C. use more than one variable in the
experiment
D. test as large a sample size as possible
Chapter 1 Review
Multiple Choice
1. Dr. Jones met a man who had been bitten by
venomous snakes several times over many
years, yet he was not sick. The doctor thinks
that something produced in the man's blood
protects him from harmful effects of the poison. This idea, or possible ans\ver to a scientific question, is called a (an)
A. hypothesis
C. observation
B. inference
D. theory
2. A student placed slices of moist bread in a
closed cupboard and noticed that mold gre\v
faster on them than on slices of moist bread
left out on a counter. The one difference in
this experiment-the presence or absence of
light-is called the
C. control
A. theory
D.
variable
B. hypothesis
8. A researcher is reviewing another scientist's
experiment and conclusions. The reviewer
would most likely consider the experiment
invalid if
A. the sample size produced a great deal of
data
B. other individuals are able to duplicate the
results
C. it has conclusions that are not explained
by the evidence
D. the hypothesis was not supported by the
data obtained
9. An experimental setup is shown in the diagram belmv. Which hypothesis would most
likely be tested using this setup?
-§§j
Constant
~
3. A logical explanation of natural phenomena
that is supported by scientific observations
and experiments is called a (an)
A. hypothesis
C. factor
B. inference
D. theory
6. The scientific method is
A. a way of posing a research question
only
B. used to organize data that is already
known
C. an organized approach to problem
solving
D. used by all scientists in an identical way
7. The best way to be sure that your experimental results are valid is to
A. ignore information from other sources
B. conduct your experiment one time only
light for
24 hours
F-c~ ~~
4. A student wants to test how much water is
necessary to produce the most bread mold.
She kept one slice of bread dry while using
varying amounts of water on other slices. The
dry bread in this experiment is called a
A. hypothesis
C. observation
B. control
D. theory
5. The number of organisms that are tested in
an experiment is called the
A. variable size
C. sample size
B. controlled size
D. experimental factor
__
Setup with light
Setup without light
A. Water plants release a gas in the presence
of light.
B. Roots of plants absorb minerals in the absence of light.
C. Green plants need light for cell division.
D. Plants grow best in the absence of light.
10. Which statement best describes a scientific
theory?
A. It is a collection of data designed to provide support for a prediction.
B. It is an educated guess that can be tested
by experimentation.
C. It is a scientific fact that no longer requires any evidence to support it.
D. It is a general statement that is supported
by many scientific observations.
11.
An experiment was carried out to determine
which mouthwash was most effective against
bacteria commonly found in the mouth. Four
paper discs (A through D) were each dipped
Chapter 1 The Scientific Method and Inquiry
19
into a different brand of mouthwash. The
discs were then placed onto the surface of a
culture plate that contained food, moisture,
and bacteria commonly found in the mouth.
The diagram below shows the grow1h of bacteria on the plate after 24 hours. Which
change in procedure would have improved
the experiment?
Bacteria
Zone
of no
bacteria
A. using a smaller plate with less food and
moisture
B. using bacteria from many habitats other
than the mouth
C. using the same size paper discs for each
mouthwash
D. using the same type of mouthwash on
each disc
12. Which source would provide the most reli-
able information for use in a research proj ect
investigating the effects of antibiotics on
disease-causing bacteria?
A. the local news section of a newspaper
from 1993
B. a news program on national television
about antigens produced by various
plants
C. a current professional science journal article on the control of pathogens
D. an article in a weekly news magazine
about reproduction in pathogens
a certain enzyme. Which would be the least
appropriate first step to take?
A. doing research in a library or on the
Internet
B. having discussions with other scientists
C. completing a data table of expected
results
D. using what is already known about the
enzyme
15. Which statement best describes the term
rheol)' as used when describing a scientific
theory?
A. A theory is never revised even when new
scientific evidence is presented.
B. A theory is an assumption made by scientists and implies a lack of certainty.
C. A theory is a scientific explanation that is
supported by a variety of experimental
data.
D. A theory is a hypothesis that has been
supported by one experiment only.
16. The analysis of data gathered during a partic-
ular experiment is necessary in order to
A. formulate a hypothesis for that
experiment
B. develop a research plan for that
experiment
C. design a control group for that
experiment
D. draw a valid conclusion for that
experiment
17. When starch is digested, it is broken down
into smaller sugar units. The graph below
represents data obtained from an experiment
on starch digestion. Which statement best
describes point A and point B on the graph?
13. Researchers performing a well-designed ex-
periment should base their conclusions on
A. the original hypothesis of the experiment
B. data from repeated trials of the
experiment
C. a small sample size to ensure valid results
ofthe experiment
D. results predicted before performing the
experiment
14. A scientist is planning to carry out an experiment on the effect of heat on the function of
20
Preparing for the New Jersey Biology EOe Test
c
Q
.cro
U ~
~c
-
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({)UC
o
U
B
Time
A. The concentration of sugars is greater at
point A than it is at point B.
B. The concentration of sugars is greater at
point B than it is at point A.
C. The starch concentration is the same at
point A as it is at point B.
D. The starch concentration is greater at
point B than it is at point A.
18. A great deal of information can now be obtained about the future health of people by
examining the genetic makeup of their cells.
There are concerns that this information
could be used to deny an individual health insurance or employment. These concerns best
illustrate that
A. scientific explanations depend upon evidence collected from a single source
B. scientific inquiry involves the collection
of information from a large number of
sources
C. acquiring too much knowledge in human
genetics will discourage future research
in that area
D. while science provides knowledge, values
are essential to making ethical decisions
when using this knowledge
19. A biologist reported success in breeding a
tiger with a lion, producing healthy fertile
offspring. Other biologists will accept this
report as fact only if
A. research shows that other animals can be
crossbred
B. the offspring are given a new scientific
name
C. the biologist included a control in the
experiment
D. they can repeat the experiment and get
the same results
20. Why do scientists consider any hypothesis
valuable to research?
A. A hypothesis requires no further
investigation.
B. A hypothesis may lead to further research
even if it is disproved by the experiment.
C. A hypothesis requires no further investigation if it is proved by the experiment.
D. A hypothesis can be used to explain a
conclusion even if it is disproved by the
experiment.
Analysis and Open Ended
~ 1.
Describe the basic steps of the scientific
method in the sequence that they should be
used.
22. Define and distinguish between the terms
h}pothesis and theory.
23. Why is the development of a research plan
necessary before testing a hypothesis?
24. Why is a clear statement of a hypothesis very
important to the experiment that will follow?
25. Describe three \vays in which a scientist can
collect and organize data.
26. Why is it so difficult for the results of one ex-
periment to become a theory? Explain.
27. Compounds containing phosphorus that are
dumped into the environment can upset local
ecosystems because phosphorus acts as a fertilizer. The graph below shows measurements
of phosphorus concentrations at two sites
taken during the month of June, from 1991 to
1997.
Phosphorus Concentrations
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cr,
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c
0.15
Q
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E
(j)
g 0.10
o
o
Cf!
co
o
£
55-
o
0.05
Key
Site 1 ---[}-
£
0...
Site2_
0.00
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Year
Which statement represents a valid inference
based on information in the graph?
A. There \vas a decrease in the amount of
phosphorus dumped at Site 2 from 1991
to 1997.
B. Pollution controls may have been put into
effect at Site 1 starting in 1995.
C. There \vas most likely no vegetation present near Site 2 from 1993 to 1994.
D. There was a greater variation in phosphorus concentration at Site 1 than at Site 2.
28. The concentration of salt in water affects the
hatching of brine shrimp eggs. Brine shrimp
eggs will develop and hatch at room temperature in glass containers of salt solution. Describe a controlled experiment using three
separate experimental groups that could be
Chapter 1 The Scientific Method and lnquiry
21
used to determine the best concentration of
Plant
Type to hatch brine shrimp
Utricularia
salt solutionPo
in
Elodea
tamwhich
ogetol1
eggs. Your answer must include:
Green
2611
5Blue
98
48
47
39
63
28
35
Light
Light
Average Yellow
Number
of Bubbles in 30 Seconds
Red
• a description of how the control group and
each of the three experimental groups will
be different;
• two conditions that must be kept constant
in the control group and the experimental
groups;
• what data should be collected, and hmv
often;
• one sample of experimental results that
would indicate the best concentration of
salt solution in which to hatch brine
shrimp eggs.
29. A student hypothesized that lettuce seeds
would not sprout (germinate) unless they
were placed in the dark. The student planted
10 lettuce seeds in soil that was kept in the
dark and planted another 10 lettuce seeds in
soil that was exposed to the light. The data
collected are shown in the table below.
Experimental
Conditions
Seeds in soil kept in the dark
Seeds in soil exposed to light
Number of Seeds
Germinated
9
8
One way to improve the reliability of these
results would be to
A. conclude that darkness is necessary for
lettuce seed germination
B. conclude that light is necessary for lettuce seed germination
C. revise the hypothesis
D. repeat the experiment
30. To determine which colors of light are best
used by plants for photosynthesis, three types
of underwater plants of similar mass were
subjected to the same intensity of light of different colors for the same period of time. All
other environmental conditions were kept the
same. After 15 minutes of exposure to light, a
video camera was used to record the number
of gas bubbles each plant gave off (due to
photosynthesis) in a 30-second time period.
Each type of plant was tested six times. The
average of the data for each plant type is
shown in the following table.
22
Preparing for the New Jersey Biology EOC Test
Wbich statement is a valid inference based
on the data?
A. Each plant carried on photosynthesis best
in a different color of light.
B. Red light is better for carrying on photosynthesis than blue light is.
C. Each plant carried on photosynthesis best
in red light and blue light.
D. Water probably filters out the red light
and the green light.
31.
A certain plant that usually grows in slightly
basic soil produces flowers with white petals.
Sometimes the same plant species produces
flowers with red petals. A company that sells
the plant wants to know if soil pH affects the
color of the petals in this plant. Design a
controlled experiment to determine if soil pH
affects petal color. In your experimental design be sure to:
• state the hypothesis to be tested in the
experiment;
• state one way the control group will be
treated differently from the experimental
group;
• identify two factors that must be kept the
same in both the control and the experimental group;
• state one piece of evidence that would support your hypothesis.
32. A researcher conducts an experiment on corn
seedlings and uses the results to make predictions and conclusions about all plants. Explain the researcher's error in using the
results in this way.
33. Wby is it important for a scientist to include
all the steps that he or she used to conduct an
experiment when writing the research report
for other scientists to read?
Reading Comprehension
Base your answers to questions 34 to 36 on the information belmv and on your knoH'ledge of biology.
Use one or more complete sentences to anSlver each question,
The main purpose of science is to look at events, occurrences, and patterns in nature
and develop explanations for them. These explanations can always be changed as
new observations are made and new evidence is found. A possible explanation of a
natural event or pattern is called a hypothesis. Charles Darwin, in his own words,
showed why he was a true scientist:
"From my early youth I have had the strongest desire to understand or explain
whatever I observed-that
is, to group all facts under some general laws. I have
steadily endeavored to keep my mind free, so as to give up any hypothesis, however
much beloved (and I cannot resist forming one on every subject), as soon as facts are
shown to be opposed to it. I followed a golden rule that whenever a published fact,
a new observation or thought came across me, which was opposed to my general results, to make a memorandum of it without fail and at once. During some part of the
day I wrote my Journal, and took much pains in describing carefully and vividly all
that I had seen; and this was good practice, .. and this habit of mind was continued
during the five years of the voyage. I feel sure that it \vas this training which has enabled me to do whatever I have done in science."
On the voyage of the Beagle, Darwin saw seeds that had washed ashore on a
small island near Australia. He wondered whether seeds could travel long distances
in the ocean and still be able to grow. Back in England, he enthusiastically filled his
home with bottles of seawater. Darwin soaked many different kinds of seeds in the
salty water, for short and long periods of time, He used a variety of crop seeds-such
as cabbage seeds, lettuce seeds, and celery seeds-23 kinds in all. He then tried to
grow them in soil. Darwin's experiments showed exactly what the scientific method
is: State the problem; collect information; form a hypothesis; perform an experiment; record observations and data; draw a conclusion; and share your results.
34. When does a scientist find it necessary to change a hypothesis?
35. Why did Charles Darwin keep a journal?
36. Describe how Darwin followed each of the steps of the scientific method in his experiment with
seeds and salt water.
Chapter 1 ..The Scientific Method and Inquiry
23