CHARLES DARWIN AND EVOLUTION
PAGES 330-331
ACTIVITIES

EXERCISE 1
Theory of evolution
theoretical structure modern science
human evolution
natural selection
struggle for existence

EXERCISE 2
A satirical magazine named “The Hornet” depicted Charles Darwin as an orangoutang. The reason why Darwin was depicted like this is strictly connected with his thesis about human evolution. In “The descendent of man” he explains that man and ape had common ancestors: Homo sapiens shares its nature with other primates. It uses our own species as an exemplar of evolution. The logic of evolution is simple. There exists, within all creatures, variation, which is passed from one generation to the next. More individuals are born than can live or breed. As a result, there develops a struggle to stay alive and to find a mate. In that battle, those who bear certain variants are more successful than others less well endowed. Such inherited differences in the ability to pass on genes—natural selection, as Darwin called it—mean that certain forms become more common as the generations succeed. Natural selection is a factory that makes almost impossible things.

EXERCISE 3
A 4
B 1
C 2
D
E 6
F 7
G 3
H 5