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Origin and Evolution of Man MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

Edited By admin | Updated on Sep 18, 2023 18:34 AM | #NEET

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  • Origin & Evolution of Man is considered one of the most asked concept.

  • 23 Questions around this concept.

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The chronological order of human evolution from early to the recent is

What was the most significant trend in the evolution of modern man (Homo sapiens) from his ancestors?

The extinct human who lived 1,00,000 to 40,000 years ago, in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa, with short stature, heavy eyebrows, retreating fore haeds, large jaws with heavy teeth, stocky bodies, a lumbering gait and stooped posture was

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What was the most significant trend in evolution of modern man (Homo sapiens) from his ancestors?

Which of the following had the smallest brain capacity ?

Concepts Covered - 2

A Brief Account of Evolution
  • About 2000 million years ago (mya) the first cellular forms of life appeared on earth. 
  • The mechanism of how non-cellular aggregates of giant macromolecules could evolve into cells with membranous envelopes is not known. 
  • Some of these cells had the ability to release O2. 
  • The reaction could have been similar to the light reaction in photosynthesis where water is split with the help of solar energy captured and channelized by appropriate light-harvesting pigments. 
  • Slowly single-celled organisms became multicellular life forms. 
  • By the time of 500 mya, invertebrates were formed and active. 
  • Jawless fish probably evolved around 350 mya. 
  • Sea weeds and few plants existed probably around 320 mya. 
  • We are told that the first organisms that invaded land were plants. 
  • They were widespread on land when animals invaded land. 
  • Fish with stout and strong fins could move on land and go back to the water. This was about 350 mya.
  • In 1938, a fish caught in South Africa happened to be a Coelacanth which was thought to be extinct. 
  • These animals called lobe fins evolved into the first amphibians that lived on both land and water. 
  • The amphibians evolved into reptiles. They lay thick-shelled eggs that do not dry up in sun unlike those of amphibians.
  • Again we only see their modern-day descendants, the turtles, tortoises and crocodiles.
  • In the next 200 millions years or so, reptiles of different shapes and sizes dominated on earth. 
  • Giant ferns (pteridophytes) were present but they all fell to form coal deposits slowly. 
  • Some of these land reptiles went back into water to evolve into fish-like reptiles probably 200 mya (e.g. Ichthyosaurs). 
  • The land reptiles were, of course, the dinosaurs. The biggest of them, i.e.Tyrannosaurus rex was about 20 feet in height and had huge fearsome dagger-like teeth. 
  • About 65 mya, the dinosaurs suddenly disappeared from the earth. We do not know the true reason.
  • Some say climatic changes killed them. Some say most of them evolved into birds. The truth may live in between. 
  • Small-sized reptiles of that era still exist today.
  • The first mammals were like shrews. Their fossils are small-sized.
  • Mammals were viviparous and protected their unborn young inside the mother’s body.
  • Mammals were more intelligent in sensing and avoiding danger at least.
  • When reptiles came down mammals took over this earth.
  • There were in South America mammals resembling horse, hippopotamus, bear, rabbit, etc. 
  • Due to continental drift, when South America joined North America, these animals were overridden by North American fauna.
  • Due to the same continental drift pouched mammals of Australia survived because of lack of competition from any other mammal.
  • Lets we forget, some mammals live wholly in water. Whales, dolphins, seals and sea cows are some examples.
     
Origin & Evolution of Man

 

  • Man is placed under the family Hominidae of the order Primate and differs from other anthropoid apes by having: 
    • Large size of the brain with greater functional ability
    • The brain case is larger than face region
  • Available fossils give the evidence that most of the fossils of pre-human ancestors including monkeys and apes have been recovered from Africa, Asia and Europe.
  • The modern man possesses the following special features, which have been acquired during the course of evolution:-
    • Bipedal locomotion
    • Large brain and cranial cavity
    • Grasping hands and feet
    • Erect posture
    • Stereoscopic (binocular) vision
    • Sensitivity
    • Social organization
    • Expression by speech
  • Morphological changes that have occurred in man during the process of evolution are
    • Increase in brain size and intelligence
    • Attainment of erect posture
    • Flattening of face
    • Shortening of body hair and reduction in their number
    • Elevation and narrowing of the nose
    •  Formation of chin

Early human ancestors:

  • Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus:
    • About 15 mya, primates called Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus were existing
    • They were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees
    • Ramapithecus was more man-like while Dryopithecus was more ape-like
    • Few fossils of man-like bones have been discovered in Ethiopia and Tanzania
    • These revealed hominid features leading to the belief that about 3-4 mya, man-like primates walked in eastern Africa
  • Australopithecus (the first man-ape):
    • About two mya, Australopithecines probably lived in East African grasslands.
    • Australopithecines are considered to be ancestral to all hominids of genus Homo.
    • They walked nearly or completely straight.
    • Australopithecus have 500 c.c. cranial capacity.
  • Homo habilis:
    • The brain capacities were between 650-800cc.
    • They probably did not eat meat.
    • The brain capacities were between 650-800cc. 
    • They were the makers of stone tools.
  • Homo erectus:
    • About 1.5 mya, Homo erectus arose.
    • Homo erectus had a large brain around 900cc.
    • Homo erectus probably ate meat.
  • Neanderthal man:
    • Their fossils were found in the Neanderthal Valley in Germany.
    • They arose some 1,00,000-40,000 years back near east and central Asia.
    • The skull bones were thick, forehead was low and slanting and the eyebrow ridges were heavy. 
    • The jaw was deep with no chin. 
    • The cranial capacity was about 1450 c.c. (almost equal to the modern man).
    • It was quite intelligent to use and construct tools. 
    • It buried its dead and could perform ceremonies as well as constructed hut-like dwelling structures.
  • Cro–Magnon Man: 
    • These lived during the last 30,000 years or more in Europe. 
    • These succeeded Neanderthals and became extinct about 10,000 years ago in the last glacial period.
    • The cranial cavity was about 1660 cc. 
    • These were cave-dwelling and hunters. 
    • They made tools from stones and ornaments from ivory.
  • Modern Man (Homo sapiens–sapiens):
    • During the ice age between 75,000-10,000 years ago, modern Homo sapiens arose. 
    • Prehistoric cave art developed about 18,000 years ago. 
    • Agriculture came around 10,000 years back and human settlements started. 
       

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Reference Books

Origin & Evolution of Man

Biology Textbook for Class XII

Page No. : 140

Line : 35

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