Darwin & Natural Selection Study Guide Name

_____________________________

1. __________________________ was the naturalist who proposed that evolution happens

through natural selection.

2. Darwin observed differences in the

_________________________________________________.

3. Darwin did not say that humans came from monkeys. He said
___________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________.

4. Charles Darwin helped to explain how

_____________________________________________.

5. The place where Darwin’s discoveries led to his theory of natural selection is called
__________ ____________________________.

6. Darwin theorized that individuals having an advantage due to their traits or abilities will be
more likely to survive and reproduce. His theory is known as
________________________________.

7. The process by which populations slowly change over time is called

______________________.

8. What are two signs that different species may be related and have a common ancestor?
_______

_____________________________________________________________________________.

9. The process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and
reproduce more successfully than others do is called
__________________________________.

10. A spider may produce hundreds of eggs, only a few of which may survive. This is an
example of ____________________________________.

11. A characteristic that improves an organism’s ability to survive is a(n)

_____________________.

12. The fact that an organism’s offspring are not identical and have different traits is known as
_______________________________.

13. Organisms that are not able to adapt to their environment may
__________________________.
14. Which of the following is NOT a result of natural selection?
A. dogs that are bred to pull sleds
B. insects that are able to resist insecticides
C. bacteria that survive antibiotics
D. elephants that are born without tusks

15. Over the years, the excessive use of antibiotics has resulted in the development of what
scientists call “super bacteria.” These super bacteria are resistant to known antibiotics, this is
an example of ____________________________ in action.

16. A group of plant eaters are separated from their population. In the new environment, the only
edible vegetation grows at the top of tall trees. What is a likely physical adaptation that may
develop?

17. A group of organisms that can mate with one another to produce fertile offspring is called
______________________________ .

18. The preserved remains of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past are called
_____________________.

19. The total number of fossils that have been discovered as well as the information gathered
from them is called _____________________________________.