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DSST General Anthropology study materials
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DSST General Anthropology practice questions

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Question 1Physical Anthropology

A paleoanthropologist dates a hominin fossil bed using volcanic ash layers above and below it. Which dating approach is being applied?

  1. Radiocarbon dating of the bone itself
  2. Amino acid racemization of shell
  3. Stratigraphic correlation with tephra horizons Correct answer.
  4. Dendrochronology of associated wood

Explanation

Because volcanic ash (tephra) layers bracket the fossil, the age of the fossil is constrained by the known ages of those horizons, an application of stratigraphy and tephrochronology. This relative framework can be tied to absolute dates when the ash is radiometrically dated, giving a bracketing age for the fossil bed.

Question 2Physical Anthropology

Which term describes the evolutionary process by which heritable traits that improve survival and reproduction become more common in a population over generations?

  1. Natural selection Correct answer.
  2. Mutation pressure
  3. Genetic drift
  4. Gene flow

Explanation

Natural selection is the differential reproductive success of individuals carrying heritable variants, causing adaptive traits to increase in frequency. It is the only mechanism in the list that systematically produces adaptation to environmental conditions.

Question 3Physical Anthropology

In the Linnaean classification used in primatology, which rank is the most inclusive (highest) among the following?

  1. Class Correct answer.
  2. Order
  3. Family
  4. Genus

Explanation

The Linnaean hierarchy runs from more inclusive to less inclusive as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Class therefore sits above order, family, and genus, making it the most inclusive of the listed ranks.

Question 4Physical Anthropology

A primate has a dental formula of 2-1-2-3 in each quadrant. Which statement about this animal is accurate?

  1. It has two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molars per quadrant Correct answer.
  2. It has a total of 32 teeth including four canines
  3. It has three premolars per quadrant and two molars
  4. It has lost all canines and relies on incisors

Explanation

The dental formula lists incisors, canines, premolars, and molars per quadrant, so 2-1-2-3 means two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molars on each side. Multiplying by four quadrants gives 32 teeth total in this case, but the per-quadrant reading is what the formula directly encodes.

Question 5Physical Anthropology

Which feature of the primate skeleton is most directly associated with a grasping hand adapted for arboreal life?

  1. Reduced clavicle
  2. Opposable thumb with a saddle joint at the base Correct answer.
  3. Fused radius and ulna
  4. Hoof-like terminal phalanges

Explanation

An opposable thumb with a mobile saddle joint allows primates to wrap the hand around branches and manipulate objects, a hallmark of grasping extremities. This mobility contrasts with the more rigid forelimbs of many non-primate mammals.

Question 6Physical Anthropology

A fossil hominin shows a foramen magnum positioned centrally beneath the skull rather than toward the rear. What does this indicate about the animal's posture?

  1. It was a committed quadruped
  2. It held its head habitually upright, consistent with bipedalism Correct answer.
  3. It had a prognathic snout for grazing
  4. It was fully aquatic

Explanation

A centrally placed foramen magnum means the spinal column meets the skull from below, which is consistent with an upright head posture and habitual bipedalism. In quadrupedal mammals the opening sits farther back because the head is held forward on a horizontal neck.

Question 7Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of the strepsirrhine primates, such as lemurs and lorises?

  1. A full postorbital closure behind the eye
  2. A complete loss of the toothcomb
  3. A downward-facing, non-mobile upper lip
  4. A dry, naked rhinarium with a split upper lip Correct answer.

Explanation

Strepsirrhines are named for their curved, moist rhinarium and split upper lip, features tied to a strong sense of smell. They also retain a grooming toothcomb, which distinguishes them from most haplorhines.

Question 8Physical Anthropology

A primate has a 2-1-3-3 dental formula and nostrils that are close together and directed downward. To which group does it most likely belong?

  1. Tarsiers
  2. Strepsirrhini
  3. Platyrrhini
  4. Catarrhini Correct answer.

Explanation

Catarrhines have narrow, downward-facing nostrils and a 2-1-2-3 dental formula, but the key diagnostic here is the catarrhine nose, which separates them from platyrrhines. Among the choices, only Catarrhini combines the narrow nostrils with the Old World configuration.

Question 9Physical Anthropology

Which statement best describes the difference between homologous and analogous structures in comparative primate anatomy?

  1. Both terms refer to structures lost during evolution
  2. Homologous structures occur only in extinct species
  3. Homologous structures share an evolutionary origin; analogous structures share a function but not an origin Correct answer.
  4. Homologous structures share a function; analogous structures share an origin

Explanation

Homology refers to similarity due to shared ancestry, such as the forelimb bones of primates and bats. Analogy refers to similarity in function arising independently, such as the wings of birds and insects, and reflects convergent evolution rather than common descent.

Question 10Physical Anthropology

A researcher studies variation in a single gene across several primate populations and finds that most of the variation exists within populations rather than between them. Which concept does this illustrate?

  1. The distribution of genetic variation within and among populations Correct answer.
  2. The absence of gene flow between populations
  3. The fixed nature of species boundaries
  4. Biological race as a set of discrete types

Explanation

Genetic surveys consistently show that most human and primate variation is found within populations, with relatively little distinguishing populations from one another. This pattern undermines typological notions of discrete biological races and highlights the continuous distribution of variation.

Question 11Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best characterizes the Homo erectus skeleton compared with earlier hominins such as Australopithecus?

  1. A smaller brain and a strongly prognathic face
  2. Longer legs and a more modern body proportion with a larger brain Correct answer.
  3. Shorter legs and a more ape-like body proportion
  4. A body adapted for suspensory brachiation

Explanation

Homo erectus shows a more modern body plan with longer legs and a larger brain than australopithecines, consistent with efficient long-distance bipedal travel. Earlier hominins retained relatively shorter legs and more ape-like limb proportions.

Question 12Physical Anthropology

A fossil skull from a hominin site has a sagittal crest, very large molars, and a flaring zygomatic arch. These features most likely indicate which of the following?

  1. A specialization for nocturnal vision
  2. An adaptation for high-altitude breathing
  3. A diet requiring heavy chewing with powerful jaw muscles Correct answer.
  4. A diet consisting mainly of soft fruit

Explanation

A sagittal crest provides attachment area for large temporalis muscles, and flaring zygomatic arches accommodate massive masseter muscles, together signaling heavy chewing. Enlarged molars reinforce the interpretation of a diet requiring powerful mastication, as seen in robust australopithecines.

Question 13Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the relationship between brain size and body size in primates?

  1. Absolute brain weight alone reliably ranks species by intelligence
  2. Brain size is unrelated to any measure of behavior
  3. Brain size decreases as body size increases in all primates
  4. Encephalization quotients compare observed brain size with the size expected for a given body mass Correct answer.

Explanation

Because larger animals generally have larger brains, researchers use encephalization quotients to compare brain size relative to the expectation for body mass. This allows meaningful comparisons of relative brain size across species of different body sizes.

Question 14Physical Anthropology

In the context of primate social behavior, what does the term altruism describe?

  1. A form of learned aggression toward kin
  2. Behavior that maximizes the actor's immediate food intake
  3. A mating strategy limited to dominant males
  4. Behavior that reduces the actor's fitness while increasing another individual's fitness Correct answer.

Explanation

Altruism refers to behavior that benefits another individual at a cost to the actor's own reproductive success. Kin selection and reciprocal altruism are frameworks used to explain how such behavior can persist evolutionarily.

Question 15Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best describes the concept of kin selection?

  1. Selection favoring behavior that helps close relatives, thereby indirectly increasing shared genes Correct answer.
  2. Selection favoring the strongest individual regardless of relatedness
  3. The movement of individuals between social groups
  4. Random changes in allele frequencies in small groups

Explanation

Kin selection explains altruistic behavior toward relatives because helping close kin can increase the transmission of genes shared by descent. Hamilton's rule formalizes this by comparing the benefit to the recipient, weighted by relatedness, against the cost to the actor.

Question 16Physical Anthropology

A primate species shows marked sexual dimorphism in canine size and body mass. What does this most likely suggest about its social system?

  1. A solitary species with no social interaction
  2. Monogamous pairs with little male competition
  3. A species that relies entirely on tool use
  4. A system with intense male-male competition for mates Correct answer.

Explanation

Strong sexual dimorphism, especially in canine size and body mass, is generally associated with intense male-male competition in polygynous mating systems. Where males compete for access to mates, sexual selection favors larger body size and weaponry in males.

Question 17Physical Anthropology

Which of the following statements about the primate order is accurate?

  1. Primates lack a clavicle and have limited shoulder mobility
  2. All primates are exclusively carnivorous
  3. Primates generally have grasping hands and feet, forward-facing eyes, and nails rather than claws Correct answer.
  4. All primates are nocturnal

Explanation

Primates are characterized by grasping extremities, forward-facing eyes that enhance stereoscopic vision, and flattened nails on most digits. These traits are broadly associated with arboreal life and manual manipulation.

Question 18Physical Anthropology

What is the significance of the Laetoli footprints for understanding hominin evolution?

  1. They show the earliest known use of stone tools
  2. They provide the oldest known DNA sequence
  3. They demonstrate the first controlled use of fire
  4. They preserve evidence of habitual bipedal walking in early hominins Correct answer.

Explanation

The Laetoli footprints, dated to about 3.6 million years ago, preserve a bipedal trackway with a humanlike stride, providing direct evidence of habitual bipedalism in early hominins. They are not associated with tools, fire, or genetic material.

Question 19Physical Anthropology

A paleoanthropologist finds a hominin with a small brain, a projecting face, and a pelvis indicating bipedal locomotion, dating to about 3 million years ago. Which genus is most consistent with these features?

  1. Homo
  2. Australopithecus Correct answer.
  3. Pongo
  4. Pan

Explanation

Australopithecus combines bipedal pelvic anatomy with a relatively small brain and projecting face, matching the described fossil. Homo is generally characterized by a larger brain and more modern body proportions, while Pan and Pongo are living ape genera.

Question 20Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best describes the concept of a species under the biological species concept?

  1. A group defined only by geographic isolation
  2. A group distinguished solely by body size
  3. A group defined by the absence of any genetic variation
  4. A group of populations that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring Correct answer.

Explanation

The biological species concept defines a species as populations that interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring while remaining reproductively isolated from other such groups. It emphasizes gene flow and reproductive isolation rather than appearance alone.

Question 21Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is an example of a postcranial adaptation to bipedalism in hominins?

  1. A long, narrow pelvis with laterally flaring iliac blades
  2. A forwardly placed foramen magnum
  3. A shortened, bowl-shaped pelvis Correct answer.
  4. A large sagittal crest

Explanation

A short, broad, bowl-shaped pelvis in hominins supports the abdominal organs, stabilizes the trunk, and provides leverage for the gluteal muscles during upright walking. This contrasts with the tall, narrow pelvis of apes.

Question 22Physical Anthropology

Which of the following statements about the evolution of the human lineage is supported by current evidence?

  1. Hominin evolution occurred entirely within the last 100,000 years
  2. Evolution proceeded as a single unbranched line from ape to modern human
  3. Modern humans evolved directly from living chimpanzees
  4. Multiple hominin species coexisted at various times in the past Correct answer.

Explanation

The fossil record shows that several hominin species coexisted in Africa and Eurasia, producing a branching rather than linear pattern. Modern humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor but did not evolve from one another.

Question 23Physical Anthropology

A researcher compares the DNA of two primate populations and finds they share a recent common ancestor but have been isolated for a long period. What is the most likely consequence of this long isolation?

  1. The populations will become genetically identical
  2. The populations will lose all genetic variation
  3. The populations will accumulate genetic differences and may diverge into separate species Correct answer.
  4. The populations will immediately merge into one species

Explanation

Long-term reproductive isolation allows mutation, drift, and selection to act independently in each population, producing genetic divergence that can lead to speciation. This is the basis of allopatric speciation when gene flow is interrupted.

Question 24Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best explains why the concept of race as a biological category is not supported by modern physical anthropology?

  1. Human genetic variation is largely continuous and does not fall into discrete, bounded groups Correct answer.
  2. All human populations are genetically identical
  3. Human populations have never migrated
  4. Race is defined solely by skin color, which is a single-gene trait

Explanation

Human genetic variation is clinal and continuous, with most variation found within populations rather than between them, so discrete racial categories do not map onto biology. Skin color and other traits vary independently and cannot define bounded groups.

Question 25Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is a correct description of the role of mutation in evolution?

  1. Mutation is the ultimate source of new genetic variation on which selection and drift act Correct answer.
  2. Mutation prevents any change in allele frequencies
  3. Mutation is the same process as natural selection
  4. Mutation always produces beneficial traits

Explanation

Mutation introduces new alleles into a population, providing the raw material for evolutionary change. Most mutations are neutral or harmful, and their effects depend on context and selection.

Question 26Physical Anthropology

In physical anthropology, what does the term 'hominin' refer to?

  1. Only fossil species belonging to the genus Homo
  2. All great apes including gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans
  3. Modern humans and all extinct species more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees Correct answer.
  4. Any primate that walks on two legs

Explanation

Hominin is a taxonomic term for the human clade, including modern humans and extinct forms such as Australopithecus that are phylogenetically closer to humans than to chimpanzees. It excludes other great apes and is not limited to the genus Homo.

Question 27Physical Anthropology

Which dating method is most directly applicable to organic remains such as bone or charcoal up to about 50,000 years old?

  1. Radiocarbon dating Correct answer.
  2. Potassium-argon dating
  3. Paleomagnetic dating
  4. Thermoluminescence dating

Explanation

Radiocarbon dating measures the decay of carbon-14 in organic material and is effective for samples up to roughly 50,000 years old. It is widely used on bone, charcoal, and shell from archaeological and paleontological sites.

Question 28Physical Anthropology

A primate's teeth are arranged with two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molars on each side of the upper jaw. What is this dental formula?

  1. 2.1.2.2
  2. 2.1.3.3
  3. 2.1.3.2
  4. 2.1.2.3 Correct answer.

Explanation

The dental formula lists the number of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars on one side of the jaw, so the counts given (2, 1, 2, 3) correspond to 2.1.2.3. This is the formula for catarrhine primates, including Old World monkeys and apes.

Question 29Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is a key skeletal indicator that a hominin was habitually bipedal?

  1. Long, curved phalanges on the hands and feet
  2. A short, broad pelvis with laterally flared iliac blades Correct answer.
  3. A foramen magnum positioned toward the back of the skull
  4. A large sagittal crest on the cranium

Explanation

A short, broad pelvis with laterally oriented iliac blades helps stabilize the trunk during upright walking and is a hallmark of hominin bipedalism. This shape contrasts with the long, narrow pelvis of quadrupedal apes.

Question 30Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best describes a primate's dental comb?

  1. A gap between the incisors and canines in catarrhines
  2. A set of enlarged molars for grinding tough plant material
  3. A bony ridge on the mandible for muscle attachment
  4. A row of incisors and canines used for grooming in strepsirrhines Correct answer.

Explanation

A dental comb is formed by forward-projecting incisors and canines and is used for grooming in many strepsirrhine primates such as lemurs and lorises. It is a distinctive feature of that suborder.

Question 31Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is an example of a derived trait that distinguishes anthropoids from strepsirrhines?

  1. A grooming claw on the second toe
  2. A moist, naked rhinarium
  3. A tapetum lucidum in the eye
  4. A postorbital closure forming a bony wall behind the eye Correct answer.

Explanation

Anthropoids (monkeys, apes, and humans) have a postorbital closure, a bony plate that forms a wall behind the orbit, which strepsirrhines lack. This trait is considered derived within primates.

Question 32Physical Anthropology

In physical anthropology, what is a homoplasy?

  1. A trait that has been lost in all descendants
  2. A trait that is unique to a single species
  3. A trait shared due to common ancestry
  4. A trait that is similar in two species but evolved independently Correct answer.

Explanation

A homoplasy is a similarity in a trait that arises independently in different lineages, often through convergent evolution, rather than from shared ancestry. It can complicate phylogenetic reconstruction because it mimics homology.

Question 33Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best describes the concept of a clade?

  1. A group of organisms defined by a single physical trait
  2. A group of organisms that can interbreed
  3. A group of organisms that share a common ancestor and all of its descendants Correct answer.
  4. A group of organisms that share similar ecological roles

Explanation

A clade is a monophyletic group consisting of an ancestor and all of its descendants. Cladistics uses such groups to reconstruct evolutionary relationships based on shared derived traits.

Question 34Physical Anthropology

A fossil primate has a small body size, large eye sockets, and a grooming claw on its second toe. These features most likely indicate that it belongs to which group?

  1. Haplorhini
  2. Platyrrhini
  3. Strepsirrhini Correct answer.
  4. Catarrhini

Explanation

Large eye sockets, small body size, and a grooming claw are characteristic of strepsirrhine primates, which are often nocturnal and have other features such as a dental comb. Haplorhines lack a grooming claw and generally have smaller eye sockets relative to body size.

Question 35Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is a correct statement about the pelvis of Australopithecus afarensis (such as the Lucy skeleton) compared with that of a modern human?

  1. It is relatively broader and more flared than that of a modern human. Correct answer.
  2. It lacks any evidence of bipedal adaptation.
  3. It is indistinguishable from that of a modern human.
  4. It is long and narrow like that of a chimpanzee.

Explanation

The pelvis of A. afarensis is broad and flared, reflecting adaptations for bipedalism, but it differs from the modern human pelvis in shape and proportions. It is not identical to a modern human pelvis and is not chimpanzee-like in its overall form.

Question 36Physical Anthropology

A hominin fossil has a brain size of about 500 cc, a prognathic face, and large front teeth. These features are most consistent with which genus?

  1. Gorilla
  2. Australopithecus Correct answer.
  3. Paranthropus
  4. Homo

Explanation

A brain size around 500 cc, a prognathic face, and large front teeth are typical of Australopithecus species, which lived in Africa between about 4 and 2 million years ago. Paranthropus tends to have massive back teeth and a flatter face, while Homo has a larger brain.

Question 37Physical Anthropology

What does the term 'robust' refer to in the context of Paranthropus species?

  1. Their heavy build and large chewing apparatus Correct answer.
  2. Their large brain size relative to body size
  3. Their adaptation to open grassland running
  4. Their use of complex stone tools

Explanation

Robust in Paranthropus refers to their heavy skeletal build and especially their massive molars, premolars, and supporting facial structures adapted for powerful chewing. This contrasts with the more gracile australopithecines.

Question 38Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best describes the significance of the Nariokotome boy (KNM-WT 15000) skeleton?

  1. It is a nearly complete Homo erectus skeleton that provides evidence of body proportions. Correct answer.
  2. It is a fossil of a robust australopithecine.
  3. It is the oldest known hominin skeleton.
  4. It is the type specimen for Homo neanderthalensis.

Explanation

The Nariokotome boy is a remarkably complete skeleton of a young Homo erectus male from Kenya, dating to about 1.5 million years ago. It has been crucial for understanding the body size and limb proportions of H. erectus.

Question 39Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is a key feature that distinguishes Homo habilis from Australopithecus?

  1. A larger brain size and a more rounded cranium Correct answer.
  2. A smaller brain size and a more prognathic face
  3. A postcranial skeleton adapted for knuckle-walking
  4. A specialized diet of hard seeds

Explanation

Homo habilis is generally distinguished from Australopithecus by a larger brain and a more rounded cranium, along with other features such as smaller teeth. These changes are associated with the emergence of the genus Homo.

Question 40Physical Anthropology

A hominin fossil from a cave site has a large brain, a projecting midface, and a retromolar gap. These features are most characteristic of which species?

  1. Australopithecus africanus
  2. Homo sapiens
  3. Homo erectus
  4. Homo neanderthalensis Correct answer.

Explanation

Homo neanderthalensis is known for a large brain, a projecting midface, and a retromolar gap (a space behind the third molar). These features help distinguish Neanderthals from modern humans and other hominins.

Question 41Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best explains why the biological species concept is difficult to apply to fossil hominins?

  1. The concept applies only to plants.
  2. The concept relies on reproductive isolation, which cannot be directly observed in extinct organisms. Correct answer.
  3. Fossils cannot be dated accurately.
  4. Fossil hominins never formed species.

Explanation

The biological species concept defines species as groups of interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups. For fossils, reproductive behavior cannot be observed directly, so paleoanthropologists often use morphological criteria instead.

Question 42Physical Anthropology

A paleoanthropologist finds a hominin with a small brain, a projecting face, and a pelvis indicating bipedal locomotion, dating to about 3 million years ago. Which species is the most likely candidate?

  1. Australopithecus afarensis Correct answer.
  2. Paranthropus boisei
  3. Homo neanderthalensis
  4. Homo sapiens

Explanation

Australopithecus afarensis lived around 3 million years ago and had a small brain, a projecting face, and evidence of bipedalism. Paranthropus boisei is later and has specialized chewing features, while Homo species have larger brains.

Question 43Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best describes the concept of a mosaic evolution in hominins?

  1. Traits are acquired during an individual's lifetime and inherited
  2. All traits evolve simultaneously in a single rapid event
  3. Evolution proceeds only through large mutations
  4. Different traits evolve at different rates and times within a lineage Correct answer.

Explanation

Mosaic evolution refers to the pattern in which different anatomical or behavioral traits evolve at different rates and times. In hominins, for example, bipedalism appeared before significant brain enlargement.

Question 44Physical Anthropology

Which of the following is an example of a derived trait of Homo sapiens compared with other hominins?

  1. A sagittal crest
  2. A large brow ridge
  3. A chin on the mandible Correct answer.
  4. A retromolar gap

Explanation

A bony chin is a derived feature of Homo sapiens that is not found in other hominins such as Neanderthals or earlier Homo species. It is one of the skeletal traits used to identify modern human remains.

Question 45Physical Anthropology

A researcher compares the DNA of two primate populations and finds they share a recent common ancestor but have been isolated for a long time. What is the most likely consequence of this isolation?

  1. The populations will become genetically identical
  2. The populations will accumulate genetic differences and may become separate species Correct answer.
  3. The populations will stop evolving
  4. The populations will immediately merge into one species

Explanation

Geographic isolation prevents gene flow, allowing mutations and genetic drift to accumulate independently in each population. Over time, this can lead to reproductive isolation and speciation.

Question 46Physical Anthropology

A fossil hominin population shows a high frequency of a trait that is disadvantageous in cold climates. What is the most likely explanation for this pattern?

  1. Genetic drift in a small population Correct answer.
  2. Natural selection favoring the trait
  3. Gene flow from a population adapted to cold
  4. The trait is not heritable

Explanation

In a small population, genetic drift can cause a disadvantageous trait to become frequent by chance. Natural selection would tend to remove such a trait, and gene flow from a cold-adapted population would more likely introduce beneficial traits.

Question 47Physical Anthropology

Which of the following best describes the evidence for interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals?

  1. Neanderthal DNA is found in equal amounts in all modern human populations
  2. There is no genetic evidence of interbreeding
  3. Modern human genomes outside Africa contain small percentages of Neanderthal DNA Correct answer.
  4. Neanderthals are direct ancestors of all modern humans

Explanation

Genetic studies have shown that modern humans outside Africa carry approximately 1-4% Neanderthal DNA, indicating interbreeding after modern humans left Africa. African populations have little to no Neanderthal DNA.

Question 48Physical Anthropology

A researcher studying primate behavior observes that a male chimpanzee shares food with an unrelated male who later supports him in a conflict. This behavior is best explained by which concept?

  1. Sexual selection
  2. Convergent evolution
  3. Reciprocal altruism Correct answer.
  4. Kin selection

Explanation

Reciprocal altruism explains helping behavior between unrelated individuals when the helper expects future reciprocation. In this case, the food sharing is later repaid with support in a conflict.

Question 49Physical Anthropology

In physical anthropology, which term describes the inherited social and learned behavioral patterns that are transmitted within a primate group rather than encoded genetically?

  1. Reflex
  2. Instinct
  3. Genotype
  4. Culture Correct answer.

Explanation

Culture refers to the learned, socially transmitted behaviors and knowledge shared by a group, such as tool use or grooming conventions, rather than behaviors fixed by genes. Physical anthropologists use the concept to explain variation in behavior between populations of the same species. Instinct, genotype, and reflex all refer to inherited or automatic biological phenomena, not socially learned traditions.

Question 50Physical Anthropology

A primatologist observes that a monkey population living near a tourist site has begun washing food in a stream, and young monkeys acquire the practice by watching their mothers. Which concept does this observation most directly illustrate?

  1. Genetic drift
  2. Social learning of a behavioral tradition Correct answer.
  3. Adaptive radiation
  4. Sexual selection

Explanation

When individuals acquire a novel behavior by observing others and the practice spreads through a group, this is social learning that produces a behavioral tradition, often described as cultural transmission. The behavior is not inherited genetically but passed on through observation, which is why it appears in some groups and not others. Genetic drift, sexual selection, and adaptive radiation all describe evolutionary or reproductive processes rather than the spread of learned behavior.