A common misconception in society is that scientists are hunting for a “missing link” that falls in an evolutionary line between human beings and apes. Why does our current knowledge of human evolution make the concept of a missing link meaningless?

The first fossils that were recognized as belonging to an extinct hominin species (select all that apply):

a. were found in the nineteenth century in Germany.

b. belonged to the species Australopithecus africanus.

c. were found in the twenty-first century in Indonesia.

d. belonged to the species Homo neanderthalensis.

e. belonged to the species Homo erectus.

The taxonomic group Hominini is defined as the group of:

a. modern humans and chimpanzees.

b. modern humans and Homo neanderthalensis.

c. modern humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas.

d. human-like primates.

e. primates lacking a tree-dwelling existence.

The Hominini (select all that apply):

a. originated between 135,000 and 350,000 years ago.

b. includes one living species.

c. originated between 6 and 7 million years ago.

d. includes two living species.

e. shares a common ancestor with the chimpanzee taxonomic group.

To judge by fossil remains and other evidence, the “Lucy” hominin Australopithecus afarensis appears to (select all that apply):

a. have been bipedal.

b. have been about as intelligent as modern humans.

c. have existed roughly 3.2 million years ago.

d. have been replaced by modern humans.

e. have existed roughly 1.6 million years ago.

The first hominin species to leave Africa:

a. was Homo sapiens, 50,000-60,000 years ago.

b. was Homo neanderthalensis 350,000 years ago.

c. was Australopithecus afarensis roughly 3.2 million years ago.

d. was Homo erectus roughly 1.8 million years ago.

e. was Homo sapiens roughly 1.8 million years ago.

Neanderthals (select all that apply):

a. first evolved in Africa.

b. first evolved in Europe.

c. died out in Indonesia.

d. became extinct after a period of living in proximity to Homo sapiens.

e. died out 28,000 years ago.

Homo sapiens or modern humans (select all that apply):

a. evolved into their present anatomical form in Africa.

b. first migrated out of Africa 1.8 million years ago.

c. never interbred with Neanderthals.

d. went north and west, into Europe, on their first migration out of Africa.

e. first appeared in Africa about 200,000 years ago.

The “Hobbit” species that has been named Homo floresiensis (select all that apply):

a. lived in present-day Indonesia.

b. was arguably a Neanderthal.

c. was arguably a modern human suffering from a physical condition.

d. is thought to have died out 28,000 years ago.

e. may represent a previously unknown species of hominin.