Question

7/8
what is phyletic gradualism?
evolutionary history consists of long periods of stasis interrupted by rapid evolution.
evolution occurs due to environmental changes leading to rapid selection.
evolution occurs by the gradual accumulation of small changes.
evolution is driven by mutations causing large changes.

Explanation:

Phyletic gradualism is a model of evolution that proposes evolution occurs through the gradual accumulation of small genetic changes over long periods. The orange option states "Evolution occurs by the gradual accumulation of small changes," which matches this definition. The green option describes punctuated equilibrium (stasis interrupted by rapid evolution), the blue option refers to evolution due to environmental changes (not specific to gradualism), and the cyan option is incorrect as mutations in gradualism are small, not large - scale.

Answer:

Orange. Evolution occurs by the gradual accumulation of small changes.