Question

What did Gould and Eldridge infer about the pace and timing of evolutionary change? (5 points)

a
Evolutionary change occurred gradually and constantly throughout time.

b
The pace of evolutionary change has slowed down over time and it only rarely occurs now.

c
Periods during which evolution occurred were always preceded by a catastrophe.

d
Long periods of stability were punctuated with periods of evolutionary change.

Answer 1

The answer is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

Long periods of stability were punctuated with periods of evolutionary change.

Answer 2

d. Long periods of stability were punctuated with periods of evolutionary change.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gould and Eldridge inferred that evolution occurred because of the sudden existence of new factors that force a certain type of species to adapt to the new situation. (Things such as sudden change in the environment, sudden change of the species' genetic composition that passed over during natural selection ,etc)

They believe this is why periods of evolutionary change happened in considerably shorter period of time right in the middle of periods of stability.