TExES EC-6 Science Knowledge & Inquiry Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student hypothesizes that plants grow taller when given more sunlight. After the experiment, the data shows no significant difference in height. What conclusion is most appropriate?
- The student should run the experiment again until the hypothesis is supported
- The hypothesis is not supported by the data and should be revised (Correct answer)
- The data must be wrong since the hypothesis is logical
- The experiment is invalid and should be discarded
Correct answer: The hypothesis is not supported by the data and should be revised
When data does not support a hypothesis, the correct scientific response is to revise or reject the hypothesis based on the evidence.
Question 2: Which of the following scenarios demonstrates the use of a model in science?
- A student memorizes the layers of the Earth from a textbook
- A student builds a 3D representation of the solar system to understand planet distances (Correct answer)
- A student reads about plate tectonics in a science journal
- A student watches a documentary about volcanoes
Correct answer: A student builds a 3D representation of the solar system to understand planet distances
Scientific models are physical or conceptual representations used to understand systems or phenomena that are difficult to observe directly.
Question 3: Which safety rule is most important when students are using a heat source during a science experiment?
- Work as quickly as possible to reduce exposure time
- Wear safety goggles and keep hair and loose clothing tied back (Correct answer)
- Use the hottest setting to complete the experiment faster
- Only the teacher needs to wear protective gear
Correct answer: Wear safety goggles and keep hair and loose clothing tied back
Wearing goggles and securing hair and clothing are essential safety measures when working near heat sources to prevent burns and accidents.
Question 4: A class conducts an experiment to see if salt affects the boiling point of water. Which of the following would be the independent variable?
- The temperature at which the water boils
- The amount of salt added to the water (Correct answer)
- The type of pot used
- The amount of time taken to boil the water
Correct answer: The amount of salt added to the water
The independent variable is the one the experimenter deliberately changes — in this case, the amount of salt added.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes scientific inquiry?
- Memorizing facts from a textbook and repeating them on a test
- A structured process of asking questions, investigating, and drawing evidence-based conclusions (Correct answer)
- Following a strict set of steps that never change between experiments
- Accepting the results published in textbooks without question
Correct answer: A structured process of asking questions, investigating, and drawing evidence-based conclusions
Scientific inquiry is a flexible, evidence-based process of questioning, investigating, and developing conclusions from data.
Question 6: A student measures a pencil as 14.5 cm using a ruler. The measurement 14.5 cm is best described as:
- A qualitative observation
- A quantitative observation (Correct answer)
- An inference
- A hypothesis
Correct answer: A quantitative observation
A measurement with a numerical value and unit is a quantitative observation, distinguishing it from descriptive qualitative data.
Question 7: Why do scientists use the International System of Units (SI) when recording data?
- Because SI units are easier to calculate than customary units
- To ensure consistency and allow scientists worldwide to understand and compare results (Correct answer)
- Because the U.S. government requires all scientists to use SI
- To make science more difficult for non-scientists to understand
Correct answer: To ensure consistency and allow scientists worldwide to understand and compare results
SI units provide a universal standard that allows scientists from different countries to accurately share and compare data.
TExES EC-6 Science Knowledge & Inquiry Skills 5
A student hypothesizes that plants grow taller when given more sunlight.
After the experiment, the data shows no significant difference in height.
What conclusion is most appropriate?