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6.15 Darwin, Wallace and speciation

5 exam questions worth 11 marks. Write your answer, open the mark scheme, then give yourself the marks you earned. Your answers are saved on this device.

0 / 11

1
Short answer [2 marks]

Give two reasons why Darwin's theory was not accepted by many people at the time.

Mark scheme

Any two from:

  • challenged the idea that God made all living things (1)
  • insufficient evidence at the time (1)
  • mechanism of inheritance / genes not known (1)

Model answer

It challenged the religious belief that God created all living things, and there was not enough evidence to convince other scientists at the time.

Your mark
2
Short answer [2 marks]

Explain why Lamarck's theory was rejected.

Mark scheme

  • characteristics acquired during a lifetime are not inherited (1)
  • they do not change the genes / DNA in the gametes (1)

Model answer

Changes that happen during an organism's life are not inherited, because they do not change the DNA in its gametes.

Your mark
3
Short answer [2 marks]

Name the scientist who independently proposed natural selection at the same time as Darwin, and give one thing he is known for.

Mark scheme

  • (Alfred Russel) Wallace (1)
  • warning colouration / theory of speciation (1)

Model answer

Alfred Russel Wallace, who is known for his work on warning colouration and speciation.

Your mark
4
Extended response [4 marks]

Describe how a new species of finch could form on an island.

Mark scheme

  • population isolated (e.g. on separate island) (1)
  • different conditions / food / environment (1)
  • natural selection favours different alleles / characteristics (1)
  • eventually cannot interbreed to produce fertile offspring (1)

Model answer

A group of finches becomes isolated on another island. The conditions there are different, so natural selection favours different alleles, such as beak shapes suited to the food. Over many generations the two groups change so much that they can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring, so they are separate species.

Your mark
5
Short answer [1 mark]

Name the islands where Darwin's observations of finches helped him develop his theory.

Mark scheme

Galápagos (Islands)

Model answer

The Galápagos Islands.

Your mark
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