Nature of Science

Unit 1 Test Review

The Nature of Science

Science Is Important To Learn

• Helps you consider political views

• Helps to advance medical treatments

• Is used in agriculture to improve crops or the raising of animals

• Used in trials to determine if someone broke the law

• Helps you think about news articles

• Can be a career

Scientific Explanations

• ONLY use observations from the natural world

• NEVER use supernatural or magical explanations

Multiple Choice

Scientific explanations...

• must include supernatural forces

• can include supernatural forces

• cannot include supernatural forces

• must show that supernatural forces do not exist

Scientific Explanations Are Made Using

• Observations: any information gained directly or indirectly through our senses (see, taste, touch, hear, smell)

• Previously learned scientific facts

Multiple Choice

Any information gained directly or indirectly through our senses is a scientific...

• fact

• observation

• hypothesis

• data

Science Can't Use

• Answers based on authority

• Answers based on opinions

• Answers based only on logic or common sense

• Answers that can't be tested
  

• Answers that don't survive testing

• Answers that can't be disproven

• Answers that are certain and will never change

Multiple Select

Select all of the TRUE statements about science.

• Science can use supernatural explanations if necessary.

• Science can only work with answers that can be tested.

• Uncertainty in science makes science unreliable.

• Good science is based heavily on the opinions of science experts.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a limit of science?

• It can study the paranormal

• The answers NEVER change

• It can only answer certain types of questions

• It only bases answers on information from famous scientists

Scientists seek the most likely natural explanation.

Multiple Choice

In attempting to understand how nature works, scientists seek ultimately for the...

• truth

• facts

• most likely explanation

• total control of nature

Pseudoscience

• Any view, belief, or practice that claims to be scientific, but does not follow all the rules of science, is called a pseudoscience (fake science).

• Often uses supernatural explanations.

• Bases conclusions on established authority instead of evidence.

Multiple Choice

Someone that practices pseudoscience (astrology, fortune telling, etc.) does which of the following:

• Makes scientific claims without following ALL of the rules of science

• Does not claim to be scientific and does not follow the rules of science

• Attempts to follow the rules of science but makes mistakes

• None of the above

Multiple Select

Which of the following things are examples of pseudoscience? Mark all that apply.

• Claims to be scientific, but ignores some of the rules of science

• Tries to disprove its possible explanations

• Often uses supernatural explanations

• Bases conclusions on established authority

• Publishes opinions about the most attractive national parks

Scientific Experiments

• Test a specific hypothesis

• Seek observations and data

• Attempt to DISPROVE the hypothesis

Hypothesis

• A possible explanation for why something happens

• Based on previous science knowledge

• Not a guess

Multiple Choice

The immediate purpose of a scientific experiment is usually to...

• Test a hypothesis

• Collect data

• Raise questions

• Solve problems

Multiple Choice

In an experiment, scientists try to __________ their hypothesis.

• prove

• disprove

• examine

• check

Multiple Choice

A hypothesis is best defined as...

• a clear statement of a problem

• the result of an experiment

• an educated guess

• a possible solution to a problem

Scientific Theories

• Highly possible explanation

• Strongly supported by testing and MULTIPLE studies

• Supported by the majority of the studies done

• Supported by massive amounts of evidence

Multiple Choice

Scientific theories...

• are scientific guesses

• begin as hypotheses

• attempt to explain and relate large masses of data

• are heavily supported by evidence

Multiple Choice

A scientific theory is

• a fact

• a vague idea

• a law

• a possible but untested explanation

• a general explanation which is highly probable and well supported by testing