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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #35970 The Origin of Species
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
In  The  Origin  of  Species,  Darwin  provided  abundant  evidence  that  life  on  Earth  has  evolved  over  time,  and  he  proposed  natural  selection  as  the  primary  mechanism  for  that  change.  He  observed  that  individuals    in  their  inherited  traits  and  that  selection  acts  on  such  differences,  leading  to    change.  Although  Darwin  realized  that  variation  in  heritable  traits  is  a  prerequisite  for  ,  he  did  not  know  precisely  how  organisms  pass  heritable  traits  to  their  offspring.  Just  a  few  years  after  Darwin  published  The  Origin  of  Species,  Gregory  Mendel  wrote  a  ground  breaking  paper  on  inheritance  in  pea  plants    that  paper,  Mendel  proposed  a  model  of  inheritance  in  which  organisms  transmit  discrete  heritable  units  (now  called  genes)  to  their  offspring.  Although  Darwin  did  not  know  about  genes,  Mendel’s  paper  set  the  stage    understanding  the  genetic  differences  on  which  evolution  is  based.

Result:

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Correct answer: differ

Explanation: The verb 'differ' is correctly used here to indicate that individuals have distinct inherited traits. It fits grammatically as it aligns with the plural subject 'individuals' and maintains the present tense of the sentence.

Meaning: 'Differ' means to be unlike or distinct in nature, indicating that individuals possess varying inherited traits.

Wrong options:

  • difference: 'Difference' is a noun and does not fit grammatically as it cannot serve as a verb in this context.
  • different: 'Different' is an adjective and cannot function as a verb, making it unsuitable for this sentence structure.
  • same: 'Same' implies no variation, which contradicts the context of discussing inherited traits that vary among individuals.
Correct answer: evolutionary

Explanation: The adjective 'evolutionary' appropriately describes the type of change being discussed, fitting grammatically and contextually as it relates directly to the process of evolution mentioned earlier in the text.

Meaning: 'Evolutionary' refers to changes that occur over time in the context of biological evolution, indicating significant transformations in species.

Wrong options:

  • tremendous: 'Tremendous' is an adjective that describes size or degree but does not specifically relate to the concept of change in evolution.
  • unrivalled: 'Unrivalled' suggests something unmatched, which does not accurately describe the nature of evolutionary change in this context.
  • enormous: 'Enormous' indicates a large size but lacks the specific connection to the process of evolution, making it less relevant.
Correct answer: evolution

Explanation: The noun 'evolution' is the correct term here as it directly refers to the process of change in heritable traits over time, fitting grammatically as the object of the preposition 'for'.

Meaning: 'Evolution' refers to the gradual development of organisms over time through changes in heritable traits.

Wrong options:

  • development: 'Development' is a broader term that does not specifically capture the biological process of change associated with evolution.
  • growth: 'Growth' typically refers to an increase in size or number, which does not encompass the concept of evolutionary change.
  • maturity: 'Maturity' implies reaching a certain stage of development, which is not synonymous with the ongoing process of evolution.
Correct answer: in

Explanation: The preposition 'in' is correctly used to indicate the context of Mendel's paper, fitting grammatically as it shows the relationship between the paper and the subject of inheritance.

Meaning: 'In' indicates the context or subject matter of Mendel's paper, specifying that it pertains to inheritance in pea plants.

Wrong options:

  • on: 'On' suggests a topic but does not convey the same contextual relationship as 'in' does in this sentence.
  • for: 'For' implies purpose or benefit, which does not accurately describe the relationship between the paper and the subject of inheritance.
  • with: 'With' suggests accompaniment, which does not fit the intended meaning of discussing the content of Mendel's paper.
Correct answer: for

Explanation: The preposition 'for' is appropriate here as it indicates the purpose or intended outcome of Mendel's paper, fitting grammatically and contextually within the sentence structure.

Meaning: 'For' indicates the purpose of Mendel's paper, which is to aid in understanding genetic differences related to evolution.

Wrong options:

  • as: 'As' suggests a role or function, which does not convey the intended meaning of purpose in this context.
  • in: 'In' would imply location or context rather than purpose, making it less suitable for this sentence.
  • that: 'That' is a conjunction and does not fit grammatically as a preposition in this context.

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