Junior Secondary · Science

Practice of science: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Practice of science.

10 questions24 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

What is typically the initial step in a scientific investigation?

Question 2

1 mark

When designing investigations, what is the primary purpose of suggesting operational procedures?

Question 3

1 mark

A research team wants to determine if a new type of biodegradable plastic decomposes faster in seawater than in freshwater. They prepare several identical plastic samples. Which experimental setup would best ensure a fair test?

Question 4

1 mark

In an experiment designed to investigate how the amount of sunlight affects the growth rate of a specific type of plant, which factor would be the manipulated variable?

Question 5

1 mark

A group of marine biologists observed a sudden decrease in the population of a specific fish species in a coral reef. They then started collecting data on water temperature, pollution levels, and predator populations in that area over several months to identify potential causes. What type of scientific investigation are they primarily conducting?

Question 6

2 marks

In the practice of science, why is it necessary to repeat measurements multiple times and calculate an average during an investigation?

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 7

3 marks

According to the 'Practice of Science', what specifically constitutes evidence, and how is it used to support scientific inquiry?

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 8

5 marks

Why is Communicating considered a critical science process skill, and what are two specific ways students are expected to present their scientific findings?

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 9

3 marks

A student is using a measuring cylinder to measure exactly \( 50 \text{ mL} \) of water. To get an accurate reading, the student must account for the meniscus.
a) Define what a 'meniscus' is and identify which specific part of it should be aligned with the scale mark for water. (2 points)
b) Describe the correct position of the student's eyes relative to the liquid level to avoid a parallax error. (1 point)

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 10

6 marks

Scientific investigations are often categorised into 'fair testing', 'classifying', and 'pattern seeking'.

a) Describe the primary objective and methodology of a 'pattern seeking' investigation. Give an example of a scientific question that would require this type of investigation. (3 points)

b) A researcher notices that in forests affected by industrial pollution, the diversity of insect species is significantly lower compared to pristine forests. She hypothesizes that pollution reduces insect diversity.
i) Which type of scientific investigation should the researcher use to study the correlation between pollution levels and insect species diversity across multiple forest sites? (1 point)
ii) Explain why this investigation type is necessary before conducting a 'fair test' experiment in a laboratory setting. (2 points)

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

* The content provided by thinka is generated by AI and may not always be accurate or up-to-date. Please use it as a supplementary resource and verify with official materials.

You've seen the model answer. Now get yours marked.

This page can show you how a good answer looks. It cannot tell you what your answer was missing. thinka marks your written work against the real mark scheme in about 15 seconds.

Get My Answers Marked Back to the notes

Want more questions like these? Get a fresh set on this topic, graded as you go.