PRACTICE TEST 30 Questions

Scientists conduct many types of scientific investigations. Their efforts often include fieldwork, surveys, models, and experiments. Which statement about scientific investigations is true?

• They rarely involve the collection of data under controlled conditions.

• They follow exactly the same steps because there is only one scientific method.

• They include multiple trials to increase the consistency of the data that are collected.

• Their primary focus seldom includes comparing or describing the unregulated world.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Scientists are extremely observant when they examine the natural world. What information do scientists collect when they observe the natural world?

• Empirical Evidence

• Investigations

• Experiments

• Explanations

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Scientists try to develop an explanation for what they see happening in the natural world. What must be true of any explanation they develop?

• It must be supported by evidence.

• It can never be changed.

• It must be shown to have practical value for humans.

• It must be based on information that other scientists have also gathered.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Ana has done an experiment to find out whether spider plants grow faster under fluorescent lighting or incandescent lighting. She gave her notes to Alberto, who did the same experiment with very similar results. Which term describes Alberto’s experiment?

• plagiarism

• replication

• pseudoscience

• repetition

Gregor Mendel performed many experiments with pea plants before developing his theory of inheritance. What evidence did Mendel use to support his theory?

• a plan for his experiments

• data from his experiments

• a hypothesis that he investigated

• hypotheses proposed by other scientists

What is the purpose of repeating trials after reaching a conclusion in an investigation?

• to develop a new theory

• to verify results

• to conduct experiments with more variables

• to revise each step of their research procedure

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Astrology is an example of pseudoscience. Astrologists use horoscopes that are based upon the positions of planets and stars to make predictions about a person’s life. Which claim describes how science is different than pseudoscience?

• Pseudoscience does not involve making observations.

• Pseudoscience does not examine phenomena in the natural world.

• Pseudoscience does not attempt to provide explanations for phenomena.

• Pseudoscientific conclusions are not supported by data gathered using scientific methods.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-1

Which evidence best supports a scientific explanation?

• hypothesis formed after initial observations

• personal bias and the opinion of the scientist

• empirical evidence obtained by using technology

• imagination and originality of the hypothesis

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

When scientists obtain new information, what happens to an existing scientific theory?

• It remains the same.

• It becomes a law.

• It is changed

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

Which description defines pseudoscience?

• process of investigation that resembles science but does not follow scientific methods

• process of investigation that resembles science and follows scientific methods

• process of investigation that does not resemble science but follows scientific methods

• process of investigation that does not resemble science and does not follow scientific methods