Module 0.1 Test - Nature of Science

Maya is doing research for her biology report about the effects of vaccinations. She has found a large number of references online, but she is unsure as to which ones she should trust. Choose the source Maya should be most skeptical about regarding its credibility, accuracy, and possible bias.

• A. A website maintained by the federal government

• B. The crowd-sourced entry on vaccine effectiveness on a site sponsored by the general public

• C. A website maintained by an international organization that monitors disease outbreaks around the world

• D. An article written by a medical doctor on the website of a peer-reviewed medical journal

The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is an invasive species in the United States. Beetles attack a wide variety of tree species, burrowing into the wood to eat and lay eggs, and eventually killing the tree. The presence of the beetle can be detected in a number of ways, but one method is to look for the perfectly round, dime-sized holes where adults exit from the tree during warmer weather. Suppose a group of scientists is conducting a study to determine which tree species are most susceptible to beetle infestation. In a one-acre forested area with hundreds of trees, ten mature trees of five different tree species were identified. The exit holes on each tree were counted. The data are recorded in the table. Number of Exit Holes in a Variety of Tree Species Species Number of exit holes in each tree Average ash 0 3 6 6 4 2 7 4 3 5 3.5 birch 3 6 4 0 0 1 4 1 2 5 2.6 elm 2 24 5 0 3 1 6 8 3 5 5.7 chestnut 0 2 1 0 3 6 4 2 0 6 2.4 maple 10 2 5 3 12 4 17 9 4 7 7.3 Which conclusion can be drawn from these data?

• The beetle cannot live in chestnut trees.

• Birch is most likely to be infested with the beetle.

• Ash trees do not support larval forms of the beetle.

• Maple trees host the largest number of beetles per tree average.

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What data can be used as justification for the conclusions drawn in this study?

• highest average number of exit holes

• length of time between egg laying and exit

• total number of trees in the forested area

• total number of trees with zero exit holes

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What would be a meaningful way to replicate this study to determine if the conclusions drawn are valid?

• Select a new but similar area and count exit holes on the same species in that area.

• Release more beetles in the area and then recount different trees in the same area.

• Spray pesticides to kill the beetles and then recount the same trees.

• Recount the exit holes on the same trees.

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A scientist suspects that another scientist’s experimental results presented as evidence have been altered and are not reliable. Which of the following verification procedures uses the scientific method?

• Ask the other scientist’s co-workers about that scientist’s past honesty in science.

• Require the scientist to sign documentation verifying the results.

• Research similar experiments to see how closely past results match the new ones.

• Replicate the experiment’s procedures exactly, and compare the two sets of results.

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Fertilized eggs containing embryos from the same species of alligator were incubated at different temperatures. The sex of the hatched offspring is shown in the table below. Which of the following experiments would increase scientific knowledge about how all alligator embryos develop?

• Conduct the experiment a second time using a different species of alligator.

• Conduct the experiment a second time with half the number of eggs.

• Conduct the experiment with temperatures above 40°C.

• Assume the results apply to all species of alligators.

Fertilized eggs containing embryos from the same species of alligator were incubated at different temperatures. The sex of the hatched offspring is shown in the table below. Which of the following conclusions is supported by these data?

• Temperature does NOT affect the survival rate of alligator embryos.

• The sex of the offspring is determined by the incubation temperature.

• At higher temperatures, more female alligators will develop than males.

• A temperature of 26°C produced the largest number of total eggs hatched.

Fertilized eggs containing embryos from the same species of alligator were incubated at different temperatures. The sex of the hatched offspring is shown in the table below. Sex of Offspring Incubated at Different Temperatures Temperature of Egg Incubation: 26°C, 28°C, 30°C, 32°C, 34°C, 36°C Number of Eggs Used: 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100 Number of Embryos that Died: 80, 4, 3, 2, 6, 86 Number of Females Hatched: 20, 96, 97, 85, 0, 0 Number of Males Hatched: 0, 0, 0, 13, 94, 14 Which of the following is an inference that can be drawn from the observations made by the researchers in this experiment?

• A. Female alligators prefer cooler temperatures their entire lives.

• B. The best temperature for hatching alligator eggs is around 25°C.

• C. If the climate warms, the ratio of female to male alligators will change.

• D. More alligator embryos are likely to survive if the experiment is repeated a second time.

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Before conducting a scientific investigation, you can examine books and other sources of reliable information to see what is already known. Which statement best explains the benefit of this step?

• A. Most questions in science have already been answered, so you can usually determine what the results of your investigation should be.

• B. Reading previous studies can build your understanding and help you craft a hypothesis and plan your investigation.

• C. Reviewing published information can help you form biases that will inform the conclusions of your investigation.

• D. Published information is always correct, so it can negate the need for conducting the investigation.

For which condition was the reaction rate the lowest in Experiment 1?

• A. A temperature of 100°C

• B. A temperature of 37°C

• C. A temperature of 22°C

• D. A temperature of 0°C

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