Question

name_semina dacic
survival of the fittest: a case study worksheet
directions: read and annotate the following science article.
the phrase “survival of the fittest” describes a key concept in the theory of
evolution by natural selection. it means that individuals or groups best
adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. this
process leads to the traits that help survival becoming more common in a
population. one classic case study involves the peppered moth in england
during the industrial revolution. before pollution, most of these moths were
light - colored, which helped them blend in with the trees and avoid predators.
as soot from factories darkened the trees, dark - colored moths began to
survive better, since they were now better camouflaged. over time, the
population shifted from mostly light - colored to mostly dark - colored moths,
demonstrating “survival of the fittest.”
fill in the blank: fill in the blank with the correct words.
word bank: adapted, dark, hidden, case study, dark

1. “survival of the fittest” means that the individuals best ______

to their environment are most likely to survive.

1. the peppered moth is a classic ______ used to study natural

selection.

1. during the industrial revolution, the trees became ______

because of pollution.

1. before pollution, light - colored moths survived better because they were

______ by predators.

1. over time, the moth population shifted to being mostly ______

colored.

Explanation:

1. The phrase "Survival of the fittest" in the context of natural selection means that individuals or groups best "adapted" to their environment are more likely to survive. This is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology where adaptation refers to the traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment.
2. The text explicitly mentions "One classic case study involves the peppered moth in England" when discussing natural selection. A case study is a detailed examination of a particular subject (in this case, the peppered moth) used to illustrate a broader concept (natural selection).
3. The passage states "As soot from factories darkened the trees", which directly indicates that during the Industrial Revolution, the trees became "dark" due to pollution (soot from factories).
4. Before pollution, "light - colored, which helped them blend in with the trees... As soot from factories darkened the trees... light - colored moths... were hidden by predators". The light - colored moths blended in with the light - colored trees (before pollution), meaning they were less visible or "hidden" from predators.
5. "Over time, the population shifted from mostly light - colored to mostly dark - colored moths" as a result of the trees becoming dark (due to pollution from the Industrial Revolution). The dark - colored moths were better camouflaged on the dark trees and thus more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to a population shift towards "dark" - colored moths.

Answer:

1. adapted
2. case study
3. dark
4. hidden
5. dark