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Living Environment Introduction & Scientific Inquiry



Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

1. 

A student formulated a hypothesis that cotton will grow larger bolls (pods) if magnesium is added to the soil. The student has two experimental fields of cotton, one with magnesium and one without. Which data should be collected to support this hypothesis?
a.
height of the cotton plants in both fields
b.
diameter of the cotton bolls in both fields
c.
length of the growing season in both fields
d.
color of the cotton bolls in both fields
 

2. 

Organisms undergo constant chemical changes as they maintain an internal balance known as
a.
homeostasis
b.
transport
c.
synthesis
d.
respiration
 

3. 

Scientific studies have indicated that there is a higher percentage of allergies in babies fed formula containing cow’s milk than in breast-fed babies. Which statement represents a valid inference made from these studies?
a.
Milk from cows causes allergic reactions in all infants.
b.
There is no relationship between drinking cow’s milk and having allergies.
c.
Breast feeding prevents all allergies from occurring.
d.
Breast milk most likely contains fewer substances that trigger allergies.
 

4. 

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 a
a.
hypothesis
c.
theory
b.
controlled experiment
d.
research plan
 

5. 

An experimental design included references from prior experiments, materials and equipment, and step-by-step procedures. What else should be included before the experiment can be started?
a.
a set of data
c.
safety precautions to be used
b.
a conclusion based on data
d.
an inference based on results
 

6. 

A student hypothesized that lettuce seeds would not germinate (begin to grow) unless they were covered with soil. The student planted 10 lettuce seeds under a layer of soil and scattered 10 lettuce seeds on top of the soil.
To improve the reliability of these results, the student should
a.
conclude that darkness is necessary for lettuce seed germination
b.
conclude that light is necessary for lettuce seed germination
c.
revise the hypothesis
d.
repeat the experiment using a larger sample size
 

7. 

Tomato plants in a garden are not growing well. The gardener hypothesizes that the soil is too acidic. To test this hypothesis accurately, the gardener could
a.
plant seeds of a different kind of plant
b.
change the acidity of the soil
c.
move the tomato plants to an area with less sunlight
d.
reduce the amount of water available to the plant
 

8. 

In an investigation to determine the change in heart rate with increased activity, a biology teacher asked students to take their pulses immediately before and immediately after exercising for 2 minutes. The data showed an average heart rate of 72 beats per minute before exercising and 90 beats per minute after exercising. If a valid conclusion is to be made from the results of this investigation, which assumption must be made?
a.
In most students, the average heart rate is not affected by exercise.
b.
Each student exercised with approximately the same intensity.
c.
Exercise causes the heart rate to slow down.
d.
The heart rate of each student goes up 18 beats after jogging for 2 minutes.
 

9. 

Which statement describes the best procedure to determine if a vaccine for a disease in a certain bird species is effective?
a.
Vaccinate 100 birds and expose all 100 to the disease.
b.
Vaccinate 50 birds, do not vaccinate 50 other birds, and expose all 100 to the disease.
c.
Vaccinate 100 birds and expose only 50 of them to the disease.
d.
Vaccinate 50 birds, do not vaccinate 50 other birds, and expose only the vaccinated birds to the disease.
 

10. 

Diagrams, tables, and graphs are used by scientists mainly to
a.
design a research plan for an experiment
b.
predict the independent variable
c.
test a hypothesis
d.
organize data
 

11. 

A scientist tested a hypothesis that white-tailed deer would prefer apples over corn as a primary food source. The findings of the test, in which the scientist claimed that the deer preferred apples, were published. Which research technique, if used by the scientist, might result in this claim being questioned?
a.
The scientist observed four deer in different locations at various times of the day.
b.
The scientist observed 200 deer in various natural settings, but none in captivity.
c.
The scientist observed a total of 500 deer in 20 different locations at various times of the day.
d.
The scientist observed 300 deer in various locations in captivity, but none in natural settings.
 

12. 

A biologist in a laboratory reports a new discovery based on experimental results. If the experimental results are valid, biologists in other laboratories should be able to
a.
repeat the same experiment with a different variable and obtain the same results
b.
repeat the same experiment and obtain the same results
c.
perform the same experiment and obtain different results
d.
perform the same experiment under different experimental conditions and obtain the same results
 

13. 

What process is used by a living organism in order to make new substances, such as muscle proteins, hormones, or antibodies?
a.
synthesis
b.
respiration
c.
reproduction
d.
transport
 

14. 

What tool could best be used in order to accurately measure the volume of a liquid?
a.
beaker
c.
meter stick
b.
electronic balance
d.
graduated cylinder
 

15. 

Which of the following life activities is NOT required for YOU to survive?
a.
respiration
b.
excretion
c.
reproduction
d.
synthesis
 

16. 

Which of the following groups of units contains only S.I. (metric) units?
a.
cL, g, km
b.
mL, in, kg
c.
oz, dg, mm
d.
L, hm, lb
 

17. 

A student noted that 22 chairs in the classroom were red.  This is an example of a(n)
a.
hypothesis.
b.
observation.
c.
theory.
d.
experiment.
 

18. 

A scientist performed an experiment to see the effect of a scary movie on the heartrate of the people watching the movie.  In this experiment, the dependent variable is
a.
the scary movie
b.
the heartrate
c.
the scientist
d.
the control
 

19. 

A measurement of 38.4 mL is the same as
a.
3.84 L
b.
384 L
c.
38,400 L
d.
0.0384 L
 

20. 

A student hypothesized that lettuce seeds would not germinate (begin to grow) unless
they were covered with soil. The student planted 10 lettuce seeds under a layer of soil
and scattered 10 lettuce seeds on top of the soil. The data collected are shown in the
table below.
le_revtest1_files/i0210000.jpg
To improve the reliability of these results, the student should
a.
conclude that darkness is necessary for lettuce seed germination
b.
conclude that light is necessary for lettuce seed germination
c.
revise the hypothesis
d.
repeat the experiment using a larger sample size
 



 
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