NCEA Level 3 Biology Past Paper PDF 2021

NCEA Level 3 Biology (91606) 2021 — page 1 of 3 Assessment Schedule – 2021 Biology: Demonstrate understanding of trends in human evolution (91606) Evidence Statement Question One...

NCEA Level 3 Biology (91606) 2021 — page 1 of 3 Assessment Schedule – 2021 Biology: Demonstrate understanding of trends in human evolution (91606) Evidence Statement Question One Evidence Achievement Merit Excellence Africa became cooler and drier. This reduced forestation and allowed grasslands to dominate the landscape, and in (abiotic) The Earth A link is made between skeletal Discusses the extreme dryness, deserts formed in northern Africa. The need to move from the trees to the grasslands to collect became (cooler change of the cranium and successful changed environment food selected for bipedalism. Mutations that caused the following were selected for as it allowed more successful and) drier. locomotion.g. the central foramen of Africa, and the bipedal locomotion: Forests gave way to magnum allowed the heavy skull to influence this had on reduction in nuchal crest grasslands / open ‘balance’ on the spine. the cranium, the savannah / food A link is made between skeletal spine, and the legs of occipital condyles Australopithecines / higher change of the spine and successful a more centralised foramen magnum locomotion early hominins for (biotic) sexual success OR survival. an S-shaped spine selection Explains how the leg features of an increased valgus angle / Q angle (Q is for quadriceps) Australopithecine led to success or Discusses the Cranium change changed features of changing relative proportions of leg described. survival Africa, and the knees buttressed / femoral condyles Spine change E.g. the valgus angle allowed the legs influence this had on described. to swing and reduce disruptive the cranium, the head of femur increased surface area (takes weight) lumbering bipedal locomotion. spine, and the legs of development of the more robust heel Leg change described. Explains how a 2nd leg feature of Australopithecines / big toe in alignment (thrust) Australopithecines led to survival or early hominins for arched foot (shock). Another leg change success success AND described. These are all examples of skeletal changes that allowed for successful bipedal locomotion. E.g. the thrusting big toe provided survival. Describes a benefit push with a heel and arched foot to Australopithecines were early bipedal species. Walking upright is energy-efficient, and allows for sustained travel in to early hominins grasslands in a hot environment. A bipedal hominin could scavenge food and carry more back to shelter. reduce impact while walking. of being bipedal. The increased valgus angle allows for more stability and less sway when walking bipedally. Energy was conserved. Successful bipedalism link to The arch acts as a shock absorber – again saving energy. The big toe allowed thrust when walking, using energy for success. forward movement, and the strengthened heel and ankle allowed more long-distance walking with no injury. E.g. dietary change due to reduced Saved energy with this increased balance could be used in reproduction and care for the young, which would lead to forest foods led to seed, root, and more success and survival. scavenged animal matter consumption. With Australopithecine now standing more upright, they could see over grasses to find food more easily, and see predators earlier. Bipedalism linked to survival of Australopithecine spp. Through seeing the predator or food, the Australopithecine would use its large cranium, for example, to think about the best route for survival, increasing the success of the population with more reproductive-age members surviving. Not Achieved Achievement Merit Excellence NØ = no response or 1a 2a 3a 4a 2m 3m 1st bullet point. BOTH bullet points. no relevant evidence.  NCEA Level 3 Biology (91606) 2021 — page 2 of 3 Question Two Evidence Achievement Merit Excellence Homo erectus made and used Acheulian tools, and Describes / (defines) cultural evolution. Acheulian tools use explained The controlled use of fire, enhanced tool hunted in groups to collect nutrient-rich foods that Acheulean tools were: eg that allowed for hunting technologies, and cooperative hunting enhanced their survival. The nutritional value of techniques explained. Better hunting leads to - (may be annotated drawing) / bifacial stone tools, and the cooking of meat, their food was further enhanced through the more high-energy food, leads to more time, a teardrop shape made with about 250 blows of a providing greater energy for and more cooperation, which leads to more controlled use of fire. Fire killed bacteria, made stone to create sharpened edges / bilateral this species or clothing successful hunting, allowing for successful food more easily digestible, and provided warmth symmetry making / digging roots / migration. Therefore they were more and protection from predators, and a hearth that - hand axes to chop meat or dig roots OR used to shelter making with tools successful than the other spp at the time. encouraged communication and cooperative create composite tools tied to wooden handles for learning opportunities. Dependence on meat hunting. Fire example explained eg The controlled use of fire, enhanced tool :More nutritious food as a technologies, and cooperative hunting allowed this species to migrate. Vegetarian species Use of Acheulean benefit. techniques form a positive feedback loop. are dependent on a species of vegetation, and are result of cooking meant, for Migration was possible by H / erectus due to good Better hunting leads to more high-energy food, place-based as a result. Meat is meat, wherever you example, increased leads to more time and more cooperation, tools getting food etc are. Meat is high-energy; less volume is needed for reproductive success / Fire which leads to more successful hunting. Fire enabled (these need to be described). ‘hearthing’ behaviour higher energy. The Acheulian tools allowed for The combination of fire, successful tools, and Cooking / warmth / light / protection / food safety. lengthened the day, providing successful hunting and processing of food. Food cooperative behaviour allowed for an could be chopped up, carried to a lair or carried Fire enabled (these need to be described) up to 2 heat and light at night, adaptability (in food sourcing) that allowed points: allowing for communication colonisation of new areas and supported a while moving from place to place. Cooperative hunting, nutritious food, and controlled use of fire Cooking / warmth / light / protection / food safety. opportunities that enhanced migratory way of life, and enabled H. allowed H. erectus to follow their prey, to move to H. erectus worked in groups to hunt cooperatively to learning and cultural erectus to be more successful than other be successful, e.g. bigger animal. knowledge for this species. hominins at the time. new areas, and to migrate out of Africa. Their dependence on meat for food was a new adaptable Cooperative meant they look after one another / Successful cooperation behaviour in hominids. H. erectus could adapt to shared energy needed. practices via cooperation new areas with new food sources that they were technologies allowed H. able to hunt and consume. erectus to move to new prey There is / was a positive feedback loop, and food and migrate accordingly. encourages more brain development, which encourages better thought – better food, and so on. Not Achieved Achievement Merit Excellence NØ = no response or 1a 2a 3a 4a 2m 3m 1st bullet point. BOTH bullet points. no relevant evidence..  NCEA Level 3 Biology (91606) 2021 — page 3 of 3 Question Three Evidence Achievement Merit Excellence Asian erectus or H. floresiensis in south east asia May describe Asian erectus / H. florensisis / H. Links the two theories together, pointing out a Explains the two theories of dispersal and or H. neanderthalensis / denisovans / neanderthalensis / denisovans / heidelbergensis. difference. discusses reasons, both behaviourally and heidelbergensis in Europe. Describes the Out of Africa theory as H. erectus Explains a physical aspect of H. sapiens’ physically, for the success of Homo sapiens, With the Out of Africa theory, Homo sapiens leaves Africa, (1.5 mya – 2 mya) then later H. success, e.g cranial capacity leading to linking to both Europe (and the Pacific). evolved in Africa. Homo erectus had left Africa sapiens. (60 000 – 100 000). clothes leading to success in cold climates / H. sapiens left Africa to ultimately replace all approx 1.5 mya and further evolved out of Africa. Describes multiregional theory that (H. erectus frontal lobe / Broca’s etc. other hominin species – their capabilities About 50 000 years ago, modern humans left left then) groups migrated out of Africa and Explains a 2nd physical aspect of H. sapiens’ surpassed those of existent species to Africa and replaced all other spp. In MR theory H. evolved together in Europe into H. sapiens. success, e.g cranial capacity leading to persevere today. erectus left Africa and evolved through gene flow (through gene flow). clothes leading to success in cold climates / Discusses reasons, both behaviourally and into sapiens with variation seen in different areas. frontal lobe / Broca’s etc. physically, for the success of Homo sapiens Describes a (specific) physical aspect of (unique Each theory has an initial migration of H. erectus to) H. sapiens success, e.g. cranium / frontal Explains a behavioural aspect of H. sapiens’ linking to both Europe and the Pacific, e.g. leaving Africa. However the difference is where lobe / Broca’s etc. success, e.g. group work building bonds, sewing, seafaring, better food, frontal lobe, H. sapiens evolved. Out of Africa theory has H. caring, migration to other areas. success in new environment. sapiens evolving in Africa from the population Describes a behavioural aspect to H. sapiens success, e.g. teamwork / shelter-building / caring Explains a 2nd behavioural aspect of H. Contains dates. that remained, whereas the multiregional theory has H. sapiens evolving in Europe due to gene / fishing / sophisticated tools. sapiens’ success, e.g. group work building Has more abstract thought, e.g. could use star flow between the migrating populations. Describes a second behavioural or physical bonds, caring, migration to other areas. navigation. Physical and behavioural differences are aspect to H. sapiens’ success, e.g. teamwork / endocranial and others. Group work, harvesting shelter-building / caring / fishing / sophisticated ability, etc. tools. Not Achieved Achievement Merit Excellence NØ = no response 1a 2a 3a 4a 2m 3m 1st bullet point. BOTH bullet points. or no relevant evidence. Cut Scores Not Achieved Achievement Achievement with Merit Achievement with Excellence 0–7 8 – 13 14– 18 19– 24