Scientist and the Theory of Evolution

Which of the following is Thomas Malthus’ contribution to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution?

• The earth is of a very old age proven by the number of rock layers.

• The earth’s geography has been shaped by slow processes

• Organisms mutate new parts as they need them.

• Populations tend to overpopulate and compete.

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In the 1800s Jean-Baptiste Lamarck offered a hypothesis about evolution called the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Which of the following is an example of how Lamarck thought animals evolved?

• Fish mutated the genes necessary to develop lungs and were able to eventually survive on land.

• Giraffes once had short necks and stretched them reaching for leaves on trees, later passing the longer neck trait to their offspring.

• Dark moths, once outnumbered by light moths, began to survive longer and reproduce more after the industrial revolution turned the trees black.

• The earth has been here so long that animals have had plenty of time to adapt to their environment through natural selection.

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Charles Lyell wrote a book called the Principles of Geology which Charles Darwin read during his famous voyage around the world. Lyell’s book contributed to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by convincing Darwin that

• natural selection was responsible for the acquisition of new traits within a population when there was competition between species.

• giraffes had short necks until they stretched them while reaching for the higher leaves on trees and then passed these traits to their offspring.

• the earth was old and formed by slow-acting processes which Darwin applied to the evolution of living things.

• homologous structures, the fossil record, and vestigial structures were the best evidence for the evolution of species.

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Which of the following men developed a theory of evolution very similar to Charles Darwin’s around the same time that Darwin developed his theory?

• Malthus

• Lyell

• Lamarck

• Wallace

Which of the following is NOT part of Darwin's original theory of evolution?

• Natural selection eliminates the least fit organisms from the population.

• Members of the population compete for resources.

• Gene mutations add more diversity to the population.

• Those that have the best traits survive and reproduce.

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Which of the following was a contribution of Thomas Malthus to Darwin's theory of evolution?

• His book convinced Darwin that the earth was old and formed by slow-acting processes.

• He presented a theory of evolution explaining how traits are acquired and passed down.

• His work convinced Darwin that organisms overpopulate and compete for resources.

• He wrote a letter encouraging Darwin to publish a book about his theory of evolution.

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NGSS.HS-LS4-2

Which of the following best describes Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's contribution to the theory of evolution?

• He published a book that convinced others that the earth is old and formed by slow-acting processes.

• He suggested that organisms changed gradually in response to their environment, and passed on acquired characteristics.

• His work convinced Darwin that organisms overpopulate and compete for resources.

• He developed a theory of evolution very similar to Darwin's theory at about the same time.

Which of the following best describes Charles Lyell’s contribution to the theory of evolution?

• He believed giraffe necks grew longer with each generation as they kept reaching for higher leaves.

• He published a book that convinced others the earth is old and formed by slow-acting processes.

• He developed a theory of evolution very similar to Darwin’s theory at about the same time.

• His work convinced Darwin that organisms overpopulate and compete for resources.