Unit Test Answers

Alyssa observed a flock of small birds in her yard. The birds visited a pair of feeders that her parents put out for them and splashed in the birdbath. Which question is a nonscientific question that she might ask about the birds?

After examining an experimental procedure, Amir noticed that there was an error in the experimental design. He should

The Florida Everglades are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the United States and are home to many species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Recently, scientists have investigated and determined that the population of pythons, which are from Asia, has increased greatly. What question is least likely to be asked based on these results?

Which equipment is best to hold and to measure liquids?

Why have improvements in microscopes over time resulted in revisions in the cell theory?

A scientist agrees with the scientific consensus that dinosaurs had scaly skin. Then he discovers a new fossil that indicates a dinosaur had feathers. The scientist refuses to consider the new evidence because it does not agree with the accepted ideas. The scientist is

All theories are hypotheses, but not all hypotheses are theories. Francis wants to know if a specific hypothesis he is researching is a theory. Which describes how Francis would know the hypothesis is a theory?

Studying the folding patterns of protein molecules can help microbiologists better understand cellular processes as well as some diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, that are caused by proteins that have misfolded. The folding of these complicated molecules can be simulated on computers, but it takes a lot of processor power and time for even expensive supercomputers to do this. A group of researchers at Stanford University developed software that can be used to distribute the processing of data to anyone who is willing to donate time on their idle personal computers. As a result, the researchers have been able to achieve protein-folding simulations that are far better than those other computing methods have done. Which statement best describes the work of these researchers?

A researcher finds that white bread contains more preservatives and has a higher moisture content than wheat bread. She designs a test to determine whether the type of bread, white or wheat, affects the amount of mold growth. What must be done for the researcher to accurately measure the dependent variable?

The independent variable is the only factor that a scientist

What would most likely be included in the “Analysis” section of a lab report?

A biology class is studying the effect of temperature on the amount of growth of duckweed in an aquarium. What type of data will the class need to collect, and which tools will most likely be used?

Living plants may be valuable additions to science classrooms. Which is the most important safety consideration when planning to grow plants in a classroom?

A teacher gave the lab group shown below an “unsafe practice” warning.What is most likely the basis for the teacher’s warning?

A student conducted an experiment to test whether talking to plants would help them to grow faster. He set up the following two groups:Group 1: spoken to and hand watered Group 2: not spoken to and watered with sprinklers After three weeks, the plants in Group 1 showed much more growth than those in Group 2. Based on the results of this experiment, which is the best conclusion?

A student does an experiment for a science fair to study whether temperature affects the timing of a cricket’s chirps. The student keeps a cricket in an enclosed box that is heated to different temperatures each day for twelve days. The student records the cricket’s chirps by using a sound-activated microphone so that the timing of the chirps can be measured. The student records the results of the experiment in the table below.Day123456789101112Temperature (ºC)212223242526272829303132Average time between chirps (sec)2.52.62.22.32.01.81.91.81.41.21.51.1Which generalization can be made from the data in the table?

Scientists once believed that Tyrannosaurus rex dragged its tail along the ground. Today, they know that T. rex did not drag its tail but held it aloft, above the ground. This change in scientific consensus happened because

Lakesha was culturing bacteria. She used aseptic technique to make sure there was no contamination. When she was finished, she used water to clean the surface of her table. She then put the sample in the incubator, removed her gloves, and washed her hands with soap and water. Which error did Lakesha make in her process?

Which statement best explains why the development of a new area of science can lead to changes in a theory?

Examine the following list of questions.1. Why are kids afraid of ghosts?2. Should I feed the raccoons that visit my trash can?3. How does mouse color affect mouse survival?4. Does a mother duck love her babies?Which statement correctly identifies the scientific question and describes why the question is scientific?

The classification system for organisms has changed from seven levels to eight. This happened because

An experiment is performed to test the effect of three different types of water on the growth of a plant. The test is done by using tap water, distilled water, and carbonated water. Choose the statement below that describes the tap water in this experiment.

Take a look at the statement below:Fish meal is better than artificial fertilizers.How could this statement be revised to make it a hypothesis?

To test the effectiveness of a new nutrient supplement, one group of identical mice is given the supplement, and the other group is not given anything. Which is the most complete list of the parts of an experiment presented in this scenario?

Density is mass per unit of volume. Which pair of lab instruments would a student use to measure the density of seawater?