Marine Science: Honors Semester 1
Final Exam Study Questions and
Answers
Which of the following must be involved in solving a scientific problem? - Answer -
Asking testable questions
What is the body of scientific knowledge based on? - 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? - Answer -It is based on anecdotal stories and not on evidence.
What type of questions cannot be solved by scientific methods? - Answer -Questions
about ethics
Which of the following is true about science? - 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? - 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? - Answer -It exhibits cohesive behavior.
What property of water explains why large bodies of water do not quickly fluctuate in
temperature? - 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? - 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? -
,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? - 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? - 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 - 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? - Answer -
Raymond
, What does a sound scientific conclusion most likely rely upon? - 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? - 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? - 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. - 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? - 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? -
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? - 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? - 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? - 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? - Answer
Final Exam Study Questions and
Answers
Which of the following must be involved in solving a scientific problem? - Answer -
Asking testable questions
What is the body of scientific knowledge based on? - 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? - Answer -It is based on anecdotal stories and not on evidence.
What type of questions cannot be solved by scientific methods? - Answer -Questions
about ethics
Which of the following is true about science? - 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? - 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? - Answer -It exhibits cohesive behavior.
What property of water explains why large bodies of water do not quickly fluctuate in
temperature? - 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? - 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? -
,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? - 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? - 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 - 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? - Answer -
Raymond
, What does a sound scientific conclusion most likely rely upon? - 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? - 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? - 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. - 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? - 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? -
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? - 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? - 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? - 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? - Answer
