Grade 12 · CAPS

Grade 12 Human Evolution

Life Sciences practice questions and a worked example

Grade 12 Human Evolution covers what humans share with African apes, how they differ, the fossil evidence and the Out of Africa hypothesis. The questions here ask you to compare skulls, jaws, spines and pelvises, read a phylogenetic tree and a timeline of hominid species, work with a table of brain volumes, link brain size to the making of tools, and explain how fossils of Ardipithecus, Australopithecus and Homo support the Out of Africa hypothesis. They come from the NSC Paper 2 for November 2023, 2024 and 2025: multiple-choice and terminology items from Section A and diagram, data and passage questions from Section B, each with the marking guideline's answer.

Worked example

3.4 The diagram below shows a timeline of different hominid species and the development of tools. 3.4.2 Calculate the period (million years) in which the A. afarensis and A. africanus coexisted. Show ALL working.

Answer

3,2 – 2,7 = 0,5 million years

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Human Evolution

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1.1.9 The scientist who discovered Little Foot is …
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More practice questions

Explore additional Grade 12 Human Evolution questions.

  • 2
    3.4 The diagram below shows a timeline of different hominid species and the development of tools. 3.4.3 Name the species that was also known as the handyman.
  • 3
    3.4 The diagram below shows a timeline of different hominid species and the development of tools. 3.4.4 State TWO uses of the tool that was developed 2,6 mya.
  • 4
    3.4 The diagram below shows a timeline of different hominid species and the development of tools. 3.4.5 Identify TWO species that used the most complex tools.
  • 5
    3.4 The diagram below shows a timeline of different hominid species and the development of tools. 3.4.6 Explain how the changes in brain size over time relates to the development of tools.

Common mistakes

  • Comparing only one side. A difference needs both parts, for example a C-shaped palate in humans and a U-shaped palate in African apes.
  • Mixing up the fossils and the scientists who found them: Raymond Dart found the Taung Child and Ron Clarke found Little Foot.
  • Describing the foramen magnum without its position. In bipedal species it is in a more forward position.

More Grade 12 Life Sciences topics

Aligned to CAPS Grade 12 Life Sciences — Human Evolution. Curriculum source: CAPS for the FET Phase, Department of Basic Education.

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