The Nature of Science
Practice Test
1.
What is a hypothesis?
a.
A hypothesis is a suggested explanation of an observation.
b.
A hypothesis is the answer to a scientific question.
c.
A hypothesis is the first step of the scientific method.
d.
A hypothesis is the same as identifying the problem in the scientific method.
2.
What part of an experiment is used to show that results are due to the condition being tested?
a.
control
b.
independent variable
c.
dependent variable
d.
hypothesis
3.
How would the values in the "Percent Carbon Dioxide" column in Figure 2 be presented in scientific notation?
Experiment 1
Experiment 2
Percent
Oxygen
Percent
Carbon
Dioxide
Percent
Nitrogen
Growth
Rate
(mm/day)
Percent
Oxygen
Percent
Carbon
Dioxide
Percent
Nitrogen
Growth
Rate
(mm/day)
1
0.03
98.97
10
21
1
78
15
10
0.03
89.97
11
21
10
69
25
20
0.03
79.97
10
21
20
59
35
30
0.03
69.97
12
21
30
49
43
40
0.03
59.97
11
21
40
39
44
50
0.03
49.97
10
21
50
29
44
a.
3 x 10
-2
b.
0.03 x 10
3
c.
3 x 10
2
d.
30 x 10
-3
4.
A __________ studies groundwater and surface water.
a.
hydrologist
b.
climatologist
c.
meteorologist
d.
geochemist
5.
A __________ is a simplified version of a system.
a.
model
b.
chart
c.
theory
d.
hypothesis
6.
What explains the behavior of natural phenomena?
a.
scientific laws
b.
experiments
c.
dependent variables
d.
theories
7.
What type of scientist studies ocean currents and ocean chemistry?
a.
an astronomer
b.
a meteorologist
c.
an oceanographer
d.
a geologist
8.
A scientist using a device shown in Figure 1 studies which earth system?
a.
biosphere
b.
lithosphere
c.
hydrophere
d.
atmosphere
9.
What is the standard SI unit for measuring length?
a.
meter
b.
liter
c.
foot
d.
mile
10.
What is the dependent variable in the graph in Figure 3?
Time (s)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Mass of product (g)
1.5
3.2
4.3
6.0
7.7
9.2
10.4
12.1
a.
product versus time
b.
mass
c.
time
d.
weight
11.
A(n) __________ is an explanation that is based on the results of repeated experiments.
a.
control
b.
hypothesis
c.
law
d.
theory
12.
Graphs and charts of data can be used for __________.
a.
testing the independent variable
b.
data analysis
c.
formation of a hypothesis
d.
deciding on a control
13.
What is the general composition of Earth's oceanic crust?
a.
basalt
b.
shale
c.
granite
d.
gneiss
14.
What is the partially molten layer of Earth called?
a.
the asthenosphere
b.
the biosphere
c.
the hydrosphere
d.
the lithosphere
15.
What is the best method to show a change in volume over time?
a.
law
b.
theory
c.
graph
d.
model
