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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. When are fossils typically preserved?

2. At what point is it necessary for animals to display traits that distinguish them from other organisms?

3. What may occur if one organism changes dramatically over time?

4. What do some geologists suggest about islands in the Atlantic and the continent of Europe?

5. How do some scientists try to explain the purpose of rudimentary organs?

Short Essay Questions

1. How can naturalists determine if land masses were once connected?

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

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

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

5. How can the phenomenon of ancient species resembling current living groups be explained?

6. Why do scientists have difficulty determining the effects of two distinct species breeding?

7. How can the inheritance of traits be seen in domesticated dogs?

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

9. What are some general rules governing whether or not two species can produce fertile offspring?

10. How does natural selection explain relationships among creatures?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How would a dramatic climate change affect a species? Consider the affect of the climate becoming (a) colder and (b) warmer. Use Darwin's arguments and explanations for this essay, provide examples of how each type of change would affect a species.

Essay Topic 2

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.

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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