What is the meaning of the word 'adapt' in a science context?

• A. To stay the same.
• B. To copy from another source.
• C. To stop changing.
• D. To change to fit new conditions.

Answer: (D)

Adapt means to change in response to new conditions. In science, this idea shows up when living things adjust traits or behaviors so they can survive or work better as their environment changes. For example, a plant reaching toward light is adapting to limited light, bacteria becoming resistant to an antibiotic is adapting to the presence of that antibiotic, and animals changing when seasons shift to find food or water. The key is that the change helps fit the organism to its surroundings.

Staying the same isn’t adapting because it involves no change. Copying from another source isn’t adaptation in science, since adaptation is about making a useful change in response to the environment, not just duplicating something else. Stopping changes isn’t adapting either—the idea is to modify or adjust as conditions vary.