Question

Based on current evidence, which of the following statements best describes the evolution of humans?

1) Humans evolved from the chimpanzee.
2) Humans evolved in a single, orderly series of stages in which each stage became more advanced than the predecessor.
3) The various characteristics that we associate with humans evolved in unison over long periods of time.
4) Humans and apes diverged from a common ancestor about 5-10 million years ago.
5) Humans are more closely related to gorillas than to chimpanzees.

Answer 1

Humans and apes share a common ancestor; they did not evolve directly from one another. This divergence occurred around 5-10 million years ago, and modern humans, Homo sapiens, are the only surviving species from a variety of human-like ancestors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on current evidence, the accurate description of the evolution of humans is that humans and apes diverged from a common ancestor about 5-10 million years ago. Therefore, statement 4 is correct. It is a common misconception that humans evolved directly from chimpanzees, but in reality, both species share a common ancestor from which they independently evolved. This process involves a long and complex evolutionary history, with the emergence of various human-like ancestors such as Australopithecus, Homo habilis, and Homo erectus, with each species contributing to the development of traits associated with modern humans, including bipedalism and a larger brain. However, all other human species are now extinct, with only Homo sapiens remaining.