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WorksheetsUnit 1: Nature of Science
Total questions: 39
Worksheet time: 29mins
Which of the following is a good scientific question?
How do star fish fall in love?
Are dragons lizards or birds?
Why do crickets chirp?
Does eating less fat increase a mouse's life span?
The scientific theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's crust is composed of many plates, or slabs of rock. Interactions of these plates have created different landforms, or geologic features. Which of the following statements provides evidence for this theory?
An iceberg buckles the hull of the Titanic and allows water to enter between the steel plates.
Fossilized marine creatures can be found at the top of the Himalayan Mountains.
The city of Pompeii is perfectly preserved under volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
A large earthquake off the coast of Japan induces a wave that is over twenty feet high.
Which of the following statements is true regarding scientific hypotheses?
Every hypothesis is valuable, whether or not it is testable.
There are no valuable hypotheses.
A testable hypothesis is valuable only if all evidence supports it.
A testable hypothesis is valuable, even if evidence shows that it is false.
A computer is an example of technology that is used in science. For what purpose are computers used?
communicating data
storing data
computation
all of these
A new governor decides to take a different approach to the state budget. The new governor creates several different plans that allow the people to vote on what portion of the budget should be spent on scientific research. This example shows how ______ can affect science.
ethics
politics
education
advertising
Scientific knowledge must be supported by evidence. An idea that is not supported by evidence but is made to appear scientific in order to make people think it is a part of science is called pseudoscience. Pseudoscience cannot be considered scientific because pseudoscientific ideas lack evidence. Which of the following ideas is considered scientific?
The way the stars are positioned can be read to know the future.
Bigfoot lives in the forest and travels around the U.S.
Genes are made up of DNA and affect how an organism looks.
Crop circles are made in fields by alien organisms.
8. Scientific knowledge is most useful when trying to understand ______.
the natural world
works of fiction
historical myths
personal opinions
In the 1990s, scientists used satellite images to locate a giant asteroid crater in the Gulf of America. The crater, named Chicxulub, was formed about 65 million years ago. After discovering the crater, scientists used computer programs to model the effects of the asteroid's impact on the planet. Why did scientists have to use a model in order to study the asteroid's effects?
The event occurred too long ago to study directly.
The impact of an asteroid is too abstract a concept for people to visualize without a model.
The event occurred too slowly to be studied in real time.
It would take several years to collect data about the event first hand.
Scientific inquiry includes many different types of activities and processes. When someone makes measurements using scientific tools, what part of the inquiry process are they performing?
evaluating data
collecting data
communicating evaluations
formulating questions
According to the scientific method, what should you do before you formulate a hypothesis?
Collect data.
Study the results.
Make observations and identify the problem.
Tell other scientists what you discovered.
Scientific knowledge can withstand the test of time because
scientific theories have been proven beyond doubt.
advancements in technology have no impact on science.
exceptions can be made regarding scientific laws.
it is open to change as new evidence or data is discovered.
In a controlled scientific experiment,
only one variable can be kept constant.
no variables are kept constant.
one or more variables are kept constant.
all variables are kept constant.
Shawn is planning a scientific experiment. He wants to learn whether time of day has an effect on how far the roses in his mother's garden are open. He plans to measure the diameter of each flower on three rosebushes every hour during a week in the spring.
What is the test variable (independent variable) in Shawn's experiment?
the number of flowers
the time of day
the time of year
the diameter of the flowers
Mario believes he has found the reason that some things glow in the dark while others do not. What is the most important thing he will need to do before his theory will be accepted by other scientists?
Develop an on-line survey so people can vote on the accuracy of his theory.
Develop tests and experiments that can be repeated to prove his theory.
Models can be used to obtain information about scientific processes and objects that may be difficult to study in real life. Which of the following scientific processes or objects would best be studied by using a model?
the formation of a solar system
the chemical composition of a protein
the effects of an antibiotic on a disease-causing bacterium
the growth pattern of a pea plant
Rulers, scales, and thermometers are all examples of technologies that are used in science. For what purpose are these technologies primarily used?
communicating data
graphing data
measuring data
storing data
What is a hypothesis?
a question that cannot be scientifically tested
a description of the steps involved in an experiment
a statement that summarizes the results of an experiment
a statement that can be tested through a scientific investigation
Once the evaluation is complete, what should be done with the evaluation?
The evaluation should be ignored.
The evaluation should be repeated until the results are perfect.
The evaluation should be shared with others.
The evaluation should be kept secret.
What should be done with scientific evidence?
It should be communicated to other scientists.
It should be used to refute scientific laws.
It should be hidden in a drawer.
It should be changed to better align with the scientist's original predictions.
Charles knows that adding salt to water causes the freezing point of water to be lowered, but he wants to know if rock salt affects the freezing point more than table salt. Charles performed an investigation in his classroom in which he measured the freezing point of 250 mL of water. He used this measurement as his control. Then, he dissolved equal amounts of rock salt and table salt in two identical 250 mL beakers of water. Finally, he measured the freezing points of each beaker of water, analyzed his results, and formed a conclusion. What type of investigation did Charles perform?
model-building
collection of specimens
observational field study
laboratory experiment
Shelly wants to know if hummingbirds prefer honey, sugar, or corn syrup. She creates three solutions of equal sweetness. One solution is made of honey and water; the second is sugar water, and the third is corn syrup and water. She places three hummingbird feeders side-by-side outside a window. To make sure she could tell them apart, she puts each solution in a different-colored feeder: one is red, one is yellow, and one is blue. Shelly spent a day collecting data by sitting in the chair and recording her observations about _______.
which solution the hummingbirds preferred
how many times the feeders needed to be refilled
the color of the feeders the hummingbirds liked best
the time of day the hummingbirds visited
The floor of the Atlantic Ocean is spreading slowly. It spreads at the rate of 1 to 10 centimeters per year. Why would it be useful for scientists to use a model in order to study the spreading of the Atlantic Ocean's floor?
The process occurred in the past but is no longer occurring.
It would take several years to collect the data about the process first hand.
The ocean is spreading on such a large scale that it cannot be measured with normal tools.
The spreading of the ocean is too abstract a concept for people to visualize without a model.
When more than one variable in an experiment is changed at a time, the scientist
needs to conduct more trials in order to get conclusive results.
made a systematic error that needs to be corrected.
cannot accurately measure both variables at the same time.
cannot tell which change produced the results.
Jay wants to know how the amount of acidity in rainwater influences the weathering rate of limestone. To answer his question, Jay performs an experiment in which he soaks identical pieces of limestone in 200 mL of different carbonic acid solutions. The pH of the solutions range from 3.0 to 5.5. After performing his experiment once, he reports his data and draws a conclusion. What can Jay do to improve the reliability and accuracy of his data?
He can repeat his experiment multiple times and ask someone else to replicate his experiment.
He can use different types of rocks but follow the same experimental procedure.
He can increase the volume of the carbonic acid solutions.
Corey's Science Experiment 1. Purpose: To determine the effect that completely burning a log has on the weight of the log and to calculate the amount of energy transferred in the process. 2. Corey selects a log for the project. 3. He completely burns the log in a controlled environment. 4. He collects all of the ashes and soot which remain after the burning is complete. 5. He weighs all of the remains and calculates the amount of weight and energy transferred in the burning. What is wrong with the steps of Corey's experiment?
He didn't set a time limit on how long he was going to let the log burn.
The log was going to completely burn; therefore, there wouldn't be any ashes left to measure.
He didn't have a partner there in order to verify the results.
He didn't measure the weight of the log before it was burned.
In one town, there are several natural gas drilling sites. Scientists warn town officials that the health of the people could be affected by the natural gas wells, so in an effort to protect its citizens, the town temporarily prevents builders from developing homes and businesses within two miles of the drill sites. This example demonstrates how science can be used to inform decision making at the ______ level.
international
state
community
national
28. Although science strives for objectivity by basing conclusions and explanations on data gathered during scientific investigations, some subjectivity still exists in science, since it is a ________.
human endeavor
mathematical process
mechanical system
random occurrence
What beneficial qualities exist in scientific processes, methods, and knowledge as a result of science being a human endeavor?
creativity and discovery
inaccuracies and errors
bias and favoritism
all of these
Joseph has hypothesized that sound travels in waves. If he were following the scientific method, what should he do next?
Test the hypothesis.
Tell other scientists about his hypothesis.
Study the results.
Ask a question.
Scientific inquiry includes many different activities. Which of the following is a process that is typically performed during a scientific inquiry?
formulating questions
evaluating data
constructing investigations
all of these
Shakita wants to know if the pH of an open can of soda changes over time. To test this, she designs an experiment that will involve the following steps. 1. Open a can of soda and measure the pH. 2. Allow the open soda can to rest undisturbed on a level countertop at room temperature. 3. Measure the pH of the open soda can every day at the same time for ten consecutive days. What is the outcome variable (dependent variable) in Shakita's experiment?
the pH of the soda
the number of days
the type of soda
the temperature of the room
Rick is a biologist who hypothesized that squid would swim faster in warm water than in cold water. Rick conducted his experiment. He discovered that squid swim at the same rate in warm and cold temperatures. What should Rick do next?
Report his findings.
Report that squid swim faster in warm water.
Change his hypothesis.
Throw away his experiment notes.
In which of the following ways can scientific knowledge change and grow?
experiments reaffirm the validity of a prevailing theory
a single experiment disproves a prevailing theory
a large number of experiments challenge a prevailing theory
a popular scientist states that a prevailing theory is not correct
Biological scientists use a variety of methods to gather evidence, or data. If a biologist gathers different species of snakes from a tropical region, what type of investigation did the biologist perform?
collection of specimens
laboratory experiment
model-building
observational field study
Scientific knowledge is based on evidence. Where do scientists acquire evidence?
from scientific theories
from reading popular magazines
from observations or experiments
from scientific hypotheses
Mei is studying birds. She studied the beaks of the two birds in the picture. Mei predicted that the bird on the left would eat mainly seeds. Which of the following is the best way to test her prediction?
Measure the exact size of both beaks.
Plan an experiment to test if all birds eat seeds.
Observe the birds in the wild to see what they eat.
Ask other students if they agree with her prediction.
A bird watcher records the movement of migrating birds. In which part of the scientific process is the bird-watcher participating?
controlling variables
experimenting
observing
hypothesizing
A prediction about a problem that can be tested is ____________________
variable
hypothesis
theory
law
