Science news

Science World, Sept 20, 2004

Name: --

DIRECTIONS: Read the Science News section on pages 4 to 6. Then, test your knowledge by filling in the letter of the correct answer, below.

1. How do sweat pigments protect hippos from sunburn? They

(A) reflect sunrays away from the skin.

(B) work like a jacket, covering the hippo's skin.

(C) kill sunburn-causing microorganisms.

(D) absorb the sun's ultraviolet rays

2. How does sweat cool the body? The fluid

(A) lowers blood temperature.

(B) evaporates from the skin, whisking heat away.

(C) blocks heat from raising the body temperature.

(D) moves heat from inside the body to the outside.

3. The Frizzled6 gene controls the -- of hair.

(A) curliness

(B) orientation

(C) style

(D) cleanliness

4. The geological time scale divides Earth's history into units called -- and its subdivisions, --.

(A) periods, centuries

(B) dynasties, eras

(C) fossil meters, measures

(D) eras, periods

5. The geologic time scale is divided according to major changes in

(A) Earth's shape.

(B) the types of life forms that inhabited Earth.

(C) the movement of Earth's tectonic plates.

(D) the texture of Earth's rock layers.

6. You live in the -- period.

(A) Quaternary

(B) Cenozoic

(C) Jurassic

(D) Ediacaran

7. The Adidas 1 sneaker houses a computer that automatically adjusts the shoe's

(A) force.

(B) length.

(C) cushioning.

(D) speed.

8. Which statement illustrates Newton's third law of motion?

(A) When your foot hits the pavement, the ground pushes back with a greater force.

(B) When you walk on grass, the ground does not push back.

(C) With each step you make, the ground pushes back with equal force.

(D) None of the above.

9. Why is SpaceShipOne revolutionary? It's the

(A) first privately funded spacecraft to send a human to space.

(B) lowest-flying spacecraft.

(C) only spacecraft that can double as a submarine.

(D) newest invention by NASA to replace its aging shuttle fleet.

10. During descent, SpaceShipOne's rear wings flip up 90 degrees to create:

(A) drag.

(B) speed.

(C) thrust.

(D) inertia.

ANSWERS

1. d 2. b 3. b 4. d 5. b 6. a 7. c 8. c 9. a 10. a

PART A: Vocabulary Builder

DIRECTIONS: Match the word(s) in the left column with the correct phrase in the right column.

-- 1. trials                 a. standard to which you compare
                                experiment results
-- 2. variables              b. characteristics in an experiment that
                                don't change from trial to trial
-- 3. constants              c. step-by-step approach to conducting
                                scientific studies
-- 4. dependent variable     d. characteristics or details in an
                                experiment that change or could be
                                changed
-- 5. independent variable   e. factor that responds to a change in
                                the independent variable
-- 6. control                f. repeated tests in an experiment
-- 7. scientific method      g. factor you change or adjust on purpose
-- 8. conclusion             h. result summary

PART B: Comprehension

DIRECTIONS: Answer the following in complete sentences.

1. What is a hypothesis?

2. Demonstrate your understanding: Come up with a research question and write a hypothesis to go with it.

PART C: Critical-Thinking Skills

DIRECTIONS: Suppose you want to find out if the girls in your class can jump farther than the boys. Write a detailed procedure for an experiment that would answer this question.

ANSWERS

Part A: Vocabulary Builder

1. f 2. d 3. b 4. e 5. g 6. a 7. c 8. h

Part B: Comprehension

1. A hypothesis is an educated guess of what the results to a research question might be. (Also, a hypothesis is an educated guess of how changing the independent variable will affect the dependent variable.)

2. The research question and hypothesis will vary. But here's an example. Research question: Does listening to upbeat music make you eat faster? Hypothesis: Listening to upbeat music makes you eat faster.

Part C: Critical-Thinking Skills Answers will vary.

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