Worksheets1. Final EOC Review - Nature of Science
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 50mins
Reorder the Steps of the Scientific Method
Make an Observation
Ask a question
Form a hypothesis
Conduct an experiment
Analyze data and draw conclusions
What is the first step in the scientific method?
Ask a question
Hypothesis
Conclusion
Analyze data
Which of the following is not an example of quantitative data?
Temperature
Speed
Height
Texture
Why do many experiments include several trials instead of a single trial?
Repetition of trials increases the accuracy of the results
Repetition of trials decreases the sample size of the experiment.
Repetition of trials makes data easier to analyze.
It is not necessary to repeat trials
A student wants to perform a science experiment about plants. He wants to know if a certain type of soil will make plants grow taller. Each pot will receive a different type of soil, but will get the same type of seed, water amount, and sunlight amount.What is the Independent Variable in this story?
Amount of sunlight
How tall the plant will grow
Amount of water
Type of material the plant is growing in
A student hypothesized that lettuce seeds would not germinate (begin to grow) unless they were covered with soil. The student planted 10 lettuce seeds under a layer of soil and scattered 10 lettuce seeds on top of the soil. The data collected are shown in the accompanying table.
To improve the reliability of these results, the student should:
revise the hypothesis
repeat the experiment using a larger sample size
conclude that darkness is necessary for lettuce seed germination
conclude that light is necessary for lettuce seed germination
An investigation was designed to determine the effect of ultraviolet light on mold spore growth.
Two groups of mold spores were grown under identical conditions, except one group was exposed only to ultraviolet light, while the other group was grown in total darkness. In this investigation, the group of mold spores grown without receiving any ultraviolet light is known as the
control group
hypothesis
observation
controlled variable
The bar graph shows the height of a plant at the end of each week of a five-week growth period.
Which statement represents a valid conclusion based on the information in the graph?
The plant grew fastest during the first three weeks, and then it grew slower.
The plant was given water during the first three weeks, only.
The plant will grow faster during the sixth week than it did during the fifth week.
The plant grew slowest during the first three weeks, and then it grew faster.
The graph shows how the density of water changes with the temperature.
What conclusion can be made based on the graph?
As the temperature increases, the density of the water decreases
As the temperature increases from 0 to 4 oC, the density of the water increases. The density reaches its maximum at 4 oC, and then it decreases as the temperature increases
As the temperature increases, the density of the water increases too
As the temperature increases from 0 to 4 oC, the density of the water increases. The density reaches its maximum at 4 oC, and then it shows no clear pattern as the temperature increases
A school physician performed an experiment to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on high school freshmen. He examined 25 student volunteers and found them to be in good health. He then had the students perform aerobic exercises, such as jogging, swimming, and bicycling. The doctor recorded the students’ pulse rates before each activity, during each activity, and after each activity. Which is the outcome variable (dependent variable) in this experiment?
The student’s health
The aerobic exercise
The number of volunteers
The students’ pulse rates
Which is the independent variable?
Breathing rate per minute
Temperature
Minutes
Number of trials
Identifying the independent and dependent variables in an experiment will help you better interpret and convey results. What is the difference between the independent and dependent variables in an experiment?
The independent variable is always a number, and the dependent variable is never a number.
The independent variable is what you control, and the dependent variable is what changes as a result.
The dependent variable is typically found in the first column of a table, and the independent variable is typically found in the second column.
The dependent variable is what the investigator controls, and the independent variable is what happens as a result of this.
Sally has two potted plants of the same species. However, one has grown taller than the other. She thinks that one plant is taller because it is getting more sunlight, so she moves the shorter plant so that both plants get the same amount of sunlight each day. Refer to the picture that shows the results of Sally’s experiment.
Which of the following best describes the usefulness of Sally’s experiment?
The hypothesis is wrong, so Sally’s experiment was a waste of time. Sally is no closer to knowing what caused the difference in plant growth.
The failed experiment eliminates sunlight as a cause for the differences in plant growth. Now Sally can revise the experiment to test other variables such as soil or water.
Sally’s experiment was not a good test of her hypothesis. Because the results failed to support her hypothesis, she can now see the flaws in her experiment.
Sally’s experiment is useful because it demonstrates that all variables must be controlled in an experiment.
What is the dependent variable in the experiment shown?
death rate
mass of plant
number of plants
amount of fertilizer
What is the independent variable in the experiment shown?
death rate
mass of plant
number of plants
amount of fertilizer
Examine the population curves for wolves and moose in the graph below.
Which statement correctly describes the population relationship between the wolves and moose from 1968 to 1973?
As the moose population increased the wolf population increased.
As the moose population increased the wolf population decreased.
As the wolf population decreased the moose population decreased
As the wolf population increased, the moose population decreased.
The following bar graph shows the population of
bacteria under different temperature ranges.
What can be concluded about the bacteria from reading this graph?
They thrive at exactly 30°C.
They cannot tolerate temperatures above 50°C.
They prefer temperatures between 20°C and 30°C.
They prefer warmer temperatures to cooler temperatures
Which statement describes a reason a theory may be modified?
A judge rules that the theory should be modified.
An advancement in technology allows for new discoveries pertaining to the theory.
A community votes and determines that the theory is no longer valid.
A scientist decides that he wants to change the theory.
What causes scientific theories to change?
a single experiment
a Nobel Prize-winning scientist
new evidence from multiple sources
the death of the scientist or scientists who wrote the theory
Ashley is learning how to design an experiment to test a hypothesis. Why should most scientific hypotheses be tested in controlled conditions?
to avoid having the experiment become dangerous
to keep the experimental area sterile
to make the experiment easier to conduct
to limit the variables that can affect the experiment
Scientific knowledge is built upon careful observations and experiments. Which scientific term is used to explain how or why a natural event occurs and is well supported by evidence and is widely accepted?
law
theory
variable
hypothesis
What could you conclude from this graph?
The battery acid has a pH higher than milk of magnesia.
The Lemon juice has higher pH than human skin.
The caustic acid has the lowest pH.
The Caustic soda has the highest pH
On March 24, 1989, an oil tanker ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and spilled millions of liters of crude oil. The graph shows pink salmon populations in Prince William Sound from 1970 to 1999.
What do these data suggest about the effect the oil spill had on pink salmon?
Pink salmon populations steadily declined in the 10 years following the spill.
Pink salmon were nearly eliminated after the oil spill.
Pink salmon populations declined and never fully recovered.
Pink salmon populations seemed to be minimally affected.
A student hypothesized that lettuce seeds would not germinate (sprout) unless they were exposed to darkness. The student planted 10 lettuce seeds under a layer of soil and scattered 10 lettuce seeds on top of the soil. The student found that 9 of the seeds under the soil sprouted, while 8 of the seeds left on top of the soil sprouted. Which of the following would most likely allow the student to improve the validity of these results?
repeating the experiment
concluding that light is necessary for lettuce seed germination
determining that darkness is necessary for lettuce seed germination
revising the hypothesis
A botanist is trying to determine the best medium for growing new juvenile orchids. He collected data on the four different types of media that were used to grow the juvenile orchids, as shown in the table below.
Based on the data, which medium would be best for growing juvenile orchids?
1
2
3
4
The average depth in Rookery Bay Estuary is 1 meter. According to the graph, as the temperature of the water increases during the summer, how might the organisms that live in the estuary be affected?
salinity levels will increase making the water too toxic for aquatic life.
dissolved oxygen levels will increase making the conditions more favorable for fish and other aquatic organisms.
the water temperature will be too low for some organisms and they will die out.
lower oxygen levels may adversely affect fish and other aquatic animals that depend on higher levels of oxygen.
Mullet are estuarine fish that move in schools and feed on plankton and plant matter. Natural predators of the mullet include spotted sea trout, sharks, pelicans and dolphins. The graph shows how the number of mullet in an area has changed over time.
Based on the data, one student concludes that a new predator was introduced into the area during this time period. Which of the following is a likely alternate explanation for the change in the mullet population?
The birth rate of mullet increased.
The food supply for mullet decreased.
the average available oxygen increased.
the shark population stopped feeding on mullet.
The table contains information about glucose production in a species of plant that lives in the water of a salt marsh.
Which terms describe temperature in this investigation?
Biotic factor, density independent, and independent variable
Biotic factor, density dependent, and dependent variable
Abiotic factor and independent variable
Abiotic factor and dependent variable
Biotic factor and dependent variable
Biotic factor and independent variable
Which of the following tools used by biologists would be the best choice for viewing a live bacteria cell?
SEM
electronic balance
compound light microscope
TEM
A broad explanation for events that is widely accepted as true.
law
theory
hypothesis
Which of the following is not a true statement about compound light microscopes?
They use light as their Illuminating source.
They use electrons as their Illuminating source.
They can be used to observe preserved specimens.
They can be used to observe living specimens.
If an animal shelter wants to see if a certain dog food causes a dog to gain weight, which of the following would NOT be a constant?
Type of dog food given
Amount of dog good given
Time of day food is given
Amount of exercise dog is given
Anna is in charge of studying how the amount of plant food (fertilizer) affects the height of a plant at a local garden. Which testable statement does she investigate?
There is no way to test this hypothesis.
If a plant receives two cups of food per day, then the height of the plant will increase
If a plant gets different amounts of water and two cups of food per day, the height of the plant will increase
If a plant receives more sunlight, the height of the plant will decrease
How is a hypothesis different from a theory?
A theory has evidence to back it up and a hypothesis is an educated guess as to what is going to happen.
They are both the same. They both are guesses as to what happens in the natural world.
A theory is an opinion about how something works but a hypothesis has scientific evidence to support it.
A hypothesis is used in science and a theory is used in society.
Which is NOT a step in the scientific method?
Make observation
Form a theory
Collect data
Form a hypothesis
A possible explanation to a problem that has not yet been tested.
data
theory
hypothesis
fact
Your teacher has asked you to explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative observations. Which statement is correct?
Quantitative observations use numbers, qualitative uses the senses.
Quantitative observations use the senses, qualitative uses numbers.
Quantitative observations use measurement, qualitative uses numbers.
Quantitative observations use colors, qualitative uses the senses.
Read each statement. Then choose whether the statement is an observation, inference, or prediction.
The container is filled to the 350 mL mark.
Observation
Inference
Prediction
In 6 months, it will be too hot to go outside.
What inference could be made about this picture?
The child is wearing mostly red
The child is cold
The child will play in the snow
What part of the scientific method is this an example of?
