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WorksheetsNature Of Science Unit Test
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Lois’s family raises potatoes and other crops on their farm in Florida. Lois wonders if too much water can damage a potato crop. In an experiment, she thoroughly soaks the soil beneath a few of the potato plants. Then, she compares their growth with the rest of the potato crop. What is the control group of the experiment?
the potato plants that have soaked soil
the potato plants that do not have soaked soil
all of the farm’s plants, except for the potato plants
the potato plants that are damaged by heavy rain
Mr. Arthur, the science teacher, says that adding salt or sugar can make a pot of water boil at a higher temperature. Matt and Karen decide to investigate this claim. With the teacher’s supervision, Matt and Karen prepare mixtures of water with salt or sugar, boil the mixtures on a hot plate, and use a digital thermometer to measure the temperature of the boiling mixture.
The data table shows their results.
When Mr. Arthur reviews the data, he suggests that an error occurred during one of the trials. Which trial most likely was performed incorrectly?
Trial 1
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 6
Declan and Rachel are investigating the speeds that golf balls roll across different surfaces, such as long grass, short grass, concrete, and sand. Declan plans an experimental investigation. Rachel plans a descriptive investigation at a golf course. Rachel’s investigation will not include an experiment. Which is a difference between the two investigations?
Only Rachel will be observing golf balls.
Only Declan will observe golf balls on different surfaces.
Only Rachel will be reporting her observations.
Only Declan will test a hypothesis with variables and controls.
Marni is planning an investigation of the insect pests that damage Florida citrus trees. Which of these actions must be included in any useful investigation of these insects?
observing the insects, either in a laboratory or outdoors
stating a hypothesis about the insects
identifying a variable and controls for an experiment
proposing a way to prevent damage to citrus trees
Alden and Jhonna are investigating a new spray for removing stains from clothes. They explain that the spray changes many stains so they can dissolve in warm, soapy water, but the process can also damage the fibers in clothes. To provide the strongest support for this explanation, what should the report of their investigation include?
a list of the ingredients in the new spray
a comparison of the new spray to other stain-removing products
a recommendation for the amount of spray to use on a stain
photographs of clothes both before and after they were treated with the spray
Savon and Julia read that a cylinder-shaped table leg can hold more weight than a leg with edges. To investigate this claim, they test table legs made of cardboard in a variety of shapes. They add weight to the table until it collapses. What is the benefit of repeating these tests several times?
Repeated tests might identify the strongest possible shape for a table leg.
Repeated tests might identify the ideal number of legs for a table.
Repeated tests could help show that the results are accurate and useful.
Repeated tests could measure the effect of other variables, such as the material of the leg
Manuel and Oliver are discussing the solar system. Manuel says that life might exist on Enceladus, a small moon of Saturn. What is the most useful way for Oliver to evaluate this claim?
Design an experimental investigation to conduct at school.
Read a book about school children who explore outer space.
Research Enceladus on the website for NASA, the government agency that explores space.
Ask other friends if they have heard about Enceladus and life that might exist there.
Professor Claypool, an astronomer, is the director of an observatory in Florida. The professor’s team has just completed an investigation of distant objects of the solar system. In their report, the team claims to have discovered a new comet. Who should be able to observe the comet?
only Professor Claypool
only Professor Claypool and other members of the team
any scientist who is interested in comets
any scientist who can follow the team’s procedure
Sandra visits a Florida farm that raises silkies, a breed of chicken. Sandra did not know that chickens have breeds, just as dogs and cattle have breeds. Which is the best way that Sandra could learn more about chicken breeds?
Visit the website of a restaurant that serves chicken
Try to hatch chicken eggs that are bought from the supermarket.
Visit a gardening center that keeps a rooster as a mascot.
Read a book about chicken breeds from the school library.
Sabina and Max have been investigating rainbows. They observe many examples of rainbows in the sky. They also observe photographs of rainbows that others have taken. They include this paragraph in their report.
All of the rainbows were beautiful! They always had the same colors in the same order. The bands also had the same shape, which is a section of a circle. Does the paragraph include observations, opinions, or both?
The paragraph includes observations only.
The paragraph includes opinions only.
The paragraph begins with an opinion and then presents observations only.
The paragraph mixes observations and opinions in every sentence.
Shira is investigating how animals lived in Earth’s distant past. In her report, she claims that giraffes once lived on the plains of North America. How could Shira best support this claim?
Shira could draw a picture of giraffes finding food on plains.
Shira could name the friends and classmates who agree with her claim
Shira could explain how giraffes might have traveled between North America and Africa.
Shira could identify fossils of giraffes, such as their bones or teeth, that were discovered in North America
In the 1980s, two Australian doctors were investigating stomach ulcers. After several experiments, they concluded that ulcers were caused by a strain of bacteria. This conclusion surprised other doctors around the world. Which provided the strongest evidence in support of the conclusion?
The doctors published advertisements that announced the conclusion in science journals.
Other doctors repeated the experiments, and the results were the same.
Doctors studied a model of the stomach and how bacteria formed ulcers.
Doctors discovered that bacteria cause other diseases and damage to the body.
Observe the rock shown here.
A scientist states that the rock split apart because water froze inside it. Which observation provides the strongest evidence for this explanation?
Water expands, or becomes larger, as it freezes into ice.
Water can dissolve some of the minerals that make up a rock
In cold weather, water may fall from the sky as snow.
When the weather becomes warmer, snow and ice melt into liquid water
Emily and her team are planning to investigate the soil near their school. Which of these steps should they plan to include in the investigation, regardless of the questions or tests they choose?
Decide the type of plants that would grow best in the soil.
Add water to dry soil to encourage the growth of plants.
Observe the soil throughout the investigation and record all observations.
Select a conclusion for the investigation and a method of reaching it.
Brendan is studying the earthworms shown in the photo.
Brendan wonders how earthworms are able to move underground, without any hands or feet. How can Brendan use science to determine how earthworms move underground? Select the words that complete the sentence. Brendan can learn about earthworms by
conducting an investigation
talking about earthworms
thinking about earthworms
Sally wants to learn more about how ice melts. She writes these steps for an investigation: 1. Get two ice cubes. They should be the same size and shape. 2. Wrap one ice cube in a thick towel. Leave the second ice cube unwrapped. 3. Place the ice cubes into a large bowl. Time how long each ice cube takes to melt.
Who can follow these steps and get useful results?
Only Sally can follow the steps of the investigation.
Only the science teacher can follow the steps of the investigation.
Only adults who work as scientists can follow the steps of the investigation.
Anyone can follow the steps of the investigation
Eduardo and Sophia visit a science museum to learn about dinosaurs. They observe many exhibits, including the model dinosaur shown here.
How does the model dinosaur compare with a real dinosaur?
The model is a real dinosaur. They are exactly the same.
The model looks like a real dinosaur, but the model is not alive.
The model looks like a real dinosaur, and both moves and acts in the same way.
The model does not look like a real dinosaur. The model is not useful in science.
The science class is studying Earth and space. The photo shows a student conducting an investigation of the solar system.
What tool is the student using?
diagram
model
photograph
Sabina and Jules are curious about the palm trees that grow in their neighborhood. The science teacher suggests that Sabina and Jules work together to investigate palm trees. What should the students expect to do during their investigation?
Ask friends for their opinions of palm trees.
Ask questions about palm trees, and then look for answers.
Write stories about people and palm trees.
Decide on new places to grow palm trees.
Belinda’s team is working on an investigation of the natural resources used in their community. When should team members talk to one another about the investigation?
only when they are planning the investigation
only when they are conducting the steps of the investigation
only at the end of the investigation, when they are discussing the conclusion
throughout the investigation, at all stages
