Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
At the time Charles Darwin sailed on HMS Beagle, __________.
A
the idea that animals and plants might change over time was absent from Western science
B
the idea of evolution was widely accepted because it could fit into the biblical story of creation
C
the idea of evolution was widely accepted by scientists, but Darwin's great impact was to popularize it for the layperson
D
None of the listed responses is correct.
E
several biologists had proposed that species might change over time, but none had suggested a convincing mechanism that might cause the change
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the historical context of Charles Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle. During this time, the concept of species changing over time was not entirely new, but it lacked a convincing mechanism.
Recognize that several biologists before Darwin had proposed the idea of species change, but their theories were not widely accepted or lacked empirical support.
Identify that Darwin's contribution was not just the idea of evolution, but the introduction of a mechanism—natural selection—that explained how evolution could occur.
Acknowledge that the idea of evolution was not widely accepted in the context of the biblical creation story, which was the dominant explanation for the diversity of life at the time.
Conclude that the correct understanding is that while the idea of species change existed, Darwin's work provided a scientific basis and mechanism for evolution, which was a significant advancement in biology.