Question 1

A problem with the technological intelligence model for hominin brain expansion is __________.

Accepted Answer

Bipedalism occurred much earlier, and brain expansion occurred much later than the appearance and widespread use of stone tools.

Question 2

Tool use is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

Tool use is an example of technical intelligence, which involves the ability to manipulate objects and use tools to solve problems.

Question 3

Primates have the greatest __________ of any mammalian group.

Accepted Answer

Primates have the greatest brain to body size ratio of any mammalian group. This means that relative to their body size, primates have larger brains than other mammals. This is thought to be related to their complex social behaviors and cognitive abilities.

Question 4

One problem with social intelligence models is that __________.

Accepted Answer

Social intelligence models often link larger brain sizes with complex social behaviors. However, orangutans challenge this model as they have large brains but tend to live solitary lives, suggesting that large brains are not exclusively linked to social living.

Question 5

One problem with ecological intelligence models is __________.

Accepted Answer

Ecological intelligence models suggest a link between intelligence and foraging efficiency, but the correlation is often weak, posing a problem for these models.

Question 6

The transition to bipedality happened because the species ancestral to hominins was a marginal forager who faced extinction if it did not change quickly.

Accepted Answer

While there are various theories about the reasons for the transition to bipedality, there is no strong evidence to suggest that it was solely driven by the need to forage in a particular environment. It is likely that a combination of factors such as climate change, predation pressure, and adaptations for tool use played a role in the evolution of bipedality.

Question 7

Evidence exists that frugivorous primate species have __________ than folivorous primate species.

Accepted Answer

Frugivorous primates, which primarily eat fruit, tend to have greater brain to body ratios compared to folivorous primates, which primarily eat leaves. This is because fruit-eating requires more complex foraging strategies and cognitive skills.

Question 8

The ability to use cognitive skills to extract food and other resources by modifying the environment is referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

Technical intelligence refers to the ability to use cognitive skills to manipulate the environment and extract resources, such as food, through tool use and problem-solving.

Question 9

The Lovejoy model claims that pair bonding and male provisioning of females is the force behind the evolution of bipedalism.

Accepted Answer

The Lovejoy model suggests that bipedalism evolved as a means for males to carry food to females, which promoted pair bonding and female reproductive success.

Question 10

The ability to place oneself into the mind of others is known as __________, which is necessary for possessing an awareness of the knowledge or cognitive ability of others and for imitating or teaching others.

Accepted Answer

The ability described is known as "theory of mind." This is the ability to understand and attribute mental states, beliefs, and intentions to oneself and others. It is necessary for social interaction, empathy, and communication. Option A ("psychological ability") and Option C ("social intelligence") may be related concepts, but they do not specifically describe the ability to understand the mental states of others. Option D ("manipulation") is not an accurate description of this ability, as it suggests a malicious or deceptive intent rather than a desire to empathize or communicate with others.

Question 11

One potential problem with the Lovejoy model is that __________.

Accepted Answer

Sexual dimorphism in early hominins suggests that there were differences in size and roles between males and females, which is often associated with non-monogamous mating systems. This challenges the Lovejoy model's assumption of monogamy.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a component of social intelligence models?

Accepted Answer

Ethical codes are not typically considered a component of social intelligence models, which focus more on understanding and navigating social dynamics rather than moral or ethical considerations.

Question 13

The concept of homology suggests that ___________ and ___________ should be central to using primate studies to reconstruct hominin behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The concept of homology suggests that ___________...

Question 14

The anatomical shift from quadrupedalism came after a behavioral shift began in the ape ancestor of the hominin line.

Accepted Answer

This is generally accepted among paleoanthropologists, who believe that the development of bipedalism was preceded by changes in behavior, such as increased tool use and food gathering on the ground, rather than simply the result of a purely anatomical shift.

Question 15

Research has produced evidence that higher primates use deception __________ than lower primates.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that higher primates, such as chimpanzees and orangutans, use deception more often than lower primates, such as lemurs and marmosets. Higher primates have larger brain sizes and higher cognitive abilities, which may contribute to their greater capacity for deception.

Question 16

__________ suggest that the key impetus for the expansion of the brain was the selective advantage of being able to navigate and find food in a highly complex environment.

Accepted Answer

Ecological intelligence models propose that the evolution and expansion of the human brain was driven by the selective advantage of being able to navigate and find food in complex and changing environments, which required advanced cognitive abilities such as spatial memory and planning. Dietary models focus on the nutritional factors that contributed to brain evolution, while movement and provisioning models emphasize the importance of tool use and social cooperation. Environmental intelligence models are similar to ecological intelligence models but also incorporate social and cultural factors.

Question 17

Research suggests that differences in tool use among chimpanzee populations is the result of __________.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that tool use among chimpanzees varies across different populations, and that these differences are passed down through cultural traditions rather than genetics or intelligence. Chimpanzees in different environments have developed unique ways of using tools to address specific challenges in their habitats, indicating that their behaviors are shaped by social learning and cultural transmission.

Question 18

An important component of many ecological models is stress on the ability of frugivorous species to __________.

Accepted Answer

Frugivorous species often rely on memory to locate food sources as fruit ripens, which is crucial for their survival and reproductive success.

Question 19

Currently, the most widely accepted models for the development of hominin intelligence are __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Currently, the most widely accepted models for...

Question 20

Terry Deacon's research has shown that brain size in early hominin species __________.

Accepted Answer

Terry Deacon's research has shown that brain size in early hominin species was the result of brains scaled to different body sizes in hominin species, rather than a linear progression favoring greater intelligence or sexual dimorphism. Brain size increased over time until the appearance of modern humans, with some species exhibiting decreases in brain size during certain periods.

Quiz 10: Becoming Human: the Ape-Hominin Transition