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 aspect of organisms is not caused by chance?

2. What term refers to exactly how species change over time?

3. What typically happens when varieties are inter-breed?

4. What animal does Darwin use as an example of an intermediate form of a full-land and full-flying animal?

5. Which of the following refers to a scientist who studies living creatures?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the growth of a population work?

3. What are four objections raised to the theory of natural selection?

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

5. How does Darwin propose a theory that goes against long-held popular belief?

6. What was Darwin's specific interest in the living species?

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

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

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

10. What must be examined in order for Darwin's theory to be considered plausible?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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 suggests both that species can adapt to new environments and that when a species is brought into a new environment, it does not prosper. How can this contradiction be explained? Is it possible that each statement may be true for some organisms and not others? Provide examples and an explanation for your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample