M-STEP Science Inquiry & Data Interpretation 4

Question 1

Which step comes immediately after forming a hypothesis in the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Designing and conducting an experiment

Answer

After forming a hypothesis, the next step is designing and conducting an experiment to test it.

Question 2

A scatter plot shows data points spread randomly with no pattern. What does this suggest about the two variables?

Accepted Answer

They are not correlated

Answer

Randomly scattered data points with no trend indicate there is no correlation between the two variables.

Question 3

A student wants to test if fertilizer amount affects tomato plant growth. She uses 5 plants with 0g, 5g, 10g, 15g, and 20g of fertilizer. What is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The growth of the tomato plants

Answer

The dependent variable is plant growth — the outcome that is measured in response to the fertilizer changes.

Question 4

Which of the following best represents quantitative data?

Accepted Answer

The caterpillar is 4.2 cm long

Answer

Quantitative data is numerical; 4.2 cm is a measurable quantity.

Question 5

A student graphs data from an experiment and draws a line of best fit. What is the purpose of the line of best fit?

Accepted Answer

To show the general trend in the data

Answer

A line of best fit shows the overall trend or pattern in data without necessarily passing through every point.

(M-STEP) Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress Practice Test

(M-STEP) Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress Practice Test

M-STEP Science Inquiry & Data Interpretation 4