Which of these best illustrates natural selection? A. The largest organisms in a species are most likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes to offspring. B. Individuals that are able to change to fit their current environment are most likely to survive. C. A group of individuals that survive a catastrophic event, such as a volcano eruption, will evolve into a new species D. An organism with traits that are favorable for a given environment will survive and breed successfully.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: D. An organism with traits that are favorable for a given environment will survive and breed successfully.
Natural selection is a process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change over time. Organisms with traits that provide a better chance of survival in their environment are more likely to live long enough to reproduce. These beneficial traits then become more common in the population over generations.
For example, in a cold environment, animals with thicker fur are more likely to survive the winter than those with thinner coats. Over time, the genes for thicker fur become more common as these animals reproduce more successfully. The favorable traits are not developed because of need or desire but are already present through genetic variation. Those with the most suitable traits for the existing conditions are more likely to survive natural challenges like predators, climate, and competition for resources.
Option A is incorrect because simply being large does not always guarantee survival. Survival depends on how traits match the environment, not just size.
Option B is misleading. Organisms do not change themselves in response to their environment during their lifetime. Traits must already exist genetically and be passed on through reproduction.
Option C refers to a sudden event affecting survival, but it does not describe how natural selection operates. Surviving a catastrophe does not automatically lead to evolution or new species formation unless there is a gradual accumulation of favorable genetic changes over time.
Option D correctly describes the process of natural selection. Traits that give an advantage in a specific environment lead to greater survival and reproduction, making those traits more common in the next generation. This ongoing process drives adaptation and evolution in populations
