Scientific Method/Characteristics of Life

Which of the statements is an inference?

• The insect has six legs.

• The insect has a pattern on its back.

• The insect is orange and black.

• The insect's appearance indicates it is poisonous.

"The worm is 6 cm. long" is

• a quantitative observation.

• a qualitative observation

• an inference

• a hypothesis

An inference is

• the same as an observation

• an interpretation of an observation

• a statement involving numbers

• a way to avoid bias

To be useful in science, a hypothesis must be

• measurable

• testable

• observable

• correct

Spontaneous generation means

• living things can only come from other living things

• living things evolve over time

• living things can arise from non-living matter

• a maggot is part of the life cycle of a fly

Which statement about a controlled experiment is true?

• All the variables are kept the same.

• Only one variable can be tested at a time.

• Scientists only use controlled experiments.

• Controlled experiments cannot be performed on living things.

A scientific theory is

• a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations

• the same as the conclusion of an experiment

• another word for hypothesis

• the first step in a controlled experiment

The process in which two cells from different organisms unite to form the first cell of a new organism is called

• homeostasis

• development

• asexual reproduction

• sexual reproduction

The process by which organisms keep their internal conditions stable is called

• a gene

• homeostasis

• evolution

• metabolism

The smallest unit of life is

• the cell

• the population

• the atom

• the molecule