Which is a characteristic of pseudoscience?(1 point) A. anecdotal evidence
B. specific explanations
C. testable claims
D. new hypotheses
2. Which question is impossible for scientists to answer?(1 point)
A. How long will it take ice to melt at room temperature?
B. What country has the coldest average temperature?
C. Which species of bird has the longest migration route?
D. What should be considered music and what should not?
3. A mining company hires a team of scientists to research how their mines impact local wildlife. They are not happy with the results, so they wait a few years to publish. They do not include the name of their company in the publication. The language is vague and some findings are omitted. The results are published online, not in a scientific journal.
When evaluating this information for reliability, which is most concerning?
(1 point)
A. publication type
B. reliability
C. publication date
D. authorship
4. What is the greatest advantage of using different methods that result in the same outcome?(1 point)
A. The cheaper method can be used to arrive at the same outcome.
B. The pros and cons can be identified and compared for each method.
C. Even more methods can be identified that reach the same outcome.
D. Scientists have options for when they are trying to produce a certain result.
5. If a group of astronomers developed a theory about how stars form, which event would lead to the durability of their theory?(1 point)
A. A different group of scientists finds evidence refuting the theory.
B. A rival theory is put forth at the same time that suggests something different about star formation.
C. The theory is completely replaced by newer, more popular theories over time.
D. The theory developed by the astronomers is revisited and reexamined several times.
6. Which statement is best supported by the theory of evolution?(1 point)
A. An individual’s characteristics allow it to survive and reproduce more successfully in every environment than a member of the species with less desirable characteristics.
B. Successive generations of fast individuals survive and reproduce more successfully than slow individuals of the same species.
C. Successive generations of large individuals survive and reproduce more successfully than smaller individuals of the same species.
D. An individual’s characteristics allow it to survive and reproduce more successfully in a particular environment than a member of the species with less desirable characteristics.
7. Scientists discovered that runoff from some plant fertilizers can produce algal blooms that negatively affect ocean ecosystems. Which of the following options provides evidence of how algal blooms harm ocean ecosystems?(1 point)
A. Excessive nutrients from fertilizer runoff increase the amount of plant and algae growth in water bodies.
B. Rainfall and irrigation can cause excess water to enter the soil, resulting in excess fertilizer runoff that ends up in the ocean.
C. Authorities warn the public not to let their dogs swim in water bodies with algal blooms since they could get sick from algae exposure.
D. Large algal blooms rapidly decompose, contributing to increased CO2 and low-oxygen water that can reduce fish habitats.
8. Which types of evidence do scientists use to claim a practice is a pseudoscience? Explain your answer in 1–2 sentences.
9. Elk in Yellowstone National Park were overgrazing the willow plant populations. Wolves were reintroduced and the willow plant population recovered. In three to five sentences, state two facts, make an observation, and make an inference.
10. In 3–5 sentences, explain how scientists use creativity to construct and answer scientific questions.
11. In 3–5 sentences, describe the similarities and differences between scientific laws and scientific theories.
12. Scientists often collaborate in teams to draw scientific conclusions. In 1–2 sentences, explain why scientific collaboration is important to research.
1. The characteristic of pseudoscience is A. anecdotal evidence. Pseudoscience relies heavily on personal stories and anecdotes rather than systematic observation and experimentation.
2. The question that is impossible for scientists to answer is D. What should be considered music and what should not? This question is subjective and varies from person to person, making it impossible for scientists to provide a definitive answer.
3. When evaluating the information for reliability, the most concerning aspect is D. authorship. The fact that the mining company does not include their name and the language is vague suggests a potential bias or lack of transparency in the publication.
4. The greatest advantage of using different methods that result in the same outcome is B. The pros and cons can be identified and compared for each method. By evaluating multiple methods, scientists can determine which approach is most effective and efficient based on the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
5. If a group of astronomers developed a theory about how stars form, the event that would lead to the durability of their theory is D. The theory developed by the astronomers is revisited and reexamined several times. The durability of a scientific theory is demonstrated when it withstands repeated scrutiny, testing, and refinement over time.
6. The statement best supported by the theory of evolution is A. An individual’s characteristics allow it to survive and reproduce more successfully in every environment than a member of the species with less desirable characteristics. The theory of evolution explains how favorable traits are more likely to be passed on to the next generation, leading to the survival and reproductive success of individuals with those traits.
7. The option that provides evidence of how algal blooms harm ocean ecosystems is D. Large algal blooms rapidly decompose, contributing to increased CO2 and low-oxygen water that can reduce fish habitats. This shows how algal blooms can lead to environmental changes, such as decreased oxygen levels, negatively impacting fish and other marine organisms.
8. Scientists use various types of evidence to claim a practice as pseudoscience, including lack of empirical evidence, reliance on anecdotal evidence, absence of peer-reviewed research, failure to undergo rigorous testing, and violation of established scientific principles and methodologies. These factors help differentiate pseudoscience from genuine scientific practices.
9. Two facts: Elk in Yellowstone National Park were overgrazing willow plant populations. Wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park. Observation: The reintroduction of wolves led to the recovery of the willow plant population. Inference: The presence of wolves affected the behavior and population dynamics of elk, resulting in reduced overgrazing and the subsequent recovery of the willow plant population.
10. Scientists use creativity to construct and answer scientific questions by thinking outside the box, proposing new hypotheses, designing innovative experiments, and exploring alternative explanations. They use creativity to make connections, ask insightful questions, and generate novel ideas that can lead to scientific breakthroughs and advancements.
11. Scientific laws and theories both represent our understanding of natural phenomena, but they have some key differences. Laws describe specific relationships or patterns in nature and are based on empirical evidence. Theories, on the other hand, explain the underlying mechanisms and principles behind those patterns. Theories are broader and more comprehensive, integrating multiple laws and observations to provide a coherent explanation.
12. Scientific collaboration is important to research because it allows scientists to pool their expertise, knowledge, and resources. By working together, scientists can tackle complex problems, conduct larger-scale experiments, share data and insights, and validate their findings through peer review. Collaboration also fosters diversity of perspectives, leading to more robust and comprehensive scientific conclusions.