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Question 35 — The Human Story (25 marks) Answer parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question on pages 2–4 of the Section II Writing Booklet - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 35 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 35
Question 35 — The Human Story (25 marks) Answer parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question on pages 2–4 of the Section II Writing Booklet. Start each part of the quest... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Question 35 — The Human Story (25 marks) Answer parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question on pages 2–4 of the Section II Writing Booklet - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 35 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
Provide the word that describes the tail for the classification of each primate.
Answer
The tail characteristic for the spider monkey in Figure 1 is termed 'prehensile', meaning it is capable of grasping. In contrast, the baboon depicted in Figure 2 possesses a 'non-prehensile' tail, which does not have this capability.
Step 2
Spider monkeys and baboons are members of the same order. Use the hierarchical classification system to explain whether they would necessarily be in the same phylum and the same genus.
Answer
In biological classification, both spider monkeys and baboons belong to the order Primates, which indicates their shared evolutionary lineage. However, within this order, they are classified into different families. Spider monkeys belong to the family Atelidae, while baboons belong to the family Cercopithecidae. Consequently, while they share the same phylum (Chordata) due to being vertebrates, they are not in the same genus since they belong to distinct families.
Step 3
Explain ONE piece of evidence for, and ONE piece of evidence against, the theory of regional continuity.
Answer
One piece of evidence supporting the theory of regional continuity is the fossil record, which suggests that modern humans evolved in multiple regions, including Africa and Asia, rather than from a single population in one location. For instance, fossils such as those found in China indicate a pathway of evolution from earlier hominins to modern humans. On the other hand, evidence against this theory includes discoveries of isolated hominin groups that display significant differences, suggesting independent evolutionary paths. This implies that certain features may have developed in isolation rather than as a continuum from a common ancestor.
Step 4
Account for identified differences in the cultural development of Australopithecines and Homo neanderthalensis in relation to their cranial capacities.
Answer
Australopithecines had cranial capacities averaging around 400-500 cc, which limited their cognitive abilities and cultural development compared to Homo neanderthalensis, who exhibited larger cranial capacities averaging about 1,400 cc. This significant difference suggests that Neanderthals were capable of more complex thought processes and cultural practices, including advanced tool-making and possibly symbolic behavior. The larger brain size in Neanderthals allowed for improved problem-solving skills, which likely contributed to their ability to adapt to diverse environments, whereas Australopithecines may have relied more on basic survival techniques.