Q.1 Which of the following is the primary factor driving human variation?
Cultural practices
Genetic inheritance
Economic status
Language differences
Explanation - Human variation is primarily driven by genetic inheritance, although environment also plays a role.
Correct answer is: Genetic inheritance
Q.2 Which type of human adaptation involves physiological changes within an individual during their lifetime?
Genetic adaptation
Cultural adaptation
Acclimatization
Behavioral adaptation
Explanation - Acclimatization refers to short-term physiological changes in response to environmental stress, such as high altitude or temperature.
Correct answer is: Acclimatization
Q.3 Populations living at high altitudes often develop increased red blood cell counts. This is an example of:
Behavioral adaptation
Genetic drift
Physiological adaptation
Cultural adaptation
Explanation - High-altitude populations show physiological adaptations like increased red blood cells to cope with low oxygen levels.
Correct answer is: Physiological adaptation
Q.4 Which skin pigment is primarily responsible for protecting against ultraviolet (UV) radiation?
Melanin
Carotene
Hemoglobin
Keratin
Explanation - Melanin in the skin absorbs UV radiation and reduces DNA damage, protecting against skin cancer.
Correct answer is: Melanin
Q.5 Bergmann's rule states that:
Animals in colder climates have smaller bodies
Animals in colder climates have larger bodies
Animals in warmer climates have heavier bones
Animals in warmer climates have darker skin
Explanation - Bergmann's rule predicts that populations in colder environments have larger body mass to conserve heat.
Correct answer is: Animals in colder climates have larger bodies
Q.6 Allen’s rule is concerned with:
Body shape and extremities in relation to climate
Skin pigmentation in different regions
Nutritional adaptation
Lactose tolerance variation
Explanation - Allen’s rule predicts that populations in colder climates have shorter extremities to conserve heat, while those in warmer climates have longer extremities.
Correct answer is: Body shape and extremities in relation to climate
Q.7 Lactose tolerance in adult populations is an example of:
Cultural adaptation
Genetic adaptation
Behavioral adaptation
Physiological acclimatization
Explanation - Lactose tolerance is a genetic adaptation in populations with a long history of dairy consumption.
Correct answer is: Genetic adaptation
Q.8 Which of the following is an example of a short-term human adaptation?
Tanning of the skin due to sun exposure
Evolution of larger lung capacity
Development of lactose tolerance
Reduced body hair over generations
Explanation - Tanning is a short-term physiological response to UV exposure, unlike evolutionary changes which occur over generations.
Correct answer is: Tanning of the skin due to sun exposure
Q.9 Which factor has the least influence on human genetic variation?
Mutation
Natural selection
Migration
Language
Explanation - Language itself does not directly alter genes, though it can influence culture and mating patterns indirectly.
Correct answer is: Language
Q.10 Skin pigmentation is strongly correlated with:
Altitude
Latitude and UV radiation
Temperature
Dietary habits
Explanation - Populations closer to the equator have darker skin to protect against UV damage, while populations at higher latitudes have lighter skin to facilitate vitamin D synthesis.
Correct answer is: Latitude and UV radiation
Q.11 The study of human adaptation to environmental stresses is called:
Paleoanthropology
Human ecology
Ethnography
Primatology
Explanation - Human ecology examines how humans adapt biologically and culturally to different environmental stresses.
Correct answer is: Human ecology
Q.12 Which of the following is an example of cultural adaptation to environment?
Wearing insulated clothing in cold climates
Increased lung capacity at high altitude
Dark skin in tropical regions
Genetic resistance to malaria
Explanation - Cultural adaptation involves behavioral solutions like clothing or shelter to cope with environmental conditions.
Correct answer is: Wearing insulated clothing in cold climates
Q.13 The concept that human populations can show differences in body proportions due to climate is known as:
Clinal variation
Allen’s rule
Founder effect
Gene flow
Explanation - Allen’s rule explains how body extremities vary with climate: shorter in cold climates and longer in warm climates.
Correct answer is: Allen’s rule
Q.14 Which human trait is an example of adaptation to cold environments?
High melanin levels
Short, stocky body build
Dark eye color
Increased sweat glands
Explanation - Short, stocky bodies conserve heat better, an adaptation seen in populations living in cold climates.
Correct answer is: Short, stocky body build
Q.15 Which of the following is NOT considered a biological adaptation?
Shivering in response to cold
Developing lactose tolerance
Wearing fur coats
Increased hemoglobin at high altitude
Explanation - Wearing clothing is a cultural adaptation, not a biological adaptation.
Correct answer is: Wearing fur coats
Q.16 Sickle cell trait provides resistance to which disease?
Tuberculosis
Malaria
Cholera
Influenza
Explanation - Individuals with one sickle cell allele have resistance to malaria, illustrating a genetic adaptation.
Correct answer is: Malaria
Q.17 The term 'clinal variation' refers to:
Abrupt genetic differences between populations
Gradual change in traits across geographic space
Cultural differences between regions
Sudden mutation in a population
Explanation - Clinal variation describes gradual changes in phenotype or genotype across geographic gradients.
Correct answer is: Gradual change in traits across geographic space
Q.18 Which adaptation is seen in populations living in hot, arid climates?
Stocky body build
Long, slender limbs
High melanin levels
Increased fat deposition
Explanation - Long, slender limbs help dissipate heat more efficiently, an adaptation to hot climates.
Correct answer is: Long, slender limbs
Q.19 The ability of humans to survive in hypoxic (low oxygen) environments is an example of:
Behavioral adaptation
Cultural adaptation
Physiological adaptation
Genetic drift
Explanation - Populations in high-altitude environments show physiological adaptations like increased red blood cells to cope with low oxygen.
Correct answer is: Physiological adaptation
Q.20 Which of the following is a result of natural selection in human populations?
Cultural festivals
Dark skin in tropical regions
Language diversity
Artistic expression
Explanation - Dark skin protects against UV radiation, showing an evolutionary adaptation shaped by natural selection.
Correct answer is: Dark skin in tropical regions
Q.21 Which physiological adaptation allows humans to tolerate extreme cold?
Vasodilation
Shivering
Increased melanin
Tanning
Explanation - Shivering generates heat through muscle activity, a short-term physiological response to cold.
Correct answer is: Shivering
Q.22 Genetic variation in human populations is maintained through:
Mutation, gene flow, and natural selection
Cultural practices alone
Dietary habits alone
Climate change alone
Explanation - Genetic variation arises through mutation, and is shaped by gene flow and natural selection.
Correct answer is: Mutation, gene flow, and natural selection
Q.23 The study of human adaptation and variation often integrates which fields?
Biology, anthropology, and ecology
Physics and chemistry
Art and literature
Economics and political science
Explanation - Human variation and adaptation is interdisciplinary, combining biological, ecological, and anthropological perspectives.
Correct answer is: Biology, anthropology, and ecology
Q.24 Which of the following is an example of a behavioral adaptation?
Using fans to stay cool in hot climates
Darker skin pigmentation
Increased lung capacity at altitude
Stocky body build in cold regions
Explanation - Behavioral adaptations involve learned actions or strategies to cope with environmental challenges.
Correct answer is: Using fans to stay cool in hot climates