A student read about the peppered moth, a species whose population changed over a period of time. Before the Industrial Revolution, dark-colored moths were rare. During the Industrial Revolution, however, the population of dark-colored moths greatly increased. The student incorrectly thought that the reason for the increase in dark-colored moths was soot that got onto the wings of the light-colored moths. She thought this new coloring was then passed on to the offspring of the light-colored moths.
Which statement should be used to explain to the student the correct reason for how this population changed because of the Industrial Revolution?
The dark-colored moths could fly faster than the light-colored moths, so they survived to pass on the trait to their offspring.
The dark-colored moths found food more easily than the light-colored moths, so they survived to pass on the trait to their offspring.
The dark-colored moths were able to produce more eggs than the light-colored moths, so they survived to pass on the trait to their offspring.
The dark-colored moths were camouflaged on the dark trees and hid more easily from predators than the light-colored moths, so they survived to pass on the trait to their offspring.