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Science Knowledge & Inquiry Skills Flashcards

7 cards from real TEXES EC-6 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Science Knowledge & Inquiry Skills flashcards as text

  1. Which of the following best illustrates the concept of peer review in science?

    Answer: Scientists evaluate each other's research before it is published

    Peer review is the process by which other scientists critically evaluate a researcher's methods and conclusions before publication.

  2. A student notices earthworms on the sidewalk after it rains. The student concludes, 'It must have rained recently.' This is an example of:

    Answer: An inference based on prior knowledge

    The student used prior knowledge (earthworms surface when soil is flooded) combined with the observation to draw a conclusion — this is inference.

  3. Why is it important for scientists to publish their methods in detail when reporting findings?

    Answer: So other scientists can repeat and verify the experiment

    Detailed methods allow other scientists to replicate the study, which is essential for verifying and validating scientific findings.

  4. Students are designing an experiment to test whether fertilizer affects plant growth. Which of the following would be the best experimental design?

    Answer: Grow some plants with fertilizer and some without, keeping all other conditions the same

    A valid experiment requires a control group (no fertilizer) and an experimental group, with all other variables held constant.

  5. Which of the following BEST describes the relationship between a scientific law and a scientific theory?

    Answer: A law describes what happens; a theory explains why it happens

    Scientific laws describe observable patterns or regularities, while scientific theories provide explanations for why those patterns occur.

  6. A student conducts three trials of an experiment and records times of 12s, 13s, and 12s. The student should report the result as:

    Answer: The average of all three trials

    Averaging multiple trials reduces the effect of small errors and gives a more representative and reliable measurement.

  7. An elementary teacher wants students to practice making measurements accurately. Which activity best targets this skill?

    Answer: Using rulers and balances to measure objects and record data in a table

    Hands-on practice with measurement tools directly develops measurement accuracy skills far better than passive activities.