A scientist walking by a pristine stream,and then a polluted pond below a mill,observes that fish are present in the stream but not in the pond.The scientist then says,"polluted water kills fish." This statement is an example of
A) an evaluation of experiment results.
B) scientific inquiry.
C) quantifiable data.
D) a hypothesis.
E) a fact.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scientist's statement, "polluted water kills fish," is a hypothesis because it proposes a cause and effect relationship between polluted water and the absence of fish in the pond. The scientist has not yet tested this hypothesis or collected any quantifiable data to support it.

A Scientist Walking by a Pristine Stream,and Then a Polluted