The Nature of Science

Science can best be defined as ___.

• the construction of explanations and predictions about any topic through the use of biased opinions

• the study of the economic and social structure of human society through the use of public opinion

• the construction of testable explanations and predictions about the natural world through the use of evidence

• the development of new technologies and products in order to promote the interests of public companies

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How can a scientific theory be used to answer a specific question about an observed phenoenon?

• A theory can offer an explanation for an observed phenomenon and that does not need supporting evidence.

• A theory can only suggest an explanation for an observed phenomenon that will always be proven as fact.

• A theory can suggest an explanation for an observed phenomenon that will always be proven as fact.

• A theory can offer explanation for an observed phenomenon that is supported by extensive data.

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Scientific concepts can be explained through ___.

• drawing

• oral communication

• writing

• all of the choices

Which of the following is a true statement about science?

• Scientific ideas are able to be modeled during investigations.

• Scientific knowledge is continually being extended, refined, and revised.

• Science can be defined as a body of knowledge about the natural world.

• All of the choices.

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Which of the following is essential for a scientist to do in order to maintain credibility?

• keep accurate records

• attend all the major scientific conferences

• report preliminary findings to the media

• work for a university

In the 1600s, many scientists supported the theory of spontaneous generation. This theory stated that living organisms could come from nonliving matter.

Which of the following experiments led to the dismissal of the theory of spontaneous generation by the scientific community?

• demonstrations that DNA, the cell's hereditary material, could undergo replication

• demonstrations that every living organism had two parents

• demonstrations that no organisms would grow on sterilized food placed in a sealed container

• demonstrations that all organisms were composed of at least one cell

A scientist is performing an investigation on a phenomenon that has already been explained by a widely accepted theory. Her investigation results in observations that provide new evidence about the theory. Based on her results, the theory is modified.

Which of the following can be concluded based on the paragraph above?

• New observations about accepted theories are always disregarded by scientists.

• Observations made during investigations are not used by scientists to form or revise scientific theories.

• Scientists can change existing theories without any evidence if they think the theory is incorrect.

• New observations can result in revisions to accepted scientific theories.

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Hayden has placed a cricket in a terrarium. He is interested in learning about cricket behavior. Which of the following is a question about cricket behavior that Hayden can answer through a scientific investigation?

• How will the cricket behave if another cricket is introduced into the terrarium?

• How will the cricket feel if the terrarium is left in a dark room for several days?

• Does a cricket prefer to live in the wild or in a terrarium?

• Do crickets make better pets than lizards?

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Michael is performing an indoor experiment with plants to determine how they react to light. Which of the following is a testable hypothesis that is relevant to his experiment?

• The overall health of a plant depends on whether or not it is properly fertilized.

• The angle at which indoor plants grow is related to the location of natural light sources such as windows.

• The final height of a plant is determined by the average outdoor temperature of an area.

• Placing plants in clay pots can affect the number of times the plant needs to be watered each week.

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Tyler wants to know how the growth of tomato plants is affected by the quantities of various gases in the atmosphere. What type of scientific investigation should Tyler conduct in order to accurately answer his question through direct observations?

• Tyler should perform a controlled experiment.

• Tyler should grow tomato plants in his back yard.

• Tyler should ask a professional gardener about tomato plants.

• Tyler should research tomato plants on the internet.

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