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Nature of Science Final Exam



Answer at least 25 points of questions.  You may answer up to a total of 30 points worth of questions.

Multiple Choice

Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 

The ways in which people change the world around them to meet their needs or solve practical problems are called
a.
science.
b.
feedback.
c.
technology.
d.
systems.
 

 2. 

What is the goal of technology?
a.
to study the natural world
b.
to understand how the natural world functions
c.
to improve the way people live
d.
to produce and deliver cereal
 

 3. 

Science and technology are
a.
completely unrelated.
b.
not important.
c.
dependent on each other.
d.
the same thing.
 

 4. 

The metric system of measurement is based on the number
a.
1.
b.
10.
c.
12.
d.
100.
 

 5. 

The basic unit of length in the metric system is the
a.
foot.
b.
kilometer.
c.
mile.
d.
meter.
 

 6. 

How many meters are there in a kilometer?
a.
100
b.
10
c.
10,000
d.
1,000
 

 7. 

The kilogram is the basic metric unit of
a.
volume.
b.
length.
c.
mass.
d.
weight.
 

 8. 

Mass and weight are different because
a.
weight depends on the amount of matter an object contains.
b.
weight depends on the force of gravity.
c.
mass does not depend on the amount of matter an object contains.
d.
mass depends on the force of gravity.
 

 9. 

The amount of space an object takes up is its
a.
volume.
b.
density.
c.
length.
d.
mass.
 

 10. 

If a shoe box measures 6 cm high, 7 cm wide, and 20 cm long, what is its volume?
a.
420 cm
b.
420 cm3
c.
840 cm
d.
840 cm3
 

 11. 

To calculate the density of an object, you would
a.
divide its mass by its volume.
b.
divide its mass by its length.
c.
multiply its mass by its volume.
d.
divide its volume by its mass.
 

 12. 

The SI unit of time is the
a.
minute.
b.
second.
c.
day.
d.
hour.
 

 13. 

The SI unit of temperature is the
a.
kelvin.
b.
degree Celsius.
c.
degree Fahrenheit.
d.
metric degree.
 

 14. 

A line graph shows
a.
how the responding variable changes in response to the manipulated variable.
b.
changes in the responding variable only.
c.
how the manipulated variable changes on its own.
d.
changes in the manipulated variable only.
 

 15. 

The horizontal axis of a graph runs
a.
left to right.
b.
diagonally.
c.
up and down.
d.
vertically.
 

 16. 

The slope of a graph tells you
a.
how much x changes for every change in y.
b.
how much y changes for every change in x.
c.
the ratio of the horizontal change to the vertical change.
d.
the ratio of the run to the rise.
 

 17. 

The most important lab safety rule is
a.
always wear a lab apron.
b.
design and conduct your own experiments without asking your teacher.
c.
always follow your teacher’s instructions and textbook directions exactly.
d.
always wear safety goggles.
 

 18. 

What is the first thing you should do if an accident occurs?
a.
Go to the nearest hospital.
b.
Notify your teacher.
c.
Find the emergency equipment.
d.
Start first aid treatment.
 

 19. 

Using one or more of your senses to gather information is called
a.
observing.
b.
inferring.
c.
predicting.
d.
classifying.
 

 20. 

Observations that deal with a number or amount are called
a.
quantitative observations.
b.
operational observations.
c.
qualitative observations.
d.
manipulated observations.
 

 21. 

Observations that deal with descriptions that cannot be expressed in numbers are called
a.
quantitative observations.
b.
manipulated observations.
c.
operational observations.
d.
qualitative observations.
 

 22. 

Which of the following is an example of thinking scientifically about a topic?
a.
investigating the invention of bicycles
b.
evaluating the costs of bicycles
c.
reading a consumer report about bicycles
d.
finding out how bicycles work
 

 23. 

When scientists create a representation of a complex process, they are
a.
predicting.
b.
classifying.
c.
making models.
d.
inferring.
 

 24. 

A possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question is called a(n)
a.
hypothesis.
b.
prediction.
c.
law.
d.
theory.
 

 25. 

In science, a hypothesis must be
a.
testable.
b.
manipulated.
c.
correct.
d.
controlled.
 

 26. 

During an experiment, which factors must be controlled so that researchers can draw a logical conclusion from the experiment?
a.
variables
b.
inquiries
c.
theories
d.
operational definitions
 

 27. 

During an experiment, if you purposely change the temperature to test a hypothesis, the temperature is called the
a.
manipulated variable.
b.
operational variable.
c.
dependent variable.
d.
responding variable.
 

 28. 

The factor that may change in response to the manipulated variable is called the
a.
responding variable.
b.
independent variable.
c.
operational variable.
d.
hypothetical variable.
 

 29. 

Many nonscience careers require a knowledge of science because workers must
a.
develop new scientific laws and theories.
b.
use the process of scientific inquiry.
c.
keep up with new developments in science.
d.
use materials and processes that follow scientific principles.
 

 30. 

In a scientific experiment, the responding variable can also be called the
a.
manipulated variable.
b.
dependent variable.
c.
operational variable.
d.
independent variable.
 

 31. 

An organized way to collect and record scientific observations is with a(n)
a.
data table.
b.
inference.
c.
operational definition.
d.
model.
 

 32. 

One useful tool that may help a scientist interpret data by revealing unexpected patterns is a
a.
variable.
b.
theory.
c.
graph.
d.
law.
 

 33. 

Which stage of the scientific process enables a scientist to check the work of other scientists?
a.
communicating
b.
classifying
c.
concluding
d.
hypothesizing
 

 34. 

Being able to identify good sources of scientific information and apply the knowledge to problems in your life is a part of having
a.
scientific hypotheses.
b.
scientific literacy.
c.
scientific laws.
d.
scientific inquiry.
 

 35. 

Prototypes are used to
a.
patent an invention.
b.
test the operation of a product.
c.
identify a need.
d.
research a problem.
 

 36. 

Identifying the cause of any problems in a design is an example of
a.
troubleshooting.
b.
prototyping.
c.
patenting.
d.
brainstorming.
 

 37. 

A working model used to test a design is called a
a.
patent.
b.
prototype.
c.
trade-off.
d.
product.
 

 38. 

Once the causes of a problem with a product are identified, the next step is to
a.
communicate the solution.
b.
file a patent.
c.
redesign the product.
d.
build a prototype.
 

 39. 

Making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence is called
a.
observing.
b.
inferring.
c.
predicting.
d.
classifying.
 

 40. 

When scientists put things into categories or group together items that are alike in some way, they are
a.
inferring.
b.
predicting.
c.
classifying.
d.
making models.
 

 41. 

Which branch of science includes the study of the stars?
a.
earth and space science
b.
life science
c.
physical science
d.
scientific literacy
 

 42. 

Which branch of science includes the study of plants, animals, and the human body?
a.
earth and space science
b.
life science
c.
physical science
d.
scientific literacy
 

 43. 

Which branch of science includes the study of magnetism?
a.
earth and space science
b.
life science
c.
physical science
d.
scientific literacy
 

 44. 

Most scientific questions being investigated today
a.
involve only one field of science.
b.
span the different fields of science.
c.
involve a small number of scientists.
d.
do not require cooperation between scientists.
 



 
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