Questions: QUESTION 2 What major climate event nearly wiped out Neandertals? a. There was a dramatic increase in rainfall. b. There were substantially colder temperatures. c. There was a major drought. d. There was an increase in major storms.

The answer is b. There were substantially colder temperatures.

While changes in rainfall patterns could have affected Neandertal habitats, there is no strong evidence to suggest that increased rainfall was a major factor in their decline.

The Neandertals lived during the Pleistocene epoch, which was characterized by repeated glacial cycles. The onset of the last glacial maximum, around 24,000 to 18,000 years ago, brought substantially colder temperatures. This climate change likely contributed to the decline of Neandertals by reducing the availability of resources and altering their habitats, making survival more challenging.

While droughts can have significant impacts on populations, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that a major drought was a primary factor in the decline of Neandertals.

Increased storm activity could have affected Neandertal populations, but there is no strong evidence to suggest that this was a major factor in their near extinction. The colder temperatures and changing climate conditions during the glacial periods are more widely recognized as significant challenges for Neandertals.