Which of the following primates was more like an ape?

The correct answer is Option (2) → Dryopithecus

Option (1) Homo erectus — Incorrect. Homo erectus lived about 1.5 million years ago. It had a large brain of around 900 cc and probably ate meat. It was a human ancestor, far from ape-like.

Option (2) Dryopithecus — Correct. It lived about 15 million years ago and was the more ape-like of the two primates of that time.

Option (3) Australopithecines — Incorrect. Australopithecines lived about 2 million years ago in the grasslands of East Africa. They hunted with stone weapons, though they ate mainly fruit. They stand on the line leading to man, not with the apes.

Option (4) Ramapithecus — Incorrect. Ramapithecus lived at the same time as Dryopithecus, but it was more man-like.

NCERT Extract:
Origin and Evolution of Man – “… About 15 mya, primates called Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus were existing. They were hairy and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees. Ramapithecus was more man-like while Dryopithecus was more ape-like. Few fossils of man-like bones have been discovered in Ethiopia and Tanzania (Figure 6.11).”