6.1, LS.1, PS.1 Unfair Game SOL Review

6.1, LS.1, PS.1 Unfair Game SOL Review

By Kristi Warf

Multiple Choice

An organized procedure to study something under controlled conditions is called an experiment.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The dependent variable is the factor that is changed in order to test the effect of the change on other variables.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Which statement describes how a scientist makes scientific explanations?

• A scientist bases scientific explanations on a large body of observations of the world.

• A scientist bases scientific explanations only on other scientists’ opinions

• A scientist bases scientific explanations on personal experience and opinions.

• A scientist suggests scientific explanations and makes up evidence to make them true.

Multiple Choice

Which of these events might lead to the modification of a scientific idea?

• A scientist uses a computer to teach a scientific concept to students.

• Two scientists doing the same experiment in different parts of the world under the same conditions get the same results.

• One scientist finds evidence that she feels doesn’t fit a theory. Other scientists agree that her results are valid.

• A scientist performs an experiment and finds out that one of the chemicals  used in the experiment was contaminated.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of repeated trials in an investigation?

• To develop a new theory

• To verify the results of the experiment

• To conduct experiments with more variables

• To revise each step of their research procedure

Multiple Choice

In which of the following is a mechanic acting most like a scientist?

• A mechanic eats a turkey sandwich and soup for lunch.

• A mechanic decides which type of oil would be best for a car.

• A mechanic uses robotic arms to lift a car in order to work underneath it.

• A mechanic makes an educated guess about why a car is not working, and then tests the guess.

Multiple Choice

Scientific investigations involve communication with others. Which of the following is a way of communicating details about two similar objects so that other scientists can discriminate between them?

• Measuring the size of each object

• Drawing a detailed diagram of each object

• Feeling the weight of each object in your hand

• Researching the scientific name of each object

Multiple Choice

A student is studying tiny organisms in pond water. How could she better observe critical details to distinguish among the different organisms?

• Smell the sample of pond water.

• Study a drop of the pond water under a microscope.

• Rub a few drops of the pond water between her fingers.

• Look closely at a test tube filled with pond water.

Multiple Choice

The diameter of the earth is about 4 times greater than that of the moon. Which of the following pairs of diagrams best shows the relative sizes of earth and the moon?

Multiple Choice

A student wants to investigate properties of static electricity. Which of the following is the first thing the student should do in the investigation?

• Ask a testable question

• Plan the steps for an investigation about electricity

• Gather evidence about where static forms

• Write up a report to detail the results of the investigation

Multiple Choice

Imagine that the label on a sunscreen product reads, “recommended by nine out of ten doctors.” no other information regarding this claim is provided. Why would a scientist tell a consumer to be wary of this statistical claim?

• Sunscreen products are ineffective.

• The supporting scientific data are missing.

• The claim is impossible to confirm or refute

• The claim cannot be reevaluated when new information emerges.

Multiple Choice

Renee rolls a steel ball down a ramp. She conducts multiple trials by releasing the ball from varying heights on the ramp. For each trial, she measures and records the release height of the ball and the distance the ball travels away from the ramp before falling to the ground. In this experiment, which variable is the independent variable?

• Distance traveled by the ball

• Path of the ball once it leaves the ramp

• Height from which the ball is released

• Time it takes the ball to hit the ground

Multiple Choice

Ricardo is preparing a science fair project about which fabrics are most absorbent. He predicts that cotton is most absorbent, and designs a controlled experiment to test his prediction. What materials will he need for his experiment?

• Microscope, a variety of liquids, stain repellent

• Thermometer, a variety of fabrics, a heat source

• Graduated cylinder, water, a variety of fabrics

• Graduated cylinder, stain repellent, hand lens

Multiple Choice

Cathy designs an experiment to investigate how well cups made of different materials maintain the temperature of a cold drink. Which step will increase the accuracy and validity of cathy’s results?

• Use a different beverage in each cup

• Conduct the experiment in a cool room

• Conduct multiple trials and have another scientist repeat the experiment.

• Analyze the experimental results and organize experimental data in a table.

Multiple Choice

A biomedical company uses a certain type of bacteria to manufacture a new medicine. A researcher for the company studies how temperature affects the rate at which the bacteria reproduce. He records his results in a graph. Currently, the company grows the bacteria in a lab maintained at 10 ⁰Celsius. If the company wants to grow the bacteria as quickly as possible, which recommendation should the researcher make?

• The current lab temperature is ideal for growing the bacteria.

• The lab temperature should be increased to between 20 ⁰C and 30 ⁰C.

• The lab temperature should be increased to between 30 ⁰C and 40 ⁰C.

• The lab temperature should be increased to between 40 ⁰C and 50 ⁰C.

Multiple Choice

Repetition is an important element of a good scientific investigation. Which data table has places to record information for repeated trials?

Multiple Choice

Joshua investigates the effect of varying amounts of sunlight on the rate of plant growth. He experiments by exposing seedlings to different amounts of sunlight each day. He stops the experiment when each seedling reaches 20 cm in height. Which variable does joshua control in the experiment?

• Rate of plant growth

• Amount of water per plant per day

• Amount of sunlight per plant per day

• Time needed to reach a height of 20 cm

Multiple Choice

A scientist experiments with lab rats in a controlled experiment about how the amount of exercise affects the body mass of lab rats. What is the independent variable of the experiment?

• Amount of food given to the rats

• Type of food given to the rats

• Length of time spent exercising

• Size of each rat’s enclosure

Multiple Choice

Ella paints three identical pieces of metal different colors. She places them near each other in direct sunlight for 30 minutes and records her data in a table. Based on the procedure and the datq, which explanation tells why the temperatures are not the same?

• Each color absorbs a different amount of heat energy.

• A different amount of sunlight strikes each piece of metal.

• The mass of each sample varies, which affects heat absorption.

• There different types of metal that absorb sunlight differently.

Multiple Choice

Melissa is testing the effects of different sand formations near beaches on wave patterns by making scale models and conducting a controlled experiment. In her investigation, which variable should be changed and which should be held constant?

• Changed variable: shape of sand formations; constant: amount of water, speed of waves

• Changed variable: pattern of waves; constant: shape of sand formations, amount of water

• Changed variable: pattern of waves; constant: speed of waves, amount of water

• Changed variable: speed of waves; constant: shape of sand formations, amount of water

Multiple Choice

Eric sees two brands of dish detergent that each claim to clean dirty dishes the best. How could eric compare the cleaning ability of the brands scientifically?

• He could wash dishes with brand A one evening and brand B the next evening and compare which evening took less time to wash dishes.

  rgent is the best buy.

• He could set up a controlled experiment in which the independent variable is the brand of detergent.

• He could ask large numbers of customers at a grocery store about which brand of dish detergent they prefer.

• He could compare the price of the detergents and determine which detergent is the best buy.

Multiple Choice

A student is observing a pencil. Which of these is not an observation that provides details about the pencil?

• The pencil is red

• The pencil’s surface feels smooth

• The pencil will be used in art class

• The pencil’s eraser looks brand new.

Multiple Choice

Four different lab groups perform an experiment to determine the density of the same small rock. The groups recorded their results in a table. Why should group 3 repeat their measurements of the rock?

• Group 3 should not repeat their measurements; the other groups should redo their measurements.

• Group 3 should not repeat their measurements; all of the groups accurately measured the rock sample.

• Group 3 should repeat their measurements because their measurements were too high for both the mass and density of the rock.

• Group 3 should repeat their measurements because their results for the mass and density of the rock sample were very different from the other measurements.

Multiple Choice

Ellie’s class is studying tide pools and starfish. They made the following prediction: If the water temperature in a tide pool increases, then the starfish population decreases. Then they recorded the data in the chart. What should they do next?

• Change the prediction to match the results.

• Change the data to fit the prediction.

• Collect data at several other tide pools.

• Change the procedure to obtain the desired result

Multiple Choice

Kayla knows that a block of wood has a volume of 30cm3.  What tool would she need to use to calculate the density of the block?

• Graduated cylinder

• Spring scale

• Balance

• Ruler

Multiple Choice

Juan, a biologist, notices that a particular group of humming birds leaves during the colder winter months and returns during the warmer spring months. Juan hypothesizes the birds fly south to locations with warmer weather and blooming flowers during the winter months.  Which procedure should Juan use to test his hypothesis?

• Survey northern & southern residents about birds in the area.

• Observe the direction the birds fly when they depart in the winter.

• Tag the humming birds with transmitters and track movement.

• Set up observation posts in the south to verify the time of year the birds arrive.

Multiple Choice

Early scientists wondered how two parents with brown eyes could have a child with blue eyes. Which of these studies would best help scientists investigate how blue eye color is inherited from brown-eyed parents?

• Study the history of the family eye color of 100 random people

• Study the history of the family eye color of 20 blue-eyed people

• Study the history of a family in which all individuals within the past five generations were born with blue eyes.

• Study the history of four generations of 20 different families in which brown-eyed parents had at least one blue-eyed child

Multiple Choice

A student’s assignment is to observe two different rocks and then write descriptions of them. Another student must be able to distinguish between the rocks using the written description. Which of these observations would be the most helpful?

• Both rock A and rock B are heavy and cubic in shape.

• Both rock A and rock B are tan in color and have masses of 10 g.

• Neither rock A nor rock B has a strong odor.

• Rock A feels gritty when rubbed, rock B does not.

Multiple Choice

Two students want to investigate how different substances can exist as solids, liquids, or gases. They each develop a similar question that they intend to answer. Their experiments include different steps, which lead to the students having slightly different results. Which of the following statements about their investigations is most correct?

• Because they had different results, neither investigation can be considered valid.

• Because they had different results, only one student’s investigations will be valid.

• Scientific investigations can often have different steps; it is still possible fro each student to have valid results.

• Scientific investigations should always follow the same steps; the students should re-do their investigations with the same steps.

Multiple Choice

Scientists use many different methods of investigation. When possible, scientists want to perform a controlled experiment or directly observe an event. Which example illustrates a method for developing a scientific explanation for an event that cannot be studied directly?

• Conduct a field survey of bird populations in an area.

• Observe the effect of various fertilizers on corn crop yields.

• Use a computer model to study how the ocean liner Titanic sank.

• Use a wind tunnel to measure air drag on various types of automobiles.