Question

Consider the scenarios described below. Match the concept described by the scenario with the theory.

Five lizards were moved from Lost Island to Fantasy Island (which was devoid of this species of lizards). Within 35 years the lizards on Fantasy Island have larger heads and stronger bites then those on Lost Island, reflecting a diet higher in plant material then at Lost Island.

Geologists who study rock formations, water movements, and mountain formations use the phrase 'The present is the key to the past".

A group of rats is trained to correctly run a maze. The first rats would get the maze wrong 165 times before running it perfectly. After a few generations, the rats could run the maze only 20 times before learning it correctly.

An investigator considers fossils in the strata in the rocks throughout a continent. It is noted that a very large number of species disappeared from the fossil records about 65 million years ago. It is proposed that a large asteroid impact in the area lead to mass extinction.

The options are: gradualism, uniformitarianism, catastrophism, Scala Naturae, natural selection, inheritance of acquired characteristics

Answer 1

1 - natural selection

2 - uniformitarianism

3- inheritance of acquired characteristics

4 - catastrophism

Step-by-step explanation:

1. Natural selection refers to the evolution of organism or changes in the characterstics of organism depending on the environmental conditions. Hence, the lizard moved on fantasy island evolved with larger head and stronger bites as per the environmental condition.

2. The concept of Uniformitarianism states that the natural geological processes happening in present have already occured in past with same intesity and rate. Hence, geologist uses the phrase "The present is the key to the past" for formation of mountain, rock formation and water movements.

3. Inheritance of acquired characteristics are the characteristic acquird by the ancestors and transmitted that gradually acquired characteristic to their progeny. Hence, the rats acquire the charactieristics and transfered it to the next generations.

4. Catastrophism means the regular occurrence of meteorological and geological disturbances to explain the existence the fossil record. Hence, teh mass exticiton due to asteroid impact is an example of Catastrophism.

So, the correct options in sequential order is natural selection, uniformitarianism, inheritance of acquired characteristics, and catastrophism.