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

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following refers to offspring with parents from two different species?

2. What are variations typically related to in complex species?

3. What type of fossils may survive damaging geological changes?

4. When are fossils typically preserved?

5. What is the general quality of fossils gathered by paleontologists?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do rudimentary organs pose a problem for theorists that species were created independently?

2. How does less competition affect natural selection?

3. How does the age of the earth play into natural selection?

4. Why can't similarities in organ structure of different species be explained as being created individually?

5. How do physical barriers correlate with differences in creatures that inhabit a region?

6. How does Darwin explain how the same genus of species are found in different geographical regions?

7. What is a possible explanation for why species migrated from one region to the next?

8. How does Darwin explain similarities in embryos?

9. How are fossils classified?

10. Why does Darwin use a fish and a reptile as comparisons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Variations are, according to Darwin, naturally selected for because of their use to the species. How are variations passed on from one generation to the next? What types of trait variations have occurred that have improved survival of a species?

Essay Topic 2

Darwin uses inductive reasoning throughout his work. What is inductive reasoning? Why is this so important to the study of natural selection? Is inductive reasoning scientific? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Darwin suggests that when the information in this book is combined, it supports his theory. Do you agree? Use examples and theories from the book to demonstrate how combining his theory and the opposition offers support for the theory itself.

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