Natural Selection Review

According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, the individuals that tend to survive are those that have

• characteristics their parents acquired

  by use and disuse.

• characteristics that plant and animal breeders value.

• the greatest number of offspring.

• variations best suited to the environment.

Charles Darwin viewed the fossil record as:

• evidence that Earth was thousands of years old

• a detailed record of evolution

• interesting but unrelated to the evolution of modern species

• evidence that traits are acquired through use or disuse

The fact that some birds’ beaks are larger than others illustrates

• fitness

• natural variation

• vestigial organs

• homologous structures

The image illustrates what evolutionary concept?

• embryological similarities

• variation among species

• vestigial structures

• homologous structures

A structure that seems to serve no purpose in an organism is called:

• Homologous

• Vestigial

• Dichotomous

• Fossilized

In science, theories are:

• an educated guess

• a known fact

• absolute and unchangeable

• the best explanation for a set of data or observations

Any variation that can help an organism survive in its environment is called a(n):

• Adaptation

• Characteristic

• Competition

• Vestigial structure

The finches on the Galapagos island were similar in form except for variations of their beaks. Darwin observed that these variations were useful for:

• attracting a mate

• defending territory

• building nests

• gathering food

Ability to survive and reproduce is known as

• Fitness

• Evolution

• Adaptation

• Common Descent

Species changing over time is

• Fitness

• Evolution

• Artificial Selection

• Struggle for existence