The Nature of Science
Practice Test
1.
A(n) __________ is an explanation that is based on the results of repeated experiments.
a.
hypothesis
b.
control
c.
law
d.
theory
2.
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.
0.03 x 10
3
b.
30 x 10
-3
c.
3 x 10
2
d.
3 x 10
-2
3.
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.
mass
b.
product versus time
c.
weight
d.
time
4.
Which of the following is not a specialized area of Earth science.
a.
astronomy
b.
geology
c.
meteorology
d.
biology
5.
What is the general composition of Earth's continental crust?
a.
schist
b.
basalt
c.
gabbro
d.
granite
6.
Which temperature scale is the standard in SI?
a.
the Celsius scale
b.
the Kelvin scale
c.
the Fahrenheit scale
d.
the absolute zero scale
7.
What is the standard SI unit of weight?
a.
newton
b.
ounce
c.
pound
d.
gram
8.
Graphs and charts of data can be used for __________.
a.
deciding on a control
b.
data analysis
c.
testing the independent variable
d.
formation of a hypothesis
9.
A __________ studies groundwater and surface water.
a.
meteorologist
b.
climatologist
c.
hydrologist
d.
geochemist
10.
How is 100 000 000 written in scientific notation?
a.
1 x 10
-8
b.
1 x 100 000 000
c.
1 x 10
8
d.
1 x 100
8
11.
What is the standard SI unit for measuring length?
a.
liter
b.
foot
c.
meter
d.
mile
12.
Climatology is most closely related to which field?
a.
meteorology
b.
geology
c.
oceanography
d.
astronomy
13.
What is a hypothesis?
a.
A hypothesis is the answer to a scientific question.
b.
A hypothesis is the first step of the scientific method.
c.
A hypothesis is a suggested explanation of an observation.
d.
A hypothesis is the same as identifying the problem in the scientific method.
14.
What is the general composition of Earth's oceanic crust?
a.
basalt
b.
gneiss
c.
shale
d.
granite
15.
What is the best method to show a change in volume over time?
a.
model
b.
graph
c.
theory
d.
law
16.
In an experiment, the results show a conclusion contrary to the hypothesis. What does this mean?
a.
The control was not done properly.
b.
The experiment was bad.
c.
The analysis was incorrect.
d.
The hypothesis must be reevluated.
17.
A scientist using a device shown in Figure 1 studies which earth system?
a.
biosphere
b.
hydrophere
c.
lithosphere
d.
atmosphere
18.
What explains the behavior of natural phenomena?
a.
theories
b.
dependent variables
c.
scientific laws
d.
experiments
19.
What is the partially molten layer of Earth called?
a.
the asthenosphere
b.
the biosphere
c.
the lithosphere
d.
the hydrosphere
