View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What typically happens to a species that begins to vary and forms two distinct species?

2. What do naturalists call a situation where a child takes on characteristics NOT shared by the parents?

3. Which term refers to organisms with no distinct gender?

4. What aspect of organisms is not caused by chance?

5. What term refers to those organisms that survive despite the struggle for resources?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why isn't it safe to assume that regions that are physically connected in the present day were connected in the past?

2. Why is a flying mammal such as a bat difficult to explain through natural selection?

3. How does the growth of a population work?

4. Regarding Darwin's example of the pigeon in Chapter 1, why is the pigeon easily determined to be descended from a single species?

5. How does natural selection explain why organisms pair with other organisms?

6. Why are the laws of inheritance still not understood?

7. Why would natural selection be considered counter-intuitive?

8. Why is the eye used as an example of an organ too complex to be explained by natural selection?

9. How do Naturalists define a species and a variety?

10. What is the ultimate result of the constant struggle to live?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Darwin understands that his research methods are inadequate for the extent of his theory. Why do you think he admits this flaw, and how does Darwin propose to overcome flaws in his research?

Essay Topic 2

Darwin discusses the difference between natural and artificial, or domestic breeding. How does Darwin feel about both types of breeding in terms of natural selection? Do you think he would prefer one type of breeding over the other? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Darwin discusses different types of selection. What is affected by sexual selection, and why is this type of selection so important to maintaining a species?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 785 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample