Maria Rosa used a conversion table for measurements in a study of ocean evaporation relative to illuminance (light intensity). What was the purpose of the table?
to convert technical terms like evaporation and illuminance
to convert English system measurements into metric measurements
to work out experimental details such as what equipment to use
to find locations to collect data

A researcher graphs the future rates of population growth in different countries. Which reason correctly states why his chart inevitably contains errors?
Future trends cannot accurately be predicted.
Rates of population growth are different in different countries.
He may not have chosen the best countries for his sample.
Other scientists are bound to disagree with his findings.

What conclusion can farmers today draw from the study of Mesopotamian irrigation practices?
Irrigation should be continuous.
Good irrigation methods have minimal impact on the water table.
Hot climates are not suitable for agriculture.
Irrigation should be avoided in hot climates.

If environmental scientists want to publish a paper on an experiment for an audience of fellow specialists, where do they do so?
journal article
media interview
public hearing on issues
newspaper story

Which of the following is the best testable hypothesis, correctly written?
If the earth moves out of its orbit, life will not survive.
My puppy likes dry dog food better than moist food.
When my puppy wakes up, he is hungry.
If grass gets fertilized, it grows faster.

Which is an example of researcher bias in interpreting data?
A scientist wishes to determine the area of an ice sheet. To do so, he relies on spectrographic images sent by satellite.
A researcher seeks to prove that babies smile at two months old. She counts some confused expressions as smiles.
A health official investigates the spread of HIV in her city. She takes a census of the HIV status of every adult resident.
A geologist wants to determine whether the water level of an aquifer is declining. To find the answer, he digs a well.

Which of the following steps in the scientific method tests the hypothesis?
question
communicate findings
experiment
conclusion

Sara observes that there are more of a certain species of mushroom in the shaded areas of her yard than in the sunny ones. From this observation, what would be a question that leads to a testable hypothesis?
Are mushrooms more attractive in shade?
Can mushrooms be used to fertilize a garden?
Are mushrooms a good addition to a garden?
Do these mushrooms grow better in cooler temperatures?

There are many reasons to use the metric system rather than the English system. Which is not one of them?
The metric system uses standardized prefixes for its units.
The metric system is used universally by scientists.
Measurements in the English system are not accurate.
The use of powers of 10 makes talking about the metric system easier than talking about relationships in the English system.

A scientist gave a talk on water pollution to an audience of citizens in a seacoast town where the shellfish population was decreasing because of contaminated runoff. Which is the most likely reason why the talk was ineffective?
The speaker used technical jargon that the audience didn't understand.
The audience wasn't interested in the topic.
The speaker kept the talk to a brisk 15 minutes.
The speaker used visual aids, such as charts.

The idea that humans were the sole source of the decline of Easter Island society is suggested by the __________.
climate change hypothesis
rat outbreak hypothesis
ecocide hypothesis

In an environmental issue such as offshore oil exploration, which group is most likely to change its opinion when socioeconomic conditions change?
the public
government
scientists
business

Which of the following events most affected the passage of the National Environmental Protection Act of 1969?
Exxon Valdez oil spill
high oil prices
Santa Barbara oil spill
Arab oil embargo

Why is DDT still a controversial issue?
Many people question whether DDT is an environmental hazard.
Many people question the findings presented in Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring.
Despite the evidence of its effects on malaria, DDT is still effective in controlling the environment.
Despite the evidence of its effects on the environment, DDT is still effective in controlling malaria.

Which human activity covered in this unit has historically been the most disruptive to the environment?
fishing
agriculture
hunting
mining

Of the following factors, which is least important in the issue of whether to allow offshore oil drilling in the United States?
amount of sun striking the area
oil and gasoline prices
environmental impact
risk to oil workers

From an ethical standpoint, what is the role of science in public consideration of environmental issues?
to educate the public so that disagreements end
to influence government so that its views match those of science
to take a stand on the best solution to the environmental problem
to share factual data and conclusions with those who make policy

What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis?
A hypothesis is realistic, testable, potentially falsifiable, and often phrased as an if-then statement.
A hypothesis is a question that scientists have asked and must find the answer to.
A hypothesis is a statement that cannot be either supported or shown to be invalid.
A hypothesis is only a theory that can't be tested.

The seven units that form the basis for all derived units in the metric system are called __________.
kilograms
powers of 10
base units
prefixes

At what stage of the scientific method are scientists most involved in working with nonscientists?
communicate findings
experiment
hypothesis
question