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Charles Darwin Trivia Quiz

Charles Darwin, the great British scientist who changed the way we look at life, revolutionized the history of science forever. How well do you know his story?

A multiple-choice quiz by aearluin. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
aearluin

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
202,758

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
858

Last 3 plays: Guest 206 (3/10), Guest 194 (2/10), cosechero (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Young Charles was born in Shrewsbury, England. When? Hint

12 February 1809

12 February 1821

12 February 1908

12 February 1799

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Question 2 of 10

2. One of his close relatives was also a naturalist, and someone who defended the idea of evolution. Who was it? Hint

Oswald Darwin, cousin

Josiah Wedgwood, grandfather

Erasmus Darwin, brother

Erasmus Darwin, grandfather

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 1825, Darwin went to college, to study medicine. At which university did he study? Hint

Glasgow

Edinburgh

Oxford

Paris

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Question 4 of 10

4. Before setting out on his great voyage in the "Beagle", which occupation was he expected to enter? Hint

Geology teacher

Rural cleric

Biology teacher

Doctor

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Question 5 of 10

5. The captain of the "Beagle" came to be a good friend of Darwin, although their opinions were usually the opposite. What was the captain's name? Hint

Captain John Barlow

Captain Robert Fitzroy

Captain Adam Sedgwick

Captain Richard Burrows

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the acknowledged short title of Darwin's ground-breaking book, in which he presented his theory of evolution? Hint

How Species Came to Be

Natural Selection

The Evolution of Life

On the Origin of Species

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Question 7 of 10

7. The work of a famous geologist was fundamental to Darwin's theory of evolution. Who was that geologist? Hint

Charles Lindbergh

Charles Lyell

Richard Owen

Alfred Wallace

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Question 8 of 10

8. The man who invented the word "Dinosaurus" (dinosaur) was a great critic of Darwin's theory. Who was this? Hint

Asa Gray

Richard Owen

Thomas Henry Huxley

John Henslow

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Question 9 of 10

9. While Darwin was slowly writing his most famous book, another scientist developed a theory of evolution that was almost identical to the one defended by Darwin. Who was this scientist? Hint

John Henslow

Alfred Russell Wallace

Thomas Henry Huxley

Jonathan Stevens

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Question 10 of 10

10. Darwin wrote a book about the origin of man, which was as controversial as "On the Origin of Species". What was the title? Hint

How Man Descended from Monkeys

The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex

The Human Primate

From the Jungle to the City, a Story of Natural Selection

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 16 2024 : Guest 206: 3/10
Nov 27 2024 : Guest 194: 2/10
Nov 14 2024 : cosechero: 8/10
Nov 13 2024 : Guest 193: 1/10
Nov 09 2024 : Guest 75: 1/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Young Charles was born in Shrewsbury, England. When?

Answer: 12 February 1809

He was the son of Robert Darwin and Susannah Wedgwood.

2. One of his close relatives was also a naturalist, and someone who defended the idea of evolution. Who was it?

Answer: Erasmus Darwin, grandfather

Erasmus Darwin was a well-known doctor, but also a naturalist and was well known as a poet. His book "Zoonomia" defended a form of evolution similar to Lamarckism.

3. In 1825, Darwin went to college, to study medicine. At which university did he study?

Answer: Edinburgh

Later, Darwin studied in Cambridge where he met John Henslow, a great friend and mentor.

4. Before setting out on his great voyage in the "Beagle", which occupation was he expected to enter?

Answer: Rural cleric

Pressed by his family, Darwin was ready to live a quiet life as a cleric in a rural area. This would allow him to continue his studies of natural history, while allowing him to live a "respectable life".

5. The captain of the "Beagle" came to be a good friend of Darwin, although their opinions were usually the opposite. What was the captain's name?

Answer: Captain Robert Fitzroy

Captain Fitzroy was very conservative, and defended a literal interpretation of the Bible. He never accepted Darwin's position about the evolution of life.

6. What was the acknowledged short title of Darwin's ground-breaking book, in which he presented his theory of evolution?

Answer: On the Origin of Species

The full title is "On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life". The book was published in November 1859 and changed the world forever.

7. The work of a famous geologist was fundamental to Darwin's theory of evolution. Who was that geologist?

Answer: Charles Lyell

Lyell took the view that the forces such as volcanism, weather and erosion, earthquakes etc. that contributed to the Earth we have to today are the same as those currently forming in nature. All it takes is a very long period of time to bring about those changes.

After reading about this, Darwin slowly understood that the same principle could be true for living organisms.

8. The man who invented the word "Dinosaurus" (dinosaur) was a great critic of Darwin's theory. Who was this?

Answer: Richard Owen

Owen had worked in collaboration with Darwin, studying many of the fossils that he brought from South America during his expedition on the "Beagle". After "On the Origin of Species" was published, he was one of the first to publicly criticise Darwin's theory.

9. While Darwin was slowly writing his most famous book, another scientist developed a theory of evolution that was almost identical to the one defended by Darwin. Who was this scientist?

Answer: Alfred Russell Wallace

Working in Malaysia, Wallace created a theory of evolution that was almost identical to Darwin's. The risk of having Wallace present the theory first was one of the things that made Darwin hurry the publishing of his work.

10. Darwin wrote a book about the origin of man, which was as controversial as "On the Origin of Species". What was the title?

Answer: The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex

This book, published in 1871, also included Darwin's first defense of his original work on evolution, published 12 years before.

Source: Author aearluin

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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