Final answer:
Natural selection favors the age at maturity that results in the greatest number of offspring produced over an individual's lifetime.
Step-by-step explanation:
In natural selection, the age at maturity that results in the greatest number of offspring produced over the lifetime of an individual is favored. This is because individuals with traits that allow them to survive and reproduce more successfully are more likely to pass on those traits to future generations. For example, if an organism reaches maturity at a younger age, it can start reproducing earlier and produce more offspring over its lifetime. Conversely, if an organism matures later, it may have fewer opportunities to reproduce and pass on its genes.