The Making of a Theory - Accelerated

The Making of a Theory

by Ms. Giddings

​Darwin & Wallace

Charles Darwin is considered the "father of evolution."

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​Darwin developed The Theory of Evolution after sailing around the world, collecting specimens of a wide variety of animals.

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​Alfred Russel Wallace was also collecting specimens and developed his own theory at that time.

​The Making of a Theory Instructions

​Watch the video, The Making of a Theory. It is broken into several chunks. You will have questions to answer after each section.

​Introduction

​In this section you will be introduced to Darwin and Wallace as young men. They were both naturalists (people who study nature.)

Multiple Choice

What question was Alfred Russell Wallace trying to answer?

• Why do fires start on ships?

• Does Charles Darwin like me?

• Where do species come from?

Multiple Choice

Charles Darwin was invited to sail on the Beagle, for a trip

• to China

• to Boston

• to Puerto Rico

• around the world

Multiple Choice

Darwin was an amateur

• naturalist

• geneticist

• chef

• epidemiologist

Multiple Choice

Darwin was very lucky to have a microscope because

• there was a microscope shortage at that time

• in the 1800's only wealthy people could afford them

• microscopes were only available in France

​Darwin's voyage

​Darwin collected specimens of species at each stop on his voyage. He later wrote extensively about what he observed on the Galapagos Islands.

Multiple Choice

When Darwin thought, "If hell had a garden, this is what it would look like," he was referring to

• the Malay Archipelago

• the Galapagos Islands

• his home in England

• the Sahara Desert

Multiple Choice

Species that Darwin observed in the Galapagos included all these except

• tortoises

• dawn horses

• iguanas

• mockingbirds

​Darwin's Idea

​On Darwin's trip home he considered everything he observed on his trip. He called this process, "Mental rioting."

Multiple Choice

As he examined his specimens from the Galapagos Islands, Darwin realized

• he had too many dead animal specimens

• species might change

• tortoises on different islands had the same shells

Multiple Choice

Which of these was not part of Darwin's "big idea"?

• species change into new species

• today's species are descended from older, extinct species

• all species are connected in a family tree

• there are an unlimited number of animals for humans to hunt

Multiple Choice

Why did Darwin keep his ideas about evolution secret for so long?

• His ideas were radical and went against church teachings.

• Nobody knew he was a naturalist.

• He was too busy to publish a book.

​Wallace's Journey

​Wallace had to collect specimens from places he visits to sell to collector so that he could make a living.

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​Wallace spent 8 years in the Malay Archipelago.

Multiple Choice

Which is the best description of the Malay Archipelago?

• A supercontinent in ancient times

• A series of islands between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean

• A continent near the Galapagos Islands

Multiple Choice

Wallace's study of species in South America and the Malay Penninsula led him to conclude that

• similar species always live on opposite sides of the planet

• birds and butterflies are closely related

• the more closely two species live, the more closely they are related

Multiple Choice

Which of these statements about marsupials is true?

• Marsupial babies grow up in pouches

• Marsupials can be found in the Malay archipelago, close to Australia

• Marsupials can be found in Australia

• All of these statements are true

Multiple Choice

The Wallace line is at the meeting of two tectonic plates and explains that

• geography doesn't affect evolution

• the history of the planet affects distribution of species

​Darwin & Wallace

​Both Darwin and Wallace developed similar explanations of how species change over time.

Multiple Choice

Why did Darwin and Wallace share credit for explaining evolution?

• Both men developed a similar idea at the same time.

• Darwin felt sorry for Wallace because he wasn't rich. 

• Wallace traveled more extensively.