UNIT 4 REVISION

Time Management: 60 minutes (59 marks)

Question 1 (6 marks)

At the Madjedbebe rock shelter in Kakadu (Northern Territory), archaeologists recently

extracted several Aboriginal artefacts. These included hatchets, tools for seed grinding and
ochre crayons used to make pigment. Through a range of techniques, the artefacts were dated
at about 65 000 years old.

The diagram below shows a cross-section of the rock strata at the excavation site.

Artefacts at Madjedbebe were found in the oldest rock strata layer.

a) According to the diagram above, state which rock strata layer 1, 2 or 3 would the artefacts
have been found by archaeologists. (1 mark)
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b) Name the relative dating method used to identify the oldest and youngest layers from rock
strata and explain how this dating method is applied. (3 marks)
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Archaeologists did not only use relative dating.

(c) Identify the evidence that supports this statement and outline why they used more than
one dating method. (2 marks)

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Question 2 (11 marks)

The diagram below is a representation of tools from the Oldowan tool culture.

a) (i) Name the hominid species said to have made and used these tools. (1 mark)
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(ii) Identify two ways in which hominids would have used these tools in their daily lives.
(2 marks)
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Shown below are examples of tools made by other hominid species. Note: diagrams are not
drawn to scale
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b) Using the information in the diagrams above, complete the table below. (4 marks)

c) State two trends that are evident in the manufacturing techniques of tools from early
hominids to modern humans and outline what these trends indicate about changes in
hominid lifestyle. (4 marks)

One___________________________________________________________________

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Two___________________________________________________________________

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Question 3 (14 marks)

In 2012, a team of Australian and Chinese scientists discovered the bones of a new human
species in the Red Deer Cave located in a province of China. Archaeologists retrieved over
30 fossilised bones, including three partial skulls, two lower jaws, isolated teeth, rib and limb
bones. The fossils of this human species, now known as the Red Deer Cave people, were
tested and dated at about 11 500 years old.

a) State the dating technique used to date the Red Deer Cave fossils and explain why this
was the most appropriate technique. (4 marks)
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b) For each of the following five characteristics of the fossilised bones, outline what evidence
would show how closely related the Red Deer Cave People are to modern humans and
state how each of these features benefit modern humans. (10 marks)

Features Evidence of closely related Benefit

Cerebral cortex

Prognathism

Dentition

Pelvis

Feet
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Question 3 (17 marks)

In 2009, the University of California discovered a mutated gene that has been shown to
produce naturally short sleepers. The gene was found in a family who all normally went to bed
around 11 pm and woke up naturally around 5 am. The mutated gene, known as DEC2, is
believed to affect the circadian rhythm and results in people who don’t need as much sleep as
the average person.

a) DEC2 is a gene mutation. How do gene and chromosomal mutations differ? (1 mark)
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b) In the study, the mutation was found in several family members. What does this tell you
about where the original mutation occurred? Justify your response. (2 marks)
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c) Mutations can be caused in several ways. For each of the three ways stated below,
describe how they may produce new mutations. (6 marks)

Mutagen

DNA replication

Cell division
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d) If researchers wanted to further investigate the link between the DEC2 gene and sleep,
they would need to set up an experimental study
i. Propose a possible hypothesis for the study. (1 mark)
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ii. In the study, what would the control group consist of, and what purpose would it
have? (2 marks)
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c) A mutation, such as the DEC2 gene, could be favourable to the human population. Explain
how a favourable gene like this could lead to changes in allele frequencies of a gene pool.
(4 marks)
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Question 4 (11 marks)

The following question refers to the jaw diagram shown below.

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a) Is the jaw pictured from a great ape or a human? Justify your answer by identifying one
feature that supports your conclusion. (2 marks)
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b) The evolution from great ape to human has involved several changes to the cranium. For
the following cranial features, contrast great ape and human craniums. (3 marks)

Brow ridges

Facial profile

Foreman
magnum

c) With hominins becoming bipedal there were several changes to their hands and feet.
Describe what these changes were and how they contributed to bipedalism and mobility
of their digits. (6 marks)

Evolutionary
changes to the
feet (2 marks)

Contribution to
bipedalism
(1 mark)
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Evolutionary
changes to the
hands
(2 marks)

Contribution to
the mobility of
digits (1 mark)