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Chapter 1 Practice Assessment

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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

a)

control group

b)

experimental group

c)

dependent variable

d)

independent variable

2.

Dr. Smith reads two research papers that present different conclusions about the same question. He knows the researcher who wrote Paper A, but does not know the authors of Paper B. When asked which paper he thinks has more merit, Dr. Smith replies, "Paper A."


Because of Dr. Smith's connection to some of the researchers, he could be exhibiting

a)

bias.

b)

inference.

c)

observation.

d)

skepticism.

3.

Jane Goodall spent years with the chimpanzees of Gombe. Sitting quietly for hours, she watched the animals closely and took notes about their behavior.


What was Jane Goodall doing?

a)

testing variables

b)

watching a control group

c)

making observations

d)

applying a stimulus

4.

After her run, Aisha felt thirsty. Thirst was her body's way to telling her she needed more water to maintain __________ .

a)

growth

b)

metabolism

c)

development

d)

homeostasis

5.

Tamar is talking about evolution with a friend. The friend says, "It's just a theory, so I don't believe it. When they prove it and it becomes the law of evolution, then maybe I'll change my mind."


Which of these possible replies best describes scientific principles or the work of scientists?

a)

Scientific theories do not become scientific laws; they are explanations for natural phenomena based on evidence.

b)

Science always finds the right answer; the answers that scientists and researchers discover never change.

c)

He should be wary of science because it is based on research and evidence, not bias and opinion.

d)

Scientists take each other at their word regarding experimental results, and the public should, too.

6.

Camille notices that the leaves of her pothos plant are drooping this morning. The leaves were not drooping yesterday. She decides the plant needs to be watered. What had Camille just done?

a)

calculated the probability of the plant's ability to survive without water

b)

devised a controlled experiment about the effect of water on plant leaves

c)

formed a hypothesis based on quantitative data she had collected

d)

made an inference based on past experience and observation

7.

Which of the following statements about science is accurate?

a)

Science deals with the investigation of supernatural events and creatures.

b)

Science is a list of beliefs and facts that is constant and unchanging.

c)

Science involves collecting and organizing data about the natural world.

d)

Science is the process of finding evidence that supports what you already think.

8.

Dr. Sanchez and her team have observed an unusual star in the Andromeda galaxy. Their data suggests that the star is consumed by a nearby black hole. They write a scientific paper about their work and submit it to a scientific journal. Other scientists read their paper and look for the unusual star as well.


The other scientists are participating in which of these activities?

a)

data collection

b)

peer review

c)

developing a hypothesis

d)

developing a theory

9.

Michael's grandmother is taking part in an experiment to determine how well a new headache medication works. In this experiment, the people in Group A are taking the new medication. The people in Group B, including Michael's grandmother, are taking a pill that does not contain the new medication.


In this experiment, what is Group B?

a)

Group B is the control group.

b)

Group B is the experimental group.

c)

Group B is the independent variable.

d)

Group B is the dependent variable.

10.

Science began out of humankind's natural curiosity to understand and explain the interactions and processes of the natural world. Science aims to use these explanations to understand patterns in nature, as well as to address issues that face the natural world and human society.


Which statement BEST reflects the efforts of scientists in pursuing the goals of science?

a)

Scientists make observations and conduct experiments in order to establish facts.

b)

Scientists attempt to resolve questions of belief with scientific facts.

c)

Scientists review and revise current explanations when new evidence arises.

d)

Scientists emphasize data that supports their hypotheses and ignore data that does not.

11.

In biology, the different areas of study are connected and overlap in various ways, with concepts that cut across all disciplines. Which pair of crosscutting concepts are BEST exemplified when birds fly south when winter comes to the United States, and north when spring arrives? Choose One.

a)

stability and change; scale, proportion, and quantity

b)

systems and system models; scale, proportion, and quantity

c)

patterns; cause and effect

d)

energy and matter: flow, cycles, and conservation; patterns

12.

The Western North Pacific gray whale was once nearly extinct due to commercial whaling, but now is recovering under protected status. The map shows the range and distribution of the Western North Pacific gray whale.


Look at the map. Which statement BEST explains why policies based on national boundary lines do not always succeed in protecting marine species like this whale?

a)

Whales migrate through commercial fishing waters to reach their winter breeding grounds, and face the serious risk of gear entaglement.

b)

Whales migrate along the coast of continents to reach their winter breeding grounds, where offshore petroleum drilling disrupts their migration routes with seismic surveys and oil spills.

c)

Whales migrate annually between winter breeding grounds and in one country's territorial waters, and summer feeding areas in another country's waters, crossing boundary lines in each journey.

d)

Whales migrate along major shipping lanes to reach their summer feeding grounds, with potential of deadly ship strikes.

13.

The statement "the worm is 2 centimeters long is a(n)

a)

observation.

b)

theory.

c)

inference.

d)

hypothesis.

14.

An inference is

a)

the same as an observation.

b)

a logical interpretation of an observation.

c)

a statement involving numbers.

d)

a way to avoid bias.

15.

To be useful in science, a hypothesis must be

a)

measurable.

b)

observalbe.

c)

testable.

d)

correct.

16.

Which of the following statements about a controlled experiement is accurate?

a)

All the variables must be kept the same.

b)

Only one variable is tested at a time.

c)

Everything can be studied by setting up a controlled experiment.

d)

Controlled experiments cannot be performed on living things.

17.

A scientific theory is

a)

the same as a hypothesis.

b)

a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

c)

the same as the conclusion of an experiment.

d)

the first step in a controlled experiment.

18.

A skeptical attitude in science

a)

prevents scientist from accepting new ideas.

b)

encourages scientists to readily accept new ideas.

c)

means a new idea will only be accepted if it is backed by evidence.

d)

is unimportant.

19.

The purpose of peer review in science is to ensure that

a)

all scientific research is funded.

b)

the results of experiments are correct.

c)

all scientific results are published.

d)

published results meet standards set by the scientific community.

20.

The process in which two cells from different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism is called

a)

homeostasis.

b)

development.

c)

asexual reproduction.

d)

sexual reproduction.

21.

The relatively stable set of internal conditions that organisms maintain is called

a)

metabolism.

b)

a genome.

c)

evolution.

d)

homeostasis.

22.

A scientist noticed that the number of salamanders in pods in the Rocky Mountains was declining.


This is a(n)

a)

hypothesis.

b)

theory.

c)

observation.

d)

control.

23.

The English physician Ronald Ross wanted to find the cause of malaria. Based on his observations, Dr. Ross suggested that the Anopheles mosquito spread malaria from person to person. This suggestion was a

a)

prediction.

b)

hypothesis.

c)

theory.

d)

scientific "truth."

24.

If experiments are not possible or ethical, scientists

a)

cannot test a hypothesis.

b)

test more than one variable at a time.

c)

do not use a control group.

d)

look for connections in data gathering.

25.

A planned procedure to test a hypothesis is called a(n)

a)

prediction.

b)

experiment.

c)

control.

d)

variable.

26.

Scientific hypotheses are most often tested by the process of

a)

communicating.

b)

inferring.

c)

experimenting.

d)

analyzing data.

27.

The variable that is measured in an experiment is the _________ variable.

a)

dependent

b)

independent

c)

control

d)

experimental

28.

A general explanation for a broad range of data is called a

a)

hypothesis.

b)

theory.

c)

prediction.

d)

controlled experiment.

29.

A scientific theory is

a)

absolutely certain and never questioned.

b)

unchangeable.

c)

revised as new evidence is presented.

d)

a controlled experiment.

30.

Biology is the study of

a)

life.

b)

minerals.

c)

weather.

d)

energy.