1. Which best describes why it is important for a scientist to use the metric system when recording data?
A. so the data can be proven in the scientist’s next experiment
B. so the data can be shared and understood around the world
C. so the data can be used in mathematical formulas and models
D. so the data can be accurate and precise in each experiment
2. Which is a characteristic of pseudoscience?
A. resistance to change
B. continually changing
C. involves a step-by-step method
D. updated by new technology
3. Which best describes scientific facts?
A. observable and objective
B. true and subjective
C. unsupported and believed
D. estimated and unquestioned
4. To help prevent people from getting the Ebola virus, countries around the world paid to help doctors develop a new vaccine. Now that the vaccine has been made, doctors will need to experiment on a large number of people to find out if it works safely.What is the greatest limitation that scientists are dealing with as they try to figure out how to experiment with the Ebola vaccine?
A. time
B. complexity
C. money
D. ethics
5. Which statements describe characteristics of pseudoscience? Check all that apply.
___1___Pseudoscience is often based only on opinions.
___2___Pseudoscience is based on objective observations.
___3___Pseudoscience requires systematic experiments.
___4___Pseudoscience often involves explanations of beliefs.
___5___Pseudoscience includes subjective ideas.
___6___Pseudoscience is cyclical and changes based on new data.
6. Science does not rely ____________ on ideas based on opinions instead of facts because science works to avoid the influence of opinions and beliefs.
A. objective
B. observable
C. proven
D. subjective
7. Lichens are a type of parasitic organism that often grow on rocks and trees in areas with dirty, polluted air.During a study of lichens and air quality in part of China, scientists measure the thickness of lichens and estimate how many rocks and trees are covered with lichens in one town. The scientists are following the scientific cycle of observing while using a systematic process, establishing facts, explaining facts, and then returning to the systematic process to collect more facts. When scientists carefully measure the lichens and agree on their average thickness and how often they appear, which parts of the scientific cycle are the scientists using?
A. process and facts, because they are using a systematic method to measure and then record data
B. process and facts, because they are observing lichens and air quality and describing why they are related
C. explanation and process, because they are using a systematic method to measure and then record data
D. explanation and process, because they are observing lichens and air quality and describing why they are related
8. Meditation is a practice of sitting still and quiet for minutes or even hours. It has been practiced for thousands of years and is even a part of religious practices for some people. Carefully controlled, repeated measurements of brain activity have shown that meditation does increase certain chemicals in the brain and even grows the part of the brain that helps people connect with their current surroundings and activities. Are claims about the effects of meditation most likely scientific or pseudoscientific?
A. scientific, because people have been claiming for thousands of years that meditation helps them
B. scientific, because observations of brain growth and chemicals are made carefully and repeatedly
C. pseudoscientific, because practices that are related to religion are based on beliefs and are subjective
D. pseudoscientific, because people have made claims about it but scientific observations have not been made
9. In March 2015, the American space program sent astronaut Scott Kelly to live on a space station for a whole year, where he will not feel gravity as the space station orbits Earth. Scott Kelly’s twin brother, Mark, stayed at home. Scientists then plan to study the twins’ body chemistry, genetics, sight, and other data. This way, scientists can find out how living with and without gravity affects two identical people. What will most likely be a limitation for other scientists trying to recreate this study?
A. There are ethical controversies over testing human subjects.
B. There are probably very few astronauts with twin siblings.
C. There are too many complexities involved in studying body chemistry, genetics, and sight.
D. There is probably not enough technology to keep someone in space for an entire year.