CA GATE Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning 2

Question 1

What is the purpose of a control group in a scientific experiment?

Accepted Answer

To provide a baseline for comparison with the experimental group

Answer

To change all the variables at once to see what happens

Answer

To ensure the experiment runs smoothly without errors

Answer

To represent the hypothesis in a visual form

Question 2

A student wants to determine which type of soil best supports bean plant growth. After two weeks, she measures the heights of plants in sand, clay, and loam soil. What is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The height of the plants

Answer

The type of soil used

Answer

The amount of water given to each plant

Answer

The number of weeks the experiment runs

Question 3

Which tool would be MOST appropriate for measuring the volume of a liquid in a scientific experiment?

Accepted Answer

A graduated cylinder

Answer

A ruler

Answer

A thermometer

Answer

A balance scale

Question 4

A scientist tests a new fertilizer on 50 tomato plants and uses 50 plants with no fertilizer for comparison. Why is using 50 plants in each group better than using 5?

Accepted Answer

A larger sample size reduces the effect of random variation and increases reliability

Answer

More plants take up less space in the greenhouse

Answer

Fifty plants make the experiment look more professional

Answer

Larger groups are always required by scientific law

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?

Accepted Answer

The solution turned bright blue after the chemical was added

Answer

The temperature of water is 22°C

Answer

The plant grew 5 cm in one week

Answer

The reaction took 30 seconds to complete

Question 6

During an investigation, a student observes that metal spoons become hot faster than wooden spoons when placed in hot soup. The student should classify this as:

Accepted Answer

An observation

Answer

A hypothesis

Answer

An inference

Answer

A conclusion

Question 7

What does it mean when a scientific theory is described as 'well-supported'?

Accepted Answer

It has been tested many times and consistently supported by evidence

Answer

It has been proven absolutely true and can never change

Answer

Most scientists personally believe it to be true

Answer

It has been endorsed by a government agency