australopithecines were separate lineages (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which traits are passed from one generation to the next, enabling the process of natural selection?

Heredity (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the principles of natural selection, what happens to individuals within a species that possess traits poorly adapted to their environment?

They will be less likely to survive and reproduce, gradually reducing the prevalence of those traits (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the theory of natural selection, what is the primary mechanism driving evolutionary change over time?

The gradual accumulation of favorable traits that enhance survival and reproduction (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between humans and other primates in terms of locomotion?

Humans are the only fully bipedal primates, relying exclusively on two legs for locomotion (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the concept of a biological species?

A population of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the principles of heredity, which of the following statements is true regarding the transmission of traits from parents to offspring?

Offspring inherit a combination of discrete traits from each parent, following specific inheritance patterns (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between different hominid species over evolutionary time?

Hominid species evolved through a branching pattern, with new species diverging from common ancestors (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism that introduces variation within a population, which is essential for natural selection to occur?

Random genetic mutations that alter the inherited traits of individuals (B) Signup and view all the answers