Minska has a problem. When she turns on a lamp, the lamp doesn't light. She wonders if the lamp is plugged into the outlet. She checks the outlet and discovers that it is plugged in.

Which stage of the scientific method is Minska in when she looks at the outlet?

a) a problem is presented
b) evidence is gathered
c) a conclusion is made
d) an explanation is thought of

If she is just at the point of looking at the outlet, without yet testing it, I would choose D.