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Charles Robert Darwin Trivia Quiz

Charles Darwin, despite initial controversy caused by the theory of evolution was widely respected by the time of his death. Take a trip though Darwin's life to see how he became perhaps the most important scientist ever. Ever ever.

A multiple-choice quiz by Pangea250. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Pangea250

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
313,354

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
575

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 80 (7/10), Guest 84 (4/10), Guest 194 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution drastically changed our view of the world. He based his theory largely on evidence he saw and collected during a five week visit to a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean in 1831. Name those islands. Hint

Easter Islands.

Micronesia.

Palmyra Islands.

Galapagos Islands.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Prior to a 5 year ship voyage that included the legendary visit to the Pacific islands, Charles Darwin stopped his studies to become a priest. What other areas of study did he never complete? Hint

He left law school after a fire destroyed the university he was attending.

He left law school to care for his fiance who died shortly after.

He never finished his degree in zoology because he preferred direct observation over classroom study.

He dropped out of medical school to avoid failing out.

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Question 3 of 10

3. Darwin's oceanic voyage took place on the HMS Beagle, a ship commissioned to survey the coast of South America. How long was the voyage? Hint

1 years and 2 months, exactly as expected.

3 years, almost 2 years longer than expected.

4 years and 9 months, almost 2 years longer than expected.

3 years, exactly as expected.

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the purpose of Darwin's presence on the HMS Beagle? Hint

Darwin was to complete research for the Queen.

Darwin was to be a scholarly companion to the ship's captain.

There was no real purpose. Darwin was a young man who simply wanted to "see the world."

The ship needed medical personnel but could not afford to pay a doctor. Darwin's incomplete medical training was better than nothing.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Why did the HMS Beagle make a stop on the Galapagos Islands? Hint

The ship stopped on the Galapagos Islands by mistake. They were there for two weeks before they even realized that they had not landed on the Easter Islands.

Though initially not scheduled for a stop on Galapagos, Darwin petitioned the Queen to make the captain stop there for research purposes.

The Galapagos Islands were a prime source of food. The giant tortoises could be brought on board and kept alive for months, allowing the crew to eat fresh food even though out at sea for extended periods time.

The HMS Beagle had to take refuge among the islands during a harsh tropical storm. They stayed on to make repairs to the ship.

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Question 6 of 10

6. True or False: Darwin formulated the bulk of his theory of evolution while on the Galapagos Islands. While observing the animal and plant life of the islands, it became immediately clear to him that only evolution could explain what he was seeing.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. Darwin collected various specimens of birds while on Galapagos, as well as having a multitude of sketches and notes. While he thought he had several different species of birds, it wasn't until a few years later that a bird specialist examined Darwin's evidence and concluded that all the birds were different species of finches and each species was isolated on its own island. What was it about the finches that became intriguing to Darwin? Hint

The finches were interbred with other bird types on each island, making a unique hybrid depending on where it lived.

Darwin was never able to figure out why each species evolved.

Each finch species had a specialized beak that allowed it to expertly feed on the food source available on its respective island.

Each finch species evolved with a distinctive coloration that allowed it to camouflage itself in the particular flora of the island it habituated.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Charles Darwin married Emma Wedgewood in 1839. A very religious woman, she feared her husband's salvation was in jeopardy due to the ideas he had begun to theorize. How did Charles and Emma meet? Hint

They were childhood sweethearts.

They were first cousins.

They were introduced by Emma's brother, a deckhand on the HMS Beagle.

They met at a lecture Charles was giving on the geology of the Galapagos Islands.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Twenty years after his time on Galapagos, Darwin hastily wrote, "On The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection," when young biologist Alfred Russell Wallace sent his own independently-reached theory to Darwin for review. To Darwin's horror, Wallace's theory mirrored his own. In 1859, how was the theory of natural selection received by Darwin's peers and the general public? Hint

The book had been published for years before the majority of Darwin's peers would even recognize that he had written it.

The book was originally published under a pseudonym, so Darwin's peers did not even know he had written it

Darwin's peers received the book very well, but were unwilling to admit this in public, for fear of a backlash

The reviews were mixed. It seems that most people either embraced it completely or rejected it in its entirety.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Within just a few years after his time at the Galapagos Islands, Darwin lived the majority of the rest of his life as a recluse, preferring isolation over large crowds and preferring time with his family and close colleagues over just about anything else. True or False: According to today's standards, it is currently felt that Darwin suffered from mental illness for most of his teenage years and throughout his adult life.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos Islands are a group of 19 islands formed by volcanic activity. They are located on the equator about 600 miles (1,000 km) west of Ecuador.

2. Prior to a 5 year ship voyage that included the legendary visit to the Pacific islands, Charles Darwin stopped his studies to become a priest. What other areas of study did he never complete?

Answer: He dropped out of medical school to avoid failing out.

Darwin was not terribly motivated when studying topics that did not interest him. His father was quite concerned that young Charles would amount to nothing and would cause much embarrassment to the Darwin family name. Imagine that!

3. Darwin's oceanic voyage took place on the HMS Beagle, a ship commissioned to survey the coast of South America. How long was the voyage?

Answer: 4 years and 9 months, almost 2 years longer than expected.

The voyage was intended to last three years, but extended nearly two years beyond its expected end. During this time, Darwin sent multiple packages of animal and plant samples and as well as his detailed notes and drawings back to colleagues in England.

4. What was the purpose of Darwin's presence on the HMS Beagle?

Answer: Darwin was to be a scholarly companion to the ship's captain.

As was customary for that time period, a British captain never interacted socially with his crew. The voyage would be a lonely one for the captain with no one to talk to. Darwin was invited along to provide scholarly and stimulating conversation. The two men got along quite well, as a matter of fact, except for an instance when Darwin tried to convince the captain that treating human slaves as property was wrong.

The captain was incensed, but later apologized to Darwin. Darwin did later publish a paper outlining the reasons why slavery was reprehensible and repulsive.

5. Why did the HMS Beagle make a stop on the Galapagos Islands?

Answer: The Galapagos Islands were a prime source of food. The giant tortoises could be brought on board and kept alive for months, allowing the crew to eat fresh food even though out at sea for extended periods time.

50 giant tortoises were taken onboard the HMS Beagle, who felt the tortoises were simply an endless food source. Like almost every other animal on the Galapagos Islands, the giant tortoise has no natural land predators on Galapagos. The wildlife on the islands was and is still remarkably tame.

The iguanas, birds, tortoises, lizards, bats, geckos, rats, penguins, sea lions and seals are all tame, fearless and completely approachable by humans.

Answer: False

While we can now look back on what Darwin observed and see it clearly for what it was, it took years upon years for Darwin to formulate his theory and write his book detailing his observations. Basically, Darwin had everything he needed to complete the puzzle, but it took 20 more years for him to put it together.

Answer: Each finch species had a specialized beak that allowed it to expertly feed on the food source available on its respective island.

Each finch species developed a beak that was ideally suited for type of food available on its respective island.

Answer: They were first cousins.

It was acceptable at that time to marry a cousin.

Answer: The reviews were mixed. It seems that most people either embraced it completely or rejected it in its entirety.

Reviews were certainly mixed. Darwin, in fact, was aware of the uproar that might ensue and was prepared for whatever reaction the book received: he left for a spa retreat with his family for weeks surrounding the release of the book. The first edition of his book, 1,250 copies, sold out the first day.

A second edition was printed almost immediately and translation into German and eventually other languages started. At one point, a rather spirited four hour debate took place between Darwin's supporters and antagonists following a university lecture.

It got rather dynamic and was punctuated by a fainting woman. Both sides claimed they won the debate. Darwin wasn't even there.

Answer: True

Darwin undoubtedly could have been diagnosed with agoraphobia and suffered greatly with severe panic attacks when not in a familiar environment. His symptoms were debilitating and affected him almost every day for his adult lifetime. Always a scientist, he kept track of his daily symptoms. Scientists today have accurate records of the symptoms (fainting, depression, shaking uncontrollably, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea and vomiting, headaches, hallucinations, severe stomach pain) and some feel Darwin may have even crossed the line from neurosis into psychosis. Following his death, his very religious widow said that she felt her deceased husband's life was riddled with the guilt of being the one who "killed" God with his theory of evolution over creationism. Certainly, Darwin's lengthy symptomology could describe a man in emotional turmoil.

Source: Author Pangea250

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