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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 term refers to organisms with no distinct gender?

2. What would increase the likelihood of variations occurring in a given population?

3. What is unique about variation in polymorphic species?

4. What is one function that cave dwelling animals lost through natural selection?

5. What type of selection primarily affects the reproductive characteristics of a species?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is natural selection much broader than domestic selection by humans?

2. How do variations occur in the wild?

3. Why does Darwin feel the distinction between species variations is arbitrary?

4. What factors contribute to the slowdown in reproduction in a species?

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

6. Why would, on some islands, nature select for beetles that do not fly?

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

8. How does the growth of a population work?

9. Is there a cycle to the struggle for existence? Explain.

10. How can the geology of mountains and valleys be related to natural selection?

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 struggle for existence in terms of pray and predators. How does this theory play into species with no predators? Are there truly any species with no predators? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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