The Story of Human Evolution — Important Questions

The upright man

Step 1: The name 'Homo erectus' comes from Latin words. 'Homo' means human and 'erectus' means upright or straight. Step 2: So Homo erectus means 'the upright man'. Step 3: This name was given because this stage of human evolution could stand erect and walk over long distances. Step 4: 'The wise man' is the meaning of Homo sapiens, which is the name for modern humans. Step 5: So the correct answer is 'the upright man'.

Homo sapiens

Step 1: The stages of human evolution go from Australopithecus to Homo erectus to Neanderthals to Homo sapiens. Step 2: Homo sapiens is the most advanced and latest stage of human evolution. Step 3: All modern human beings — including you and me — belong to the group called Homo sapiens. Step 4: Homo sapiens have smaller teeth, a round skull, a more defined chin, and the largest brain size. Step 5: So, Homo sapiens is the correct answer.

Remains of earliest plants and animals buried under the earth that hardened over time

Step 1: Fossils are one of the most important sources of evidence for human evolution. Step 2: When plants and animals died millions of years ago, their bodies were buried under layers of soil and rock. Step 3: Over thousands of years, these remains hardened and turned into fossils. Step 4: Cave paintings and stone tools are different types of evidence — not fossils. Prehistoric humans did not leave written records. Step 5: So the correct answer is that fossils are the hardened remains of earliest plants and animals buried under the earth.

Palaeontology

Step 1: Different sciences have different names for their areas of study. Step 2: The study of fossils — the ancient hardened remains of plants and animals — is called Palaeontology. Step 3: People who study fossils are called Palaeontologists. Step 4: Archaeology is the study of ancient human history through objects and remains. Biology is the study of living things. Geography is the study of Earth's surface and environments. Step 5: So, Palaeontology is the correct answer for the study of fossils.