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What term is best described as the adaptation of individuals to their environment over time?

  1. Adjustment

  2. Development

  3. Coping

  4. Modification

The correct answer is: Development

The term best described as the adaptation of individuals to their environment over time is development. Development encompasses the ongoing process of change in individuals, which includes physical, cognitive, and social aspects. It reflects how individuals grow and evolve in response to their interactions with the environment. This concept includes various life stages, emphasizing the long-term progress and transformation that occurs as individuals learn and adapt to different circumstances. In contrast, adjustment refers to a more immediate or short-term response to change, coping involves dealing with stressors or challenges in the present moment, and modification implies a more active alteration of the environment or situation itself rather than the gradual process of personal adaptation. Therefore, development best encapsulates the broader, more holistic concept of adaptation over time.