BIO 156 EXAM 1 PRACTICE 84 ACTUAL PAPER
2026 QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ ESSAY:
1. Create a carefully worded and precise RQ
-Define, describe, clarify (any unclear words/phrases)
-Ask other researchers
2. Review the "Literature"" to explore the RQ
-Primary literature: published reports of original scientific research,
peer reviewed journals
-Secondary literature: everything else
3. Create multiple HYPOTHESES and make list of POSSIBLE answers
to RQ
-Hypothesis: one of many possible answers to the RQ
-Is it VALID: does it make sense
-Is it TESTABLE: can it be used to generate PREDICTIONS
(deductions) about CMW world
4. Generate PREDICTIONS from your hypothesis. Be SPECIFIC
-The deduction formula
,-IF (my H is true), THEN what should I observe in the real world
5. Do EXPERIMENTS test your PREDICTIONS
-Establish clear & repeatable EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
-consider RQ, hypothesis, the variables
-IV: deliberately change, "set up"
-DV: observe
-Controlled variable: all possible variables that mi Answer: essay
◉ What is Science? Answer: Science is a tool used to answer certain
questions about the natural world
◉ When/Where does SCIENCE/SCIENTIFIC METHOD "work" best?
Answer: Works best when...
We are asking questions and expecting answers in concrete material
"CMW"
◉ How can you make sure that your RESEARCH QUESTION is clear
and precise? Answer: -Define
-Describe
-Clarify any unclear words or phrases
-Ask other researchers
,◉ Why is PEER COMMUNICATION [step 7] mentioned in step 1 of
the H-D Scientific Method? Answer: -Peer communication should
actually be in EVERY STEP
-Science is a social activity
◉ What exactly is a hypothesis?
Describe 2 properties of a GOOD/USEFUL hypothesis. Answer: -A
hypothesis is one of many possible answers to the research question
-Valid: does it makes sense
-Testable: can be used to make predictions about the CMW
◉ List two ways that a HYPOTHESIS and a PREDICTION are different
Answer: -HYPOTHESIS
-general
-sound like an answer to a question
-PREDICTIONS
-specific
-sound like a research question
, ◉ What is the difference between a HYPOTHESIS and a THEORY?
Answer: -Theory: a well tested hypothesis that has never made a
false prediction, (and has only made true predictions)
-Hypothesis: only ONE possible answer
◉ How do we decide if a HYPOTHESIS gets to "stay on the list of
possible answers" or gets thrown off the list? Answer: -IF a
hypothesis is VALID and TESTABLE it is kept on the list
-IF a hypothesis is making TRUE PREDICTIONS, THEN we keep it on
the list of possible answers to the RQ.
IF it makes a FALSE prediction, it gets thrown off the list.
◉ Define Independent variable (IV) Answer: -the variable that is
deliberately created/"set up" by the researcher
◉ Define Dependent variable (DV) Answer: -the variable that is
measured
-usually difficult to create it
-can only observe it
◉ What very important MOLECULE is in the Centigrade/Celsius
temperature scale associated with? Answer: H2O
2026 QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ ESSAY:
1. Create a carefully worded and precise RQ
-Define, describe, clarify (any unclear words/phrases)
-Ask other researchers
2. Review the "Literature"" to explore the RQ
-Primary literature: published reports of original scientific research,
peer reviewed journals
-Secondary literature: everything else
3. Create multiple HYPOTHESES and make list of POSSIBLE answers
to RQ
-Hypothesis: one of many possible answers to the RQ
-Is it VALID: does it make sense
-Is it TESTABLE: can it be used to generate PREDICTIONS
(deductions) about CMW world
4. Generate PREDICTIONS from your hypothesis. Be SPECIFIC
-The deduction formula
,-IF (my H is true), THEN what should I observe in the real world
5. Do EXPERIMENTS test your PREDICTIONS
-Establish clear & repeatable EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
-consider RQ, hypothesis, the variables
-IV: deliberately change, "set up"
-DV: observe
-Controlled variable: all possible variables that mi Answer: essay
◉ What is Science? Answer: Science is a tool used to answer certain
questions about the natural world
◉ When/Where does SCIENCE/SCIENTIFIC METHOD "work" best?
Answer: Works best when...
We are asking questions and expecting answers in concrete material
"CMW"
◉ How can you make sure that your RESEARCH QUESTION is clear
and precise? Answer: -Define
-Describe
-Clarify any unclear words or phrases
-Ask other researchers
,◉ Why is PEER COMMUNICATION [step 7] mentioned in step 1 of
the H-D Scientific Method? Answer: -Peer communication should
actually be in EVERY STEP
-Science is a social activity
◉ What exactly is a hypothesis?
Describe 2 properties of a GOOD/USEFUL hypothesis. Answer: -A
hypothesis is one of many possible answers to the research question
-Valid: does it makes sense
-Testable: can be used to make predictions about the CMW
◉ List two ways that a HYPOTHESIS and a PREDICTION are different
Answer: -HYPOTHESIS
-general
-sound like an answer to a question
-PREDICTIONS
-specific
-sound like a research question
, ◉ What is the difference between a HYPOTHESIS and a THEORY?
Answer: -Theory: a well tested hypothesis that has never made a
false prediction, (and has only made true predictions)
-Hypothesis: only ONE possible answer
◉ How do we decide if a HYPOTHESIS gets to "stay on the list of
possible answers" or gets thrown off the list? Answer: -IF a
hypothesis is VALID and TESTABLE it is kept on the list
-IF a hypothesis is making TRUE PREDICTIONS, THEN we keep it on
the list of possible answers to the RQ.
IF it makes a FALSE prediction, it gets thrown off the list.
◉ Define Independent variable (IV) Answer: -the variable that is
deliberately created/"set up" by the researcher
◉ Define Dependent variable (DV) Answer: -the variable that is
measured
-usually difficult to create it
-can only observe it
◉ What very important MOLECULE is in the Centigrade/Celsius
temperature scale associated with? Answer: H2O
