Chapter 1

Question 1

Why is it that creationism can never be accepted as a scientific explanation of the origin of life?

Answer 1

Because the ideas of creationism cannot be tested through experiment and observation.

Question 2

Superstitions are:

Answer 2

irrational beliefs that actions not logically related to a course of events influence its outcome.

Question 3

If you toss a coin and it comes up tails seventy-three consecutive times, what is the probability that it will come up tails on the seventy-fourth toss?

Answer 3

1/2

Question 4

Which of the following statements cannot be evaluated by the scientific method?

Answer 4

Trees emit psychic screams when you cut them down.

Question 5

Which of the following questions CANNOT be answered by the scientific method?

Answer 5

Did the US act appropriately when it invaded Iraq?

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an example of a theory?: relativity, evolution, electromagnetism, or gravity?

Answer 6

All of the above are considered to be theories.

Question 7

If your hypothesis is rejected,

Answer 7

you may still have learned something important about the system you were testing.

Question 8

What comes next in the scientific method after the completion of experimentation?

Answer 8

review of the hypothesis in light of the data gathered.

Question 9

The purpose of the experimentation phase of the scientific method is to:

Answer 9

gather evidence to support or reject a hypothesis.

Question 10

Which of the following is usually employed before the others by an investigator using the scientific method?

Answer 10

make observations.

Question 11

What is Step 3 in the scientific process?

Answer 11

devise a testable prediction.

Question 12

Which of the following has scientific investigation shown to be LEAST reliable in criminal prosecutions? ballistics, DNA evidence, eyewitness identification, fingerprints, bloodwork

Answer 12

eyewitness identification.

Question 13

In a randomized, controlled, double-blind study:

Answer 13

neither the experimenter nor the subject know whether the subject is in a control group or an experimental group.

Question 14

What is Step 2 in the scientific process?

Answer 14

formulate a hypothesis.

Question 15

In a scientific experiment, a control group:

Answer 15

can be compared with an experimental group to assess whether one particular variable is causing a change in the experimental group.

Question 16

Applying your knowledge of the scientific method, which of the following BEST explains the correct contrast between a hypothesis and theory?

Answer 16

A hypothesis attempts to explain natural phenomenon and can be tested through experimentation; a theory attempts to summarize a large expanse of natural phenomenon and has already been tested thoroughly without contradictory results.

Question 17

______________________ makes scientific-sounding claims that are not supported by trustworthy, methodical scientific studies.

Answer 17

pseudoscience

Question 18

If you were to design an experiment to test whether a particular pathogen caused a disease, which of the following choices would be the first step and which the last step you would make if you followed the scientific method precisely?

Answer 18

1st: make observations
last: draw conclusions

Question 19

Statistical methods make it possible to:

Answer 19

determine how likely it is that certain results may have occurred by chance.

Question 20

If you were to propose one additional step in the scientific method beyond the common last step of “conclusion,” what is a reasonable selection?

Answer 20

Create a further question, based on your new conclusion, that can lead to further experiments in the future.

Question 21

In a well-designed experiment:

Answer 21

a) the prediction will be highly probable if the explanation is correct, and b) the prediction will be highly improbable if the explanation is incorrect.

Question 22

In scientific thinking, which of the following are not subject to revision?

Answer 22

observations

Question 23

In controlled experiments:

Answer 23

one variable is manipulated while others are held constant

Question 24

A “controlled” experiment occurs when:

Answer 24

groups are kept as similar as possible and are treated identically, except for the variable of interest

Question 25

Which of the following techniques is used to help reduce experimenter bias?

Answer 25

keep the experimenter blind to the conditions in an experiment or its purpose

Question 26

Which of the following commonly used terms comes closest to the meaning of what scientists call a “hypothesis”?

Answer 26

explanation

Question 27

The set of analytical and mathematical tools designed to help researchers gain understanding from the data they gather is called:

Answer 27

statistics

Question 28

Two important unifying themes in biology are that 1) life is organized on many levels, and that 2):

Answer 28

the genetic characteristics of individuals in a population change over time

Question 29

Statistical methods make it possible to:

Answer 29

determine how likely it is that certain results may have occurred by chance