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TAKS Intervention  - Nature of Science

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 

In an experiment to determine whether the popping of popcorn is affected by the temperature at which it is stored, counting the popped kernels is an example of a(n) ____.
a.
control
c.
hypothesis
b.
conclusion
d.
observation
 

 2. 

A factor in an experiment that changes from the manipulation of the independent variable is the ____.
a.
hypothesis
c.
dependent variable
b.
constant
d.
control
 

 3. 

The prefix kilo- means ____.
a.
0.001
c.
0.01
b.
1,000
d.
100
 

 4. 

A factor that is manipulated in an experiment to change the dependent variable is the ____.
a.
dependent variable
c.
constant
b.
independent variable
d.
control
 

 5. 

A standard for comparison that helps to ensure that the experimental result is caused by the condition being tested is the ____.
a.
constant
c.
control
b.
hypothesis
d.
dependent variable
 

 6. 

The variable plotted on the horizontal or x-axis is called the ____.
a.
variable with the smallest range
c.
independent variable
b.
dependent variable
d.
variable with the largest range
 

 7. 

How many meters are there in 1,865 cm?
a.
0.1865
c.
1.865
b.
186.5
d.
18.65
 

 8. 

A rule or principle that describes what happens in nature is a ____.
a.
scientific law
c.
theory
b.
problem
d.
hypothesis
 

 9. 

The correct symbol for the SI unit of temperature is ____.
a.
K
c.
ºC
b.
s
d.
ºF
 

 10. 

A box is 25 cm long, 6 cm wide, and 4 cm high. How many cubic centimeters of water can it hold?
a.
24
c.
25
b.
600
d.
150
 

 11. 

A measurement standard is defined as ____.
a.
a system of prefixes
b.
the interval between two events
c.
the distance between two points
d.
the exact quantity people agree to use for comparison
 

 12. 

Studying the effect of one thing on another in order to test a hypothesis is a(n) ____.
a.
problem
c.
constant
b.
experiment
d.
exercise
 

 13. 

The application of scientific knowledge to help people is ____.
a.
a hypothesis
c.
a discovery
b.
technology
d.
pure science
 

 14. 

In a graph showing temperature change of a material over time, temperature change is the ____.
a.
variable with the largest range
c.
dependent variable
b.
variable with the smallest range
d.
independent variable
 

 15. 

An idea, event, or object can be represented by a ____ to help people better understand it.
a.
law
c.
model
b.
hypothesis
d.
constant
 

 16. 

The best type of graph to use to show how some fixed quantity is broken down into parts is ____.
a.
scatter graph
c.
bar graph
b.
circle graph
d.
line graph
 

 17. 

When designing an experiment, the first step is to ____.
a.
analyze the data
c.
state the problem
b.
list a procedure
d.
state a hypothesis
 

 18. 

The prefix milli- means ____.
a.
0.001
c.
0.01
b.
1,000
d.
100
 

 19. 

The lightbulb is an example of ____.
a.
an exercise
c.
technology
b.
pure science
d.
a dependent variable
 

 20. 

The SI unit that is used to measure time is the ____.
a.
meter
c.
second
b.
kelvin
d.
kilogram
 

 21. 

The process of gathering information through the senses is called ____.
a.
analysis
c.
hypothesis
b.
observation
d.
inference
 

 22. 

A beaker contains 0.32 L of water. What is the volume of this water in milliliters?
a.
320 mL
c.
0.32 mL
b.
32 mL
d.
3.2 mL
 

 23. 

A factor that does NOT change in an experiment is the ____.
a.
dependent variable
c.
control
b.
constant
d.
hypothesis
 

 24. 

One benefit of the SI system is that it is ____.
a.
not used in the United States
c.
based on units of 100
b.
not used to measure temperature
d.
based on multiples of ten
 

 25. 

An explanation of an event that is based on repeated observations and experiments is a ____.
a.
problem
c.
theory
b.
scientific law
d.
hypothesis
 

Matching
 
 
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a.
milli-
g.
kilogram
b.
kilo-
h.
cubic centimeter
c.
centi-
i.
meter
d.
mass
j.
dependent variable
e.
kelvin
k.
SI
f.
second
 

 26. 

SI prefix meaning 0.01
 

 27. 

SI prefix meaning 0.001
 

 28. 

SI unit of length
 

 29. 

derived unit of volume
 

 30. 

SI unit of time
 

 31. 

amount of material in an object
 

 32. 

worldwide system of measurement
 

 33. 

plotted on the vertical or y-axis
 

 34. 

SI prefix meaning 1,000
 

 35. 

SI unit of mass
 
 
Read the paragraph and then match each item with the correct statement below.
An experiment was designed to investigate the effect of caffeine on the heartbeat of water fleas. Two populations of water fleas were cultured. Both populations had water with the same mineral content, were supplied with identical amounts of bacteria as food, received the same amount of light, and had their temperature maintained at 20ºC. Every two hours, water fleas from both populations were selected and their heartbeats were monitored. The fleas of population one had caffeine administered five minutes before their heartbeat was checked. The fleas of population two were given nothing.
a.
independent variable
c.
constant
b.
dependent variable
d.
control
 

 36. 

What part of the experiment was the food?
 

 37. 

What part of the experiment was the heartbeat?
 

 38. 

What part of the experiment was the caffeine?
 

 39. 

What part of the experiment was population two?
 

 40. 

What part of the experiment was the water temperature?
 



 
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