Physical Anthropology 11th Edition By Philip Stein – Test Bank

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The study of the processes that affect an organism after death is called:
A) paleontology B) phylogeny C) taphonomy D) archaeology
Answer: C

2. A fossil is:
A) an intact and completely preserved ancient organism only
B) any remains of an organism, even modern
C) the remains or traces of an ancient organism
D) none of the above
Answer: C

3. In order to become a fossil, an organism usually must:
A) have hard parts such as bones or shell
B) not have been destroyed immediately by other animals or natural elements
C) have been protected from decaying, usually by being buried quickly after death
D) all of the above
Answer: D

4. Soft tissue of prehistoric organisms has been preserved under special conditions including:
A) mummification in hot dry climates C) preserved in waterlogged areas such as bogs
B) freezing in glaciers or tundra D) all of the above
Answer: D

5. In 1991, a partially freeze-dried body of a man was found in the Italian Alps. The body dates to about:
A) 1000 B. P. B) 2700 B. P. C) 5300 B. P. D) 7500 B. P.
Answer: C

6. The majority of fossils exist in the form of:
A) bone that has been mineralized C) a cast of the actual organism
B) soft tissue remains D) actual bones and teeth
Answer: A

7. All of the following are considered to be fossils except:
A) a mineralized bone C) a stone tool
B) an insect embedded in amber D) a cast of an ancient animal
Answer: C

8. Sampling error in the fossil record involves the fact that:
A) some species are fossilized more frequently than others
B) some parts of the world have been more extensively excavated than others
C) some fossils may not represent average individuals in an ancient population
D) all of the above
Answer: D

9. One estimate, based upon the excavations at Omo, is that only ____________ percent of individu-als which once lived are presented in the fossil record.
A) 5 B) 0.1 C) 0.03 D) 0.004
Answer: D

10. The fossil record:
A) is a true reflection of the numerical relationship of one animal to all others
B) represents all genera and families with about the same degree of completeness
C) is quite complete because almost all animals which have died have become fossilized
D) none of the above
Answer: D