Question

Some weed species, like dandelions, have developed the ability to resist pesticides. How does the theory of evolution by natural selection help to explain this ability? a The weeds chose pesticide-resistant variations because their survival depended on it. b Due to genetic variations, some weeds in the population had the ability to resist pesticides. c As the weeds evolved, natural selection resulted in an unfavorable variation in a population. d In any population of weeds, some weeds will naturally be immune to all kinds of pesticides.

Answer 1

The best explanation of how the theory of evolution by natural selection helps to explain the ability of some weed species, like dandelions, to resist pesticides is:

b. Due to genetic variations, some weeds in the population had the ability to resist pesticides.

This option correctly identifies that within a population of weeds, there are genetic variations. When pesticides are applied, those individual weeds that possess traits granting them resistance to the pesticides are more likely to survive and reproduce. As a result, the frequency of those resistant traits becomes more common in subsequent generations due to natural selection.