Scientific Method Quiz
1. Which of the following statements is true about the scientific method?
a. Only certified scientists can use the scientific method
b. No one uses the scientific method anymore. It is old fashioned.
c. Students can only use the scientific method when they are at school in
their science class.
d. All people can use the steps of the scientific method to find answers to questions
2. What is the proper way to write a formal hypothesis?
a. “If
, then
because”
b. “I think that
”
c. “If
maybe
”
d. “I hope that
will happen”
3. Julie is growing corn plants for a science experiment. She wants to test if fertilizer will help her
plants grow taller. Which of the following sentences is a correct formal hypothesis for Julie to
test?
a. When the corn is fertilized it grows taller.
b. If the corn is fertilized, then the corn plant will produce lots of kernels.
c. If the corn is fertilized, then the corn plant will grow taller because the fertilizer
contains nitrogen which is an important nutrient for plant growth.
d. Fertilizing corn will always increase its growth rate
4. What is an inference?
a. A great idea you had.
b. A prediction or statement based on facts/observations.
c. A type of static that gets in the way of your radio signal.
d. A factual statement that you notice with your 5 senses.
5. If your conclusion is that your data did not support your hypothesis what should you do?
a. Revisit your hypothesis, change it and test again.
b. Give up, it was a waste
c. Go back and re­analyze your data.
d. Change your data to match your hypothesis
Observe the picture below and then answer the following questions.
6. Which of the following is a reasonable inference about the picture above?
a. The student is wearing goggles.
b. The student may be in a science class because he is wearing goggles.
c. The student is holding a test tube.
d. The student is craving a chicken salad sandwich.
and holding a test tube.
Use the story to answer the questions 7­9
Bellami is doing an experiment to see what temperature produces the most mold on
bread. Normally her bread sits at room temperature on the counter. She will try putting
her bread in the refrigerator, in a warm incubator, and on the counter. She will measure
how long it takes for mold to grow on each loaf of bread.
7. According to the experiment which is the independent variable (the thing that you change)?
a. The number of days it take to grow
b. The type of bread she uses
c. The temperature she puts the bread in to grow the mold
d. The flavor of the bread
8. What is the dependant variable (the thing that is measured) in Bellami’s experiment?
a. the amount of mold on the bread
b. how long it takes for mold to grow
c. the length of the bread loaf
d. the size of each slice of bread
9. What is the control (the normal situation) in Bellami’s experiment?
a. How long it takes for mold to grow.
b. The bread in the refrigerator.
c. The bread on the counter.
d. The bread in the incubator.
Use the graph below to answer question 10.
10. According to the bar graph above, which temperature or situation slows mold growth the
most?
a. Room temperature
b. In the refrigerator.
c. In the incubator.
d. All temperatures/situations produce mold growth at the same rate.
11. Do you always have to follow the exact steps of the scientific method?
a. Yes, scientists always follow it exactly step by step and never change it
b. Yes, you cannot skip steps or it isn’t real science.
c. No, this method is just for memorizing it isn’t for actual use.
d. No, it is a guideline to help scientists solve a problem, you do not always use an exact
list of steps.