Introduction of Scientific Thinking Test Review

You want to do a survey of the animals living within a forest habitat. You decide that the best way to collect your data is to make a bar graph. Look at the bar graph below. What information would you include on the x-axis across the bottom of the graph?

• the amount of time you spent in the forest

• the type of equipment you brought with you

• the number of times you saw the same animal

• the species of animals you observed in the forest

A team of engineers has built a prototype for a new kind of wheelchair. Which of these steps should the team follow next?

• Have people test out the wheelchair.

• Advertise the new wheelchair on television.

• Sell the prototype to someone who needs it.

• Hire a company to start manufacturing the chair.

Why do scientists use maps, graphs and charts to help them in their work?

• Maps, graphs and charts are colorful to look at.

• Maps, graphs and charts can be made without using math.

• Maps, graphs and charts can be made without using any observations.

• Maps, graphs and charts show a lot of information and are easy to understand.

A scientist makes a graph comparing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to the frequency of volcanic eruptions over time. Which question is she most likely trying to answer?

• Does carbon dioxide in air cause volcanism?

• How often do volcanic eruptions cause tsunamis?

• What species of plants are best adapted to live near volcanoes?

• How much carbon dioxide is released from volcanoes when they erupt?

How can graphs be useful?

• to count to ten

• to explain a story

• to organize information

• to help you build a house

Engineers test a prototype for a new bicycle helmet and find that the prototype breaks apart during ordinary use. The engineers should view the prototype as

• a failure that should be forgotten.

• a model to be copied for the new bicycle helmets.

• a model that needs only a few revisions to be successful.

• a model that provides lessons that can help them succeed with another approach

Using the engineering design process, Roger plans and makes a bird feeder. He puts the bird feeder in his yard, but the birds cannot get food because of the small hole in the feeder. According to the engineering design process, what should Roger do next?

• Redesign

• Communicate

• Plan and Build

• Find a problem

When they’re trying to solve a problem, engineers follow a process called the engineering design process. Which is NOT an example of the engineering design process?

• Define the problem.

• Develop a prototype.

• Brainstorm solutions

• Construct a hypothesis

A scientist read about an experiment conducted by a researcher. The scientist conducts the same experiment and collects data but this data contradicts what was published by the researcher. What should the scientist do since the data from the two experiments is contradictory?

• Repeat the experiment to check the data collected.

• Contact the researcher who first performed the experiment.

• Contact the scientific journal that published the experiment.

• Disregard the data collected since the experiment was published.

A team of engineers is working together to design a new airplane. Each member of the team lives in a different city. For which purpose is the internet most useful to the team?

• evaluating the need for the new airplane

• testing the strengths of materials for the airplane

• discussing ideas and sharing experimental data

• designing a mathematical model of the airplane