Date:
Total Score:
Student Name/ID#:
/
Biology - Scientific Method and Graphing Quiz
INSTRUCTIONS: This exam is timed. You will have until the end of the exam block to complete the test.
Once you begin the exam, please do not exit the exam or access any other programs or applications.
QUESTION 1
/1
In an experiment, what is the factor being tested or changed on purpose?
A
Dependent variable
B
Independent variable
C
Experimental error
D
Constant
QUESTION 2
/1
A student hypothesizes that water from infrequently used school faucets contains more chemical impurities than the
water from frequently used faucets. At the same time of day, the student uses a water test kit to measure the water
impurities from the different faucets. Which is the manipulated variable in this investigation?
A
The time of day when water is collected B
The locations of water collection
C
The amount of water per sample
The chemicals used to test the water
QUESTION 3
D
/1
What is the daily mean maximum temperature in Edinburgh during the month of September?
A
17° C
B
20° C
C
12° C
D
8° C
QUESTION 4
/1
Which part of an experimental procedure would be written on the x-axis of a graph?
A
Constant
B
Dependent variable
C
Control
D
Independent variable
QUESTION 5
/1
Samantha's teacher asked her to describe a soccer ball using only qualitative observations. Which of the following
would NOT be an example of a qualitative observation?
A
Black and white
B
Smooth
C
Round
D
32.5 cm in diameter
QUESTION 6
/1
Alicia wants to test the effectiveness of different brands of antibacterial hand sanitizers. What should be the
independent variable in Alicia's experiment?
A
The amount of hand sanitizer used
C
The different brands of hand sanitizers
B
The amount of time the sanitizer is left
on the hands
D
The time of day the experiment is
conducted
QUESTION 7
/1
Jason conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of various colored lights on plant growth. Jason observed and
collected data on his plants each week for six weeks. Jason created a graph from his data.
What is wrong with Jason's graph?
A
Jason did not use the correct title for his
B
graph.
Jason labeled the measurement as cm
when he actually used mL.
C
Jason mislabeled his X and Y axis.
Jason entered the data into the graph
incorrectly.
QUESTION 8
D
/1
What conclusion can be drawn from the chart?
A
Yellowfin Tuna swim faster than
Sailfish.
C
All tuna fish in the ocean swim slowly.
B
Yellowfin Tuna swim faster than Bluefin
Tuna.
D
Bluefin Tuna swim faster than Yellowfin
Tuna.
QUESTION 9
/1
The main reason that diagrams, tables and graphs of data are used by scientists is to —
A
organize data
B
create an experiment
C
test a hypothesis
D
verify the conclusion
QUESTION 10
/1
Drew wanted to know which color of flowers attract bees the best. What is his independent variable for this
experiment?
A
Size of Flower
B
Location of Flower
C
Type of Flower
D
Color of Flower
QUESTION 11
/4
Match the part of the experiment from the following scenario:
Jaquan wanted to know if the pH of fertilizer affects the plant growth. He set up three pots all with the same type of
soil, same amount of water, same amount of sunlight, and at the same temperature. He added 10ml of vinegar to one
pot of soil, he added 5 ml of vinegar to a second pot, and he did not add any vinegar to the 3rd pot.
A
Constant
B
Control
C
Independent Variable
D
Dependent Variable
1
Temperature
2
3rd Pot without vinegar
3
pH of Fertilizer
4
Plant Growth
QUESTION 12
/3
Before testing an idea in an experiment, a scientist predicts the outcome by making a
scientific
describes a natural phenomenon. A scientific
. A
offers an explanation for
how nature works that has been tested by many experiments, and not found to be inaccurate.
1
hypothesis
2
theory
3
law
QUESTION 13
Only direct observations count as scientific evidence, so calculations, inferences, and models cannot be used to
answer scientific questions.
A
True
B
False
/1
QUESTION 14
/1
Use the data provided in the graph to answer the question below.
Title: COVID Cases in Virginia Over the Past Year by Vaccination Status
Source: Virginia Department of Health
Which of the following can NOT be concluded from the graph above?
A
There were more cases of COVID in
January 2022 in Virginia than at any
time in the past year.
C
Fully vaccinated people will not catch
COVID.
B
Since August 1, 2021, unvaccinated
people have been more likely to catch
COVID than vaccinated people.
D
Full vaccination offers more protection
from catching COVID than partial
vaccination.
QUESTION 15
For a question to be considered a scientific question, that question must be testable.
A
True
B
False
/1
POSSIBLE POINTS:
ANSWER KEY
FACTOR:
TEST VALUE:
Biology - Scientific Method and Graphing Quiz
GRADING INSTRUCTIONS: Grade each question and tally the points to find the student's total points for the assessment. If the factor does not
equal 1, multiply the total points by the factor to obtain the student's final score.
QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE
In an experiment, what is the factor being tested or changed on purpose?
A
Experimental error
B
C
Dependent variable
D

Independent variable
Constant
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 2: MULTIPLE CHOICE
A student hypothesizes that water from infrequently used school faucets contains more chemical impurities than the
water from frequently used faucets. At the same time of day, the student uses a water test kit to measure the water
impurities from the different faucets. Which is the manipulated variable in this investigation?
A
C

The locations of water collection
B
The chemicals used to test the water
The amount of water per sample
D
The time of day when water is collected
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 3: MULTIPLE CHOICE
What is the daily mean maximum temperature in Edinburgh during the month of September?
A

C
17° C
B
12° C
8° C
D
20° C
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 4: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Which part of an experimental procedure would be written on the x-axis of a graph?
A
C

Constant
B
Dependent variable
Independent variable
D
Control
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 5: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Samantha's teacher asked her to describe a soccer ball using only qualitative observations. Which of the following
would NOT be an example of a qualitative observation?
A
Round
B
C
Smooth
D

32.5 cm in diameter
Black and white
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 6: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Alicia wants to test the effectiveness of different brands of antibacterial hand sanitizers. What should be the
independent variable in Alicia's experiment?
A
C

The different brands of hand sanitizers
The amount of hand sanitizer used
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 7: MULTIPLE CHOICE
B
The time of day the experiment is
conducted
D
The amount of time the sanitizer is left
on the hands
Jason conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of various colored lights on plant growth. Jason observed and
collected data on his plants each week for six weeks. Jason created a graph from his data.
What is wrong with Jason's graph?
A
C

Jason mislabeled his X and Y axis.
Jason entered the data into the graph
incorrectly.
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 8: MULTIPLE CHOICE
B
Jason labeled the measurement as cm
when he actually used mL.
D
Jason did not use the correct title for his
graph.
What conclusion can be drawn from the chart?
A
Bluefin Tuna swim faster than Yellowfin
B
Tuna.
C
All tuna fish in the ocean swim slowly.
D
Yellowfin Tuna swim faster than
Sailfish.

Yellowfin Tuna swim faster than Bluefin
Tuna.
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 9: MULTIPLE CHOICE
The main reason that diagrams, tables and graphs of data are used by scientists is to —
A
C

organize data
B
test a hypothesis
verify the conclusion
D
create an experiment
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 10: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Drew wanted to know which color of flowers attract bees the best. What is his independent variable for this
experiment?
A
Type of Flower
B
C
Location of Flower
D
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.

Color of Flower
Size of Flower
QUESTION 11: MATCHING
Match the part of the experiment from the following scenario:
Jaquan wanted to know if the pH of fertilizer affects the plant growth. He set up three pots all with the same type of
soil, same amount of water, same amount of sunlight, and at the same temperature. He added 10ml of vinegar to one
pot of soil, he added 5 ml of vinegar to a second pot, and he did not add any vinegar to the 3rd pot.
A
Constant
B
Control
C
Independent Variable
D
Dependent Variable
Correct answers:
1
Temperature
2
3rd Pot without vinegar
4 possible pts. / partial credit
QUESTION 12: FILL IN THE BLANK DRAG AND DROP
3
pH of Fertilizer
4
Plant Growth
Before testing an idea in an experiment, a scientist predicts the outcome by making a
scientific
2
describes a natural phenomenon. A scientific
3
1
. A
offers an explanation for
how nature works that has been tested by many experiments, and not found to be inaccurate.
Correct answers:
1
hypothesis
2
law
3
theory
3 possible pts.
QUESTION 13: TRUE/FALSE
Only direct observations count as scientific evidence, so calculations, inferences, and models cannot be used to
answer scientific questions.
A
B
True

False
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 14: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Use the data provided in the graph to answer the question below.
Title: COVID Cases in Virginia Over the Past Year by Vaccination Status
Source: Virginia Department of Health
Which of the following can NOT be concluded from the graph above?
There were more cases of COVID in
January 2022 in Virginia than at any
time in the past year.
A
C

Fully vaccinated people will not catch
COVID.
B
Since August 1, 2021, unvaccinated
people have been more likely to catch
COVID than vaccinated people.
D
Full vaccination offers more protection
from catching COVID than partial
vaccination.
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.
QUESTION 15: TRUE/FALSE
For a question to be considered a scientific question, that question must be testable.
A
B

True
False
1 possible pt. / penalty score: 100%.