Charles Darwin and Natural Selection

What was Charles Darwin's main contribution to science?

• He was the first person to think of the idea of evolution

• He developed the modern theory of evolution

• He refuted the modern theory of evolution

• He was the first person to actually witness animals evolving

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What term would best describe Charles Darwin's decision to sail aboard the HMS Beagle?

• Unlucky

• Serendipitous

• Wretched

• Uneventful

What was the mission that led Darwin's boat to sea?

• Discovering proof of evolution

• Claiming South American land for Great Britain

• Looking for South American gold deposits

• Mapping the South American coastline

What is an inherited trait?

• A characteristic determined by an organism's genes

• A skill that's developed through practice

• An organism's place in the food web

• An organism's relationship to its parents

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Which of these is an OPINION (passes judgement either positive or negative) about Darwin?

• He waited a long time to publish "On the Origin of Species"

• He was not a good author because his work "On the Origin of Species" is a poorly-written book

• "On the Origin of Species" was controversial when it was published

• "On the Origin of Species" had both critics and supporters

Which of the following statements is true according to Darwin's Theory of Evolution?

• Human beings evolved from chimpanzees

• Chimpanzees evolved from human beings

• Humans and chimpanzees both evolved from a common ancestor

• Chimpanzees and humans are not closely related, biologically

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When is a trait most likely to be passed on to the next generation? Choose the best answer.

• When it serves no purpose to the organism

• When it prevents the organism from finding a mate

• When it gives the organism an abundant supply of water

• When it becomes an advantage to the organism's survival

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In what major way did Darwin's ideas diverge from Lamarck's?

• Lamarck thought changes to an individual animal during its lifetime would be passed on to offspring

• Lamarck believed that environmental pressures drove evolution

• Lamarck thought that animals would not have had time to evolve in Earth's short history

• Lamarck did not believe that species could change over time

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What can you infer from the fact that Darwin studied theology (religion) before dedicating the rest of his life to science?

• He didn't like his theology professors at school

• Theology didn't captivate his mind in the long run (long-term) the same way science did

• He thought that no one should study theology

• He remained deeply religious throughout his life

Which is the most likely evolutionary response of birds to a food supply of insects living in deep, narrow tunnels?

• Birds get smaller with each generation, until they can fit inside the tunnels.

• Birds learn to plug up the tunnels, forcing the insects to the surface for air.

• Birds begin eating bark and leaves instead.

• Birds' beaks get progressively longer and thinner with each generation.

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