Microscopes
Experimental Design
Theory, Law, or Hypothesis?
Scientific Method
Data Analysis/Graphing
100
Which statement describes the main difference between the dissecting microscope and the compound microscope?
A. The dissecting microscope has a small viewing stage and the compound microscope has a large viewing stage.
B. The dissecting microscope is used to view larger objects, and the compound microscope is used to view very small objects.
C. The dissecting microscope uses an electric bulb for light, and the compound microscope uses sunlight.
D. The dissecting microscope has one fewer lens than the compound microscope.
B. The dissecting microscope is used to view larger objects, and the compound microscope is used to view very small objects.
100
An experiment was designed to determine the effect of nitrates on plant growth. Two groups of plants were grown under identical conditions, except one group was watered with a dilute nitrate solution and the other group received water without nitrates. In this investigation, the group of plants grown without added nitrates is known as the
A. abiotic factor
B. control
C. variable
D. environmental stimulus
B. control
100
Which requirement must be met in order for a scientific statement to be accepted as a theory?
A. The statement describes a new, previously unstudied phenomenon.
B. The statement relies on many supporting pieces of evidence.
C. The statement cannot be proven wrong.
D. The statement is accepted by all scientists in that field of study.
B. The statement relies on many supporting pieces of evidence.
100
The steps used by scientists to solve problems and uncover facts make up the
A. Scientific law
B. Scientific method
C. Scientific theory
D. Scientific process
B. Scientific method
100
The line graph shows the number of worms collected and their lengths.
What length of worm is most common?
6.5-7 cm
200
Which type of microscope would be best to use to observe the physical characteristics of living fruit flies?
A. scanning electron microscope
B. light microscope
C. transmission electron microscope
D. dissecting microscope
D. dissecting microscope
200
For her science fair project, Samantha would like to see how different substance affect bone mass. She collects several chicken leg bones from the grocery store, records each bone’s mass, and soaks them in different liquids for 48 hours. After 48 hours Samantha measures the mass of each bone again.
In Samantha’s experiment, which of the following should be a constant in all test groups?
l. amount of liquid
ll. initial mass of the bone
lll. temperature of liquid
I and III
200
The current knowledge concerning cells is the result of the investigations and observations of many scientists. The work of these scientists forms a well-accepted body of knowledge about cells. This body of knowledge is an example of which of the following?
A. a theory
B. a hypothesis
C. a controlled experiment
D. a research plan
A. a theory
200
A scientist concludes that a new organism has been discovered in the Amazon River. Which is the most important reason for the scientist to have discussions with other scientists about this conclusion?
A. to gain media attention on the discovery of the new organism
B. to get credit from other scientists for the discovery
C. so other scientists can challenge the conclusion
D. to encourage scientists to look for other new organisms
C. so other scientists can challenge the conclusion
200
A. 5 cm
B. 2 cm
C. 11 cm
D. 14 cm
B. 2 cm
300
Students use a compound light microscope to view unicellular organisms collected from pond water. Which statement describes why using a compound light microscope is better to view the structures of these organisms than a dissecting microscope?
A. Compound light microscopes have higher magnification.
B. Compound light microscopes use a single glass lens.
C. Compound light microscopes use visible light.
D. Compound light microscopes are used to view live specimens.
A. Compound light microscopes have higher magnification.
300
A scientist conducted an experiment to test the hypothesis that maple seeds exposed to acid rain will take longer to germinate than seeds exposed to normal rain, which has a pH of 5.6. The scientist set up four groups, each containing 200 maple seeds. The water used for each group had a different pH value: 5.6, 4.0, 3.0, and 2.0. All other conditions were kept the same. After ten days, the number of seeds that had germinated in each group was counted.
Identify the dependent variable in this experiment.
The number of seeds that had germinated
300
If plants are exposed to red colored light, then they will grow at faster rates than if they were exposed to normal sunlight.
This statement can best be described as a:
A. Theory
B. Law
C. Conclusion
D. Hypothesis
D. Hypothesis
300
Why should scientific experiments be repeatable and verifiable?
A. This helps ensure the validity of the data obtained during the experiment.
B. This helps maintain the conversation between scientists.
C. This helps prove that scientific theories cannot change.
D. If a scientific experiment cannot be replicated, then it is valid.
A. This helps ensure the validity of the data obtained during the experiment.
300
Which conclusion can be drawn from information in the graph?
A. Oxygen concentration affects population sizes of different species in the same manner.
B. Species A requires a high oxygen concentration for maximum population growth.
C. Species B requires a high oxygen concentration to stimulate population growth.
D. Low oxygen concentration does not limit the population size of either species observed.
B. Species A requires a high oxygen concentration for maximum population growth.
400
Electron microscopes use electrons rather than light to view a specimen. Some of these microscopes pass a stream of electrons through a specimen. Both the stream of electrons and the specimen must be in a vacuum chamber. What is a limitation of using such an electron microscope?
A. Living specimens cannot be observed.
B. The power of magnification decreases.
C. Images appear very fuzzy because of low resolution.
D. Prokaryotic cells cannot be examined.
A. Living specimens cannot be observed.
400
A company that manufactures a popular multivitamin wanted to determine whether their multivitamin had any side effects. For its initial study, the company chose 2000 individuals to take one of their multivitamin tablets per day for one year. Scientists from the company surveyed the participants to determine whether they had experienced any side effects. The greatest problem with this procedure is that
A. only one brand of vitamin was tested
B. the sample size was not large enough
C. the study lasted only one year
D. no control group was used
D. no control group was used
400
A scientific law is different from a scientific theory in that
A. A law is testable but a theory is not
B. A law is subject to change if new evidence is found
C. A law can be supported and represented mathematically
D. A law is used to predict an outcome
C. A law can be supported and represented mathematically
400
How could a researcher who has already conducted an experiment gain even further knowledge and new information using that same experiment?
A. Keep all variables the same and conduct the experiment again
B. Try to conduct the experiment backwards
C. Conduct the experiment again but only complete half of it
D. Change one variable of the experiment and conduct it again
D. Change one variable of the experiment and conduct it again
400
Sarah conducted an experiment to compare the growth of plants that were kept in the sun for different amounts of time per day. She had four different plants. One plant was kept in the sunlight for 1 hour a day, one was kept in the sunlight for 3 hours a day, one was kept in the sunlight for 6 hours a day, and one was kept in the sunlight for 9 hours a day. She measured the heights of each plant every 5 days for a total of 30 days.
What type of graph would be best to use to represent the data she collects in her experiment?
Line graph
500
Several university students visiting the Center for Disease Control are observing the three-dimensional structure of bacteria cells to help improve their understanding of its impact on the human body. What kind of microscope has the depth of field to view bacteria by producing a three-dimensional image?
A. a transmission microscope
B. a compound microscope
C. a dissecting microscope
D. a scanning electron microscope
D. a scanning electron microscope
500
Kendall conducts an experiment to see which environment mold grows best in. He places a piece of bread on his front porch in direct sunlight, a piece of bread on the kitchen table, and a piece of bread on the shelf in his closet. After one week, he records these results:
Location Number of Mold Spots
Direct sunlight 0
Kitchen table 2
Closet shelf 5
What is the independent variable in Kendall's experiment?
Location of the bread
500
In the 1600s, Francesco Redi was the first scientist to try to disprove spontaneous generation, the belief that living things can come from non-living things. Louis Pasteur, in 1859, finally disproved a centuries old belief in the origin of living things.
Which is the best statement that can be made about scientific theories?
A. Scientific theories are the culmination of many scientific investigations drawing together all current evidence.
B. Scientific theories are tested over time.
C. Scientific theories can never be disproven once they are accepted by scientists.
D. Scientific theories are well-tested hypotheses supported by an abundance of hypothetical evidence.
A. Scientific theories are the culmination of many scientific investigations drawing together all current evidence.
500
Colby wants to learn more about the feeding habits of ants.
What steps should Colby take to best study the feeding patterns of ants?
A. form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, record data, make a conclusion
B. conduct an experiment, form a hypothesis, make a conclusion, record data
C. form a hypothesis, record data, conduct an experiment, make a conclusion
D. record data, form a hypothesis, make a conclusion, conduct an experiment
A. form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, record data, make a conclusion
500
A. 1 hour of sunlight
B. 3 hours of sunlight
C. 6 hours of sunlight
D. 9 hours of sunlight
D. 9 hours of sunlight