Final answer:
False, Evolution does not always mean progressive change; it simply refers to change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, which can be beneficial, neutral, or detrimental.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Evolution always means progressive change' is false. Evolution refers to any change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, not necessarily progressive or leading to 'better' or 'more advanced' organisms. The evolutionary process works incrementally through random mutations, which may confer advantages or disadvantages to the organisms. Not all evolutionary changes are progressive; some may even be neutral or negative in the context of an organism's survival. Over many generations, advantageous traits tend to be preserved through natural selection, while disadvantageous traits may be lost.