Which of the following statements is related to Darwin's theories of evolution by natural selection?

• A. Organisms seem to produce more offspring than the environment can support.
• B. Organisms can evolve by an internal will to adapt.
• C. All traits are inherited unchanged.
• D. The environment has no effect on survival.

Answer: (A)

Natural selection hinges on overproduction and competition for limited resources. In nature, organisms tend to produce more offspring than the environment can support, creating a struggle for existence. Within this struggle, individuals with heritable traits that help them survive and reproduce are more likely to leave offspring, passing those advantageous traits to the next generation. Over many generations, this differential survival and reproduction shapes populations.

The statement about producing more offspring than the environment can support captures this key setup: there is competition, and only some individuals will be favored by their traits in a given environment. The other ideas conflict with Darwin's view—there is no inherent will to adapt, not all traits are inherited unchanged, and the environment does influence survival.