Use the Following Figure and Description to Answer the Question

question 11

Multiple Choice

Use the following figure and description to answer the question. Humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans are members of a clade called the great apes, which shared a common ancestor approximately 15 million years ago.
Referring to the phylogenetic tree in the figure, which of the following pairs of apes are most closely related?

• A) gorillas and chimpanzees
• B) humans and Australopithecus
• C) humans and gorillas
• D) orangutans and chimpanzees

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Definitions:

Seismic-Reflection Profiling

A geophysical method for exploring Earth's subsurface by reflecting seismic waves off underground layers and interpreting the echoes received.

Sound Waves

Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium, perceivable as sounds when they reach a human or animal ear.

Continental Shelf

A submerged extension of a continent, ranging from the shoreline to a drop-off point known as the shelf break.

Hydrothermal Vents

Openings on the seafloor that emit hot, mineral-rich water, supporting unique ecosystems independent of sunlight.