Question

Through their studies of medium ground finches, the Grants were able to demonstrate that, as a result of drought ___________.

A. evolution occurred
B. natural selection occurred
C. adaptation occurred
D. all of these occurred

Answer 1

The Grants' study on medium ground finches demonstrated that evolution occurred as a result of drought and natural selection. Birds with larger beaks were able to survive and reproduce, leading to a change in the average beak size of the finch population.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Grants were able to demonstrate that as a result of drought, evolution occurred. During the drought, smaller seeds with thin shells became rare while larger seeds with hard cases became more common.

Birds with large and broad beaks were able to successfully eat the large, tough seeds, while birds with smaller beaks struggled to find food and died. This led to a change in the average beak size of the finch population, which is a clear example of evolution by natural selection.