Biology for a Changing World with Physiology (4th Edition) – Chapter 1 – Test Bank Questions and Answers

,Name: Class: Date:

Chapter 1
1. A hypothesis is a statement that:
a. can be changed throughout the experiment.
b. can be avidly accepted by scientists.
c. can be tested and proven true.
d. can be tested and proven false.
e. precedes a theory.
ANSWER: d

2. Where are the most reliable scientific results published?
a. in the daily news
b. in science magazines
c. in science journals
d. on scientific websites
e. in peer-reviewed scientific journals
ANSWER: e

3. The scientific process from beginning to end can be outlined as:
a. hypothesize, test, analyze, and conclude.
b. observe, hypothesize, test, analyze, and conclude.
c. observe, question, test, analyze, and conclude.
d. hypothesize, test, analyze, and conclude.
e. observe, test, hypothesize, analyze, and conclude.
ANSWER: b

4. Which sequence places the steps of the scientific process in the correct order?
a. experimentquestionshypothesisread literatureconclusions
b. questionsexperimentread literaturehypothesisconclusions
c. read literatureexperimentquestionsconclusionhypothesis
d. questionsread literaturehypothesisexperimentconclusions
e. read literaturequestionsexperimenthypothesisconclusions
ANSWER: d

5. In approaching a scientific problem or question, scientists will often first:
a. design an experiment.
b. choose test subjects.
c. peer review a study.
d. review existing literature on the topic.
e. formulate a hypothesis.
ANSWER: d

6. What is the importance of peer review in the scientific process?


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Chapter 1

a. It helps a scientist formulate a hypothesis.
b. It helps a scientist choose test subjects.
c. It ensures that a study has been appropriately designed and correctly interpreted.
d. It helps the scientist collect data.
e. It is the first step in any scientific study.
ANSWER: c

7. What are the criteria for a good hypothesis?
a. It must be realistic and have only one possible result.
b. It must have only one possible result and be peer reviewed.
c. It must be based on anecdotal evidence and be testable.
d. It must be based on peer-reviewed journal articles and be realistic.
e. It must be testable and falsifiable.
ANSWER: e

8. Based on previous published data and some preliminary experiments done in my lab, I hypothesize that a
drug called “shrinkase” will inhibit the growth of a particular type of cancerous tumor. What is my next step in
the scientific process?
a. find people with that kind of tumor
b. obtain a large supply of shrinkase
c. determine what my control and experimental groups will be
d. submit my hypothesis for peer review
e. analyze the results of my experiments
ANSWER: c

9. If the results of an experiment contradict the hypothesis, you have the hypothesis.
a. supported
b. falsified
c. proved
d. failed
e. verified
ANSWER: b

10. Scientific journals send out potential articles to other scientists who are working in the same research area,
and those scientists make comments regarding the research. This is known as:
a. jurisprudence.
b. peer rebuttal.
c. journalistic integrity.
d. journalistic license.
e. peer review.
ANSWER: e



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11. You have the following known facts: Smoking causes accumulation of materials in the lungs, thereby
decreasing the oxygen-absorbing capability of the lungs. Long-term smoking causes more accumulation of
materials in the lungs. Decreased lung capacity increases the workload of the heart. Which hypothesis can you
formulate from these observations?
a. People who never smoke will never develop lung problems.
b. Long-term smokers have poorer heart health than nonsmokers.
c. New smokers have poorer heart health than long-term smokers.
d. Stopping smoking eliminates lung problems within two years.
e. Stopping smoking eliminates heart problems within two years.
ANSWER: b

12. I notice that all the students in my class seem very drowsy 45 minutes into my class period. Knowing that it
could not possibly be my lecture putting them to sleep, I consider other factors such as the fact that my class is
at 5 P.M. and the sun is usually setting at that time of the day, which I think may make people drowsy. What
type of evidence am I collecting in making this observation?
a. experimental
b. anecdotal
c. peer reviewed
d. coincidental
e. untestable
ANSWER: b

13. Evidence that is not based on systematic scientific study is known as evidence.
a. empirical
b. causational
c. anecdotal
d. logical
e. statistical
ANSWER: c

14. A controlled experiment describes the use of:
a. separate control and experimental groups.
b. precise measurements.
c. accurate and careful measurements.
d. more than one variable changing separately.
e. careful testing of the hypothesis.
ANSWER: a

15. In a controlled experiment, the control and experimental groups differ in the:
a. environmental variable.
b. controlled variable.



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