FCAT Speedbag - Nature of Science

Multiple Choice

Daniel learned that many ants feed on certain sweet liquids left behind by other insects called honeydew. Daniel decides to investigate ant food further by conducting an experiment to see if ants are more attracted to honey than sugar. The results of Daniel's findings are listed in the picture.

Which statement is the best conclusion to draw from Daniel's recorded results?

• The ants are more attracted to the sugar.

• The ants are more attracted to the honey.

• The ants are not attracted to sugar or honey.

• The ants like sugar and honey.

Multiple Choice

Marc's mother noticed that his feet seemed to be growing at one shoe size per year. Out of curiosity, she decided to record his shoe size each year on his birthday.

By looking at the table, what mistake can you tell Marc's mother most likely made in her measurements?

• She measured his feet twice per year.

• She made inaccurate measurements in the year 2007.

• She made inaccurate measurements in the year 2008.

• She stopped measuring her son in 2009.

Multiple Choice

Chloe wants to know if caterpillars prefer eating decaying old leaves or new leaves just picked from the tree. She takes some cuttings of a plant and combines one set with new leaves and another set with old leaves. She then places the cuttings of the plant, combined with leaves, on opposite sides of a bed of soil. The caterpillars she has collected are placed in the middle of the soil bed, and equal distance from both sets of cuttings.

In order to record the results, what should Chloe do next?

• Research which type of food caterpillars prefer.

• Repeat the experiment with worms or bugs.

• Record the number of caterpillars that remain somewhere in the soil.

• Count and record the number of caterpillars that feed off of each set.

Multiple Choice

The science lab for the week was to investigate the affect of color on heat absorption. The class decided to compare heat absorption using the color black as compared to the color white. The results of four of the five lab groups indicated that more heat is absorbed by the color black.

What should the lab groups do to determine why one group got different results?

• All groups should immediately try the experiment again.

• The groups that concluded that white colors absorb deserve a failing grade.

• Change the data of the group that had different findings to match the others.

Multiple Choice

Anaya created an experiment to see if apple cider vinegar when added to baking soda releases more gas bubbles than when added to white vinegar. Which statement best describes why Anaya should write down her experimental procedures?

• The information will show other experimenters that baking soda causes too many gas bubbles.

• The result will help consumers decide which vinegar to purchase.

• To allow other researchers to understand why she selected her hypothesis.

• So that experimenters may repeat the exact scientific explanation.

Multiple Choice

Scientists are careful observers. It is an important step in the Scientific Method. Which of the following statements represents an observation?

• Carlie flies to San Diego every Monday morning for work.

• Peggie scheduled a doctor's appointment to check her swollen ankle.

• Jeffery sees that Margret's prom dress has more ruffles than any other dress in the room.

• Cagney shops for holiday presents in October.

Multiple Choice

Two glass jars are each filled with 250 milliliters of water. One glass jar is placed near a window and the other is placed inside of a covered steel container. Observations of both glass jars are made each day for one week.

Which of the following statements is an inference that may be made from the collected observations?

• There is less water in the glass jar near the window after one week.

• Both glass jars started with 250 mL of water in each.

• The sunlight speeds up the evaporation of the water in the jar near the window.

• The jars had different amounts of water remaining at the end of the week.

Multiple Choice

Ryan wants to know the effect that his homemade fertilizer will have on the growth of flowering plants. He decided to conduct an experiment where he will compare the growth of plants with a store brand fertilizer against his homemade fertilizer.

Which observations must be made in order to determine which fertilizer works best?

• Record the growth of flowering plants grown in both fertilizers.

• Repeat the experiment with many different types of fertilizers.

• Record the growth of the flowers grown in the homemade fertilizer.

• Count and record the number of flowers that bloom when using the store brand fertilizer.

Multiple Choice

Deeandra's homework assignment for winter recess was to record four different observations about anything occurring in the natural world.

After looking at the picture, which of Deeandra's observations is scientifically testable?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

A missing card from Josh's science fair board was found on the floor of his bedroom. The card read "After reviewing the data, it is clear that light colored liquids freeze quicker than dark colored liquids."

Which part of the scientific method does the information represent?

• Problem

• Opinion

• Inference

• Hypothesis