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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How are the most rudimentary human languages termed?

2. How do scientists know that about four millions of years ago the first proto-human hominids began to walk upright?

3. Why do races tend to remain established and distinct?

4. What does the author propose regarding race?

5. What did Charles Darwin realize about many organisms' traits?

Short Essay Questions

1. When do various primates break off from the remaining higher primates?

2. What traits are extremely highly correlated to sexual attractiveness?

3. What is the author's conclusion about art?

4. How are females nearly unique among animals in menopause?

5. What takes place about 200,000 years ago?

6. What is the purpose of this chapter?

7. Describe both Neanderthals.

8. How is the study of testis and penis size among primates useful?

9. How is the first criterion not uniquely human?

10. What is an optimal organism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book poses the question, why did Europeans conquer the Americas?

Part 1) According to this book, how were Europeans able to conquer the Americas, as well as many other lands around the world? Do you agree with the author's reasoning? Why or why not?

Part 2) Does this type of conquering still exist today? Why or why not?

Part 3) How has the conquering by the Europeans affected many cultures and societies around the world? What does this reveal about the power of the European people?

Essay Topic 2

Ernst Mayr's biological species concept is used as the de facto biological definition of species.

Part 1) What is Ernst Mayr's biological species concept? Why is it used as the de facto biological definition of species?

Part 2) Is the concept appropriate for defining species? Why or why not?

Part 3) What other information in this text might be viewed as incomplete or incorrect? Why? How does this affect the validity of the book as a whole?

Essay Topic 3

One chapter is devoted to the peoples, languages, and cultures of New Guinea.

Part 1) Describe New Guinea and its culture. Why is there an entire chapter devoted to New Guinea?

Part 2) What can scientists learn about humans, in general, by studying the peoples, languages, and cultures of New Guinea?

Part 3) What aspects of New Guinea life and culture is unusual and vastly different from many other cultures around the world? How does this affect the use of the study of New Guinea as a study of humanity as a whole?

(see the answer keys)

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