UCLA ANTHRO 1 FINAL Exam 2025/2026 With 100%
Correct Answers
/. When was the major migration out of Africa? - Answer--60ka
-modern humans replaced the Neanderthals and robust hominids across the world
/.When did modern humans evolve? - Answer-200,000 years ago
/.modern Homo sapien derived characteristics: - Answer--small, flat face with portruding
chin
-rounded skull
-cranial capacity of at least 1,350cc
-less robust post-cranial skeleton
-relatively long limbs and shorter trunks
/.why was the modern human less robust? - Answer--relied more on elaborate tools and
technological advancements, less on body strength
/.how does modern human behavior compare to that of early hominins? - Answer--much
more complex and variable
-vast array of specialized tools and techniques to adapt to diverse environments
-elaborate and varied symbolic, artistic, and religious behavior
-due to large geographic range
-ability to accumulate and transmit over successive generations
/.Middle Stone Age (MSA) - Answer--The stone tool industries of sub-Saharan Africa
and southern and eastern Asia that existed 250 to 40 kya.
-counterpart of the Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian) in Europe
-varied, but flake tools were manufactured in all of them
-large social networks, Llong-distance exchange networks
/.MSA tools - Answer--blades: long, thin stone tools, Mode 4
-symmetrical, leaf-shaped points
-microliths: small stone flake, sharp edge on one side and flat on the other, Mode 5
-atlatl: throws spears farther
-bone tools
-shelters and hearths
/.When did the Middle Stone Age occur? - Answer-Later Pleistocene
, /.What was change in human behavior caused by? - Answer--increased cognitive ability
-cultural innovations, not genetic
-technological innovation
/.MSA transition - Answer-technological innovation --> more efficient food acquisition -->
greater economic surplus --> more economic specialization --> greater symbolic and
ritual activity
/.Fossil Evidence for movement out of Africa - Answer--earliest found in China, 120-
80ka
-no other anatomical modern fossil outside Africa that date to before 63ka
- beginning 30ka, wealth of evidence for presence of modern humans across Europe
/.Genetic Evidence for movement out of Africa - Answer-1) modern humans evolved in
Africa btw 200-90ka
2) modern humans outside Africa are descended from one or more populations that left
Africa btw 120-40ka
3) a small amount of interbreeding occurred btw modern humans and hominins already
living in Eurasia (Neanderthals and Denisovans)
/.What kind of DNA does not undergo recombination, thus allowing you to trace it back
to a single individual? - Answer-1) DNA on Y chromosom
2) mitochondria DNA from mom
3) short segments of DNA on ordinary chromosomes
/.What does the accumulation of mutations allow us to discover? - Answer--estimate
time passed since the MRCA
-estimate past population size
/.Relationship between distance from Africa and genetic variation - Answer-increased
distance from Africa = decreased genetic variation
/.Why does the genetic variation decrease? - Answer-- each time people leave a
population, they carry with them only a subset of genes present within that population
/.polygyny threshold model - Answer-An explanation for polygyny based on the premise
that females will gain fitness by mating with an already paired male if the resources
controlled by that male greatly exceed those under the control of unmated males.
/.When would a female choose polygyny over monogamy? - Answer-resources from a
polygynous mating group > resources from a monogamous mating pair
/.Kipsigis Case Study - Answer--larger plot size for those with more wives
-provides more breeding opportunity
Correct Answers
/. When was the major migration out of Africa? - Answer--60ka
-modern humans replaced the Neanderthals and robust hominids across the world
/.When did modern humans evolve? - Answer-200,000 years ago
/.modern Homo sapien derived characteristics: - Answer--small, flat face with portruding
chin
-rounded skull
-cranial capacity of at least 1,350cc
-less robust post-cranial skeleton
-relatively long limbs and shorter trunks
/.why was the modern human less robust? - Answer--relied more on elaborate tools and
technological advancements, less on body strength
/.how does modern human behavior compare to that of early hominins? - Answer--much
more complex and variable
-vast array of specialized tools and techniques to adapt to diverse environments
-elaborate and varied symbolic, artistic, and religious behavior
-due to large geographic range
-ability to accumulate and transmit over successive generations
/.Middle Stone Age (MSA) - Answer--The stone tool industries of sub-Saharan Africa
and southern and eastern Asia that existed 250 to 40 kya.
-counterpart of the Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian) in Europe
-varied, but flake tools were manufactured in all of them
-large social networks, Llong-distance exchange networks
/.MSA tools - Answer--blades: long, thin stone tools, Mode 4
-symmetrical, leaf-shaped points
-microliths: small stone flake, sharp edge on one side and flat on the other, Mode 5
-atlatl: throws spears farther
-bone tools
-shelters and hearths
/.When did the Middle Stone Age occur? - Answer-Later Pleistocene
, /.What was change in human behavior caused by? - Answer--increased cognitive ability
-cultural innovations, not genetic
-technological innovation
/.MSA transition - Answer-technological innovation --> more efficient food acquisition -->
greater economic surplus --> more economic specialization --> greater symbolic and
ritual activity
/.Fossil Evidence for movement out of Africa - Answer--earliest found in China, 120-
80ka
-no other anatomical modern fossil outside Africa that date to before 63ka
- beginning 30ka, wealth of evidence for presence of modern humans across Europe
/.Genetic Evidence for movement out of Africa - Answer-1) modern humans evolved in
Africa btw 200-90ka
2) modern humans outside Africa are descended from one or more populations that left
Africa btw 120-40ka
3) a small amount of interbreeding occurred btw modern humans and hominins already
living in Eurasia (Neanderthals and Denisovans)
/.What kind of DNA does not undergo recombination, thus allowing you to trace it back
to a single individual? - Answer-1) DNA on Y chromosom
2) mitochondria DNA from mom
3) short segments of DNA on ordinary chromosomes
/.What does the accumulation of mutations allow us to discover? - Answer--estimate
time passed since the MRCA
-estimate past population size
/.Relationship between distance from Africa and genetic variation - Answer-increased
distance from Africa = decreased genetic variation
/.Why does the genetic variation decrease? - Answer-- each time people leave a
population, they carry with them only a subset of genes present within that population
/.polygyny threshold model - Answer-An explanation for polygyny based on the premise
that females will gain fitness by mating with an already paired male if the resources
controlled by that male greatly exceed those under the control of unmated males.
/.When would a female choose polygyny over monogamy? - Answer-resources from a
polygynous mating group > resources from a monogamous mating pair
/.Kipsigis Case Study - Answer--larger plot size for those with more wives
-provides more breeding opportunity
