Marine Science: Honors Semester 1 Final
Exam UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following must be involved in solving a scientific problem? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Asking testable questions
What is the body of scientific knowledge based on? - CORRECT ANSWER - observations
Cryptozoology is a field of study aimed at proving the existence of mystery animals such as
Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. Why is cryptozoology not considered a true science? -
CORRECT ANSWER - It is based on anecdotal stories and not on evidence.
What type of questions cannot be solved by scientific methods? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Questions about ethics
Which of the following is true about science? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is durable
because it is tested.
Scientists used trawling with nets to estimate the biomass of fish at different depths of the ocean.
New evidence showed that some fish were able to avoid the nets, so the biomass estimates were
inaccurate. When new evidence is discovered, what must scientists do next, and why? -
CORRECT ANSWER - They must adjust the scientific ideas to account for all of the
known evidence. This process makes scientific knowledge even more durable.
Which of the following properties of water enables it to move from the roots to the leaves of a
plant? - CORRECT ANSWER - It exhibits cohesive behavior.
What property of water explains why large bodies of water do not quickly fluctuate in
temperature? - CORRECT ANSWER - Water has a high specific heat capacity, so it takes
a lot of energy to increase its temperature.
,Why does ice stay at the top of oceans instead of sinking to the bottom? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Ice is less dense than liquid water because the molecules in ice are farther
apart.
Water is often called the "universal solvent" because many substances can be dissolved in water.
What property of water allows it to be such a versatile solvent? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The positive and negative charges on water molecules form strong attractions toward ions and
other charged particles.
Water at about 4°C (39°F) is more dense than water at 0°C (32°F). Why would the living
organisms in the lake die if the water at the freezing point was denser than the water at 4°C? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The freezing water would sink to the bottom and freeze the lake
water from the bottom up.
A scientist wants to test whether the pH, salinity, and temperature of seawater impacts coral
development. He sets up an experiment with three conditions:
Aquarium 1: Normal pH, normal salinity, normal temperature
Aquarium 2: High pH, high salinity, high temperature
Aquarium 3: Low pH, low salinity, low temperature
He finds that coral grow the least in Aquarium 2. He concludes that coral does not grow well in
conditions with high salt. Why is this an invalid conclusion? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
experiment changes more than one variable at once.
The graphs below show the change in temperature and salinity of a region of ocean as an
instrument is lowered below the surface. Depth is measured in kilometers below the surface,
temperature in degrees Celsius, and salinity in parts per thousand.
[Image of two graphs. The left graph has the x-axis labeled temperature (degree C) ranging from
0 to 10. The y-axis is labeled depth below surface (km) ranging from -1.8 to 0. The line on graph
goes up vertically starting at about 2 degree C on the x-axis and -1.9 km on the y-axis. The
,vertical line goes up staying at about 2 degree C and climbs from -1.9 km to about -0.8 km. The
line starts to shift right at -0.6 km. The line shifts to the right from 2 degree C to 5 degree C. The
line shifts to right more starting at -0.5 km and reaches 10 degree C around -0.2 km. The line
continues up vertically after -0.2 km. The right graph has the x-axis labeled salinity ranging from
- CORRECT ANSWER - Ocean salinity increases as ocean temperature decreases.
Students in a high school Marine Science class are learning about the scientific process. Four
students were asked to write a testable prediction about deep-sea vents found in the ocean. Their
responses are shown in the chart.
Student Response
Jin Deep-sea vents are too deep.
Elizabeth Deep-sea vents are more interesting than caves.
Carly Interest in deep-sea vents will decrease in the future.
Raymond Ocean surface temperatures are warmer than water at deep-sea vents.
Which student's prediction is the most testable using the scientific process? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Raymond
What does a sound scientific conclusion most likely rely upon? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Evidence that is independently verified through a systematic process
Ichthyology is an area of study that examines the physical and behavioral characteristics of fish
by using experimentation. How would Ichthyology best be characterized? - CORRECT
ANSWER - science
The lantern fish is a marine animal that has the unique ability to produce its own light. Why
would these organisms most likely be found in deeper ocean zones? - CORRECT
ANSWER - There is less light in deeper ocean zones.
Cyanobacteria are organisms that use the sun's energy to produce their own food. During a storm,
a population of cyanobacteria was carried down into a deeper layer of the ocean. Predict what
, would happen to this population. - CORRECT ANSWER - It would die, because sunlight
is unable to penetrate deep into the ocean
A submarine robot is operating near the ocean floor. What pressure and temperature data will it
most likely record? - CORRECT ANSWER - High pressures and cold temperatures
A professor researching seaweed at a laboratory in the United States has been offered a position
at a Chinese university. She needs to decide whether to move her experiments to China or
whether to start the experiments over. Would it be appropriate scientific methodology to
transport her experiments to China and continue them there? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes, as long as the conditions of her experiments can be replicated exactly
A marine scientist wants to understand the effects of tsunamis on beach erosion. Unfortunately, it
is hard to predict when and where tsunamis will be triggered. What research methods would best
allow him to overcome this limitation in studying tsunamis? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Build a small-scale model of a beach to simulate the effects of tsunamis
Scientists have believed for many years that less oxygen is dissolved in deeper layers of the
ocean compared to shallower layers. What experimental method would best test this hypothesis,
and why? - CORRECT ANSWER - Send a robot to measure how much oxygen is
dissolved in ocean water at various depths, because the amount of oxygen dissolved in water
changes with pressure
A marine scientist is studying photosynthetic organisms, which use sunlight to produce their own
food. She observes that they tend to populate shallower ocean depths. She concludes that
photosynthetic organisms can only live in areas of low pressure. Why is this an invalid scientific
conclusion? - CORRECT ANSWER - Other variables were not accounted for.
The oxygen level of a lake suddenly starts decreasing. A biologist believes that photosynthetic
organisms in the community have become less efficient at producing oxygen. A geologist
believes that changes in the ground have increased the inflow of water into the lake. Why are
both of these options valid scientific hypotheses? - CORRECT ANSWER - Scientists with
different educational backgrounds can come to different interpretations of the same data.
Exam UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following must be involved in solving a scientific problem? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Asking testable questions
What is the body of scientific knowledge based on? - CORRECT ANSWER - observations
Cryptozoology is a field of study aimed at proving the existence of mystery animals such as
Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. Why is cryptozoology not considered a true science? -
CORRECT ANSWER - It is based on anecdotal stories and not on evidence.
What type of questions cannot be solved by scientific methods? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Questions about ethics
Which of the following is true about science? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is durable
because it is tested.
Scientists used trawling with nets to estimate the biomass of fish at different depths of the ocean.
New evidence showed that some fish were able to avoid the nets, so the biomass estimates were
inaccurate. When new evidence is discovered, what must scientists do next, and why? -
CORRECT ANSWER - They must adjust the scientific ideas to account for all of the
known evidence. This process makes scientific knowledge even more durable.
Which of the following properties of water enables it to move from the roots to the leaves of a
plant? - CORRECT ANSWER - It exhibits cohesive behavior.
What property of water explains why large bodies of water do not quickly fluctuate in
temperature? - CORRECT ANSWER - Water has a high specific heat capacity, so it takes
a lot of energy to increase its temperature.
,Why does ice stay at the top of oceans instead of sinking to the bottom? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Ice is less dense than liquid water because the molecules in ice are farther
apart.
Water is often called the "universal solvent" because many substances can be dissolved in water.
What property of water allows it to be such a versatile solvent? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The positive and negative charges on water molecules form strong attractions toward ions and
other charged particles.
Water at about 4°C (39°F) is more dense than water at 0°C (32°F). Why would the living
organisms in the lake die if the water at the freezing point was denser than the water at 4°C? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The freezing water would sink to the bottom and freeze the lake
water from the bottom up.
A scientist wants to test whether the pH, salinity, and temperature of seawater impacts coral
development. He sets up an experiment with three conditions:
Aquarium 1: Normal pH, normal salinity, normal temperature
Aquarium 2: High pH, high salinity, high temperature
Aquarium 3: Low pH, low salinity, low temperature
He finds that coral grow the least in Aquarium 2. He concludes that coral does not grow well in
conditions with high salt. Why is this an invalid conclusion? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
experiment changes more than one variable at once.
The graphs below show the change in temperature and salinity of a region of ocean as an
instrument is lowered below the surface. Depth is measured in kilometers below the surface,
temperature in degrees Celsius, and salinity in parts per thousand.
[Image of two graphs. The left graph has the x-axis labeled temperature (degree C) ranging from
0 to 10. The y-axis is labeled depth below surface (km) ranging from -1.8 to 0. The line on graph
goes up vertically starting at about 2 degree C on the x-axis and -1.9 km on the y-axis. The
,vertical line goes up staying at about 2 degree C and climbs from -1.9 km to about -0.8 km. The
line starts to shift right at -0.6 km. The line shifts to the right from 2 degree C to 5 degree C. The
line shifts to right more starting at -0.5 km and reaches 10 degree C around -0.2 km. The line
continues up vertically after -0.2 km. The right graph has the x-axis labeled salinity ranging from
- CORRECT ANSWER - Ocean salinity increases as ocean temperature decreases.
Students in a high school Marine Science class are learning about the scientific process. Four
students were asked to write a testable prediction about deep-sea vents found in the ocean. Their
responses are shown in the chart.
Student Response
Jin Deep-sea vents are too deep.
Elizabeth Deep-sea vents are more interesting than caves.
Carly Interest in deep-sea vents will decrease in the future.
Raymond Ocean surface temperatures are warmer than water at deep-sea vents.
Which student's prediction is the most testable using the scientific process? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Raymond
What does a sound scientific conclusion most likely rely upon? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Evidence that is independently verified through a systematic process
Ichthyology is an area of study that examines the physical and behavioral characteristics of fish
by using experimentation. How would Ichthyology best be characterized? - CORRECT
ANSWER - science
The lantern fish is a marine animal that has the unique ability to produce its own light. Why
would these organisms most likely be found in deeper ocean zones? - CORRECT
ANSWER - There is less light in deeper ocean zones.
Cyanobacteria are organisms that use the sun's energy to produce their own food. During a storm,
a population of cyanobacteria was carried down into a deeper layer of the ocean. Predict what
, would happen to this population. - CORRECT ANSWER - It would die, because sunlight
is unable to penetrate deep into the ocean
A submarine robot is operating near the ocean floor. What pressure and temperature data will it
most likely record? - CORRECT ANSWER - High pressures and cold temperatures
A professor researching seaweed at a laboratory in the United States has been offered a position
at a Chinese university. She needs to decide whether to move her experiments to China or
whether to start the experiments over. Would it be appropriate scientific methodology to
transport her experiments to China and continue them there? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes, as long as the conditions of her experiments can be replicated exactly
A marine scientist wants to understand the effects of tsunamis on beach erosion. Unfortunately, it
is hard to predict when and where tsunamis will be triggered. What research methods would best
allow him to overcome this limitation in studying tsunamis? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Build a small-scale model of a beach to simulate the effects of tsunamis
Scientists have believed for many years that less oxygen is dissolved in deeper layers of the
ocean compared to shallower layers. What experimental method would best test this hypothesis,
and why? - CORRECT ANSWER - Send a robot to measure how much oxygen is
dissolved in ocean water at various depths, because the amount of oxygen dissolved in water
changes with pressure
A marine scientist is studying photosynthetic organisms, which use sunlight to produce their own
food. She observes that they tend to populate shallower ocean depths. She concludes that
photosynthetic organisms can only live in areas of low pressure. Why is this an invalid scientific
conclusion? - CORRECT ANSWER - Other variables were not accounted for.
The oxygen level of a lake suddenly starts decreasing. A biologist believes that photosynthetic
organisms in the community have become less efficient at producing oxygen. A geologist
believes that changes in the ground have increased the inflow of water into the lake. Why are
both of these options valid scientific hypotheses? - CORRECT ANSWER - Scientists with
different educational backgrounds can come to different interpretations of the same data.
