Question

darwin hypothesized that new species could appear gradually through small changes in an ancestral species. which observation that he made about finches most supports that hypothesis?
the finches all ate the same materials as the mainland population.
the finches were all relatively small compared to the mainland population.
the finches all appeared to be related but differed from the mainland population.
the finches were identical to the mainland population.

Explanation:

Darwin's hypothesis was about new species arising from ancestral ones through small changes. Finches that are related but different from the mainland population suggest divergence and the potential for new - species formation over time.

Answer:

The finches all appeared to be related but differed from the mainland population.