Question

comparisons of cranial capacity between a. africanus, the later species h. erectus, and a. boisei show that h. erectus had much larger brains, while a. boisei had only slightly larger brains, than a. africanus. there is evidence that a. africanus and h. erectus used tools, though the tools made by h. erectus required more skill and planning to craft. how do you think the toolmaking abilities of a. boisei would have compared?

a. boisei would have had very little ability to make tools, unlike the other two hominids.
b. boisei would have been able to make more advanced tools than the other two hominids.
c. boisei would have been able to make tools that were less advanced than h. erectus.
d. boisei would have made tools that were less advanced than those made by a. africanus.

Explanation:

Analyze the given cranial capacity data

The text states that H. erectus had much larger brains than A. africanus, while A. boisei had only slightly larger brains than A. africanus. This establishes a brain size hierarchy: H. erectus > A. boisei > A. africanus.

Connect brain size to toolmaking complexity

The text notes that A. africanus and H. erectus both used tools, but the tools made by H. erectus (with much larger brains) required more skill and planning to craft. This implies a positive correlation between cranial capacity and toolmaking sophistication.

Evaluate the abilities of A. boisei

Since A. boisei had a cranial capacity only slightly larger than A. africanus and significantly smaller than H. erectus, its cognitive capacity for toolmaking would likely align closer to A. africanus than to H. erectus. Therefore, A. boisei would have been able to make tools that were less advanced than those of H. erectus.

Assess the given options

• Option 1 suggests A. boisei had "very little ability... unlike the other two," which is unsupported since its brain is larger than A. africanus (who made tools).
• Option 2 suggests A. boisei made "more advanced tools than the other two," which contradicts the brain size hierarchy.
• Option 3 states A. boisei made tools "less advanced than H. erectus," which logically follows from its smaller brain size compared to H. erectus.
• Option 4 states A. boisei made tools "less advanced than A. africanus," which is unlikely because A. boisei had a slightly larger brain than A. africanus.

Answer:

• A. boisei would have had very little ability to make tools, unlike the other two hominids.
• A. boisei would have been able to make more advanced tools than the other two hominids.
• A. boisei would have been able to make tools that were less advanced than H. erectus. (Correct answer)
• A. boisei would have made tools that were less advanced than those made by A. africanus.