TEST BANK FOR
WHAT IS LIFE A
GUIDE TO
BIOLOGY WITH
PHYSIOLOGY 4TH
EDITION BY
PHELAN
,1. By applying scientific thinking, one should be able to:
A) prove that bees are attracted to colorful flowers because it makes them feel happy.
B) determine whether there is a God in the heavens.
C) prove that there is life after death, and what that life is like.
D) determine exactly how many grains of dust are on the Moon.
E) determine whether eating more meat makes you grow taller.
2. The study of living things is called:
A) botany.
B) zoology.
C) archaeology.
D) biology.
E) geology.
3. True or False: Science is only relevant to professionals who conduct clinical trials and
gather research for a living.
A) True
B) False
4. Which of the following questions underlies scientific thinking?
A) “Is science relevant to me?”
B) “What do the experts say?”
C) “How do I know that is true?”
D) “Can I trust scientific theories?”
E) “How can I manipulate evidence to my advantage?”
5. Scientific literacy:
A) is only important for students studying biology.
B) is increasingly important in our everyday lives.
C) can come from accepting what experts tell us.
D) is not necessary if you rely on “gut instinct.”
E) is only useful for those with careers in medicine.
6. True or False: Biological literacy is useful for making better decisions for your own life.
A) True
B) False
Page 1
, 7. Which of the following statements could not arise from making scientific observations?
A) The hair on my legs grew to a length of 1 cm in 3 days after shaving it off.
B) Human twins have exactly the same DNA.
C) The quartz crystal I had in my pocket today increased the likelihood of life being
discovered on other planets by ten times.
D) There are tiny creatures visible under a microscope that can't be seen by the naked
eye.
E) I sneezed two separate times today; both times, I sneezed three sneezes in a row.
8. The scientific method is:
A) a deductive process based on testable and measurable events.
B) a way of thinking that relies heavily on faith and belief.
C) a process that starts with a conclusion and move toward a hypothesis.
D) a method that uses different steps, depending on who is using it.
E) a rigid process, like following a recipe exactly.
9. Generally, what is the third step in the scientific method, after one formulates a
hypothesis?
A) Make observations.
B) Draw conclusions and make revisions.
C) Devise a testable prediction.
D) Conduct a critical experiment.
E) Formulate a null hypothesis.
10. To be useful in the scientific method, an observation must be:
A) hypothetical.
B) definite.
C) measurable.
D) proven.
E) metaphysical.
11. Scientific study always begins with:
A) hypotheses.
B) conclusions.
C) experiments.
D) observations.
E) data.
Page 2
, 12. In scientific thinking, which of the following are not subject to revision?
A) experiments
B) hunches
C) theories
D) hypotheses
E) observations
13. The proposed explanation for a phenomenon is best described as:
A) a testable prediction.
B) a conclusion.
C) an observation.
D) an experiment.
E) a hypothesis.
14. If your hypothesis is, “Echinacea reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms of
the common cold,” what is your null hypothesis?
A) Vitamin C reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms of the common cold.
B) Echinacea increases the duration and severity of the symptoms of the common
cold.
C) Echinacea has no effect on the duration and severity of the symptoms of the
common cold.
D) Echinacea reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms of the flu.
E) Vitamin C increases the duration and severity of the symptoms of the common
cold.
15. Which of the following commonly used terms comes closest to the meaning of what
scientists call a “hypothesis”?
A) fact
B) description
C) observation
D) explanation
E) experiment
16. You notice that over the past month, many students have started carrying a new style of
backpack. You think to yourself, “Maybe the bookstore recently started selling this new
style of backpack.” The statement in quotation marks is:
A) a type of control.
B) an example of a hypothesis.
C) a type of observation.
D) an example of an experimental question.
E) an experiment.
Page 3
WHAT IS LIFE A
GUIDE TO
BIOLOGY WITH
PHYSIOLOGY 4TH
EDITION BY
PHELAN
,1. By applying scientific thinking, one should be able to:
A) prove that bees are attracted to colorful flowers because it makes them feel happy.
B) determine whether there is a God in the heavens.
C) prove that there is life after death, and what that life is like.
D) determine exactly how many grains of dust are on the Moon.
E) determine whether eating more meat makes you grow taller.
2. The study of living things is called:
A) botany.
B) zoology.
C) archaeology.
D) biology.
E) geology.
3. True or False: Science is only relevant to professionals who conduct clinical trials and
gather research for a living.
A) True
B) False
4. Which of the following questions underlies scientific thinking?
A) “Is science relevant to me?”
B) “What do the experts say?”
C) “How do I know that is true?”
D) “Can I trust scientific theories?”
E) “How can I manipulate evidence to my advantage?”
5. Scientific literacy:
A) is only important for students studying biology.
B) is increasingly important in our everyday lives.
C) can come from accepting what experts tell us.
D) is not necessary if you rely on “gut instinct.”
E) is only useful for those with careers in medicine.
6. True or False: Biological literacy is useful for making better decisions for your own life.
A) True
B) False
Page 1
, 7. Which of the following statements could not arise from making scientific observations?
A) The hair on my legs grew to a length of 1 cm in 3 days after shaving it off.
B) Human twins have exactly the same DNA.
C) The quartz crystal I had in my pocket today increased the likelihood of life being
discovered on other planets by ten times.
D) There are tiny creatures visible under a microscope that can't be seen by the naked
eye.
E) I sneezed two separate times today; both times, I sneezed three sneezes in a row.
8. The scientific method is:
A) a deductive process based on testable and measurable events.
B) a way of thinking that relies heavily on faith and belief.
C) a process that starts with a conclusion and move toward a hypothesis.
D) a method that uses different steps, depending on who is using it.
E) a rigid process, like following a recipe exactly.
9. Generally, what is the third step in the scientific method, after one formulates a
hypothesis?
A) Make observations.
B) Draw conclusions and make revisions.
C) Devise a testable prediction.
D) Conduct a critical experiment.
E) Formulate a null hypothesis.
10. To be useful in the scientific method, an observation must be:
A) hypothetical.
B) definite.
C) measurable.
D) proven.
E) metaphysical.
11. Scientific study always begins with:
A) hypotheses.
B) conclusions.
C) experiments.
D) observations.
E) data.
Page 2
, 12. In scientific thinking, which of the following are not subject to revision?
A) experiments
B) hunches
C) theories
D) hypotheses
E) observations
13. The proposed explanation for a phenomenon is best described as:
A) a testable prediction.
B) a conclusion.
C) an observation.
D) an experiment.
E) a hypothesis.
14. If your hypothesis is, “Echinacea reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms of
the common cold,” what is your null hypothesis?
A) Vitamin C reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms of the common cold.
B) Echinacea increases the duration and severity of the symptoms of the common
cold.
C) Echinacea has no effect on the duration and severity of the symptoms of the
common cold.
D) Echinacea reduces the duration and severity of the symptoms of the flu.
E) Vitamin C increases the duration and severity of the symptoms of the common
cold.
15. Which of the following commonly used terms comes closest to the meaning of what
scientists call a “hypothesis”?
A) fact
B) description
C) observation
D) explanation
E) experiment
16. You notice that over the past month, many students have started carrying a new style of
backpack. You think to yourself, “Maybe the bookstore recently started selling this new
style of backpack.” The statement in quotation marks is:
A) a type of control.
B) an example of a hypothesis.
C) a type of observation.
D) an example of an experimental question.
E) an experiment.
Page 3
