SAP QUIZ Flashcards
to study intro to SAP
What are hominids?
Hominids are early human ancestors.
When did hominids first evolve?
Hominids first appeared over 4 million years ago (mya).
What traits do hominids possess?
Bipedalism and larger brains.
Why is bipedalism important?
It frees the hands for tool use, improves energy efficiency during movement, and helps spot predators.
Why did hominid brain size increase rapidly?
Natural selection favored intelligence for survival and adaptability.
Name key hominid species.
Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo ergaster/erectus, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, Homo sapiens sapiens.
Who was Lucy?
Lucy was an Australopithecus discovered in 1974 in Hadar, Ethiopia by Donald Johanson.
Why are the Laetoli footprints important?
They provide evidence of bipedalism.
Why was social behavior important to Australopithecines?
Living in groups offered protection from predators.
Why was Broca’s area important to Homo habilis?
It allowed for simple language use, improving communication and teamwork.
What are Oldowan stone tools?
The earliest known stone tools created by Homo habilis, used for cutting and scraping.
Why did Homo habilis develop smaller teeth and jaws?
The use of tools to process food reduced the need for large teeth and strong jaws.
What is sexual dimorphism?
It refers to physical differences between males and females.
Why was the use of fire an important development?
Fire provided warmth, protection from predators, and made food easier to digest.
How are Oldowan and Acheulean tools different?
Oldowan tools are simple chipped stones; Acheulean tools are more advanced hand axes.
Why was Homo erectus the first hominid species to migrate out of Africa?
Their adaptability allowed them to survive in new environments.
Why were Neanderthals heavily built?
Their strong, stocky bodies helped them conserve heat in Ice Age Europe.
Why is it significant that Neanderthals buried their dead?
This behavior suggests cultural rituals and community bonds.
Why did Neanderthals go extinct?
Possible reasons include competition with modern humans and diseases introduced by Homo sapiens.
What made modern humans more successful than Neanderthals?
Advanced tools, complex language, and strong social structures helped them adapt better.
Why did modern humans migrate out of Africa?
Reasons include population growth and climate changes.
What does physical anthropology examine?
It examines human beings as biological organisms.
What is natural selection?
It is the process where favorable traits become more common in a population.
What is the binomial system?
It organizes living things into categories based on genus and species.
