Darwin was the first to explainA) a theory of inheritance. B) a correct mechanism for evolution. C) the quick rate of evolution. D) how to...

The answer is b. Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection
replaced ideas at the time that didn't adequately offer a mechanism for how evolution
could occur over time. The theory of use and disuse, which was put forth by Jean
Baptiste Lamarck was an idea that was disproved by August Weismann. Darwin's theory
however, explained that living things over-reproduce. He stated that members of a
species have variations. There would be a struggle for existence amongst members in a
population. Those with the best adaptations might survive, reproduce and pass down those
adaptations. Over a long period of time, as these variations accumulated, eventually,
evolution of a new species would occur. Darwin also noted that living things had
"ancestors" that although looked similar to modern species, had differences as well. He
based this on fossils he found on his famous journey to South America and the Galapagos
Islands. This too, was a new idea as people in his time period believed all life on
Earth was essentially unchanged from when it was first created.