USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) Practice Exam

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In which geologic epoch did Homo sapiens first appear?

Holocene
Pleistocene
Miocene
Pliocene

The correct answer is: Pleistocene

Homo sapiens first appeared during the Pleistocene epoch, which lasted from about 2.6 million years ago to approximately 11,700 years ago. The significance of the Pleistocene lies in its extensive glacial periods, which had substantial impacts on the climate and environment, shaping the ecosystems in which early humans lived. During the Pleistocene, multiple species of humans existed, with Homo sapiens emerging around 300,000 years ago in Africa. This epoch is crucial for understanding human evolution, as it encompasses the development of stone tools, the rise of various human cultures, and the eventual migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa into other parts of the world. The other epochs presented, such as the Holocene, which follows the Pleistocene and started approximately 11,700 years ago, saw the development of agriculture and the rise of civilizations, but not the initial appearance of Homo sapiens. The Miocene and Pliocene epochs occurred earlier, spanning from about 23 million to 2.6 million years ago, featuring the evolution and diversification of many other mammalian species, including early hominins, but not modern humans specifically.