Sources of Error

A biology class in Virginia conducted a survey of the plant species found on their school grounds. They found several plants that they didn’t recognize. What resources would be most helpful to the class in identifying the plants and determining if they were introduced as exotic species?

• Virginia newspapers and science journals

• Biology textbooks and the encyclopedia

• Fossil records and historical society publications

• Virginia native plant checklists and plant identification keys

A student researching a new discovery about the activity of mitochondria could find the most current and reliable information in a —

• popular news magazine

• cell biology textbook

• scientific journal

• newspaper

Which of the following methods would provide the most accurate information for students collecting data about local attitudes concerning the use of alternative fuels for automobiles?

• Listen to speeches given by politicians

• Take an opinion poll of drivers

• Track prices at nearby gas stations

• Study newspaper articles

Henry’s project is on porcupine populations in Virginia. He would like to use the phone book to help him make contacts. His most reliable contacts would probably be found by looking in the phone book under —

• newspapers

• state agencies

• civil engineers

• travel agencies

Which of the following best explains why a student researching genetics should use the most recent textbooks available?

• Research in Mendelian genetics began very recently.

• Older textbooks are more difficult to understand.

• No technologies from more than ten years ago are still in use.

• New discoveries frequently add to older knowledge in genetics.

Which of these would be the best resource to research the symptoms and treatment of hypoglycemia?

• Daily television news

• Journal of Zoology

• New England Journal of Medicine

• Natural History Magazine

If a student needs to do research on heredity for a science project, which of these sources is the most reliable resource?

• A newspaper tabloid

• A national newspaper

• A professional journal

• A weekly news magazine

Which of the following scientific achievements best represents a collaborative effort among scientists?

• Francis Crick and James Watson worked together to design the double-helix model of DNA.

• Gregor Mendel’s study of pea plants enabled Thomas Morgan to become the first to locate a gene on a chromosome in Drosophila.

• Robert Koch studied infectious diseases, and Louis Pasteur demonstrated that life only comes from life.

• Anton van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope in the 1600s, which was later used by others to study cells.

Which question cannot be answered scientifically because the quantity cannot actually be measured?

• How fast can a tiger swallowtail butterfly fly?

• How much food does a water buffalo consume in one day?

• How happy is a chimpanzee when it finds its favorite food?

• How heavy is a mature female elephant?

Harvester ants often strip a bush of all of its leaves. Some people believe this helps the plant grow thicker, healthier stems. In an experiment, a student stripped off all the leaves from a set of plants. In a second set of identical plants, the student allowed ants to strip off the plants’ leaves. In order to improve this experimental design, it is most important to add a set of plants —

• exposed to a different ant species

• of a different species

• with its leaves left intact

• that are dormant