Q.1 Who is considered the 'father of physical anthropology'?
Charles Darwin
Franz Boas
Johann Friedrich Blumenbach
Louis Leakey
Explanation - Blumenbach is regarded as the father of physical anthropology for his work on human variation and classification.
Correct answer is: Johann Friedrich Blumenbach
Q.2 Which concept explains the genetic changes in populations over generations?
Mutation
Natural selection
Evolution
Speciation
Explanation - Evolution is the process of genetic change in populations across generations.
Correct answer is: Evolution
Q.3 Mitochondrial DNA is inherited from which parent?
Father only
Mother only
Both parents
Neither parent
Explanation - Mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally because sperm contributes little cytoplasm to the zygote.
Correct answer is: Mother only
Q.4 Which species is believed to be the first toolmaker?
Homo sapiens
Australopithecus afarensis
Homo habilis
Neanderthals
Explanation - Homo habilis is often called the 'handy man' because of evidence of early stone tool use.
Correct answer is: Homo habilis
Q.5 The study of primates falls under which branch of anthropology?
Archaeology
Cultural anthropology
Biological anthropology
Linguistic anthropology
Explanation - Primatology, the study of primates, is a subfield of biological anthropology.
Correct answer is: Biological anthropology
Q.6 Which process increases genetic variation in populations?
Mutation
Genetic drift
Natural selection
Inbreeding
Explanation - Mutations are random changes in DNA that introduce new genetic variation.
Correct answer is: Mutation
Q.7 Neanderthals are scientifically classified as:
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
Homo neanderthalensis
Australopithecus africanus
Explanation - Neanderthals are recognized as a distinct species, Homo neanderthalensis.
Correct answer is: Homo neanderthalensis
Q.8 Which fossil is famously known as 'Lucy'?
Australopithecus afarensis
Homo erectus
Homo habilis
Paranthropus boisei
Explanation - Lucy is a 3.2-million-year-old fossil of Australopithecus afarensis discovered in Ethiopia.
Correct answer is: Australopithecus afarensis
Q.9 What is the main focus of forensic anthropology?
Cultural rituals
Human language
Skeletal analysis in legal contexts
Ancient artifacts
Explanation - Forensic anthropology applies skeletal analysis to solve crimes and legal cases.
Correct answer is: Skeletal analysis in legal contexts
Q.10 The Out-of-Africa theory suggests that:
Humans evolved simultaneously worldwide
Modern humans originated in Africa
Neanderthals evolved into modern humans
Homo erectus never left Africa
Explanation - The Out-of-Africa theory proposes that Homo sapiens first evolved in Africa before spreading globally.
Correct answer is: Modern humans originated in Africa
Q.11 Which of the following is NOT a great ape?
Gorilla
Orangutan
Gibbon
Chimpanzee
Explanation - Gibbons are lesser apes, not great apes, which include humans, gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees.
Correct answer is: Gibbon
Q.12 Which field studies ancient human remains to reconstruct past health?
Forensic anthropology
Bioarchaeology
Ethnography
Primatology
Explanation - Bioarchaeology examines skeletal remains from archaeological sites to understand past human health and lifestyle.
Correct answer is: Bioarchaeology
Q.13 The term 'hominin' refers to:
All primates
Humans and their bipedal ancestors
Only modern humans
Apes and monkeys
Explanation - Hominins are a group including modern humans and extinct species closely related to us.
Correct answer is: Humans and their bipedal ancestors
Q.14 Which is the closest living relative to humans?
Gorillas
Chimpanzees
Orangutans
Baboons
Explanation - Genetic studies show chimpanzees share the highest percentage of DNA with humans.
Correct answer is: Chimpanzees
Q.15 What is the term for the evolutionary process where unrelated species develop similar traits?
Convergent evolution
Divergent evolution
Adaptive radiation
Speciation
Explanation - Convergent evolution occurs when different species independently evolve similar traits due to similar environments.
Correct answer is: Convergent evolution
Q.16 Which dating method uses the decay of carbon isotopes?
Radiocarbon dating
Potassium-argon dating
Stratigraphy
Dendrochronology
Explanation - Radiocarbon dating measures the decay of Carbon-14 to estimate the age of organic materials.
Correct answer is: Radiocarbon dating
Q.17 Sagittal crest in some hominins indicates:
Advanced brain size
Strong jaw muscles
Small teeth
Ability to speak
Explanation - A sagittal crest is a bony ridge for attachment of strong chewing muscles.
Correct answer is: Strong jaw muscles
Q.18 Which scientist proposed the theory of natural selection?
Gregor Mendel
Charles Darwin
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Alfred Wallace
Explanation - Darwin introduced the concept of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution.
Correct answer is: Charles Darwin
Q.19 Which part of the skeleton is most used to determine sex in forensic anthropology?
Skull
Femur
Pelvis
Ribs
Explanation - The pelvis has the most distinct differences between males and females.
Correct answer is: Pelvis
Q.20 Genetic drift is most significant in:
Large populations
Small populations
Stable populations
All populations equally
Explanation - In small populations, random genetic changes have a larger effect over generations.
Correct answer is: Small populations
Q.21 Which early hominin was the first to use fire?
Australopithecus afarensis
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Neanderthals
Explanation - Evidence suggests Homo erectus was the first to control fire around 1 million years ago.
Correct answer is: Homo erectus
Q.22 What does the term 'bipedalism' mean?
Walking on two legs
Living in groups
Using tools
Eating plants
Explanation - Bipedalism is the ability to walk upright on two legs, a key feature of hominins.
Correct answer is: Walking on two legs
Q.23 Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of evolution?
Mutation
Gene flow
Natural selection
Taxonomy
Explanation - Taxonomy is classification, not a process that drives evolutionary change.
Correct answer is: Taxonomy
Q.24 The Leakey family is famous for discoveries in:
South America
Africa
Asia
Europe
Explanation - The Leakeys made significant paleoanthropological discoveries in East Africa.
Correct answer is: Africa
Q.25 Which term describes the study of human biological and physiological characteristics?
Sociology
Biological anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Archaeology
Explanation - Biological anthropology focuses on human biology, evolution, and variation.
Correct answer is: Biological anthropology