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Soru

Zorluk: OrtaCentral Ideas

In the late twentieth century, evolutionary biologists typically characterized phenotypic plasticity—the ability of an organism to alter its physical traits in response to environmental changes—as a temporary, non-heritable buffer against environmental stress. Recent research on marine snails, however, suggests that these environmentally induced modifications can stabilize over generations, driving long-term evolutionary adaptation even in the absence of initial genetic mutations. Consequently, plasticity is increasingly viewed not merely as a passive shield against selection pressures, but as an active mechanism that can direct the evolutionary trajectory of a species.

Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

  1. A
    Environmental changes are the primary driver of evolutionary adaptation in all marine organisms.
  2. Phenotypic plasticity, once considered a temporary response to environmental stress, is now understood to play an active, long-term role in driving evolutionary changes.Cevap
  3. C
    Recent studies of marine snails prove that all species adapt to environmental changes through phenotypic plasticity rather than genetic mutations.
  4. D
    Phenotypic plasticity serves as a more effective defense mechanism against predators than genetic adaptation.

Cevap

Phenotypic plasticity, once considered a temporary response to environmental stress, is now understood to play an active, long-term role in driving evolutionary changes.
The correct option summarizes the main shift in the passage: traditional evolutionary theory treated phenotypic plasticity as a temporary, non-heritable stopgap, whereas new evidence demonstrates that it can drive long-term evolutionary trajectories by stabilizing over generations.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Analyze the passage's structure and trace the development of the primary argument.
The passage contrasts the traditional view of phenotypic plasticity (as a temporary, passive buffer) with modern findings (showing it can stabilize across generations and actively guide evolutionary trajectories).
This establishes the shift in scientific understanding that represents the core theme of the passage.
2
Evaluate the choices to find one that accurately reflects this shift in perspective.
The statement focusing on the transition of phenotypic plasticity from a temporary stress response to an active driver of long-term evolution matches the text.
The correct answer must comprehensively summarize the main argument of the text.
3
Eliminate incorrect options based on overgeneralization, misreading, or unrelated details.
Options that claim environmental changes drive all marine adaptation, claim all species adapt without genetic mutations, or introduce predator-defense comparisons are discarded.
Eliminating options that introduce unsupported claims or errors confirms the correct selection.

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Central Ideas
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Central Ideas

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