Question 1

Proof in science is always

Accepted Answer

A)  Firmly established 
B)  Beyond question 
C)  An impossible goal 
D)  constantly changing with little contiunity between diciplines. 
E)  Open to question or new evidence 
A)  Firmly established 
B)  Beyond question 
C)  An impossible goal 
D)  constantly changing with little contiunity between diciplines. 
E)  Open to question or new evidence E

Question 2

An important value of science is that it provides the methodology to prove that a theory is correct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

Which of the following is not an example of a disturbance in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fire 
B)  Drought 
C)  Flash flood 
D)  Shade 
A)  Fire 
B)  Drought 
C)  Flash flood 
D)  Shade D

Question 4

Ecological systems often undergo periodic disturbances

Accepted Answer

A)  such as floods and fires. 
B)  and show resilience when they recover quickly. 
C)  only in arid environments. 
D)  such as floods, fires, and show resilience when they recover quickly. 
A)  such as floods and fires. 
B)  and show resilience when they recover quickly. 
C)  only in arid environments. 
D)  such as floods, fires, and show resilience when they recover quickly.

Question 5

Experiments in which conditions are deliberately altered and all other variables are held constant are known as ___________ experiments.

Accepted Answer

A)  Manipulative 
B)  Natural 
C)  Hypothetical 
D)  Probability 
E)  Double-blind 
A)  Manipulative 
B)  Natural 
C)  Hypothetical 
D)  Probability 
E)  Double-blind

Question 6

In the above scenario, why did Susan place the plants in a greenhouse and control the amount of sunlight and temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Keeping any factor that can influence a plant's growth, other than fertilizer, equal to all plants, ensures that if there is a difference at the end, it will most likely be due to the fertilizer. 
B)  It was an easy place to keep the plants. 
C)  It did not make a difference. The fertilizer would have influence growth even if the plants were part in sunlight and part in shade. 
D)  The plants would have adapted to the situation no matter if the temperatures is different. 
A)  Keeping any factor that can influence a plant's growth, other than fertilizer, equal to all plants, ensures that if there is a difference at the end, it will most likely be due to the fertilizer. 
B)  It was an easy place to keep the plants. 
C)  It did not make a difference. The fertilizer would have influence growth even if the plants were part in sunlight and part in shade. 
D)  The plants would have adapted to the situation no matter if the temperatures is different.

Question 7

Sometimes severe disturbances can lead to a ______, in which conditions do not return to normal.

Accepted Answer

A)  paradigm shift 
B)  state shift 
C)  feedback loop 
D)  system 
A)  paradigm shift 
B)  state shift 
C)  feedback loop 
D)  system

Question 8

In experimentation, dependent variables are also known as _____________ variables.

Accepted Answer

A)  Conventional 
B)  Blind 
C)  Response 
D)  Model 
E)  Distribution 
A)  Conventional 
B)  Blind 
C)  Response 
D)  Model 
E)  Distribution

Question 9

A scientific consensus

Accepted Answer

A)  is typically broad in its statements. 
B)  uses feedback from many scientists. 
C)  can lead to paradigm shifts. 
D)  All of these answers are correct. 
A)  is typically broad in its statements. 
B)  uses feedback from many scientists. 
C)  can lead to paradigm shifts. 
D)  All of these answers are correct.

Question 10

The process of science is characterized by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  that science attempts to keep explanations as simple as possible. 
B)  that science normally provides absolute proof. 
C)  that science attempts to be objective. 
D)  that science is inherently skeptical. 
A)  that science attempts to keep explanations as simple as possible. 
B)  that science normally provides absolute proof. 
C)  that science attempts to be objective. 
D)  that science is inherently skeptical.

Question 11

Ideally, science

Accepted Answer

A)  Always has the right answers 
B)  Tells us what we expected to find 
C)  Uses new technology 
D)  Is orderly and methodical 
E)  Proves that our hypotheses are correct 
A)  Always has the right answers 
B)  Tells us what we expected to find 
C)  Uses new technology 
D)  Is orderly and methodical 
E)  Proves that our hypotheses are correct

Question 12

If something cannot be directly experimented upon, it is not considered to be a part of science.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In science, a theory is

Accepted Answer

A)  speculative and unsupported by facts. 
B)  a tentative explanation, comparable to a hypothesis. 
C)  an explanation supported by a substantial body of evidence. 
D)  something that can never be proven wrong. 
A)  speculative and unsupported by facts. 
B)  a tentative explanation, comparable to a hypothesis. 
C)  an explanation supported by a substantial body of evidence. 
D)  something that can never be proven wrong.

Question 14

The process by which science works is useful to the general public as well as to scientists.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Homeostasis refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  a tendency to change. 
B)  equilibrium. 
C)  spatial homogeneity. 
D)  the environment. 
A)  a tendency to change. 
B)  equilibrium. 
C)  spatial homogeneity. 
D)  the environment.

Question 16

Double-blind studies are especially useful in

Accepted Answer

A)  Genetic experiments 
B)  Health studies 
C)  Statistical analysis 
D)  Opinion surveys 
E)  Double-blind studies are not useful in any situation 
A)  Genetic experiments 
B)  Health studies 
C)  Statistical analysis 
D)  Opinion surveys 
E)  Double-blind studies are not useful in any situation

Question 17

Although your sister is not a scientist, she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life. You do not believe her but she insists it is true. Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you?

Accepted Answer

A)  When she cooks, she measures ingredients and puts them together to form something else (e.g., a cake) 
B)  When she drives in her car, she hypothesizes about things (e.g., when the red light will turn green) 
C)  She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster 
D)  She buys a brand of toothpaste based on statistical data (four out of five dentists recommend it) 
E)  All of these are examples of using scientific techniques in her everyday life 
A)  When she cooks, she measures ingredients and puts them together to form something else (e.g., a cake) 
B)  When she drives in her car, she hypothesizes about things (e.g., when the red light will turn green) 
C)  She put some tomatoes in the sun and some in the shade to see if the sun causes them to ripen faster 
D)  She buys a brand of toothpaste based on statistical data (four out of five dentists recommend it) 
E)  All of these are examples of using scientific techniques in her everyday life

Question 18

_________________ is a process for producing knowledge methodically and logically.

Accepted Answer

A)  Universalism 
B)  Science 
C)  Relativism 
D)  Morality 
E)  Parsimony 
A)  Universalism 
B)  Science 
C)  Relativism 
D)  Morality 
E)  Parsimony

Question 19

In an ecosystem, throughput can refer to

Accepted Answer

A)  matter that flows into the system but not out. 
B)  energy that originates in the system and flows out. 
C)  something that can expand the size of state variables. 
D)  the equilibrium state. 
A)  matter that flows into the system but not out. 
B)  energy that originates in the system and flows out. 
C)  something that can expand the size of state variables. 
D)  the equilibrium state.

Question 20

Statistical tests

Accepted Answer

A)  provide us with raw numbers such as the number of people in a given city. 
B)  focus on determining the probability that observed phenomena occurred by chance. 
C)  are only used in science to influence political decision-making. 
D)  provide only fake numbers. 
A)  provide us with raw numbers such as the number of people in a given city. 
B)  focus on determining the probability that observed phenomena occurred by chance. 
C)  are only used in science to influence political decision-making. 
D)  provide only fake numbers.

Exam 2: Principles of Science and Systems

Proof in science is always

An important value of science is that it provides the methodology to prove that a theory is correct.

Which of the following is not an example of a disturbance in an ecosystem?

Ecological systems often undergo periodic disturbances

Experiments in which conditions are deliberately altered and all other variables are held constant are known as ___________ experiments.

In the above scenario, why did Susan place the plants in a greenhouse and control the amount of sunlight and temperature?

Sometimes severe disturbances can lead to a ______, in which conditions do not return to normal.

In experimentation, dependent variables are also known as _____________ variables.

A scientific consensus

The process of science is characterized by all of the following except

Ideally, science

If something cannot be directly experimented upon, it is not considered to be a part of science.

In science, a theory is

The process by which science works is useful to the general public as well as to scientists.

Homeostasis refers to

Double-blind studies are especially useful in

Although your sister is not a scientist, she says that she uses scientific techniques in her everyday life. You do not believe her but she insists it is true. Which of the following examples could she use to best persuade you?

_________________ is a process for producing knowledge methodically and logically.

In an ecosystem, throughput can refer to

Statistical tests

Understanding Our Environment

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity: Preserving Species

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Geology and Earth Resources

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Water Pollution

Conventional Energy

Sustainable Energy

Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

What Then Shall We Do

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