Assessing Claims and Evidence Answers

A science class tested ways to clean water after an oil spill. Each group of students was given 100 mL of vegetable oil, 100 mL of engine oil, and 800 mL of water in a rectangular plastic container. Each container also held five floating wooden cubes (5 cubic centimeters each) representing animals in the water. Each group was tasked with removing as much oil as possible in a 20 minute period, leaving “clean water” in the container, using whatever tools they brought to class. The results of the “clean-up” are presented in the table below.Group Vegetable oil removed (mL)Engine oil removed (mL)1102021101303604048070Based on the results above, which group’s data are obviously unreliable?

Read the passage about acupuncture. Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that uses wire-thin needles inserted by a trained practitioner into specific points in the body. This ancient form of pain relief and stimulation is said to benefit patients by blocking channels which practitioners claim allow pain to travel within the body. This practice became more widely recognized and used after a New York Times reporter wrote in 1971 of a positive experience with it after surgery. Those who doubt the effectiveness of this treatment for pain attribute the pain relief to a placebo effect: if a patient believes something will reduce their pain, they will experience some relief. The National Institutes of Health says that acupuncture relieves pain and reduces nausea and vomiting, although it is unclear how it works. The few adverse effects reported are due to improperly sterilized needles or improper delivery, making this still a fairly low risk option. For anyone considering acupuncture, they should first research its effectiveness for their specific condition.Summary of statements published by the National Institutes of HealthAfter reading the passage about acupuncture, identify which scientific claim explains why some people say acupuncture does not truly relieve pain.

Which is a reliable source of scientific information?

One way that scientists ensure that data are reliable is through

According to a recent encyclopedia entry about dog breeds, Labrador retrievers come in two specific breeds: English and American. The article cites six studies from several scientific journals about dog breeding showing that males of both breeds usually average 29-41 kg (65-90 lb) in weight, and females usually average 25-32 kg (55-70 lb) in weight. Anna’s female Labrador retriever weighs 38 kg (83 lb). What does Anna’s dog’s weight indicate about the reliability of this source?

A lightweight material is being tested for effectiveness in blocking ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun that cause skin to burn and possibly develop skin cancer. Which method would be most helpful for testing this material?

Shawna is very knowledgeable about cars. She subscribes to several different automobile magazines, has interviewed people who work on cars for a living, and has researched many types of cars. She started a blog with the information she has gathered. On her blog, she offers opinions about which cars are the best value for the money and which are the most difficult to repair. Which best describes the reliability of her work?

Read the passage below. It summarizes survey information.The Global Youth Tobacco Survey asks youth to fill in the answers to several questions about their tobacco use. In this survey conducted between 2000 and 2007, it was found that in youth ages 13-15, 12 percent of boys and 7 percent of girls reported smoking cigarettes. This information was shared and reported on the American Cancer Society website. The information was then used by several industries in the fields of health care, insurance, and education.What is a reason that these data may be unreliable?

Which source is the most reliable?

Some studies have shown that peppermint odor increases people’s mental sharpness, especially when they solve math problems. Which best describes how this could be a valid scientific claim?