Question

humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor that lived in the distant past. based on this information, which of the following statements is most likely true? choose 1 answer: a the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees was a chimpanzee. b humans and chimpanzees are not evolutionarily related because their common ancestor existed too far in the past. c humans and chimpanzees have shared anatomical features that they inherited from their common ancestor.

Explanation:

• Option A: A common ancestor is a species from which both humans and chimpanzees evolved; it is not the same as a chimpanzee (humans and chimpanzees evolved separately from this ancestor), so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The existence of a common ancestor in the distant past means humans and chimpanzees are evolutionarily related (evolutionary relationships are based on common ancestry), so B is incorrect.
• Option C: Species that share a common ancestor often inherit shared anatomical (and other) features from that ancestor. Since humans and chimpanzees have a common ancestor, it is likely they share anatomical features inherited from it, so C is correct.

Answer:

C. Humans and chimpanzees have shared anatomical features that they inherited from their common ancestor.