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?

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?

Which is a reliable source of scientific information?

One way that scientists ensure that data are reliable is through

Which source is the most reliable?

Read the passage below 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 HealthWhich statement best explains the scientific claim about how acupuncture treatment reduces pain?

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Which statement best describes a valid scientific claim?

Which factor is found in a scientific claim?

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?