Question

The scientific usage of the word theoryis best described as ________.

a. a proposed explanation whose status is conjectural and untested.
b. a personal opinion that is part of one's worldview.
c. a tested and supported explanation that synthesizes a large body of information to account for known facts or phenomena.
d. an explanation of facts or phenomena that fits with an individual's best assessment of a situation.

Answer 1

A scientific theory is a rigorously tested and widely accepted explanation for a range of natural phenomena, supported by a significant body of evidence and repeated verification.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scientific usage of the word theory is best described as a tested and supported explanation that synthesizes a large body of information to account for known facts or phenomena. In science, a theory is not just a guess or hypothesis; it is an explanation that has been substantiated through extensive experimentation and observation. Theories can predict as yet unobserved phenomena, because they are based on a comprehensive set of principles that have been verified multiple times by different researchers. High-profile examples of scientific theories include the theory of evolution, cell theory, and germ theory.