Test: Scientific Method

Label each of the following as an observation or an inference. Each one will be used more than once.
A Observation
B Inference

1. The plant is wilting.

2. The plant needs water.
3. The cabinet has just been painted.
4. The cabinet is wet and shiny.
5. There are 100 shrimp entering the drainpipe every hour.
6. The drainpipe is causing a decrease in the shrimp population.

Matching: Match the words with their definitions. Each word will be used only once.
a. controlled experiment b. observation c. hypothesis d. scientific method
e. variable ab. data cd. theory ae. life science

7. recorded observations from an experiment, often represented in tables and graphs

8. a possible explanation or answer to a question, an educated guess
9. an experiment that tests only one factor at a time
10. the study of living things
11. using the 5 senses to take in information about your surroundings
12. a factor in a controlled experiment that changes
13. a series of steps that scientists uses to answer questions and solve problems
14. a unifying explanation for a broad range of hypotheses and observations that have been supported by
experimentation.

More Matching Choose the step of the scientific method that best matches the example from the article Dams and
Pipes and River Shrimp Movements.
a. ask a question/observation b. form a hypothesis c. test the hypothesis/experiment
d. analyze the data/results e. draw conclusions ab. communicate results

15. The citizens of San Spiritu noticed that the population of river shrimp appears to be declining.
16. The scientists recommended that the town shut the pipe down from 8pm-12am.
17. The scientists thought that the drain was sucking up and killing the shrimp therefore causing a decline in the
population.
18. The scientist measured that most shrimp larvae float downstream between 8pm -12am. The average of larvae
floating into the pipes was 42% of the total number of larvae floating downstream.
19. After careful observations and data collection, the scientists agree that the drain pipe is causing the shrimp
population to decrease.
20. The scientists placed nets in the water and counted the total number of shrimp, the number that went downstream,
and the shrimp travelling into the pipe.

21. A study of a species of freshwater fish showed that water temperature is an important abiotic factor in the species
survival. The lower lethal limit is 100C and the upper lethal limit is 270C. What is the temperature range of tolerance
and survival for these fish?
a. 100C b. 170C c. 270C d. 370C
22. Tamara uses sticks and balloons to show how bones and muscles move. She is using a
a. variable b. theory c. hypothesis d. model

23. In a field experiment working with plants, which of the following is NOT a rule students should follow?
a. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling plants
b. Use the taste method to identify plant types.
c. Tell your teacher if you are allergic to certain plants.
d. Remove only the leaves and flowers needed.

24. Which of the following is the best example of a scientific question?

a. Does adding sugar to water keep flowers fresh longer?
b. Which flowers are prettier, daisies or roses?
c. Do cats make better pets than dogs?
d. Are friendly people taller than unfriendly people?

25. Use the chart below to answer the question.

amount of total growth
day planted fertiler (in by May 10
mL) (in cm)
green pot May 1 0 3
red pot May 2 5 4
blue pot May 2 10 2
yellow pot May 4 10 4

Students were studying how different soils affect the germination and growth of lima beans. The table above shows the
set-up of their experiment and the data they collected. Which of the following describes a major flaw in the
experiment?
a. The plants should have been grown for a longer period of time.
b. The students planted the wrong type of plants.
c. There are too many variables that may have affected the results.
d. The responding variable does not show any effect.

26. You and your lab group are designing an experiment to find the typical pulse rate for 7th grade students while
working at different levels of physical exertion. Which of the following procedures would be best for you to follow?
a. Also study the pulse rate of students in 6th and 8th grade to be sure your data are accurate.
b. Study the pulse rate of each student under the same set of conditions, such as after 30 minutes of rest and after 5
minutes of exercise.
c. Have some students rest before their pulse is measured and other do exercise so youll get a true variety of numbers.
d. Research what the typical pulse rate should be, then find out how many students have that pulse rate.

27. Which of the following statements could be investigated scientifically?

a. Taking something that belongs to another person is wrong.
b. Each year when the weather gets cold, birds fly to warmer regions.
c. People who dont recycle should have to pay fines.
d. Basketball is a better sport than soccer.
More Matching
Column A Column B
28 Write an article describing what you learned about the ant a. Ask a question
population on school grounds. b. Form a hypothesis
c. test the hypothesis
29 Last week there were not ants near the front door of our d. analyze the results
school. Now there is a large colony. Where did the colony e. draw conclusions
come from? ab. communicate results
30 I think someone released ants from their ant farm near the
front door of our school.

31 There are a total of three ant colonies on the school grounds.

Four of the 10 residents who live near the school also have
ant colonies in their yard. The residents are neighbors; they
live next door to one another on the same side of the street.
None of the residents has evere owned an ant farm. None of
the students surveyed had any information about where the
ants came from.

32 Evidence seems to indicate that the ant colony did not come
from the neighborhood. Someone from outside the
neighborhood may have placed them there. You now have a
new question as to who would do this?

33 I am examining the school grounds and surveying students

and nearby residents for information about where the ants
came from.

More Multiple Choice

34. Mark is studying how heat affects how fast oil flows. He guesses that as the oil gets hotter, it flows faster. How could he
test this?
a. Heat oil to different temperatures. Then weigh it after it flows of the can.
b. Observe how fast oil at different temperatures flows down a smooth surface
c. Let oil flow down smooth surfaces at different angles. Observe its speed.
d. Measure the time it takes for oil of different thicknesses to pour out of the can.

MORE ON BACK!!!!!!!
(#35-42)
Questions #35-38 refer to the following situation:

Sarah wanted to find out if heat has an effect on the growth of mold. She grew the mold in nine jars with the same amount
and type of food. Three jars were kept at 0oC. Three were kept at 90oC. Three were kept at 27oC. The growth of the mold
was recorded after four days.

35. What was her hypothesis?

a. The type of food will affect the amount of mold.
b. The amount of mold is affected by the temperature.
c. The amount of mold is affected by the amount of food used.
d. The number of jars affects the amount of mold.

36. The manipulated variable is:

a. temperature of the jars b. amount of food in each jar.
c. growth of mold d. number of jars at each temperature

37. The responding variable:

a. temperature of the jars b. amount of food in each jar.
c. growth of mold d. number of jars at each temperature

38. One controlled variable is:

a. temperature of the jars b. type and size of jar used c. temperature of the mold d. amount of food

Questions #39-42 refer to the following situation:

A fire destroyed a large forest. The forest rangers want to test how different types of grasses affect soil erosion. They chose
ten plots of ground that are the same size. These plots receive the same amount of sun. They also have the same kind of soil.
The rangers plant each plot with a different type of grass. Measurements of soil erosion are made every week for the entire
summer.

39. What is the independent variable?

a. the size of the plots b. the types of grasses
c. the amount of soil erosion d. the type of soil in the plots

40. What is the dependent variable?

a. the size of the plots b. the types of grasses
c. the amount of soil erosion d. the type of soil in the plots

41. What hypothesis is being tested in this study?

a. Some types of grass reduce soil erosion more than others. b. Soil erosion is affected by the slope of the land.
c. Burned over areas have greater erosion than forested areas. d. Planting grass will reduce the amount of soil erosion.

42. Which of the following variables is NOT controlled in this study?

a. the size of the plots b. the type of soil in the plots
c. the amount of slope/incline of the land d. the amount of sun the plots receive.