ACT Science: Conflicting Viewpoints 2

Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

Identify the central claim of each viewpoint

Answer

Skip directly to the answer choices

Answer

Memorize every number in the passage

Answer

Assume both scientists agree on the conclusion

Question 2

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?

Accepted Answer

A shared fact both viewpoints accept

Answer

The strongest insult to the other side

Answer

Only Scientist 1's evidence

Answer

The author's personal opinion

Question 3

A Conflicting Viewpoints question asks which new evidence would WEAKEN Scientist 2's hypothesis. The best answer is one that:

Accepted Answer

Contradicts a key assumption Scientist 2 relies on

Answer

Supports Scientist 2's prediction

Answer

Is irrelevant to either viewpoint

Answer

Restates Scientist 2's claim

Question 4

If both scientists use the SAME data set but reach different conclusions, this most likely means they differ in their:

Accepted Answer

Interpretation of the data

Answer

Access to the data

Answer

Spelling of technical terms

Answer

Reading speed

Question 5

Scientist 1 predicts temperature will rise; Scientist 2 predicts it will stay constant. An experiment shows a sharp rise. This result:

Accepted Answer

Supports Scientist 1 and challenges Scientist 2

Answer

Supports both equally

Answer

Supports Scientist 2 only

Answer

Is consistent with neither

Question 6

On Conflicting Viewpoints questions, the word 'assumption' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Something taken to be true without direct proof in the passage

Answer

A measured value

Answer

A graph axis label

Answer

The final conclusion

Question 7

A question asks how Scientist 2 would respond to a fact cited only by Scientist 1. The best approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Apply Scientist 2's reasoning to that new fact

Answer

Quote Scientist 1's response instead

Answer

Choose the longest answer

Answer

Ignore Scientist 2's framework