New World and Old World Primates
Evidence suggests that primates originated in the Old World and arrived in South America in a single migration. This perhaps occurred at a time when lowered sea levels exposed the continental shelves of Africa and South America and islands in the mid-Atlantic, so that primates could migrate in short hops, over many generations.
Once primates arrived in the New World, they underwent an episode of adaptive radiation into a diversity of New World forms. Some of these New World forms resemble Old World monkeys and apes, while others resemble prosimians, such as the lemurs and tarsiers of Madagascar, and even nonprimates, such as squirrels. Despite this adaptive radiation, they are still a relatively uniform group and share several unique characteristics that distinguish them as New World primates, separate from Old World primates. One main difference is the shape of the nostrils. New World primates have broad nostrils, pointing to the sides, whereas Old World primates have narrow nostrils, directed forward. Also, the New World primates have a number of distinctive anatomical characteristics of the head, have relatively short forearms, and lack an opposable thumb. Most obviously, all New World primates have a tail, whereas many Old World primates lack tails. In five of the New World groupings of monkeys, the muscular tail is even used like a prehensile (adapted for grasping) fifth limb, which lets them hold on to branches while using their front limbs for picking up food. The prehensile tail allows for great acrobatics in species such as the spider monkey.
Another interesting contrast is in the area of color vision. Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are uniformly trichromatic-that is, all normal individuals have three different receptors, each maximumly sensitive to a different wavelength of light. In contrast, in New World monkeys, except for howler monkeys, most individuals are dichromatic-able to distinguish only two ranges of wavelength, like color-blind humans. The consequence is that Old World monkeys have a greater ability to distinguish the color red from the color green, allowing a more accurate determination of the first ripening of fruit and a greater ability to distinguish young leaves from older leaves on the basis of visual cues. It is noteworthy that the New World monkey that consumes mostly leaves, the howler monkey, is the only species currently known in which all individuals are trichromatic, allowing them to visually seek out young leaves to eat. In other New World monkeys in which color vision has been studied, some females are trichromats, while others, as well as all males, are all dichromats. It has been suggested that the varied visual capabilities within a group of New World monkeys may allow different individuals to specialize in finding particular types of foods or detecting certain kinds of predators, with dichromats possibly having advantages in detecting some types of camouflage, as well as having better vision in low light intensities. Another dramatic difference between Old and New World primates that may be related to these differences in color vision is that several of the Old World primates, such as the drill and the mandrill, have naked red or pink rumps, presumably as a social cue, whereas this characteristic is absent in New World primates. Similarly, African guenons have dramatic variation in the color patterns of their faces, a characteristic less pronounced in New World primates.
The New World monkeys are relatively uniform compared to older primate radiations in the Old World. A major division among the Old World primates is between the apes and the Old World monkeys, which are distinguished by many skeletal and dental characteristics. In addition, the apes have broad palates, broad nasal areas, and also larger brains. They are also extremely intelligent, and some species show complex tool use and the transmission of cultural behavior across generations. The sixteen to eighteen ape species that survive today are the remnants of a much more diverse radiation during the Miocene (23 million to 5.3 million years ago) that occupied both rainforest and other habitats. The Old World monkeys, by contrast, were less diverse during the Miocene and seem to have occupied mainly non-rainforest habitats, but have radiated dramatically since and now greatly outnumber the apes.
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Evidence suggests that primates originated in the Old World and arrived in South America in a single migration. This perhaps occurred at a time when lowered sea levels exposed the continental shelves of Africa and South America and islands in the mid-Atlantic, so that primates could migrate in short hops, over many generations.
Which of the following questions about primates is answered in paragraph 1?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AWhy did Old World primates migrate to South America?
BWhat evidence suggests that primates originated in the Old World?
CWhat conditions may have enabled primates to cross the Atlantic Ocean?
DWhat did scientists previously believe about the origin of South American monkeys?
2
Evidence suggests that primates originated in the Old World and arrived in South America in a single migration. This perhaps occurred at a time when lowered sea levels exposed the continental shelves of Africa and South America and islands in the mid-Atlantic, so that primates could migrate in short hops, over many generations.
According to paragraph 2,New World primates differ from Old World primates in all of the following characteristics EXCEPT
Negative Factual Information Questions否定事实信息题
Athe shape and length of the legs
Bthe length of the forearms
Cthe lack of an opposable thumb
Dcertain anatomical characteristics of the head
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Another interesting contrast is in the area of color vision. Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are uniformly trichromatic-that is, all normal individuals have three different receptors, each maximumly sensitive to a different wavelength of light. In contrast, in New World monkeys, except for howler monkeys, most individuals are dichromatic-able to distinguish only two ranges of wavelength, like color-blind humans. The consequence is that Old World monkeys have a greater ability to distinguish the color red from the color green, allowing a more accurate determination of the first ripening of fruit and a greater ability to distinguish young leaves from older leaves on the basis of visual cues. It is noteworthy that the New World monkey that consumes mostly leaves, the howler monkey, is the only species currently known in which all individuals are trichromatic, allowing them to visually seek out young leaves to eat. In other New World monkeys in which color vision has been studied, some females are trichromats, while others, as well as all males, are all dichromats. It has been suggested that the varied visual capabilities within a group of New World monkeys may allow different individuals to specialize in finding particular types of foods or detecting certain kinds of predators, with dichromats possibly having advantages in detecting some types of camouflage, as well as having better vision in low light intensities. Another dramatic difference between Old and New World primates that may be related to these differences in color vision is that several of the Old World primates, such as the drill and the mandrill, have naked red or pink rumps, presumably as a social cue, whereas this characteristic is absent in New World primates. Similarly, African guenons have dramatic variation in the color patterns of their faces, a characteristic less pronounced in New World primates.
The word“consequence”in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Areason
Bresult
Cdifference
Dadvantage
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Another interesting contrast is in the area of color vision. Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are uniformly trichromatic-that is, all normal individuals have three different receptors, each maximumly sensitive to a different wavelength of light. In contrast, in New World monkeys, except for howler monkeys, most individuals are dichromatic-able to distinguish only two ranges of wavelength, like color-blind humans. The consequence is that Old World monkeys have a greater ability to distinguish the color red from the color green, allowing a more accurate determination of the first ripening of fruit and a greater ability to distinguish young leaves from older leaves on the basis of visual cues. It is noteworthy that the New World monkey that consumes mostly leaves, the howler monkey, is the only species currently known in which all individuals are trichromatic, allowing them to visually seek out young leaves to eat. In other New World monkeys in which color vision has been studied, some females are trichromats, while others, as well as all males, are all dichromats. It has been suggested that the varied visual capabilities within a group of New World monkeys may allow different individuals to specialize in finding particular types of foods or detecting certain kinds of predators, with dichromats possibly having advantages in detecting some types of camouflage, as well as having better vision in low light intensities. Another dramatic difference between Old and New World primates that may be related to these differences in color vision is that several of the Old World primates, such as the drill and the mandrill, have naked red or pink rumps, presumably as a social cue, whereas this characteristic is absent in New World primates. Similarly, African guenons have dramatic variation in the color patterns of their faces, a characteristic less pronounced in New World primates.
The discussion of differences in color vision in paragraph 3 supports which of the following statements about howler monkeys?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AHowler monkeys are not able to distinguish the color red from the color green as well as most Old World monkeys are.
BHowler monkeys are unlike all other New World monkeys in that they eat leaves but not fruit.
CHowler monkeys are better able to visually distinguish young leaves from older leaves than dichromatic New World monkeys are.
DHowler monkeys are able to switch between two and three receptors allowing them to specialize in different types of tasks.
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Another interesting contrast is in the area of color vision. Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are uniformly trichromatic-that is, all normal individuals have three different receptors, each maximumly sensitive to a different wavelength of light. In contrast, in New World monkeys, except for howler monkeys, most individuals are dichromatic-able to distinguish only two ranges of wavelength, like color-blind humans. The consequence is that Old World monkeys have a greater ability to distinguish the color red from the color green, allowing a more accurate determination of the first ripening of fruit and a greater ability to distinguish young leaves from older leaves on the basis of visual cues. It is noteworthy that the New World monkey that consumes mostly leaves, the howler monkey, is the only species currently known in which all individuals are trichromatic, allowing them to visually seek out young leaves to eat. In other New World monkeys in which color vision has been studied, some females are trichromats, while others, as well as all males, are all dichromats. It has been suggested that the varied visual capabilities within a group of New World monkeys may allow different individuals to specialize in finding particular types of foods or detecting certain kinds of predators, with dichromats possibly having advantages in detecting some types of camouflage, as well as having better vision in low light intensities. Another dramatic difference between Old and New World primates that may be related to these differences in color vision is that several of the Old World primates, such as the drill and the mandrill, have naked red or pink rumps, presumably as a social cue, whereas this characteristic is absent in New World primates. Similarly, African guenons have dramatic variation in the color patterns of their faces, a characteristic less pronounced in New World primates.
Paragraph 3 supports which of the following about groups of New World monkeys in which not all members have the same visual capabilities?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AThese groups are not as well adapted to their environment as are groups of Old World monkeys in which all members have the same visual capabilities.
BIn these groups the males are responsible for finding food while the females look out for predators.
CIn these groups there are probably about the same number of dichromats and trichromats.
DIt may benefit the groups to have members who can specialize in different visual tasks.
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Another interesting contrast is in the area of color vision. Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are uniformly trichromatic-that is, all normal individuals have three different receptors, each maximumly sensitive to a different wavelength of light. In contrast, in New World monkeys, except for howler monkeys, most individuals are dichromatic-able to distinguish only two ranges of wavelength, like color-blind humans. The consequence is that Old World monkeys have a greater ability to distinguish the color red from the color green, allowing a more accurate determination of the first ripening of fruit and a greater ability to distinguish young leaves from older leaves on the basis of visual cues. It is noteworthy that the New World monkey that consumes mostly leaves, the howler monkey, is the only species currently known in which all individuals are trichromatic, allowing them to visually seek out young leaves to eat. In other New World monkeys in which color vision has been studied, some females are trichromats, while others, as well as all males, are all dichromats. It has been suggested that the varied visual capabilities within a group of New World monkeys may allow different individuals to specialize in finding particular types of foods or detecting certain kinds of predators, with dichromats possibly having advantages in detecting some types of camouflage, as well as having better vision in low light intensities. Another dramatic difference between Old and New World primates that may be related to these differences in color vision is that several of the Old World primates, such as the drill and the mandrill, have naked red or pink rumps, presumably as a social cue, whereas this characteristic is absent in New World primates. Similarly, African guenons have dramatic variation in the color patterns of their faces, a characteristic less pronounced in New World primates.
The word“presumably”in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Aprimarily
Bparticularly
Cit is believed
Din part
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Another interesting contrast is in the area of color vision. Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are uniformly trichromatic-that is, all normal individuals have three different receptors, each maximumly sensitive to a different wavelength of light. In contrast, in New World monkeys, except for howler monkeys, most individuals are dichromatic-able to distinguish only two ranges of wavelength, like color-blind humans. The consequence is that Old World monkeys have a greater ability to distinguish the color red from the color green, allowing a more accurate determination of the first ripening of fruit and a greater ability to distinguish young leaves from older leaves on the basis of visual cues. It is noteworthy that the New World monkey that consumes mostly leaves, the howler monkey, is the only species currently known in which all individuals are trichromatic, allowing them to visually seek out young leaves to eat. In other New World monkeys in which color vision has been studied, some females are trichromats, while others, as well as all males, are all dichromats. It has been suggested that the varied visual capabilities within a group of New World monkeys may allow different individuals to specialize in finding particular types of foods or detecting certain kinds of predators, with dichromats possibly having advantages in detecting some types of camouflage, as well as having better vision in low light intensities. Another dramatic difference between Old and New World primates that may be related to these differences in color vision is that several of the Old World primates, such as the drill and the mandrill, have naked red or pink rumps, presumably as a social cue, whereas this characteristic is absent in New World primates. Similarly, African guenons have dramatic variation in the color patterns of their faces, a characteristic less pronounced in New World primates.
In paragraph 3,the author mentions the dramatic variation in the color patterns of African guenons’faces in order to
Rhetorical Purpose Questions修辞目的题
Aexplain how facial color patterns can help Old and New World primates avoid predators
Bemphasize that not all colorful physical features in Old World primates serve primarily as social cues
Cillustrate a difference in the way that Old and New World primates detect camouflage
Dprovide an additional example of a marked difference between Old World and New World primates that may be related to differences in color vision
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The New World monkeys are relatively uniform compared to older primate radiations in the Old World. A major division among the Old World primates is between the apes and the Old World monkeys, which are distinguished by many skeletal and dental characteristics. In addition, the apes have broad palates, broad nasal areas, and also larger brains. They are also extremely intelligent, and some species show complex tool use and the transmission of cultural behavior across generations. The sixteen to eighteen ape species that survive today are the remnants of a much more diverse radiation during the Miocene (23 million to 5.3 million years ago) that occupied both rainforest and other habitats. The Old World monkeys, by contrast, were less diverse during the Miocene and seem to have occupied mainly non-rainforest habitats, but have radiated dramatically since and now greatly outnumber the apes.
According to paragraph 4,during the Miocene
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
Athere were fewer Old World monkey species than there are today
Bthe number of Old World ape species declined sharply
COld World monkeys gradually replaced Old World apes in most rainforest habitats
DOld World monkeys were pushed out of most rainforest habitats by Old World apes
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Another interesting contrast is in the area of color vision. Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are uniformly trichromatic-that is, all normal individuals have three different receptors, each maximumly sensitive to a different wavelength of light. In contrast, in New World monkeys, except for howler monkeys, most individuals are dichromatic-able to distinguish only two ranges of wavelength, like color-blind humans. The consequence is that Old World monkeys have a greater ability to distinguish the color red from the color green, allowing a more accurate determination of the first ripening of fruit and a greater ability to distinguish young leaves from older leaves on the basis of visual cues.[■] It is noteworthy that the New World monkey that consumes mostly leaves, the howler monkey, is the only species currently known in which all individuals are trichromatic, allowing them to visually seek out young leaves to eat. In other New World monkeys in which color vision has been studied, some females are trichromats, while others, as well as all males, are all dichromats. [■] It has been suggested that the varied visual capabilities within a group of New World monkeys may allow different individuals to specialize in finding particular types of foods or detecting certain kinds of predators, with dichromats possibly having advantages in detecting some types of camouflage, as well as having better vision in low light intensities. [■] Another dramatic difference between Old and New World primates that may be related to these differences in color vision is that several of the Old World primates, such as the drill and the mandrill, have naked red or pink rumps, presumably as a social cue, whereas this characteristic is absent in New World primates. [■] Similarly, African guenons have dramatic variation in the color patterns of their faces, a characteristic less pronounced in New World primates.
Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
The question that arises is:What might be the advantage of differences in color vision among individual members of the same species?
Insert Text Questions句子插入题
Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square sentence to the passage.
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Evidence suggests that primates originated in the Old World and migrated to South America.
Prose Summary Questions概要小结题
Select 3 answers
AOld World primates diverged into many different New World species, but the New World species have unique physical characteristics that distinguish them from Old World primates.
BNew World primates have broader nostrils than Old World primates, shorter forearms,and no opposable thumb,but it is not clear in what ways these characteristics advantage New World monkeys.
COnly some New World primates have the advantage of trichromatic vision (as opposed to all Old World primates),but there may be benefits to having some dichromatic group members.
DMany Old World monkeys did not develop tails because they do not need them,but New World monkeys developed tails in order to pick up food while performing acrobatics.
EOld World primates are divided into separate primate groups of apes and monkeys because of significant physical and behavioral differences,whereas New World primates are more uniform.
FDuring the Miocine adaptive radiation 23 million to 5.3 million years ago,sixteen to eighteen ape species diverged from Old World monkey species that lived in mainly non-rainforest habitats.
