Biology Regents Practice Exam

How do organisms primarily adapt to their environment?

1. Through natural selection over generations

2. By changing their diet

3. By moving to different habitats

4. By reproducing more quickly

The correct answer is: Through natural selection over generations

Organisms primarily adapt to their environment through natural selection over generations. This process involves the survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous traits that enhance their ability to survive in a specific environment. Over time, these traits become more common within the population, leading to a gradual adaptation to environmental changes. Natural selection is driven by factors such as competition for resources, predation, and climatic conditions, which influence the success of individuals. While changing diet, moving to different habitats, or increasing reproductive rates can influence an organism's immediate survival, these actions do not lead to long-term adaptations in the same way that natural selection does. For instance, a quick change in diet might help an individual survive temporary food shortages, but it doesn’t change the genetic traits of the population over generations. Similarly, moving to another habitat might provide immediate relief from unfavorable conditions, but without the accompanying genetic adaptations, it does not contribute to the long-term evolution of species within that environment. Lastly, reproducing more quickly could be beneficial for population growth but does not inherently lead to the successful adaptation of traits required for survival in changing environments. Therefore, natural selection remains the primary mechanism through which organisms undergo adaptive changes over time.