Practice of Science Test Review - 6th Grade

During the nineteenth century, astronomers observed that certain planets appeared to move in a way that couldn't be explained by the existing models of the solar system. They proposed the presence of an undiscovered planet, which they called "Planet X." Decades later, advancements in technology allowed astronomers to better study the outer regions of the solar system and led to the discovery of Pluto. However, further research showed that Pluto did not match the predicted properties of Planet X. What is the most appropriate action for astronomers to take based on this new information?

• Astronomers should update the theory of Planet X due to new evidence.

• Astronomers should reject the new information since it conflicts with the existing theory of Planet X.

• Astronomers should update the theory of Planet X because of the newly found evidence and reject any newer information.

• Astronomers should reject the new information about Pluto because they cannot change their theory of Planet X based on new evidence.

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NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

After studying Samantha's research on plant growth under different light conditions, Carlos suspects that errors in the data collection process might have influenced the outcomes. What is the most appropriate course of action for Carlos to verify his suspicion?

• He can design a separate experiment that demonstrates how changing the data collection methods affects the results.

• He can replicate Samantha's experiment using the same setup and procedures to see if he gets similar results.

• He can maintain the same experimental conditions but use different equipment to measure the plant growth data.

• He can modify the variables in Samantha's experiment to observe the effects on plant growth.

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NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

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What is the best course of action for biologists in response to the new information?

• Reject the new information because they cannot change their theory based on new evidence

• Update the theory because of the newly found evidence and reject any newer information

• Reject the new information since it conflicts with the current theory

• Update the theory due to new evidence

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After reading a scientific journal detailing an experiment on the effects of soil pH on plant growth, Sarah decides to replicate the experiment to validate the results. She carefully follows the procedures outlined in the paper. What is the primary reason why the original scientist included all the steps of their experiment in the publication?

• to enable other scientists to reproduce and verify their findings

• to persuade the scientific community to adopt their methods

• to highlight the significance of recording comprehensive observations

• to showcase the numerous times their experiment has been repeated

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NGSS.HS-PS1-3

An ecologist wanted to study the foraging behavior of ants in a forest ecosystem. They observed two different ant species, Species A and Species B, collecting food on the forest floor. The data collected over several days is as follows:

What advantage did the ecologist gain by conducting the investigation in this manner?

• It allowed the ecologist to manipulate the environment to favor the foraging behaviors of Species A.

• It allowed the ecologist to standardize the experiment to ensure consistent results among different researchers.

• It allowed the ecologist to observe the natural interactions of the ant species in their actual environment.

• It allowed the ecologist to predict the exact number of food items each species would collect based on previous observations.

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Which of the following statements is the best of a scientific theory?

• The scientist uses evidence to support the idea that cells come from pre-existing cells.

• The engineer says the boat should last on the water for at least 50 years.

• The doctor assumes the medication will cure a cold.

• The meteorologist claims a thunderstorm will always produce hail.

Ella wanted to investigate the effect of different types of soil on the growth of tomato plants. She set up three separate plots in her garden and planted tomato seeds in each one. She used Potting Mix in Plot A, Garden Soil in Plot B, and a mixture of Compost and Sand in Plot C. She watered each plot using the same amount of water every day. Over the course of a month, she measured the height of the tomato plants in each plot and recorded the data. Based on this scenario, what type of scientific investigation did Ella conduct?

• An experimental investigation where she could document the variables and a control group.

• An observational investigation where she observed how tomato plants grew over time.

• A comparative investigation where she could see how each type of soil affected the growth of the tomato plants.

• A comparative investigation where she could compare the growth of tomato plants with and without water.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

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In the past, astronomers believed that the Milky Way was the only galaxy in the universe. As technology improved, astronomers discovered the existence of other galaxies. This change in understanding best illustrates which aspect of scientific knowledge?

• It hinders the advancement of scientific knowledge.

• It is discarded to preserve the old information.

• It helps advance scientific knowledge.

• It is accepted as true permanently.

Oliver is conducting an experiment to investigate the relationship between the amount of fertilizer applied to plants and their growth rate. He wants to form a hypothesis for his experiment. Which hypothesis is most appropriate for Oliver's investigation?

• If the plants receive more sunlight, their growth rate will decrease.

• If the plants receive less water, their growth rate will increase.

• If the amount of fertilizer applied to the plants increases, their growth rate will also increase.

• If the plants are placed in different rooms, their growth rate will stay the same.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

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Lily is observing that her pet dog becomes more active on sunny days. She tells her friend, "My theory is that dogs are naturally more energetic when the sun is shining." Which statement best explains how Lily is using the word theory?

• To describe an opinion that she has.

• To describe circumstances that are always true.

• To describe evidence collected in an investigation.

• To describe a well-supported idea accepted by many people.