Passage

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.
QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2022

The passage suggests that Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all because

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is incorrect: While the passage does criticize creationist doctrines, it does not assert that Darwinian theory is invalid because it does not align with these beliefs. This option does not capture the essence of why Darwinian theory is framed as a fact rather than a mere theory.

Option B is correct: This statement aligns with the passage, which explains that extinction results from organisms being ill-equipped to deal with environmental or biological challenges. It emphasizes that the Darwinian explanation for evolution is based on observable phenomena rather than speculation.

Option C is incorrect: The passage mentions that no evidence has refuted Darwinian ideas, but this does not specifically explain why Darwinian theory is not considered a theory in the traditional sense; it’s more about the acceptance of its validity.

Option D is incorrect: The passage argues against this idea by discussing the shortcomings of creationist doctrines, but it doesn’t suggest that this is why Darwinian theory is not a theory at all.

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