Socio-Economic Practices of Early Humans

16 Grade 9 Social Studies questions on Socio-Economic Practices of Early Humans, with worked marking schemes. 16 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   An archaeologist in the Rift Valley uncovers rough stone hand-axes used for cutting and scraping. These tools are associated with the

   A. New Stone Age

   B. Bronze Age

   C. Iron Age

   D. Old Stone Age

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Which of the following was a social benefit early humans gained from the discovery of fire?

   A. It provided warmth and protection against wild animals at night

   B. It enabled them to mint coins

   C. It helped them write records

   D. It allowed them to make iron weapons

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   A group of early humans lived together, shared hunting tasks and divided gathered food among members. This shows that early human society valued

   A. cooperation and communal living

   B. individual ownership of land

   C. trade in money

   D. competition

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   3 marks

   State three ways in which early humans obtained their food during the Old Stone Age period.

   (3 marks)

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5. Question 5

   4 marks

   Identify two differences between the tools used in the Old Stone Age and those used in the New Stone Age.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Any two contrasts (2 marks each, one mark per side): Old Stone Age tools were rough/crudely made while New Stone Age tools were smooth/polished/sharpened; Old Stone Age tools were simple all-purpose (e.g. hand-axe) while New Stone Age had specialised tools (e.g. hoes, sickles for farming).

6. Question 6

   1 mark

   During the Old Stone Age, how did early humans mainly obtain their food?

   A. Hunting wild animals and gathering wild fruits

   B. Large-scale crop farming

   C. Operating factories

   D. Trading using coins

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   1 mark

   During the Iron Age, the ability to smelt iron improved the lives of early humans MAINLY because it

   A. ended all warfare

   B. reduced the need for food

   C. enabled the making of stronger, sharper tools and weapons

   D. stopped the use of fire

   (1 mark)

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8. Question 8

   1 mark

   During the Old Stone Age, early humans obtained their food mainly through:

   A. Large-scale crop farming

   B. Hunting wild animals and gathering wild fruits

   C. Trading in markets

   D. Keeping herds of cattle

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   1 mark

   Why is the domestication of animals considered an economic practice of early humans?

   A. Animals provided a regular source of food, hides and labour

   B. Animals replaced the need for tools

   C. Animals could write records

   D. Animals were worshipped as gods

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    6 marks

    The discovery of fire transformed the lives of early humans. Explain three uses to which early humans put fire.

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any three explained (2 marks each): cooking food, making it softer/safer to eat; providing warmth during cold weather; offering protection by scaring away wild animals; providing light at night; later used in smelting iron/hardening tools. Award 1 for use, 1 for explanation.

11. Question 11

    5 marks

    During the Stone Age period, early human beings developed various socio-economic practices.

    (a) Differentiate between the Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age in terms of how people obtained food. (2 marks)

    (b) State three ways in which the discovery of fire improved the life of early human beings. (3 marks)

    (5 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) During the Old Stone Age, early human beings obtained food mainly through hunting wild animals and gathering wild fruits, roots, and vegetables; they were food gatherers and hunters who did not produce their own food. During the New Stone Age, people learned to domesticate animals and cultivate crops; they became food producers (farmers and herders) and began to live in settled communities. (b) Any three ways fire improved early human life, such as: it was used to cook food, making it softer, tastier, and safer to eat; it provided warmth during cold weather; it provided light at night; it was used to scare away/keep off wild animals for protection; it was used to harden the tips of wooden tools and weapons; it was used for hunting (e.g. driving animals); or it was later used for smelting and shaping metals.

12. Question 12

    1 mark

    The change from hunting and gathering to growing crops and keeping animals is often called the:

    A. Industrial Revolution

    B. Neolithic (Agrarian) Revolution

    C. Information Age

    D. Scramble for Africa

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    The single most important factor that changed the way of life of early humans during the New Stone Age was the

    A. building of cities

    B. discovery of fire

    C. domestication of plants and animals

    D. invention of writing

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    During the Old Stone Age, early humans obtained food mainly by

    A. trading manufactured goods

    B. hunting wild animals and gathering wild fruits

    C. keeping domesticated cattle

    D. growing crops on irrigated farms

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    The shift from hunting and gathering to crop cultivation encouraged early humans to

    A. settle in permanent villages

    B. abandon the use of tools

    C. stop cooperating in groups

    D. move from place to place more frequently

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    4 marks

    Explain how the domestication of plants and animals during the New Stone Age changed the lifestyle of early humans.

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any two explained (2 marks each): they moved from a nomadic to a settled/permanent life as they tended crops/animals; they had a more reliable food supply leading to population growth; surplus food allowed specialisation in other tasks; led to formation of larger communities/villages. Award 1 point, 1 explanation.

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