Question 1

A carefully formulated scientific explanation that is based on extensive observations and is in accord with scientific principles is called a
A) control.
B) theory.
C) postulate.
D) fact.
E) hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

A theory in science is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

Question 2

We use the scientific method every day. Imagine that your car doesnʹt start one morning before school. Which of these is a reasonable hypothesis regarding the problem?
A) Iʹm going to be late.
B) I should add a quart of oil.
C) If I put gas in my car, it will start.
D) I should check whether the lights were left on and drained the battery.
E) I should change the battery or the starter.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a testable statement that can be investigated. "If I put gas in my car, it will start" is a reasonable hypothesis because it suggests a specific action that can be tested to see if it resolves the problem.

Question 3

Which of the following is FALSE about scientific theories?
A) They are developed by inductive reasoning.
B) They can be either supported or modified by new observations.
C) They are used to support observations using deductive reasoning.
D) They have been thoroughly tested.
E) They are firmly established and cannot be refuted.

Accepted Answer

Scientific theories, contrary to choice E, are not immune to refutation. They are subject to revision or rejection in light of new evidence or more comprehensive theories, making the scientific process inherently open-ended and self-correcting.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a natural cause?
A) Maggots appear spontaneously on rotting meat.
B) If you sneeze, you will die.
C) Epilepsy is a disease caused by uncontrolled firing of nerve cells in the brain.
D) Mice arise from discarded garbage.

Accepted Answer

C is correct because epilepsy is indeed a natural cause, resulting from the uncontrolled firing of nerve cells in the brain, which is a well-documented medical condition. Choices A, B, and D are based on outdated or superstitious beliefs, not on natural causes or scientific understanding.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is a hypothesis rather than a theory?
A) Matter is composed of atoms.
B) Female birds prefer to mate with male birds that have longer tails.
C) Modern organisms descended from preexisting life-forms.
D) Living things are made of cells.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, often based on limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. Statement B, "Female birds prefer to mate with male birds that have longer tails," is a hypothesis because it suggests a specific, testable prediction about behavior in birds. The other options (A, C, and D) describe well-established scientific theories supported by a wide range of evidence.

Question 6

Which of the following is TRUE regarding faith-based beliefs and scientific theories?
A) Faith-based beliefs can become scientific theories.
B) Scientific theories are not modifiable, but faith-based beliefs are.
C) Any and all faith-based beliefs can be disproven, but scientific theories cannot.
D) Both faith-based beliefs and scientific theories can be proven.
E) Any and all scientific theories can be disproven, but faith-based beliefs cannot.

Accepted Answer

Scientific theories are based on empirical evidence and can be disproven with new evidence, while faith-based beliefs are not subject to empirical testing and cannot be disproven in the same way.

Question 7

The scientific method includes all of the following EXCEPT
A) experimentation.
B) conclusions.
C) an observation.
D) a hypothesis.
E) a testable theory.

Accepted Answer

A testable theory is actually a result of the scientific method, not a component of it. The scientific method involves making observations, forming a hypothesis, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions. A theory is developed after repeated validation of a hypothesis through experimentation and analysis.

Question 8

Imagine that 1 milliliter of an experimental drug diluted in a saline solution is injected into 20 pregnant mice to determine possible side effects. Which of the following is a suitable control for this experiment?
A) 20 pregnant mice injected with 1 milliliter of saline
B) 20 male mice injected with 1 milliliter of the drug
C) 20 non-pregnant mice injected with 1 milliliter of the drug
D) 20 pregnant mice injected with 2 milliliters of the drug
E) 20 male mice injected with 1 milliliter of saline

Accepted Answer

A suitable control for this experiment would be 20 pregnant mice injected with 1 milliliter of saline. This control group would help isolate the effects of the drug by comparing it to a group that receives a treatment identical in every way except for the presence of the experimental drug.

Question 9

Which of the following levels of organization is the most inclusive (i.e., includes the most life-forms)?
A) Community
B) Population
C) Ecosystem
D) Species
E) Biosphere

Accepted Answer

The biosphere is the most inclusive level of organization, encompassing all ecosystems on Earth and therefore all life-forms.

Question 10

Alexander Fleming observed a colony of mold that inhibited the growth of nearby bacteria. What was the hypothesis proposed by Fleming to explain this result?
A) The bacteria changed their DNA when growing near the mold.
B) The mold used all of the nutrients so that the bacteria couldnʹt grow.
C) The mold produced a substance that killed nearby bacteria.
D) The mold was dead.

Accepted Answer

Fleming hypothesized that the mold produced a substance that killed nearby bacteria, leading to the discovery of penicillin, the first true antibiotic.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?
A) Living objects are composed of cells.
B) Atoms make up molecules, which make up cells, which make up tissues.
C) All objects on Earth will fall down when dropped, and none will ʺfall up.ʺ
D) If an object exhibits all the characteristics of life, it must be living.

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. In this case, the statement "If an object exhibits all the characteristics of life, it must be living" is a clear example of deductive reasoning, as it applies a general principle to a specific case to draw a conclusion.

Question 12

All of the following are features of the scientific method EXCEPT
A) hypothesis formulation.
B) supernatural causes.
C) observation and experimentation.
D) repeatable by other scientists.
E) deductive reasoning.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method relies on natural explanations for phenomena, not supernatural causes. It involves observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and the results must be repeatable by others, using logical and deductive reasoning. Supernatural explanations fall outside the scope of scientific inquiry.

Question 13

Suppose you are testing a treatment for AIDS patients and find that 75% respond well, whereas 25% show no improvement or a decline in health. You should
A) review the results, modify the drug or the dosage, and repeat the experiment.
B) conclude that only 75% of AIDS patients should be treated.
C) begin work on developing a new drug.
D) discontinue experimentation with this treatment because 25% of patients did not improve.
E) conclude that you have proven the effectiveness of the drug.

Accepted Answer

The results indicate that the treatment is effective for a significant portion of patients, but not all. Reviewing and modifying the treatment could improve its effectiveness for a larger percentage of patients.

Question 14

Which is the correct sequence of increasing organization?
A) Cell, tissue, organ, organ system
B) Molecule, cell, organelle, organ
C) Organelle, tissue, cell, organ
D) Organ, tissue, cell, molecule
E) Atom, molecule, tissue, cell

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence of increasing organization in biological systems is from the smallest unit, the cell, to a group of cells that function together as a tissue, to an organ which is a structure composed of at least two types of tissues that perform a specific function, and finally to an organ system, which is a group of organs that work together to perform complex functions.

Question 15

A scientific explanation that is conditional and requires more investigation is called a(n)
A) control.
B) fact.
C) hypothesis.
D) theory.
E) observation.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon that is based on limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. It is conditional and requires more testing and validation.

Question 16

Scientific inquiry is based on
A) information found in a gossip magazine.
B) cultural biases or traditions.
C) natural causes.
D) stories that are passed down through generations.

Accepted Answer

Scientific inquiry is based on natural causes, as it seeks explanations for phenomena in the natural world through observation, experimentation, and evidence, rather than relying on anecdotal, cultural, or non-scientific sources.

Question 17

The smallest units that still retain the characteristics of an element are called
A) cells.
B) organic molecules.
C) atoms.
D) tissues.
E) molecules.

Accepted Answer

Atoms are the smallest units that retain the characteristics of an element.

Question 18

Science cannot answer certain faith-based questions because
A) scientists are not able to study human behavior.
B) faith-based beliefs are impossible to either prove or disprove.
C) there arenʹt enough variables.
D) faith requires deductive reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Faith-based beliefs often involve supernatural elements or premises that are beyond the empirical investigation methods of science, making them impossible to prove or disprove through scientific means.

Question 19

A scientific theory
A) is an educated guess.
B) will never be changed.
C) is less reliable than a hypothesis.
D) is a general explanation for natural phenomena.

Accepted Answer

A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment. Unlike hypotheses, theories are generally accepted by the scientific community as being the best explanation for observations.

Question 20

Which of these would be an example of a NON-scientific study?
A) NASA sends tadpoles up in the space shuttle to see how gravity affects their development.
B) A study determines differences in the species composition in two parks.
C) A company uses different advertising methods for a product to determine which one produces the most sales.
D) Consumers are asked which tomato variety produces the best-tasting spaghetti sauce.
E) People are immunized with different vaccines to determine their relative effectiveness against the flu virus.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these would be an example...

Quiz 1: An Introduction to Life on Earth

A carefully formulated scientific explanation that is based on extensive observations and is in accord with scientific principles is called a

We use the scientific method every day. Imagine that your car doesnʹt start one morning before school. Which of these is a reasonable hypothesis regarding the problem?

Which of the following is FALSE about scientific theories?

Which of the following is an example of a natural cause?

Which of the following statements is a hypothesis rather than a theory?

Which of the following is TRUE regarding faith-based beliefs and scientific theories?

The scientific method includes all of the following EXCEPT

Imagine that 1 milliliter of an experimental drug diluted in a saline solution is injected into 20 pregnant mice to determine possible side effects. Which of the following is a suitable control for this experiment?

Which of the following levels of organization is the most inclusive (i.e., includes the most life-forms) ?

Alexander Fleming observed a colony of mold that inhibited the growth of nearby bacteria. What was the hypothesis proposed by Fleming to explain this result?

Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?

All of the following are features of the scientific method EXCEPT

Suppose you are testing a treatment for AIDS patients and find that 75% respond well, whereas 25% show no improvement or a decline in health. You should

Which is the correct sequence of increasing organization?

A scientific explanation that is conditional and requires more investigation is called a(n)

Scientific inquiry is based on

The smallest units that still retain the characteristics of an element are called

Science cannot answer certain faith-based questions because

A scientific theory

Which of these would be an example of a NON-scientific study?