Natural selection cannot anticipate future environments on the earth. Therefore, the set of existing organisms can never be fully prepared for environmental catastrophes that await life. An outcome of this is the extinction of those species which cannot overcome environmental adversity. This failure to survive, in modern terms, can be attributed to the genomes which are unable to withstand geological vagaries or biological mishaps (infections, diseases and so on). In biological evolution on the earth, extinction of species has been a major feature. The earth may presently have up to ten million species, yet more than 90% of species that have ever lived on the earth are now extinct. Once again, the creationist doctrines fail to satisfactorily address why a divine creator will firstly bother to create millions of species and then allow them to perish. The Darwinian explanation for extinct life is once again simple, elegant and at once convincing—organisms go extinct as a function of environmental or biological assaults for which their inheritance deems them ill- equipped. Therefore, the so- called Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all. Evolution happens- this is a fact. The mechanism of evolution (Darwin proposed natural selection) is amply supported by scientific data. Indeed, to date no single zoological, botanical, geological, paleontological, genetic or physical evidence has refuted either of the central two main Darwinian ideas. If religion is not taken into consideration, Darwinian laws are acceptable just like the laws proposed by Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and Einstein- sets of natural laws that explain natural phenomena in the universe. The passage suggests that Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all because
- Ait does not satisfy the creationist doctrine
- Bextinction is a function of environment and biological assaultsCorrect
- Cthere are no evidences to refute it
- Dexistence of organisms is attributed to a creator
Explanation
The passage states: "The Darwinian explanation for extinct life is once again simple, elegant and at once convincing—organisms go extinct as a function of environmental or biological assaults for which their inheritance deems them ill- equipped. Therefore, the so- called Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all. Evolution happens- this is a fact."
The word "Therefore" directly links the preceding statement (the Darwinian explanation for extinction) to the conclusion that Darwinian theory is "not a theory at all" but a "fact." The Darwinian explanation given is that "organisms go extinct as a function of environmental or biological assaults."
Analyzing the options: A) it does not satisfy the creationist doctrine: The passage mentions creationist doctrines failing, but this is not the reason given for Darwinian theory being "not a theory at all." B) extinction is a function of environment and biological assaults: This is the exact Darwinian explanation for extinction provided in the passage, which immediately precedes and is linked by "Therefore" to the claim that evolution is a fact, not just a theory. The passage implies that because this explanation is so factual and convincing, evolution itself is a fact. C) there are no evidences to refute it: While the passage states that no evidence has refuted Darwinian ideas, this point is made after the "Therefore" statement, as further support for the factual nature of evolution, not as the direct reason given by the "Therefore" itself. D) existence of organisms is attributed to a creator: This contradicts the passage's argument, which refutes creationist doctrines.
Therefore, option B correctly identifies the reason provided in the passage. The passage argues that the Darwinian explanation for extinction (extinction as a function of environmental and biological assaults) is so demonstrably true and factual that it elevates the theory of evolution to the status of a fact.
Related questions
More UPSC Prelims practice from the same subject and topic.
- Prelims 2022CSATReading Comprehension
The main threat to maintaining progress in human development comes from the increasingly evident unsustainability of production and consumption patterns. Current production models rely heavily on foss…
- Prelims 2022CSATReading Comprehension
The main threat to maintaining progress in human development comes from the increasingly evident unsustainability of production and consumption patterns. Current production models rely heavily on foss…
- Prelims 2022CSATReading Comprehension
Unless the forces and tendencies which are responsible for destroying the country's environment are checked in the near future and afforestation of denuded areas is taken up on a massive scale, the ha…
- Prelims 2022CSATReading Comprehension
"In simple matters like shoe- making, we think only a specially trained person will serve our purpose, but in politics, we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a St…
- Prelims 2022CSATReading Comprehension
The poverty line is quite unsatisfactory when it comes to grasping the extent of poverty in India. It is not only because of its extremely narrow definition of 'who is poor' and the debatable methodol…
- Prelims 2022CSATReading Comprehension
The poverty line is quite unsatisfactory when it comes to grasping the extent of poverty in India. It is not only because of its extremely narrow definition of 'who is poor' and the debatable methodol…