Question

Which of the following statements are correct about the origin and evolution of man?

I. Agriculture began around 60,000 years ago.
II. Dryopithecus existed 15 million years ago, walked on four limbs.
III. Homo habilis probably ate meat.
IV. Neanderthal men lived in Asia between 1,00,000 and 40,000 years ago
V. Few fossils of man-like bones have been discovered in Ethiopia and Tanzania

Answer 1

The order of human evolution is as follows:
Dryopithecus
Ramapithecus
Australopithecines
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens

Dryopithecus is considered as one of the most primitive ancestors of modern man (Homo sapiens). They lived about 15 million years ago. They were hairy and walked on their four limbs and resembled apes.

Few fossils of man-like bones have been discovered in Ethiopia and Tanzania. These had hominid features indicating that man-like primates existed in eastern Africa around 3-4 mya.

The first human-like being was called Homo habilis. The brain capacities were between 650-800cc. The genus Homo was designated to this ancestor due to the increased cranial capacity and smaller molar and premolar teeth of the fossils when compared to the other primates. They probably did not eat meat.

The Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis) lived in near east and central Asia between 1,00,000-40,000 years ago. Their brain capacity was 1400cc. They used animal skin to protect their body and buried their dead.

As the civilization started, modern man (Homo sapiens) began to grow crops and thus agriculture started around 10,000 years ago.

Hence, the statements II, IV and V are correct.