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PSSA Review - Nature of Science

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which statement correctly describes scientific knowledge?

a)

It changes from place to place

b)

It is based on opinions

c)

It is based on facts

d)

It varies from person to person

2.

Which statement correctly describes one of the benefits of technology?

a)

Tech must be used to make a discovery

b)

Tech leads to new discoveries

c)

Tech results in acid rain

d)

Tech reduces the need for scientists to communicate.

3.

Which quantity is an example of a change in rate?

a)

25\frac{2}{5}

b)

25%

c)

1.0 gram

d)

25 miles/hour

4.

Which is a measurement in the metric system?

a)

meters

b)

pounds

c)

dollars

d)

fahrenheit

5.

Microscopes are used to...

a)

create organic matter

b)

make large objects appear small

c)

make Mr. Sonntag run faster

d)

make small objects appear large

6.

What is an example of a system?

a)

Nutrient

b)

Rock

c)

Motorized vehicle

d)

copper wire

7.

True or false: Patterns do not occur in nature.

a)

True

b)

False

8.

Which is true of a hypothesis?

a)

It must be testable

b)

It must be proven correct

c)

it cannot be based on observations

d)

It must be the answer to the scientific question

9.

Which instrument could give you the same volume of water?

a)

Measuring tape

b)

Meterstick

c)

Beaker

d)

thermometer

10.

What should a scientist do if a hypothesis is NOT supported by data?

a)

Carry out further investigations.

b)

Stop investigating the question.

c)

Change the hypothesis to match the data

d)

Change the data to support the hypothesis

11.

Which of the following statements about hypotheses is true?

a)

Hypotheses can never be

changed.

b)

Hypotheses are always proven to be true.

c)

Hypotheses can be accepted or rejected

d)

Hypotheses can be proven true without evidence.

12.

Helen is studying the growth of two different types of plants. She planted two of each type of plant in locations with different levels of sunlight: full sun, partial shade, and full shade. For five weeks, Helen records the number of new leaves on each plant.

Which of the following statements correctly describes the independent and dependent variables in Helen's experiment?

a)

The independent variable is the kind of plant, and the dependent variable is the amount of sunlight.

b)

The independent variable is the amount of sunlight, and the dependent variable is the number of new leaves.

c)

The independent variable is the amount of sunlight, and the dependent variable is the kind of plant.

d)

The independent variable is the number of new leaves, and the dependent variable is the amount of sunlight.

13.

Which statement is the best argument for a hypothesis that has evidence to reinforce its claim?

a)

The results create the hypothesis.

b)

The results prove the hypothesis

c)

The results change the hypothesis.

d)

The results support the hypothesis

14.

In a scientific discussion, what is the most rigorous support of a claim?

a)

spirited debate

b)

experimental evidence

c)

strong opinion

d)

persuasive narrative

15.

Samuel conducts an experiment. He makes many observations and measurements and records each very carefully. At the conclusion of the experiment he discovers that the data he collected do not support his hypothesis. What should he do?

a)

Report his observations and conclusions honestly, clearly stating that the data do not support the hypothesis.

b)

Change his hypothesis to one that is supported by the data.

c)

Change the data so that they support his hypothesis.

d)

Throw all of his data and observations away and repeat the experiment

16.
Dilcia wants to know how drinking milk affects how tall a Monica grows. Which is the independent variable?
a)
Monica's growth
b)
drinking milk
17.
Ramone wants to know: does the distance a person kicks a soccer ball effect how well they will do on their math test.  What is the dependent variable?
a)
How far they kick the soccer ball
b)
who the person is
c)
how well they do on the math test
d)
Type of soccer ball.
18.
What would the INDEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing which types of paper airplane goes furthest?
a)
the paper used
b)
the type of paper airplane
c)
the distance of each plane's flight
d)
how hard the plane is thrown
19.
An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, the independent variable is ...
a)
The type of plant
b)
The amount of sunlight
c)
The type of music
d)
The type of liquid
20.

A scientist wanted to know more about these blue birds at a beach. He goes to the beach and he writes down everything he sees the birds doing and all the sounds they make. This is an example of which scientific tool?

a)

observation

b)

analysis

c)

hypothesis testing

d)

replication

21.
The production of oxygen from a reactant in a chemical reaction is shown. The graph shows the volume of oxygen produced as a function of the amount of reactant consumed. If the trend continues, how much oxygen will be produced when 25 g of the reactant is consumed? 
a)
3.0 ml
b)
1.5 ml
c)
5.0 ml
d)
4.0 ml
22.
Quantitative observations always include _______. 
a)
words
b)
symbols
c)
numbers
d)
time
23.
What is the volume of the liquid in the graduated cylinder shown above? 
a)
25.6 L
b)
23.1 L
c)
25.6 mL
d)
23.1 mL
24.
When scientists use one of their five senses to gather information, they are 
a)
making an observation.
b)
predicting a relationship
c)
drawing a conclusion.
d)
making an inference.
25.
The triple-beam balance shown above measures in grams. What is the mass of the chick? 
a)
10 kg, 7.5 g
b)
175 g
c)
17.5 g
d)
10.75 g
26.
The mass of a block was measured in grams using a triple beam balance. Using the picture, determine the mass of the block.
a)
94.71 g
b)
179.39 g
c)
1793.9 g
d)
709.4 g
27.
Tony recorded data from his chemistry experiment in the following table. Which of the categories from Tony's data table includes qualitative observations? 
a)
temperature
b)
volume
c)
mass
d)
color
28.
Which of the following may be considered a hazard in the laboratory? 
a)
open-toed shoes
b)
long hair
c)
loose-fitting clothing
d)
all of these
29.
This instrument is read by looking at the number that the pointer moves to when an object is placed on the hook.
What is the function of this instrument? 
a)
measure the speed of an object in miles per hour
b)
measure the weight or force of an object in Newtons
c)
measure the height of an object in centimeters
d)
measure the mass of an object in kilograms
30.
During the 1900s, the following genetic discoveries were made:  

As a result of these scientific discoveries, scientists are now able to 
a)
clone certain organisms.
b)
change portions of genetic code to treat disease.
c)
determine some organisms' genetic sequences.
d)
all of these
31.
Which is an example of how technology has aided in the conservation of forests?
a)
I, II, III, and IV
b)
I, III, and IV only
c)
I and III only
d)
II and IV only
32.
Which of the following is a good scientific question? 
a)
Are dragons lizards or birds?
b)
How do star fish fall in love?
c)
Why do crickets chirp?
d)
Does eating less fat increase a mouse's life span?
33.
Manuel tested the effects of temperature on the solubility of sugar in water. He measured the maximum amount of sucrose (in grams) he could dissolve in 100 g of water. Manuel repeated the test at five different temperatures. The graph of his results is included below. 
Based on his observations, which of the following is a general hypothesis Manuel might form? 
a)
The increasing solubility of a solid raises the temperature of water.
b)
The decreasing solubility of a solid raises the temperature of water.
c)
The solubility of a solid decreases as the temperature increases.
d)
The solubility of a solid increases as the temperature increases.
34.
The flowchart below shows the major steps in a system that builds mp3 players. 
Which of the steps in the system are examples of processes? 
a)
I, III, and V only
b)
I, II, III, and IV only
c)
II and IV only
d)
I, II, III, IV and V
35.
What do the lunar cycle, bird migration, and cell mitosis have in common? 
a)
They are all included in the discipline called biology.
b)
None of them are predictable.
c)
They are all natural events that occur in a pattern.
d)
None of them are studied by scientists today.