Here's why:
* Evolutionary History: Apes and Old World monkeys share a common ancestor that lived around 25 million years ago. New World monkeys diverged much earlier, around 40 million years ago.
* Physical Characteristics: Apes and Old World monkeys share several physical features that New World monkeys lack, such as:
* Downward-facing nostrils
* Lack of a prehensile tail
* Larger body size
* More complex social structures
* Genetic Evidence: Genetic studies have confirmed the closer relationship between apes and Old World monkeys.
Therefore, the evolutionary and biological evidence points to a closer kinship between apes and Old World monkeys.