Nature of Science

Determine which of the following is something that science cannot be used to answer

• How dinosaurs died
• Religious beliefs
• How continents move
• How the moon formed

Which explanation best describes why theories can change?

• Scientists like to make kids learn new things
• Textbooks need to be updated
• More money is needed for research
• Scientists are always learning new things.

Using one or more of your senses to gather information is called

• Inferring

• Observing

• Predicting

• Hypothesizing

An educated guess or testable prediction is a

• theory

• law

• hypothesis

• conclusion

Observations that deal with a number or amount are called

• qualitative

• quantitative

The Skittles are yellow, red and green is an example of _____.

• qualitative observations

• quantitative observations

• hypothesis

The statement that correctly lists the steps of the scientific method in order is ______

• conclusion- research-hypothesis-ask a question

• ask a question-hypothesis- experiment-collect data and analyze

• conclusion-hypothesis-research-experiment

The steps commonly used by scientists in gathering information to test hypotheses and solve problems are called _____.

• scientific inquiry

• hypothesis

• scientific method

Which of the following should be a goal of a scientific investigation?

• to help the scientist make money

• to make sure the scientist is correct

• to help the scientist solve a problem

At one point in time, many people thought disease was caused by fate or by incorrect behavior. Following the invention of the microscope, bacteria were discovered. After this, a new theory of what causes disease arose that was known as the germ theory.  Why was the original theory modified? 

• It quickly became obvious that germs cause disease.
• The person who invented the microscope became ill.
• New evidence prompted revision to the original ideas.
• The proponents of the germ theory had political power.