At the time Darwin voyaged on HMS Beagle, the popularly accepted theory in Western culture that explained the origin of Earth's plants and animals held that the various species __________.

• A. arose continually from nonliving materials by spontaneous generation
• B. had evolved from now-extinct organisms
• C. arose from a single species that had survived the biblical flood
• D. are all related to one another
• E. had been created by divine intervention a few thousand years before

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context: During Darwin's time, the prevailing belief in Western culture was influenced by religious views, particularly the idea of divine creation.
2. Recognize the concept of spontaneous generation: This was an outdated belief that life could arise from nonliving matter, which was not widely accepted by the time of Darwin's voyage.
3. Consider the idea of evolution from extinct organisms: This concept aligns more closely with Darwin's later theories but was not the accepted view at the time.
4. Examine the notion of species arising from a single survivor of a biblical flood: This idea is rooted in religious narratives rather than scientific evidence.
5. Identify the accepted theory during Darwin's voyage: The belief was that species had been created by divine intervention a few thousand years before, reflecting the influence of religious doctrine on scientific thought at the time.