Which term refers to a characteristic that improves an individual's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment?

• A. Mutation
• B. Adaptation
• C. Evolution
• D. Heredity

Answer: (B)

An adaptation is a characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. It can be a physical feature, a bodily process, or a behavior that fits well with the surroundings, making it more likely for the organism to live long enough to have offspring. Over many generations, advantageous adaptations become more common in a population because individuals with them leave more offspring.

Why this fits best: the key idea is a trait that increases fitness in a specific environment. Mutations are changes in DNA that can create new traits but are not themselves a beneficial trait. Evolution describes how populations change over time, not a single trait. Heredity is the passing of genes to offspring, not the trait that improves survival.