The Theory of Evolution (Author Unknown)

What does Darwins Theory of Evolution explain, what evidence supports this theory, and what are the mechanisms by which it could have
occurred?
Directions: Carefully read the text on the left and on a separate sheet of paper, answer the questions on the right using the words in the text.

In 1859, Charles Darwin published convincing evidence that evolve 1. What did Charles Darwin do in 1859?
species evolve. He further explained how this process occurs. From
that evidence and explanation, we have what scientists and others theory
call today, the Theory of Evolution. evolution
Like all scientific theories, the theory of evolution has developed 2. What does the text say that all scientific
through decades of scientific observations and experimentation. theories have done that the theory of
Today almost all scientists accept that evolution is the basis for the evolution has also done?
diversity of life on earth. 3. Scientists accept that evolution is the basis
for what?

After years of research and study, Darwin suggested that by populations

surviving long enough to reproduce, populations have the 4. What gives populations the opportunity to
opportunity to pass on favorable characteristics to offspring. Over pass on favorable characteristics to
time, these characteristics will increase in a population and the offspring?
nature of that population will gradually change. Darwin called this natural selection 5. What two things will happen over time?
process by which populations change in response to their 6. Natural selection is the process by which
environment natural selection. populations do what in response to what?

Darwin suggested that organisms differ from place to place habitat 7. For what reason did Darwin say organisms
because their habitats present different challenges to survival and species differ from place to place?
reproduction. As a result, each species has evolved in response to 8. How does the text define the word
their specific environment. This changing process in response to a adaptation adaptation?
particular environment is called adaption. Darwin concluded that
the species in a particular place evolved from a species that
previously lived there or that migrated from a nearby area.
Darwin's evidence was based on the idea that in any population, 9. In any population, which individuals will
individuals
individuals that are best suited to survive and do well in their produce the most offspring?
environment will produce the most offspring. By doing so, the traits
of that offspring will be passed on and become more common as generation 10. What will cause certain traits to become
each new generation arrives. Traits are the genetic characteristics traits more common in a population?
The Theory of Evolution (Author Unknown)
What does Darwins Theory of Evolution explain, what evidence supports this theory, and what are the mechanisms by which it could have
occurred?
Directions: Carefully read the text on the left and on a separate sheet of paper, answer the questions on the right using the words in the text.
that may be physical, such as hair color; or behavioral, such as 11. How does the text define traits?
birds building nests.

Scientist now know that genes are responsible for inherited

traits. Therefore, certain forms of a trait become more common genes 12. What are genes responsible for?
because more of the species carry the gene that is passed on. In
other words, natural selection causes the frequency of genes in a frequency 13. Why would certain forms of a trait be passed
population to increase or decrease over time. on? Include the word gene in your answer.

14. What does natural selection cause to increase

or decrease over time?

Fossils offer the most direct evidence that evolution takes place. Fossils 15. What is the most direct evidence that
A fossil is the preserved or mineralized remains or imprint of an Preserved evolution takes place?
organism that lived past life-forms. Change over time, Mineralized 16. A fossil is an imprint of what?
or evolution can be seen in the fossils. For example, fossil links evolution 17. How does this paragraph define evolution?
have been found between fish and amphibians, between retiles and Vertebrates 18. What are 3 examples of evidence for
birds, and between reptiles and mammals. All of which add valuable
evolution in fossils?
evidence to the history of vertebrates.

19. What 3 major points to most scientists agree

Today, Darwin's theory of evolution is almost universally
on?
accepted by scientists as the best available explanation for the
biological diversity on earth. Based on this supporting evidence,
most scientist agree on the following three major points: 1) Earth is
about 4.5 billion years old, 2) Organisms have inhabited earth for
most of its history, and 3) All organisms living today evolved from
earlier, simpler life-forms.