1. Introduction to Biology

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?a. Theories are hypotheses that have been proved.b. Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers.c. Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power.d. Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often contradicted by experimental results.

If I perform a hypothesis test in which I demonstrate that the prediction I made in question 5 is true, I have .a. proved the hypothesis;b. supported the hypothesis;c. not falsified the hypothesis;d. B and C are correct;e. A, B, and C are correct

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?a. The fish swam in a zigzag motion.b. The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds.c. The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C.d. The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks each.

Which sentence best describes the logic of scientific inquiry?a. If I generate a testable hypothesis, tests and observations will support it.b. If my prediction is correct, it will lead to a testable hypothesis.c. If my observations are accurate, they will support my hypothesis.d. If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results.

Which of the following is a true statement of observational data?a. It is always qualitative, not quantitative.b. It is used to form hypotheses, but not to test them.c. It can include comparisons of fossils as well as DNA sequences.d. It is the type of data used for the independent variable in a controlled experiment.

PROCESS OF SCIENCE Explain why researchers formulate a null hypothesis in addition to a hypothesis when designing an experimental study.

A friend tells you that the theory of evolution is just an educated guess by biologists about how things work. Evaluate this statement.

Which of the following best describes the logic of scientific inquiry?a. If I generate a testable hypothesis, my experiments will support it.b. If my prediction is correct, it will lead to a testable hypothesis.c. If my observations are accurate, they will support my hypothesis.d. If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results.

A friend tells you that the theory of evolution is just an educated guess by biologists about how things work. Evaluate this statement.

A primary source of scientific results is .a. the news media;b. anecdotes from others;c. articles in peer-reviewed journals;d. the Internet;e. all of the above

A story on your local news station reports that eating a 1-ounce square of milk chocolate each day reduces the risk of heart disease in rats and that this result is statistically significant. This means that .a. people who eat milk chocolate are healthier than those who do not;b. the difference between chocolate-eating and chocolate-abstaining rats in heart disease rates was greater than expected by chance;c. rats like milk chocolate;d. milk chocolate reduces the risk of heart disease;e. two ounces of milk chocolate per day is likely to be even better for heart health than 1 ounce

What features of the story on milk chocolate and heart health described in question 11 should cause you to consider the results less convincing?a. The study was sponsored by a large milk chocolate manufacturer;b. A total of 10 rats were used in the study;c. The only difference between the rats was that human participants of the experimental group received chocolate along with their regular diets, and the human participants of the control group received no additional food;d. The reporter notes that other studies indicate milk chocolate does not have a beneficial effect on heart health;e. all of the above

Describe the process of scientific inquiry and explain why it is not a rigid method.

The graph below shows the results of an experiment in which mice learned to run through a maze. (a) State the hypothesis and prediction that you think this experiment tested.

The graph below shows the results of an experiment in which mice learned to run through a maze. (d) Do the data support the hypothesis? Explain.