Final answer:
The correct answer is A) a controlled experiment. A controlled experiment is a scientific investigation in which all variables except the one being tested are kept constant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is A) a controlled experiment. A controlled experiment is a scientific investigation in which all variables except the one being tested are kept constant. In this case, the scientist is predicting that germinating beans will use more oxygen than non-germinating beans. To test this prediction, the scientist would set up a controlled experiment where all conditions are the same except for the germination of the beans. By comparing the amount of oxygen used by germinating and non-germinating beans, the scientist can draw a conclusion about the hypothesis.