The picture shows the skull of an extinct aquatic animal and the skull of a present-day gray whale. Further testing of the skulls suggests that the extinct animal is an ancestor of the gray whale.

Question

The picture shows the skull of an extinct aquatic animal and the skull of a present-day gray whale. Further testing of the skulls suggests that the extinct animal is an ancestor of the gray whale.

How do these skulls best support Darwin’s theory of evolution?

by showing that all populations can adapt and survive
by showing that only some organisms have common ancestors
by showing that populations change slowly over time
by showing that species can rapidly become extinct

Answer 1

The skulls best support Darwin's theory of evolution by showing that populations change slowly over time. This inference can be made because the skulls indicate a clear evolutionary connection between the extinct aquatic animal and the present-day gray whale. This supports the idea that species undergo gradual changes over generations, leading to the formation of new species.