Worksheet Solutions: From the Beginning of Time | History Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: Fossils are the remains or impressions of very old plants, animals, or humans that have turned into ________.
Ans: stone
Fossils are preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that have mineralized over time.

Q2: A group of organisms that can breed to produce fertile offspring is called a ________.
Ans: species
This definition of a species emphasizes the ability to reproduce and create viable offspring.

Q3: The earliest hominid fossils, Australopithecines, were discovered in ________ around 5.6 million years ago.
Ans: East Africa
Australopithecines are among the earliest known hominids, and their fossils were primarily found in East Africa.

Q4: Homo habilis is also known as the ________.
Ans: toolmaker
Homo habilis earned this nickname because they were known for making and using tools.

Q5: Stone tools were first made and used in ________ and ________.
Ans: Ethiopia and Kenya
Early evidence of stone tool production and use comes from these regions, signifying a crucial step in human evolution.

Q6: The development of spoken language may have started as early as ________ million years ago.
Ans: two million
Early humans likely began to communicate using simple vocalizations and gestures, eventually leading to the development of spoken language.

Q7: The Hadza people, one of Africa's last hunter-gatherer tribes, are native to ________.
Ans: Northern Tanzania
The Hadza people primarily reside in the Eyasi Valley in northern Tanzania.

Q8: Around ________ of the Hadza's diet consists of vegetables, with the remainder being meat and honey.
Ans: 80%
This highlights the significant reliance of the Hadza on plant-based foods in their diet.

Match the Column

Q1: 

Ans: 1. Anatomical and neurological adaptations - C. Skilled use of hands
Anatomical and neurological adaptations enable humans to use their hands skillfully, making complex toolmaking possible.
2. Complex organizational skills - B. Greater memory
Greater memory and organizational skills allowed early humans to plan and execute complex tasks, such as toolmaking.
3. Stone tools' place of origin - A. Use of hands in tool making
The use of hands in toolmaking was a crucial factor in the creation of stone tools.
4. Homo habilis - D. The first to create stone tools
Homo habilis is known for being the first hominid species to create and use stone tools.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: The replacement model suggests that all older forms of humans were completely replaced by modern humans everywhere.
Reason: Modern humans share a great deal in common because they are descended from a single population that originated in Africa.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
Ans: (a)
The replacement model posits the complete replacement of older forms of humans by modern humans, and the reason correctly explains the genetic and anatomical homogeneity of modern humans as they originated from a single African population.

Q2: Assertion: The development of spoken language has been linked to the development of art.
Reason: Hundreds of animal paintings dating from 30,000 to 12,000 years ago have been discovered in the caves of Lascaux and Chauvet in France.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
Ans: (a)
The assertion correctly links the development of spoken language and art, and the reason supports this by mentioning the existence of ancient cave paintings that served as a form of communication.

Q3: Assertion: Early human camps were small and scattered during the wet season.
Reason: During the dry season, camps were large and concentrated near water sources.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
Ans: (a)
The assertion correctly describes the pattern of early human camps, and the reason explains why camps concentrated near water sources during the dry season for survival.

Q4: Assertion: The Hadza people subsist primarily on wild plants.
Reason: The Hadza people do not claim land or natural resources in their territory.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
Ans: (a)
The assertion accurately describes the Hadza's diet, and the reason explains their lack of territorial claims and reliance on wild resources.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Define fossils.
Ans: Fossils are the preserved remains or impressions of ancient plants, animals, or humans that have turned into stone.

Q2: What is a species?
Ans: A species is a group of organisms capable of breeding to produce fertile offspring.

Q3: Name the first hominid discovered around 5.6 million years ago.
Ans: Australopithecines.

Q4: Where were the earliest stone tools made and used?
Ans: Ethiopia and Kenya.

Q5: When did Homo habilis exist?
Ans: Homo habilis existed approximately 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago.

Q6: What percentage of the Hadza's diet consists of vegetables?
Ans: Around 80%.

Q7: Why were caves and open-air sites used by early humans?
Ans: Caves and open-air sites provided shelter and protection for early humans and were used for various activities, including habitation and art creation.

Q8: What is the importance of hearths in early human camps?
Ans: Hearths were used for cooking, providing warmth, and protection from predators, contributing to the survival and comfort of early human camps.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Explain the differences between Hominids and Hominoids.
Ans: Hominids include humans and their fossil ancestors, whereas hominoids encompass a broader group that includes humans, their ancestors, and anthropoid apes. Hominids typically have smaller jaws and teeth, larger brains, and an upright posture, while hominoids may have heavier jaws and teeth and are often quadrupeds.

Q2: Describe the characteristics of Australopithecus.
Ans: Australopithecus had a relatively small brain compared to Homo, large back teeth, limited hand dexterity, and was not capable of walking upright because they lived in trees. Their bone structure, especially the size of their skulls and jaws, helped identify different groups.

Q3: Discuss the regional continuity model and the replacement model regarding the origins of modern humans.
Ans: The regional continuity model suggests that modern humans evolved at different rates in different regions, resulting in regional variations in their appearance. This model emphasizes genetic differentiation between pre-existing populations. In contrast, the replacement model posits that all older forms of humans were replaced by modern humans originating in Africa. Genetic and anatomical homogeneity supports this model.

Q4: How do anatomical and neurological adaptations contribute to human tool making?
Ans: Anatomical adaptations, such as opposable thumbs and precise finger movements, enable humans to manipulate tools with precision. Neurological adaptations, including advanced cognitive functions and memory, allow for complex planning and execution of tool-making processes. These adaptations distinguish human tool-making abilities from those of other species.

Q5: What evidence links the development of spoken language to the development of art?
Ans: The link between spoken language and art is evident in ancient cave paintings, such as those found in Lascaux and Chauvet caves. These paintings, dating back thousands of years, are considered a form of communication and expression. They likely served as a means of transmitting knowledge, including hunting techniques and cultural practices, demonstrating a connection between early language development and artistic expression.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Discuss the various ways early humans obtained food, including gathering, hunting, scavenging, and fishing. Explain the significance of carbonisation in understanding their diet. (150-200 words)
Ans: Early humans employed diverse methods to obtain food. Gathering involved the collection of plant-based foods like seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, and tubers. However, the direct evidence for plant gathering from that time is limited, and researchers rely on carbonisation to understand their plant consumption. Carbonisation is the process by which burnt plant remains are preserved, offering insights into the plant foods consumed. While early humans likely gathered, it's challenging to confirm without carbonised evidence.
Hunting, another significant food source, began around 500,000 years ago. Early hominids may have scavenged meat and marrow from animal carcasses or hunted small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. The archaeological site of Boxgrove provides evidence of planned hunting and butchery.
Scavenging was also part of their food procurement, and evidence indicates that early humans scavenged animal carcasses when available. Fishing, especially in regions with water bodies, contributed to their diet.
In summary, early humans diversified their diet through gathering, hunting, scavenging, and fishing, adapting to the resources available in their environments.

Q2: Explain the link between the development of spoken language and the development of art. Discuss the significance of early cave paintings in understanding early human societies. (150-200 words)
Ans: The development of spoken language and art are interconnected aspects of human evolution. Spoken language likely began with simple vocalizations and gestures, gradually evolving into a complex system of communication. Anatomical and neurological adaptations facilitated this process, allowing for precise vocalization and cognitive complexity.
Art, including early cave paintings, played a pivotal role in the development of both language and culture. Early humans used art as a form of communication, expression, and knowledge transmission. Cave paintings dating back tens of thousands of years depict animals and are associated with rituals, possibly linked to hunting success.
These cave paintings are significant because they offer insights into early human societies. They reveal the importance of hunting, beliefs, and cultural practices. The act of creating art likely fostered complex language and communication skills, as it involved symbolic representation and shared meaning.
Overall, early cave paintings serve as windows into the cognitive and cultural development of our ancestors, shedding light on their evolving capacities for communication and symbolic expression.