Scientific Method
Characteristics of Living Things
Science in Context
Vocabulary
Multiple Choice
100
The work of scientists usually begins with this: using the senses to collect information.
What are observations?
100
The basic unit of the structure and function of all living things.
What is a cell?
100
The following data was collected after a heavy rain: the grass is bright green, has a strong aroma, and is very sturdy and thick. Is this an example of qualitative or quantitative data?
What is qualitative?
100
Any individual living thing.
What is an organism?
100
Before a big soccer game Charlie always eats a big dinner. Which characteristic of life does this fact best describe? (A) Living things respond to their environment, (B) Living things grow and develop, (C) Living things use energy
What is (C) Living things use energy?
200
Scientists use observations and data to form and test this.
What is a hypothesis?
200
An example of this characteristic of living things is when tadpoles go through changes to become adult frogs.
What is growth and development?
200
The following data was collected after a heavy rain: the grass grew 1/3 of a centimeter taller and 1/8 of a centimeter wider. Is this an example of qualitative or quantitative data?
What is quantitative data?
200
A possible answer to a scientific question that can be tested and is based on a scientist's observations and data.
What is a hypothesis?
200
Which life activity is not required for the survival of an individual organism? (A) Requires energy, (B) Reproduction, (C) Response to stimuli, (D) Growth and development
What is (B) Reproduction?
300
The factors that do not change because they are controlled in an experiment.
What are the constants?
300
The process by which living things give rise to offspring.
What is reproduction?
300
I want to test the following hypothesis: If people drink sugary drinks, then their teeth will show signs of decay. Provide the dependent variable in this experiment.
What is the amount of decay on teeth?
300
The ability of an organism to adjust to keep its internal conditions about the same.
What is homeostasis?
300
What of the following characteristics of living things best explains why humans sweat when they get hot? (A) growth and development, (B) Homeostasis to maintain a stable internal environment, (C) Constants that do not change because they are controlled in an experiment
What is (B) Homeostasis to maintain a stable internal environment
400
During an experiment, this factor is observed and measured.
What is the dependent variable?
400
An example of this characteristic of living things is when you go out into 20 degree air and then your body shivers to produce heat to warm you back up.
What is homeostasis?
400
I want to test the following hypothesis: If people drink sugary drinks, then their teeth will show signs of decay. Provide two examples of independent variables that could be included in this experiment.
What are juice and soda?
400
The variety of life across the biosphere.
What is biodiversity?
400
Which of the following not NOT a characteristic of all living things? (A) Growth and development, (B) Ability to move, (C) Ability to reproduce
What is (B) Ability to move?
500
The factor that is changed by a scientist in an experiment.
What is the independent variable?
500
When thousands of chemical reactions occur to make or break down materials in a living organism.
What is metabolism?
500
I want to test the following hypothesis: If people drink sugary drinks, then their teeth will show signs of decay. Provide two examples of constants that should be kept in the experiment.
What is the age of the people tested and the amount of sugar the people drink?
500
Organisms that are so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.
What is a species?
500
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why your legs and arms get linger and stronger as you get older? (A) Living things respond to their environment, (B) Living things maintain internal balance, (C) Living things are made up of units called cells, (D) Living things grow and develop
What is (D) Living things grow and develop?
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