Which one of the following statement is correct?

Options

A. Australopithecus is the real ancestor of modern man
B. Neanderthal man is the direct ancestor of Homo sapiens
C. Homo erectus is the ancestor of man
D. Cro-magnon man's fossil has been found in Ethiopia

Answer

To solve the question regarding which statement is correct, we will analyze each of the provided statements one by one.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Evaluate Statement 1: "Australopithecus is the real ancestor of modern man."**
- Australopithecus is an early hominid but is not considered the direct ancestor of modern humans (Homo sapiens). Instead, it is part of the evolutionary lineage.
- **Conclusion:** This statement is incorrect.

2. **Evaluate Statement 2: "Neanderthal man is the direct ancestor of Homo sapiens or the modern man."**
- Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) are indeed closely related to modern humans and share a common ancestor. While they are not a direct ancestor, they are one of the closest relatives.
- **Conclusion:** This statement is considered correct in the context of the options provided.

3. **Evaluate Statement 3: "Homo erectus is the ancestor of man."**
- Homo erectus is an extinct species that is part of the human evolutionary tree but is not the direct ancestor of modern humans. They are more like a side branch in the evolutionary tree.
- **Conclusion:** This statement is incorrect.

4. **Evaluate Statement 4: "Cro-Magnon man's fossil has been found in Ethiopia."**
- Cro-Magnon man refers to early modern humans (Homo sapiens) found in Europe, and their fossils have been primarily discovered in Europe, not Ethiopia.
- **Conclusion:** This statement is incorrect.

### Final Answer:
Based on the evaluations, the correct statement is:
**B: Neanderthal man is the direct ancestor of Homo sapiens or the modern man.**