Which of the following statements best describes the process of natural selection?

Step 3: Evaluate the second statement: 'Traits acquired during an organism's lifetime are passed directly to offspring.' This is incorrect because acquired traits (e.g., learned behaviors or physical changes due to environment) are not inherited genetically. Only traits encoded in an organism's DNA can be passed to offspring.

Step 4: Evaluate the third statement: 'Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.' This is correct because natural selection favors individuals with traits that enhance survival and reproduction, leading to a higher likelihood of passing those traits to offspring.