1A Unit Test Review

Which of the following outlines the steps of the scientific method in order?

• Ask a question, form hypothesis, test hypothesis, record and analyze data, draw conclusion

• Ask a question, form hypothesis, record and analyze data, test hypothesis, draw conclusion.

• Form hypothesis, ask a question, record and analyze data, test hypothesis, draw conclusion.

• Record and analyze data, ask a question, draw conclusion, form hypothesis, test hypothesis.

Testing hypotheses often involves designing experiments. Which of the following is the factor that is observed and measured in an experiment?

• Independant Variable

• Dependent Variable

• Control Group

• Experimental Group

Answer explanation

Dependant variable is the factor in an experiment that a scientist OBSERVES in ​RESPONSE to the independent variable

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Tasha is testing the effect of blue colored light on the growth of tomato plants. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• Blue colored light

• Temperature of the light

• Tomato plant height

• Tomato plant weight

Answer explanation

Independant Variable is the factor in an experiment that a scientist ​PURPOSELY CHANGES

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Tasha is testing the effect of blue colored light on the growth of tomato plants. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

• Blue colored light

• Type of tomato plant

• Tomato plant growth

• Tomato plant height

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

A researcher is interested in the effects of fertilizer on plant growth and sets up an experiment in which groups of 5 plants are placed in 2 different fertilizers over a period of one month. The researcher measures plant height and weight at the end of the experiment. What is missing in this experimental design?

• A control group

• An experimental group

• An independent variable

• A dependent variable

Answer explanation

Control group is the group that DOES NOT RECEIVE the VARIABLE being TESTED and can then ​be used as a standard of comparison

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

The table below summarizes the effect of commercial fishing on a local Atlantic cod population over an 9-year period. Based on the data in the table, which conclusion is valid?

• The number of fishing boats has les effect on the local cod population than pollution

• More fishing boats make the cod population estimates more accurate

• An increase in fishing boats has had a negative impact on cod population growth

• An increase in fishing boats has had a positive impact on cod population growth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Astrology is an example of pseudoscience. Why is astrology considered a pseudoscience, unlike astronomy, which is a science?

• because astrology is older than astronomy

• because it can be easily replicated by other scientists

• because is not based on empirical evidence

• because it is based on the scientific method

Answer explanation

Empirical evidence is information acquired by observation or experimentation. Scientists record and analyze this data. The process is a central part of the scientific method, leading to the proving or disproving of a hypothesis and our better understanding of the world as a result.

If a company claims that its new vaccine has been scientifically proven effective against the flu, which of the following should have taken place if the results are to be considered reliable?

• The company should have held discussions with leading industry scientists.

• Technology should have been used in both the gathering of data and data analysis.

• Results should have been peer reviewed and repeated producing the same findings.

• The results of the investigation should have been published in popular magazines.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is peer review?

• 
  Polling random people to see if they agree with your experiment or not

• 
  Asking your friends for help conducting an experiment

• Sharing the results of your experiment with others so they can examine and validate your conclusion

• None of the above

Randall wants to know if the amount of salt in the water has an effect on his goldfish. What is the independent variable?

• amount of water

• number of goldfish

• amount of salt

• health of the goldfish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5