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 - (j) ({)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 0.20 ::J cr, -S c 0.15 Q '§ 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
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