Natural selection and Evolution

The theory of evolution was proposed by . . .

• Charles Darwin.

• Charles Dickens.

• Albert Einstein.

• James Watson and Francis Crick.

The theory of evolution explains how species change and new species arise through the process of natural _________.

• selection

• separation

• difference

Animals that live in the same habitat often compete for limited resources. Which of these resources do animals not compete for?

• territory

• food

• oxygen

• mates

• water

Plants that live in the same habitat often compete for limited resources. Select three resources that plants compete for.

• space

• food

• light

• water

Natural selection is the process that leads to evolution. True or false?

• true

• false

Giraffes eat leaves from trees. In a season when leaves are in short supply, which of these giraffes has an inherited variation that will improve its ability to compete for food?

• A

• B

• C

• D

The feet of four birds are shown in the diagram. Which foot would increase a bird's ability to kill its prey?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Some individuals within a population have a physical characteristic that helps them to survive for longer than those without that characteristic. The individuals that survive can be considered to be the fittest. The survival of the fittest is otherwise known as

• genetic modification

• natural selection

• artificial selection

• evolution

Darwin's book On the Origin of Species suggests that _______ are evidence of evolution.

• photographs

• fossils

• eyewitness accounts

Why was Darwin's book On the Origin of Species controversial at the time of its publication?

• Many people believed that God had made all the animals and plants the way they were.

• Darwin used fossils as evidence, and there were a number of gaps in the fossil record.

• DNA hadn't been discovered, so Darwin could not explain how features were inherited.

• all of the above