Answer: a. The question step provides the question to be studied, while the hypothesis step provides a proposed answer to the question.
Step-by-step explanation:
A scientific inquiry involves question or group of questions which are related to a particular natural phenomena which can be answered by using a suitable methodology.
A hypothesis can be define as the presumed situation or assumption which can be testified by using experimental methodology. A scientific question can be define as the question which can be answered by using appropriate procedures.
On the basis of the above explanation, a. The question step provides the question to be studied, while the hypothesis step provides a proposed answer to the question. is the correct option.