In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly it is the dynamic evolutionary process that fits a population of organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the population during that process. Thirdly, it is a phenotypic or adaptive trait, with a functional role in each individual organism, that is maintained and has been evolved by natural selection.

Organisms face a succession of environmental challenges as they grow, and show adaptive plasticity as traits develop in response to the imposed conditions. This gives them resilience to varying environments.

Adaptation is an observable fact of life accepted by philosophers and natural historians from ancient times, independently of their views on evolution, but their explanations differed. Empedocles did not believe that adaptation required a final cause (~ purpose), but "came about naturally, since such things survived." Aristotle did believe in final causes, but assumed that species were fixed.

In natural theology, adaptation was interpreted as the work of a deity and as evidence for the existence of God. William Paley believed that organisms were perfectly adapted to the lives they led, an argument that shadowed Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who had argued that God had brought about "the best of all possible worlds." Voltaire's Dr. Pangloss is a parody of this optimistic idea, and David Hume also argued against design. The "Bridgewater Treatises" are a product of natural theology, though some of the authors managed to present their work in a fairly neutral manner. The series was lampooned by Robert Knox, who held quasi-evolutionary views, as the "Bilgewater Treatises". Charles Darwin broke with the tradition by emphasising the flaws and limitations which occurred in the animal and plant worlds. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What was interpreted as the work of a god?
2. what did William Paley say?
3. who's idea did that shadow?
4. what exactly did he argue?
5. Who made fun of that idea?
6. what woirk?
7. how many meanings does adaption have in biology?
8. name one
9. what does that improve?
10. what's the 2nd meaning?
11. when?
12. lastly?
13. what type of role does that play
14. how is the trait developed?
15. what do living things face?
16. when?
17. what allows them to develop?
18. in response to what?
19. what does this do?
20. What did David Hulme write?
Answer: 1. adaptation
2. organisms were perfectly adapted to the lives they led
3. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
4. God had brought about the best of all possible worlds.
5. Voltaire
6. Dr. Pangloss
7. three
8. the dynamic evolutionary process
9. evolutionary fitness
10. a state reached by the population
11. during that process
12. a phenotypic or adaptive trait
13. a functional role
14. natural selection
15. a succession of environmental challenges
16. as they grow
17. adaptive plasticity
18. the imposed conditions.
19. gives them resilience
20. Bridgewater Treatises

(CNN) -- An Alaskan beat out 300 hirsute competitors from around the globe to take the top honor at the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships on Saturday.

Dan Sederowsky of Sweden shows off his moustache in Anchorage.

David Traver may have had home-court advantage: He was a favorite of the crowd at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska, in both the "freestyle" category, where just about anything goes, and the overall championship.

His winning move? He wove his beard into a basket-like cone that resembled a snowshoe.

There were 17 officially sanctioned categories in the competition: eight styles of moustache, four varieties of partial beard and goatee combinations, and five categories of full beards.

The facial hair Olympics got its start in 1990 in Germany, and the German team typically dominates the event. Photo gallery: best beards and moustaches "

This year's contest is the second time the World Beard and Moustache Championships have been held in the United States -- Carson City, Nevada, hosted the event in 2003. Video: Contestants strut their stuff in Anchorage "

Since 1995, the contest has been held every two years. This year, competitors from 14 nations showed off their whiskers for the judges and a raucous crowd at the Anchorage venue.

Karl-Heinz Hille of Germany came in second overall with a first-place finish in the Imperial Partial Beard category, and Jack Passion of San Francisco, California, placed third overall with his winning entry in the Natural Full Beard category.

What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What year did the World Beard and Moustache Championships begin?
2. Where did it start?
3. Where is it this year?
4. How many people were completing?
5. Who won?
6. Where was he from?
7. Did he have a beard or mustache?
8. How many times has the competition been held in the US?
9. Where was it the first time?
10. When was that?
11. How many categories are judged?
12. What are they?
13. What style was David Travers beard in?
14. How often is the competition held?
15. How many nations were represented this year?
16. Which nation most often wins?
17. Where in Anchorage was the competition held?
18. Did an American come in second place?
19. Who did?
20. Where was he from?
Answer: 1. 1990
2. in Germany
3. in Anchorage (Alaska)
4. 301
5. David Traver
6. Alaska
7. a beard
8. twice
9. Carson City, Nevada
10. in 2003
11. 17
12. eight styles of moustache, four varieties of partial beard and goatee combinations, and five categories of full beards
13. a basket-like cone
14. every two years
15. 14
16. Germany
17. at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center
18. no
19. Karl-Heinz Hille
20. Germany

CHAPTER VI--SOAMES BREAKS THE NEWS

In leaving the Court Soames did not go straight home. He felt disinclined for the City, and drawn by need for sympathy in his triumph, he, too, made his way, but slowly and on foot, to Timothy's in the Bayswater Road.

His father had just left; Mrs. Small and Aunt Hester, in possession of the whole story, greeted him warmly. They were sure he was hungry after all that evidence. Smither should toast him some more muffins, his dear father had eaten them all. He must put his legs up on the sofa; and he must have a glass of prune brandy too. It was so strengthening.

Swithin was still present, having lingered later than his wont, for he felt in want of exercise. On hearing this suggestion, he 'pished.' A pretty pass young men were coming to! His own liver was out of order, and he could not bear the thought of anyone else drinking prune brandy.

He went away almost immediately, saying to Soames: "And how's your wife? You tell her from me that if she's dull, and likes to come and dine with me quietly, I'll give her such a bottle of champagne as she doesn't get every day." Staring down from his height on Soames he contracted his thick, puffy, yellow hand as though squeezing within it all this small fry, and throwing out his chest he waddled slowly away.

Mrs. Small and Aunt Hester were left horrified. Swithin was so droll! What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who is the main character in this passage?
2. Where did he go after leaving the courthouse?
3. What road?
4. Who was responsible when his father left?
5. What brandy were they talking about?
6. Who was hungry?
7. Were they suggesting giving him muffins?
8. Who were left horrified?
9. Who asked, how's your wife?
10. Was Soames weak?
Answer:
1. Soames
2. to Timothy's
3. the Bayswater Road.
4. Mrs. Small and Aunt Hester
5. prune brandy
6. Soames
7. yes
8. Mrs. Small and Aunt Hester
9. Swithin
10. no