Science: Conflicting Viewpoints Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Science: Conflicting Viewpoints flashcards as text
In an ACT Conflicting Viewpoints passage, two scientists disagree about the origin of the Moon. What is the BEST first step to answer a comparison question?
Answer: Identify the central claim of each viewpoint
Pinpointing each scientist's main claim makes it easy to compare and contrast their positions.
Scientist 1 says a comet caused mass extinction; Scientist 2 says volcanic activity did. A question asks what they would AGREE on. What should you look for?
Answer: A shared fact both viewpoints accept
Agreement questions test the common ground or shared data both viewpoints accept despite differing conclusions.
A Conflicting Viewpoints question asks which new evidence would WEAKEN Scientist 2's hypothesis. The best answer is one that:
Answer: Contradicts a key assumption Scientist 2 relies on
Evidence weakens a hypothesis when it conflicts with one of that hypothesis's necessary assumptions or predictions.
If both scientists use the SAME data set but reach different conclusions, this most likely means they differ in their:
Answer: Interpretation of the data
Identical data with opposing conclusions points to differing interpretations or assumptions, not differing data.
Scientist 1 predicts temperature will rise; Scientist 2 predicts it will stay constant. An experiment shows a sharp rise. This result:
Answer: Supports Scientist 1 and challenges Scientist 2
A sharp rise matches Scientist 1's prediction while contradicting Scientist 2's claim of no change.
On Conflicting Viewpoints questions, the word 'assumption' refers to:
Answer: Something taken to be true without direct proof in the passage
An assumption is an unstated or stated belief a viewpoint depends on but does not prove within the passage.
A question asks how Scientist 2 would respond to a fact cited only by Scientist 1. The best approach is to:
Answer: Apply Scientist 2's reasoning to that new fact
Predicting a response requires extending the chosen scientist's logic and assumptions to the new information.