Question

how does natural selection lead to evolution?
a. the fittest organism cannot reproduce.
b. new species learn the behavior of old species.
c. small changes add up over time.
d. every generation is a new species.

Explanation:

Natural selection acts on small variations within a population. Over many generations, these small, favorable changes (traits that enhance survival and reproduction) accumulate. This cumulative effect leads to significant differences from the original population, which is the essence of evolution. Option A is incorrect because the fittest organisms are more likely to reproduce. Option B is wrong as new species arise through evolutionary processes (not just learning old - species behavior). Option D is incorrect as a new species does not form every generation; it takes a long time for enough changes to accumulate for speciation.

Answer:

C. Small changes add up over time.