Chapter 1

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

A means of coming to understand the natural world through observation and the testing of hypotheses. Also, a collection of insights about nature, the evidence for which is an array of facts.

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

A general set of principles, supported by evidence, that explains some aspect of nature.

Question 3

Scientific theory VS scientific fact

Answer 3

A scientific theory has explanatory power, while a scientific fact is merely an isolated piece of information.

Question 4

Scientific method

Answer 4

The process by which scientists investigate the natural world. The method involves the testing of hypotheses through observation and experiment.

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

A tentative, testable explanation for an observed phenomenon.

Question 6

Variable

Answer 6

An adjustable condition in an experiment.

Question 7

First principle of scientific process

Answer 7

Every assertion regarding the natural world is subject to challenge and revision based solely on evidence.

Question 8

Second principle of scientific process

Answer 8

Any scientific hypothesis or claim must be falsifiable, meaning open to negation through scientific inquiry. The assertion that “UFOs are visiting Earth” does not rise to the level of a scientific claim because there is no way to prove that this is not so.

Question 9

Third principle of scientific process

Answer 9

Scientific inquiry concerns itself only with natural explanations for natural phenomena. Pit another way, supernatural explanations for the working of nature lies outside the realm of science and thus cannot be examined through the scientific process.

Question 10

Every finding in science is subject to _____ based on the accumulation of new _____.

Answer 10

Revision, evidence

Question 11

Any scientific claim must be falsifiable, meaning open to _____ through means of scientific inquiry.

Answer 11

negation

Question 12

All properly executed scientific experiments must have rigorous controls, meaning that all aspects of the experiment must be held _____ except do the condition, known as _____, which is being tested for.

Answer 12

constant, variable

Question 13

Science concerns itself not only with _____ explanations for natural phenomena, as opposed to _____ explanations for these phenomena.

Answer 13

Natural, supernatural

Question 14

Biology

Answer 14

The study of life.

Question 15

Characteristics of living things:

Answer 15

• Can assimilate and use energy.
• Can respond to their environment.
• Can maintain a relatively constant internal environment.
• Possess a inherited information base, encoded in DNA, that allows them to function.
• Can reproduce through the use pf the information encoded in DNA
• Are composed of one or more cells
• Evolved from other living things
• Are highly organized compared to inanimate objects.

Question 16

Life is highly organized in a hierarchical manner.

Answer 16

Lower levels of organization are progressively integrated to make up higher levels.

Question 17

The building blocks of matter are _____.

Answer 17

Atoms

Question 18

Atoms

Answer 18

The building blocks of matter.

Question 19

Molecules

Answer 19

Entities consisting of a defined number of atoms that exist in a defined spatial relationship to one another.

Question 20

Life sciences

Answer 20

A set of disciples that focus on varying aspects of the living world.

Question 21

Evolution

Answer 21

The gradual modification of population of living things over time, with this modification sometimes resulting in the development of new species.

Question 22

The most important principle in biology, the theory of evolution, concerns the gradual _____ of populations of living things over time, sometimes resulting in the development of new _____.

Answer 22

Modification, species.

Question 23

Biology can be defined as the study of _____c

Answer 23

Life

Question 24

Levels of organization:

Answer 24

Molecules, cell, organ, organism, community, ecosystem.

Question 25

Describe the nature of a scientific hypothesis

Answer 25

A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that can be tested, usually through experimentation.

Question 26

A theory, as described in scientific discourse, is:

Answer 26

A set of principles, supported by evidence, that explains some aspect of nature.

Question 27

Pasteur’s experiments on spontaneous generation made correct use of a variable in that Pasteur:

Answer 27

Held all conditions constant in each test except one.