GeoScience Videos Quiz for the Scientific Process
1. Which of these statements is a more accurate description about the relative roles of observations
and hypotheses in science?
a) Observations are only as good as the hypotheses on which they are based.
b) Hypotheses are only as good as the observations on which they are based.
2. Science provides answers to ethical dilemmas.
a) True
b) False
3. In the context of science, how would you classify the following statement?
“The continued use of fossil fuels will raise global temperatures.”
a) Prediction
b) Observation
4. Which is the best description of a scientific study?
a) A scientific study allows you to be able to explain something so that you are able to touch it and
see it. In science you have to see if it is true.
b) A scientific study involves making clear, unbiased observations. The opinions and personal
feelings or beliefs of the scientist have no effect on the outcome.
c) A scientific study involves making hypotheses, collecting data, and performing experiments or
testing claims, to reach a conclusion supported by evidence.
d) A scientific study uses mathematics to do calculations and generate graphs that can be used
closely to examine facts.
5. Read the three informal definitions of the term “science” that follow. All definitions include some
information that is relevant to science. On the basis of information presented in the video, place the
definitions in order and rank them from best to worst.
a) Science is our attempt to understand our world. It’s our knowledge about our existence as well
as our search for explanations and new discoveries.
b) Science is about building up our store of knowledge. The more information we have, the more
scientific our culture.
c) Science is about the process of collecting observations and data to better understand the world.
6. Write a one sentence explanation of the difference between data and interpretations.
Answer Key. 1. b); 2. b); 3. a); 4. c); 5. a),c),b); 6. Answers will vary.