Charles Darwin's Journey: Revolutionizing Biology

Charles Darwin embarked on a global expedition aboard the HMS Beagle on December 27, 1831, under Captain Robert FitzRoy. The journey, initially planned for two years, extended to five, focusing on charting South America's coastline and Pacific islands. Darwin collected numerous specimens and was influenced by Charles Lyell's geological theories, which suggested Earth's ancient and gradual changes. This led Darwin to consider the slow evolution of living organisms. In South America, he discovered fossils hinting at connections between ancient and modern species. His observations in the Galapagos Islands, where he noted variations among species, eventually contributed to revolutionary ideas in biology.

What was the primary mission of the HMS Beagle's expedition?

• To search for lost treasures

• To find a new trade route to Asia

• To chart the coastline of South America and some Pacific islands

• To discover new continents

How did Charles Lyell's work influence Darwin during his journey?

• It suggested that Earth was much younger than previously thought

• It argued that the continents were immovable

• It claimed that all species were created simultaneously

• It proposed that Earth had been changing slowly over millions of years

What did Darwin begin to consider about living organisms after reading Lyell's work?

• They were static and unchanging

• They changed rapidly over short periods

• They evolved slowly over long periods

• They were unrelated to their environment

What did Darwin's fossil findings in South America suggest?

• Ancient animals might be related to current living species

• Fossils were only found in South America

• Ancient animals were completely different from modern ones

• Fossils were not reliable for studying evolution

What was significant about Darwin's observations on the Galapagos Islands?

• He found no new species

• He observed species identical to those on the mainland

• He noted a variety of species similar yet distinct from those on the mainland

• He discovered that all species were extinct