An Early Expert on Plants and Animals Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a French expert on plants and animals, lived from 1744 to 1829. He was the eleventh child in a family that had a high position in French society, but was very poor. It was a tradition in the family that the sons joined the army, and several of Lamarcks older brothers did so. Following the death of his father, Lamarck also decided to follow his brothers. Aged only 16, he bought a horse and rode across the country to join the army. While he was in the army, he read a book on botany - the study of plants - and became interested in the natural world. He studied botany, and soon became an expert on the subject. He later published a major study of the plants that grew in France, and this made him well known among French scientists. In 1781, he was made a royal botanist. As part of his work he travelled to botanical gardens in other countries, where he collected and took home plants that were not available in France. In 1793, Lamarck became a professor of zoology - the study of animals. He developed the idea that different types of animals change over time, an idea that hardly anyone at that time believed. Half a century later, the scientist Charles Darwin also believed that living things change to fit their environment better. However, Darwin thought Lamarck was wrong about how these changes were caused, and he developed his own explanations. Lamarck married three times, and all his wives died before him. When he died in 1829, his family was so poor that they had to ask for financial help. 60. In this text, the writer is describing A. the range of Lamarcks interests. B. the way that Lamarck achieved his objectives. C. why Lamarck kept losing his job. D. how Lamarck balanced his career with his private life. 61. What is said about Lamarcks family? A. It was one of the richest in France. B. He was the only boy in the family. C. Many family members joined the army. D. His father bought a horse for him. 62. One of Lamarcks activities in the 1780s was to A. bring back plants that could not be found in France. B. make French plants known in other countries. C. create botanical gardens in several countries. D. make the study of plants popular among scientists. 63. What does the writer say about Lamarck and Darwin? A. Darwins work was only possible because of Lamarcks ideas. B. They gave different explanations of how changes in animals happen. C. Darwin did not know about Lamarcks work. D. They shared the opinions of most people of their time. 64. Which of these might Lamarck have written to a friend in 1829? A. I am delighted that my success as a scientist has made me both rich and well known among world scientists. B. I am satisfied that I have discovered a number of plants which have changed scientific understanding of plant life. C. I am disappointed that the problems have had throughout my life have led to my present difficult situation. D. I am glad I have added to knowledge in more than one area of science, hut new ideas will take the place of mine.