Question

In 1831, Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands. While observing the giant land tortoises that lived on these islands, Darwin noted that the shape of the tortoise shell varied depending on which island the tortoise lived. Tortoises on one island had round shells, for example, whereas tortoises on a neighboring island had more flattened, saddle-shaped shells. Which statement BEST summarizes Darwin's explanation for these differences?
A) Random mutations caused the shape of the shells to fluctuate periodically.
B) The shape of the tortoise shell varied because the predators on the islands were different.
C) The particular shape of the shell was best suited for the island on which the tortoise was living.
D) Tortoises who used their shells in special ways caused the shells to become larger, rounder, or flatter.

Answer 1

B) The shape of the tortoise shell varied because the predators on the islands were different. 

Natural Selection is a process where “survival of the fittest” is based from. Because the environment cannot support all organisms borne, those organisms must compete with each other for food, shelter and protection. Organisms may die due to accidents but majority of the organisms die due to their inability to survive stiff competition. 

Darwin’s theory of evolution 
1)      Variation exists among individuals within species. 
2)      Organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support 
3)      Competition exists among individuals.
 4)      The organisms whose variations best fit them to the environment are the ones who most likely to survive, reproduce, and pass those desirable variations on to the next generation.