TExES EC-6 Science Knowledge & Inquiry Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher asks students to predict what will happen to a plant kept in the dark for two weeks. This activity primarily develops which scientific skill?
- Data collection
- Hypothesis formation (Correct answer)
- Controlled experimentation
- Classification
Correct answer: Hypothesis formation
Asking students to predict outcomes before an experiment develops hypothesis formation skills, a core scientific inquiry process.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes a controlled variable in a science experiment?
- The variable that is measured at the end of the experiment
- The variable that is deliberately changed by the experimenter
- A variable that is kept constant throughout the experiment (Correct answer)
- The final conclusion drawn from the data
Correct answer: A variable that is kept constant throughout the experiment
A controlled variable is one that is held constant so it does not influence the outcome, allowing a fair test of the independent variable.
Question 3: Students sort rocks into groups based on texture and color. Which process skill are they practicing?
- Inferring
- Predicting
- Classifying (Correct answer)
- Communicating
Correct answer: Classifying
Sorting objects into groups based on observable characteristics is the process skill of classifying.
Question 4: A scientist observes that oil spills near a coastline coincide with declining bird populations. This is best described as:
- A controlled experiment
- A correlational observation (Correct answer)
- A definitive causal conclusion
- An inference based on experimentation
Correct answer: A correlational observation
Noticing that two variables change together without manipulating either one is a correlational observation, not proof of causation.
Question 5: Which measurement tool would be most appropriate for a student to use when determining the volume of an irregular-shaped rock?
- Balance scale
- Ruler
- Graduated cylinder with water displacement (Correct answer)
- Thermometer
Correct answer: Graduated cylinder with water displacement
Water displacement in a graduated cylinder is used to find the volume of an irregular solid that cannot be measured directly with a ruler.
Question 6: Which of the following is the most accurate statement about scientific theories?
- A theory is an educated guess that has not been tested
- A theory becomes a law once enough evidence is collected
- A theory is a well-substantiated explanation supported by repeated testing (Correct answer)
- A theory and a hypothesis are the same thing
Correct answer: A theory is a well-substantiated explanation supported by repeated testing
A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation of natural phenomena based on extensive evidence and repeated testing.
Question 7: A student records data from an experiment but notices one result is very different from all the others. What should the student do first?
- Remove the data point because it must be wrong
- Repeat that part of the experiment to check the result (Correct answer)
- Average it in with the other data and ignore it
- Change the hypothesis to match the outlier
Correct answer: Repeat that part of the experiment to check the result
An anomalous result should prompt the student to repeat the trial to determine if it was an error or a genuine finding.
TExES EC-6 Science Knowledge & Inquiry Skills 2
A teacher asks students to predict what will happen to a plant kept in the dark for two weeks.
This activity primarily develops which scientific skill?