WorksheetsNature of Science Exam
Total questions: 35
Worksheet time: 29mins
A science teacher divided her class into four groups and asked each group to submit an idea for an experimental project in Earth science, complete with independent and dependent variables. The groups submitted their ideas with the following titles:
Group W: “The History of Solar Power in the State of Florida”
Group X: “A Model of the Hawaiian Volcano Mauna Loa”
Group Y: “The Effects of Plant Growth on the Amount of Soil Erosion”
Group Z: “How Many Types of Soil Are Present at Our School?”
Based on the titles, which group most likely designed an experimental project?
Group W
Group X
Group Y
Group Z
Why is a hypothesis important to a scientific investigation?
Without a hypothesis, there is no way to tell if you did an experiment correctly.
Without a hypothesis, you have no statement to tell you if your results are correct.
Without a hypothesis, there is no way to tell if you have done enough research about the problem.
Without a hypothesis, you have no statement to which you can compare your results to in order for you to determine what those results mean.
A science class puts a rain gauge outside of the classroom window to measure the amount of rain in centimeters (cm) that falls each month. The table shows the data the class collected. Which statement is a conclusion that can be drawn made based on this data?
March is always the rainiest month.
The rainfall in June will be greater than two inches.
The winter months were more rainy than the spring months.
Most likely a weather event in March caused a large amount of rain.
The Big Bang Theory offers an explanation about the formation of the universe as we know it. Discoveries and the dialogue that follow continue to add more evidence supporting the theory. New evidence leads to logical reasoning about the details of the universe's beginning and adds more credibility to the theory. How does scientific theory relate to the scientific method of inquiry?
Theory cannot be tested.
Theory determines observations.
Theory cannot be shared with others.
Theory changes as new data is collected.
In the late 19th century, Giovanni Schiaparelli observed the planet Mars with a telescope. He detected lines across the surface of Mars, which he called "channels." This word was translated into English as "canals." Then, the astronomer Percival Lowell drew maps depicting a fallacious Martian civilization. Later observations with better telescopes showed that there are no canals on Mars. How was scientific knowledge of Mars open to change?
New evidence could also be interpreted as canals.
New evidence showed Martian civilization was possible.
New evidence did not support the earlier interpretations of observations.
New evidence was insufficient to confirm or deny the earlier observations.
It must be summer.
Qualitative Observation
Quantitative Observation
Opinion
Inference
Using any of your 5 senses to describe the world around you.
Observation
Inference
Quantitative Observation
Logical Theory
The variable that is kept the same during the experiment
Independent
Controlled
Manipulated
Dependent
"We ran laps in PE, and now I am super sweaty."
What is the dependent variable?
Running laps
Being sweaty
Me
A scientist hypothesizes the the temperature at which an alligator's egg is incubated will determine whether the alligator will be male or female. The independent variable is
the male alligators
the gender of the alligator
the temperature
the incubator
"Do tall people jump further than short people?"
Diego wants to know how drinking milk affects how tall Dora grows. Which is the independent variable?
Drinking milk.
Diego's growth.
Dora's growth.
Chocolate or plain milk.
The number of times an experiment is repeated.
abundant
model
trials
valid
The steps to follow to complete an experiment.
inference
manipulate
procedures
valid
A scientific idea tested by multiple scientists and supported by multiple pieces of tested factual evidence is a...
Theory
Scientific Law
Hypothesis
Fact
Data
What can undo a theory?
A single test proving a theory wrong
A single "repeatable" test proving a theory wrong
A change in publics opinion of a theory
Politicians can pass laws undoing a theory
Jane is investigating to find out if bean plants grow taller in ordinary topsoil or special potting soil over a three week period. She sets up her investigation with 10 bean plants of equal size in each type of soil.
What should Jane do each day to make sure she gets valid results?
Calculate the average plant height for each soil type.
Estimate the height of each plant's stem and record the estimate.
Water only the plants in special potting soil.
Move the plants in ordinary topsoil to different locations.
A scientist performs an experiment and asks other scientists around the world to replicate it.
Why would other scientists most likely try to perform the same experiment?
to find out if weather of various regions of the world would affect the results
to see if the experiment would be less expensive in another part of the world
to confirm the results of the experiment conducted by the scientist
to verify that the hypothesis of the experiment is a scientific law
How can scientific knowledge impact a decision about treating the Zika virus outbreak?
the more you know about it, then more people can die from it
knowledge is power, but not over a Zika outbreak
the more known about how it spreads, then we can better contain it
it makes it harder to cure it
If Mr. X tried to sell you a $900 product with the claim it "cured all illnesses," you should __
buy all of it and sell it for a profit
ask him if he would let you work for him
ask for more data and evidence to support his claim
buy 1 bottle and try it out on yourself
When your classmate copies an experiment that you have already conducted it is called _____
restitution
replication
repetition
cheating
When you repeat your experimental procedures for multiple test trials, this is called _______
replication
restitution
repetition
recognition
The observations and data on which a scientific explanation can be based is called ___________________
empirical evidence
pseudo-science
theories
an hypothesis
Which is an example of a model?
the globe of Mars
paper
an olive
your textbook
Unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays is a factor in the development of skin cancer. Which of the following is an example of empirical evidence that supports this hypothesis?
a model of a skin cell showing where DNA is in the cell
a skin cancer survivor’s recollection that he had a bad sunburn as a child
data demonstrating a relationship between amount of sun exposure and incidences of skin cancer
an advertisement for a sun block product that claims it protects skin for ultraviolet rays
In science, all claims must be...
tested using many experiments before being accepted by the community.
accepted to be true because they are popular.
written by famous scientists.
randomly generated.
Experimental results that don't agree with your hypothesis should be...
thrown away.
modified to make sure you appeared to be right all along.
double checked and perhaps the experiment should be repeated.
made secret.
