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

Pinpointing each scientist's main claim makes it easy to compare and contrast their positions.

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

Agreement questions test the common ground or shared data both viewpoints accept despite differing conclusions.

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

Evidence weakens a hypothesis when it conflicts with one of that hypothesis's necessary assumptions or predictions.

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

Identical data with opposing conclusions points to differing interpretations or assumptions, not differing data.

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

A sharp rise matches Scientist 1's prediction while contradicting Scientist 2's claim of no change.

ACT Practice Test

ACT Practice Test

ACT Science: Conflicting Viewpoints 2