The best explanation for the evolution of long necks in giraffes in the context of natural selection is:
Giraffes with longer necks survived because they were better suited to the environment.
This explanation aligns with the principles of natural selection, where individuals with traits that give them an advantage in their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits to the next generation. In the case of giraffes, longer necks may provide better access to food sources (e.g., leaves high up in trees) and improve their ability to see predators, leading to a survival advantage.