Biology Now, 2e

Answers ■ A1

Answers

Q2: At what point in the scientific method would a scientist decide

on the methods she should use to test her hypothesis?

A2: After predictions are generated from a hypothesis, and before

experiments are run to test those predictions.

Q3: How might you explain the scientific method to someone who

complains that “scientists are always changing their minds; how

can we trust what they say?”

A3: Science is a process, and nothing is ever “proved” in science,

so we have to expect that our best understanding of nature will

change as science proceeds.

Figure 1.2

Q1: Which step(s) in the scientific method does this photograph

illustrate?

A1: Observation, and testing the predictions of the hypothesis

through observational study (either descriptive or analytical).

Q2: What types of environmental data might the researchers have

collected?

A2: Examples of environmental data would include temperature

and humidity readings within the cave, as well as soil and air

samples to see whether fungal spores are present.

Q3: Why do you think the researchers are wearing protective gear?

A3: To avoid coming into contact with pathogens.

Figure 1.4

Q1: State the hypothesis that this advertisement is claiming was

scientifically tested.

A1: Lucky Strike cigarettes taste milder than other leading brands

of cigarettes.

Q2: State a prediction that comes from this hypothesis. Is it

testable? Why or why not?

A2: Prediction: Subjects who smoke a Lucky Strike cigarette will

say it is milder than cigarettes from other brands that they are

asked to smoke. Yes, this prediction is testable, because it can be

measured and repeated.

Q3: Explain in your own words why the hypothesis cannot be

“proved.”

A3: Nothing in science can be proved. In this case, only a small

number of subjects can be tested, and there might always be

people (who weren’t tested) who think another brand is milder.

CHAPTER 1

END-OF-CHAPTER ANSWERS

1. a, c, e. Viruses meet no criteria except for evolving as groups.

The diamond meets no criteria.

2. b


3. observation, hypothesis, predictions


4. (a) 1, (b) 4, (c) 5, (d) 3, (e) 6, (f ) 2, (g) 7


5. (a) organ, (b) organism, (c) population, (d) ecosystem, (e) organ

system, (f) community

6. Observation: Some bats have white noses.

Hypothesis: Bats with white noses are infected with a fungus.

Experiment: Inject bats with a fungicide and observe whether

they are less likely to develop white-nose syndrome than are

bats who are given sham injections.

7. b


8. c


9. (a) reproducing autonomously, (b) responding to the environ-

ment, (c) obtaining energy from the environment, (d) evolving

as a group, (e) consisting of one or more cells

10. c


11. (a) hypothesis, (b) result, (c) experiment, (d) observation, (e) result


12. (a) No; a question is not a hypothesis. (b) Yes; this is a plausi-

ble and falsifiable explanation. (c) Yes; this is a plausible and

falsifiable explanation. (d) No; a question is not a hypothesis.

(e) No; proposing the existence of a “mysterious cloud” does

not generate testable predictions.

ANSWERS TO FIGURE QUESTIONS

Figure 1.1

Q1: What were the original observation and question of the

scientists studying the sick bats?

A1: They observed many dead bats and many bats with white

noses. They questioned whether the high death rates were in some

way related to the white noses.