correct if im wrong (im merely musing), but (1) a theory is like a strongly supported pattern of facts. because its a pattern it can help us uncover new facts that we dont know, or explain facts that we dont understand. (2) hypotheses are based on theories- so you have a set of hypotheses based on the theory of evolution, and it defines the approach you take to solve/investigate a problem.
(3) when theories no longer help explain/uncover facts, or another better theory comes along, then the previous theory is scrapped, or set aside. the facts are not scrapped, they remain, but the theory by which they are described may change.
the best theory we have currently to explain variation in nature is the theory of evolution. (4) there are others, but they are either not as popular, not as developed, not as effective, or just plain wrong.
(1) Good understanding there.
(2) Not quite. A hypothesis is an idea put forward that may explain phenomena or observations. Every theory, afaik, starts out as a hypothesis. Once enough evidence has been gathered in support of a hypothesis and it has withstood review by other scientists, then it may be considered a theory.
(3) When a theory is shown not to be true then it is scrapped. A new theory can be valid but that does not automatically cancel out previous theories unless it proves the old theory wrong. The wave theory of light, for example, co-exists with the particle theory of light, which came later.
(4) I don't know of any alternative theories to evolution. That might be interesting to google.
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