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Multiple Choice
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of natural selection?
A
A bird learns to open a new type of seed through trial and error.
B
A single plant grows taller than others because it receives more sunlight.
C
A population of insects develops resistance to a pesticide over several generations.
D
A mammal migrates to a warmer region during winter.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of natural selection. Natural selection is a process where individuals with traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to pass on those traits to the next generation. Over time, this leads to changes in the population's genetic makeup.
Step 2: Analyze each scenario provided in the question to determine if it aligns with the definition of natural selection. Look for evidence of heritable traits being passed on and a population-level change over generations.
Step 3: Evaluate the first scenario: 'A bird learns to open a new type of seed through trial and error.' This involves learned behavior, not a heritable genetic trait, so it does not illustrate natural selection.
Step 4: Evaluate the second scenario: 'A single plant grows taller than others because it receives more sunlight.' This describes an environmental advantage for an individual, but it does not involve heritable traits being passed on to the next generation, so it does not illustrate natural selection.
Step 5: Evaluate the third scenario: 'A population of insects develops resistance to a pesticide over several generations.' This involves a heritable genetic trait (pesticide resistance) that provides a survival advantage, leading to a population-level change over generations. This scenario best illustrates the process of natural selection.