Reading Science A - Darwin's Fancy With Finches

Explanation
Natural selection is the process by which organisms with traits that are advantageous for their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, while those with less advantageous traits are less likely to pass on their genes. This leads to a gradual change in the characteristics of a population over time, as the individuals with the most beneficial traits are selected for. This process is often referred to as "the survival of the fittest" because it favors traits that increase an organism's chances of survival and reproductive success.

Explanation
Darwin's controversial book, "On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection," illustrates the importance of variations in organisms, the idea that traits affect how likely an organism is to reproduce, and how species evolve by adapting to their environment. The book explores how natural selection acts on variations within a population, favoring those traits that increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction. This process leads to the gradual evolution and adaptation of species over time. Therefore, the correct answer is "all of the above."

Explanation
The analogy is comparing beak size in Galapagos finches to white hair in polar bears. Just like beak size is a characteristic that varies among Galapagos finches, white hair is a characteristic that is commonly found in polar bears. This analogy suggests that beak size is a defining feature of Galapagos finches, just as white hair is a defining feature of polar bears.

Explanation
In paragraph 6, the term "resistance" is used to describe a form of opposition. This suggests that the term is referring to a situation where there is disagreement or pushback against something. The other options, such as approval, variation, and individualized, do not align with the idea of opposition that is presented in the context.

Explanation
Based on the information in paragraph 5, the finch in diagram 1 is most likely to have adapted to an area where the food source is large, hard seeds. This is because the beak of the finch in diagram 1 is larger and stronger compared to the other finches in the diagram. The larger beak allows the finch to crack open and eat hard seeds, which indicates that it has adapted to a habitat where this type of food source is abundant.