NAME ______________________________________ PERIOD ________

PSSA Practice Questions

_______ 1. Which of the following statements could not be a scientific theory?

A. Burning coal increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.B. Planting grass on topsoil prevents erosion of the soil.C. Black pepper tastes better than white pepper.D. Plants grow better when nitrogen is added to the soil.

_______ 2. A student wants to do a scientific investigation to answer the question, “Does fertilizer in soil affect how fast plants grow?” What will the student most likely do first in this investigation?

A. Collect data on how quickly plants grow with and without fertilizer.B. Hypothesize that fertilizer will make plants grow more quickly.C. Read articles about how fertilizer affects plants.D. Draw a conclusion about how fertilizer affects plant growth.

________ 3. The student infers that fertilizer makes plants grow more quickly. Which of the following observations best supports his inference?

A. After 2 weeks, most of the plants in the pot with fertilizer had died.B. After 2 weeks, plants in the pot with fertilizer were healthier.C. After 2 weeks, the plants in the pot without fertilizer flowered.D. After 2 weeks, the plants in the pot with fertilizer were larger than the plants

in the pot without fertilizer.

_______ 4. In question #3, the plant investigation, what is the independent variable?

A. the plant B. the amount of waterC. the fertilizer D. the amount of sunlight given

_______ 5. The dependent variable in the plant investigation (Question #3) is:

A. the fertilizer B. the size of the plantC. the size of the pot D. the soil the plant is in

_______ 6. A student puts a plant, a tin cup, and a washcloth on a desk. Which of these best explains why the plant, cup, and washcloth are not a system?

A. Some of the items are man-made.B. The items are not the same size.C. The items do not operate on electricity.D. The items are not working together to produce a result.

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_______ 7. The carbon cycle is a closed-loop system because no extra carbon comes into the cycle, and no carbon leaves the cycle. Which of the following is the best example of a part in a closed-loop system?

A. the ink in a ball point penB. the cars on a large state highwayC. the electricity in a complete electrical circuitD. the information in a desktop computer

_______ 8. The food chain is an example of an open-loop system. Energy flows through the chain from one part to another, but it does not cycle back through the food chain. Which of the following gives the levels of organization in the food chain from the beginning of the system to the end of the system?

A. grass, sun, frog, grasshopper B. sun, grass, grasshopper, frogC. frog, grasshopper, grass, sunD. grasshopper, grass, frog, sun

_______ 9. Most systems have inputs, processes, and outputs. Which of these is most likely an input to a river system?

A. a flood B. a waterfall C. rain D. erosion

_______10. Many systems in the human body are regulated by feedback-controlled systems. In feed-back controlled systems, the output of the system determines when the system shuts down. For example, the chemical insulin breaks down sugar in the blood. When there is too much sugar in the blood, the body produces more insulin. When the level of sugar decreases, the body stops releasing insulin into the blood. Which of these is an example of a feedback-controlled system?

A. the burner on a stoveB. a thermostat on a heaterC. volume control on a televisionD. a light switch

_______11. Physical patterns have an object or design that repeats. Which of these is an example of a physical pattern in nature?

A. A bee builds a honeycomb made of recurring hexagonal cells.B. A tree loses leaves in the fall and grows new leaves in the spring.C. A roof is supported by a repeating framework of wooden trusses.D. A computer automatically saves information every five minutes.

_______12. Temporal patterns repeat over a certain period of time. Which of these is not an example of a temporal pattern?

A. animals migrate when seasons changeB. the rise and fall of ocean tidesC. the moon changing phasesD. the repeating arrangement of atoms in a crystal

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_______13. Which of the following is an example of a structural pattern?

A. the arrangement of silk threads in a spider web B. how weather patterns change with the seasons C. the rise and fall of sea level with changing tides D. the apparent shapes of Venus throughout the month

Models are used by scientists and engineers to test new ideas, find solutions to problems, develop new technologies and products, and to explore relationships between objects, systems or ideas. Use the data table to answer questions 14 & 15.

EXAMPLES OF MODELS

BlueprintA process of photographic printing, used chiefly in copying

architectural and mechanical drawings, which produces a white line on a blue background.

Full-Scale 3-D Model

A Full-Scale 3-D Model is a representation or copy of an object that is exactly the same size as the object being represented.

MapA representation, usually on a flat surface, as of the features of an

area of the earth.

Computer Simulation

The technique of representing the real world by a computer program; "a simulation should imitate the internal processes and

not merely the results of the thing being simulated" _______14. An engineer is trying to determine how a particular bridge structure will hold up during an earthquake. Which kind of model is he most likely to use to test his design?

A. a blueprint B. a full-scale 3-D model C. a computer simulation D. a map of earthquake zones

_______15. Scientists in the automobile industry collect a lot of data about the average heights and weights of people of different ages and body types. What is the most likely reason they collect so much data?

A. to determine at what scale they should develop their vehicle blueprints B. so that they can use data instead of models for safety testing C. to make their models for safety testing as accurate as possible D. so that their models do not have to make assumptions

_______16. A scientist is designing an experiment to test the effects of pollution from a coal mine on the growth of native frogs. How will the scientist most likely choose to evaluate the effect of the pollution?

A. by counting the relative numbers of males and females in wild and captive populations. B. by comparing the average length of frogs in experimental groups exposed to pollution to that of frogs in a control group. C. by comparing the numbers of dead frogs in the wild to those in a laboratory control group. D. by describing how healthy the frogs in the experimental groups exposed to pollution are.

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_______ 17. Many farmers have started using natural predators such as ladybugs to control crop pests. What will be the most likely benefit of this practice to human health?

A. increased availability of water due to drought-resistant cropsB. fewer respiratory problems because of lower exposure to chemicalsC. better nutrition resulting from changing the genetic makeup of the cropsD. decrease in levels of hunger around the world due to crops with larger fruits

Observe the graph below and answer the question that follows.

_______18. The graph shows that, as time increases,

A. the overall salinity percent increases as time increases B. the overall salinity percent does not change as time increases C. the overall salinity percent decreases as time increases D. no change occur over time.

The circle graph (or pie chart) below shows the results of a question asked to 270 job holders. Those surveyed were asked by what means they travel to work.

_______19. Which of these conclusions is best supported by the data in the graph?

A. The best way for job holders to travel to work is by car. B. Job holders prefer vans more than motorbikes. C. Buses are the most expensive way to travel to work. D. The majority of job holders travel to work by car.

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A student moves from the city to a house along the coastline. He thinks it is cooler at his new beach house than it was in the city. The boy does research and finds information on daily temperatures in the city and at the beach. He records his data in the table seen below.

Date Temperature inthe City {Degrees C}

Temperature atthe Beach {Degrees C}

June 20th 31.0 29.7June 21st 33.5 31.6June 22nd 35.3 32.7June 23rd 32.8 29.9June 24th 33.4 29.8June 25th 34.0 31.6June 26th 36.4 34.2

_______20. What conclusion can the student draw from his data?

A. It is always warmer in the city than at the beach.B. It is always warmer at the beach than in the city.C. It was warmer in the city than at the beach this week.D. It was warmer at the beach than in the city this week.

SUMMARY OF ENERGY FORMS

Form of Energy DescriptionKinetic Energy of motion

Mechanical Kinetic energy plus potential energyHeat Energy that moves from hot objects to cooler ones

Potential Energy of position or shapeChemical Energy stored in chemical bondsNuclear Energy stored in the nucleus of the atom

Electrical Energy of moving electronsLight Energy contained in electromagnetic wavesSound Energy produced by vibrating objects

_______21. What determines the potential energy of an object?

A. its motion C. the movement of the electrons B. the vibrations of its particles D. its position

_______22. A potato and a battery are sitting on a bench. What form of energy do both the potato and the battery have?

A. electrical energy C. kinetic energy B. chemical energy D. sound energy

_______23. A student is holding an ice cube in her hand. Which of the following describes the energy transfer that will most likely occur?

A. Energy will move by conduction from her hand to the ice.B. Energy will move by convection from the ice to her hand.C. Energy will move by convection within the ice.D. Energy will move from her hand to the ice by radiation.

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Use the table found below to answer question #24

DENSITIES OF FOUR METALSMetal Density

Aluminum 2.7g/cm3

Copper 8.9 g/cm3

Lead 11.3 g/cm3

Iron 7.9 g/cm3

_______24. A student has a piece of copper, a piece of aluminum, a piece of lead, and piece of iron. All four pieces of metal have the same volume. Which statement about the masses of the pieces is most likely true?

A. The piece of lead has the greatest mass.B. All of the pieces have the same mass.C. The piece of iron has a smaller mass than the piece of aluminum.D. The piece of aluminum has a greater mass than the piece of copper.

_______25. Which of the following substances is a compound?

A. solid gold (Au) C. nitrogen gas (N2) B. liquid sulfuric acid (H2SO4) D. liquid mercury (Hg)

_______26. Which of the following substances is a molecule, but not a compound?

A. solid magnesium (Mg) C. hydrogen gas (H2) B. liquid water (H2O) D. solid table sugar (NaCl)

Gravitational Potential Energy = Weight x Height _______27. A postal worker lifts several packages to different heights. Which package has the greatest gravitational potential energy after the postal worker lifts it?

A. a 4-Kg package lifted 1.5 m above the groundB. a 6-Kg package lifted 3 m above the groundC. a 3-Kg package lifted 2 m above the groundD. a 1-Kg package lifted 2.5 m above the ground

_______28. A bowler is holding a bowling ball in the air. The ball is not moving. Gravity is pulling the ball downward with a force of 44 N. What is the size of the upward force the bowler is applying to the ball?

A. 11 N B. 22 N C. 44 N D. 0 N

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The diagram below shows an incomplete circuit.

_______29. Which item would allow the bulb to light up if it were used to connect point A to point B?

A. a glass rod B. a metal coin C. a plastic combD. a paper cup

_______30. Hydrochloric acid is added to a beaker containing a piece of zinc. As a result, zinc chloride is formed and hydrogen gas is released. This is an example of:

A. a chemical reaction B. a physical change C. photosynthesisD. evaporation

_______ 31. During which phase change is heat energy absorbed by a substance?

A. liquid to gas B. gas to solid C. liquid to solid D. gas to liquid

_______ 32. Which statement best describes the property of light waves illustrated in the diagram below?

A. Some materials absorb light waves. B. Some materials reflect light waves. C. Light waves are refracted by some materials. D. Light waves are emitted by some materials.

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The diagram below shows a stationary cart on a frictionless surface. Two unequal opposing forces are about to be applied to the cart.

_______ 33. If the unequal opposing forces are applied to the cart at the same time, what will occur?

A. The cart will move to the left. B. The cart will move to the right. C. The cart will alternate between moving left and right. D. The cart will remain stationary.

Base your answers to the following questions on the graph below, which shows the solubility (amount that will dissolve in 100 grams of water) of three substances at various water temperatures.

______ 34. Which statement is a correct interpretation of the data in the graph?

A. As water temperature increases, solubility decreases. B. As water temperature increases, solubility increases. C. As water temperature increases, solubility increases and then decreases. D. As water temperature increases, solubility decreases and then increases.

______ 35. As the water temperature is increased from 30oC to 70oC, how many more grams of substance A will dissolve in 100 grams of water?

A. 20 g B. 40 g C. 50 g D. 90 g

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_______36. Which diagram represents electromagnetic energy with the shortest wavelength?

A. A B. B C. C D. D

_______37. A coffee mug is sitting on a table. It is not moving. Which of these statements about the cup must be true?

A. Gravity is not acting on it.B. Friction is not acting on it.C. Unbalanced forces are acting on it.D. Balanced forces are acting on it.

Use the table found below to answer question 38.

TYPES OF FOSSILS FOUND IN DIFFERENT SEDIMENT LAYERSLayer Age of Layer Type of Sediment Type of Fossil

1 1 million to 3 million years coarse, light-colored sand sea bird bones

2 3 million to 6 million years fine, light-colored sand crab and clam shells3 6 million to 10 million years very fine, dark-colored silt sea urchin shells

4 10 million to 12 million years extremely fine, dark-colored clay fish bones

_______38. A geologist studied the fossil content of several layers of sediment to trying to determine what kind of environment existed in the area in the past. Based on the geologist’s observations recorded in the table above, which of these descriptions of the ancient environment is most likely true?

A. Between 6 million and 10 million years ago, the area was a rocky plateau. B. Between 10 million and 12 million years ago, the area was a jungle. C. Between 3 million and 6 million years ago, the area was an ocean beach D. Between 1 million and 3 million years ago, the area was covered by a deep ocean.

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______ 39. In which type of rock are fossils generally found?

A. igneous B. metamorphic C. sedimentaryD. volcanic

_______40. In a certain location, a scientists notices that the soil’s parent material is different than from its bedrock. What two processes are most likely responsible for this?

A. erosion and deposition B. deposition and freezing C. weathering and freezing D. condensation and precipitation

_______41. There are granitic rocks in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Based on this, what is the best conclusion a geologist can draw about that region?

A. An ocean once covered that region.B. There was once reverse faulting in that area.C. Dinosaurs once inhabited that region.D. There was once molten rock below the ground in that region.

_______42. Australia is located in the southern hemisphere. What are probably the coldest months in Australia?

A. March, April, and MayB. June, July, and AugustC. September, October, and NovemberD. December, January, and February

_______43. On August 28, 2010, a full lunar eclipse was visible over most of Pennsylvania. What phase was the moon most likely in on the 21st of 2010?

A. new moon B. first quarter C. last-quarter D. full moon.

_______44. Which statement best explains why the Sun and the Moon appear to be about the same size in the sky?

A. The Sun and the Moon have the same diameter.B. The Moon is larger in diameter and farther from Earth than the Sun.C. The Moon is smaller in diameter and is closer to Earth than the Sun.D. The Sun and the Moon are the same distance from Earth.

_______45. Which two factors determine the gravitational attraction between two objects?

A. time and temperature B. shape and orbital speed C. color and hardness

D. mass and distance apart

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_______ 46. Earth’s weather is primarily caused by the:

A. drifting of Earth’s crustal plates B. gravitational attraction of the Moon C. uneven heating of Earth’s surface D. changing distance between Earth and the Sun

_______47. Which of these is an example of condensation?

A. water vapor floating in the air C. rain collecting in a lake B. snow falling D. a cloud forming

The map below shows an air mass that formed over the Gulf of Mexico at location A.

_______48. Once air mass A reaches location B, the weather conditions at location B will most likely be:

A. warmer and drier B. warmer and more humid C. colder and more humidD. colder and drier

_______49. A coal mining company wants to build a mine in the watershed of a river that provides water for a nearby town. Which of these will most likely be an effect of building the mine in that location?

A. The air will become cleaner. B. More fish will live in the river. C. The river will become more polluted. D. More coal will form near the mine.

_______50. Using tractors and other machines has made farming more efficient and has increased farmers’ crop yields. Which of these is another affect of using machines on farms?

A. decreased soil erosionB. increased oil depletion

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C. decreased air pollutionD. increased pest damage

_______51. How does hydroelectric power help decrease the rate of global warming?

A. It does not rely on radiant energy from the sun.B. It removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.C. It does not add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.D. It lowers sea level.

_______ 52. Moving water in a river is considered a renewable resource because it:

A. carries dissolved oxygen. B. easily erodes sediments. C. is made of natural gas. D. can be recycled by nature over time.

_______53. Which of these energy sources is nonrenewable?

A. wind power C. solar power B. wood D. hydroelectric power

_______54. Which of the following best describes the process of transpiration?

A. precipitation soaking into the ground B. evaporation of water by plants, crops, and trees C. the freezing of liquid water to ice D. the formation of hail

_______55. The structures found in a living cell can be compared to the parts of a factory that produces cars. Which part of the factory is most similar to the nucleus of a living cell?

A. a conveyor belt that transports materialsB. a storage bin that holds the pieces needed to assemble a carC. the computer room that controls the assembly processD. the generator that provides energy for the factory

_______56. In which process is oxygen used to release the energy stored in food?

A. photosynthesis B. respiration C. digestion D. reproduction

_______57. The fur of a snowshoe rabbit changes to white during the winter. This change is an example of :

A. adaptation B. competition C. metamorphosis D. metabolism

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Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below. The diagram shows the offspring of a white mouse and a gray mouse. All of the offspring are gray.

______58. Which is a correct gene combination for the parents shown in the diagram?

A. GG X GG B. gg X gg C. gg X GG D. Gg X Gg

_______59. If two gray (Gg) mice mated, what percent of their offspring would have pure white fur?

A. 25% B. 50% C. 75% D. 100%

_______ 60. Competition is most likely to occur between which two organisms?

A. deer and butterflies B. owls and bacteria C. goldfish and rabbits D. grass and strawberry plants

_______61. What is the result of cellular respiration?

A. Energy for cell processes is released. B. Oxygen is released for photosynthesis. C. Cells undergo decomposition. D. Nutrients are excreted to prevent the buildup of body fat.

_______ 62. Living things are classified as producers or consumers according to:

A. their speed of movement B. the size of their communities C. how they obtain food D. how they reproduce

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The diagram shows a food web.

_______63. Which three organisms in the food web are competing for the same food resource?

A. carrot, rabbit, and fox B. grain, bird, and owl C. fox, owl, and rabbit D. bird, mouse, and grasshopper

_______64. Which statement would be true if the owl population disappeared?

A. The mouse population would increase. B. The carrot population would increase. C. The fox population would decrease. D. The rabbit population would decrease.

_______ 65. How do decomposers obtain their food?

A. hunting and killing prey for food B. changing carbon dioxide and water into food C. absorbing food from dead organisms D. producing food from oxygen and sunlight

_______ 66. Which life process is shown by the equation below?

A. circulation B. reproduction C. locomotion D. respiration

______ 67. Which three systems of the human body function together to move and control body parts?

A. nervous, skeletal, and muscular

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B. muscular, endocrine, and excretory C. digestive, excretory, and reproductive D. circulatory, endocrine, and respiratory

SHORT OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS:

1. Some quantity of a solid reacts with 40 grams of a liquid. All of the reactants are used up in the reaction. The final products are a compound with a mass of 72 grams and a gas with a mass of 8 grams.

A. What was the mass of the original solid in the reaction? Show your work.

B. Name one piece of evidence from the diagram that indicates a chemical change is taking place.

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TEMPERATURES WITH LAMP ON

Time with Infrared

Lamp on (min)

Temperature at Top of Sand (oC)

Temperature at bottom of Sand (oC)

Temperature atTop of Water (oC)

Temperature atBottom of Water (oC)

0 22o 22o 20o 20o

10 31o 26o 24o 21o

20 39o 32o 26o 23o

30 40o 34o 28o 25o

2. A student is testing the rates at which sand and water heat up. He puts 1 kg. of sand in one container and 1 kg of water in an identical container. He uses four thermometers: one near the surface of the sand, one near the bottom of the sand, one near the surface of the water, and one near the bottom of the water. He places an infrared lamp over each container. Every 10 minutes, he records the temperatures measured by each thermometer. The table shows the data from the experiment.

A. Make a conclusion that compares the rates at which sand and water heat up. Use data from the table to support your conclusion.

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

B. Identify two methods of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) involved in this experiment. Explain the role of each method in heating up the sand and water.

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Roller coasters are among the most popular amusement park rides. They are exhilarating and thrilling to the people who ride them. How a roller coaster works is quite simple.

1. Almost all roller coasters start by going up a hill. The coaster is pulled up the hill by a moving chain. A motor provides the energy for the moving chain. The energy from the motor is transferred to the coaster.

2. At the top of the hill, the coaster has stored energy, or potential energy. It has the most potential energy on the first hill. As the coaster goes over the top of the hill, the chain is released and the coaster falls freely on the tracks.

3. As the coaster moves rapidly down the first hill, its potential energy changes into energy of motion, or kinetic energy. It has kinetic energy because it is moving. This kinetic energy carries it to the top of the next hill.

4. The kinetic energy is converted back into potential energy when the coaster reaches the top of the second hill. As it goes down the second hill, the potential energy is again changed into kinetic energy. This happens over and over on each hill until the coaster eraches the station and is stopped by the coaster’s operator.

Note: Each hill of a roller coaster must be smaller than the one before it for the coaster to have enough energy to make it over all of the hills. The coaster loses some of its energy between hills because of track friction and air resistance.

3. Predict what would happen if the third hill on a roller coaster ride were bigger than the first hill. Explain your answer.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

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4. A student goes skateboarding a few times a week. The student notices that she can go faster while skating on some level surfaces than on others. She hypothesizes that speed has something to do with the surface she is skating on. The student wants to design an experiment to test this hypothesis.

A. Identify the independent (manipulated) variable in the experiment. [1]

______________________________________________________________________________

B. Identify the dependent (responding) variable in the experiment. [1]

______________________________________________________________________________

C. Identify two factors that will need to be held constant in the experiment. [2]

   (1)_____________________________________________________________________

   (2) _____________________________________________________________________

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Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below. The diagram shows the relative strengths of the gravitational force for planets of different masses. The size of each planet represents the planet's relative mass. The arrow length indicates the relative amount of gravitational pull that each planet would exert on an astronaut in space.

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Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below, which shows Earth at one point in its orbit around the Sun. The length of daylight experienced at different latitudes on a given date is shown on the diagram.

5. Describe how the length of daylight changes from the Equator to the North Pole on the date shown. [1]

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

6. What season is beginning in the Northern Hemisphere? [1]

_________________________________________________________________

7. What is the relationship between the mass of the planets and the relative strength of their gravitational pull? [1]

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

8. Which three planets shown have less gravitational pull than Earth? [1]

   (1) ________________________________

   (2) ________________________________

   (3)________________________________

Base your answers to the following questions on the information and diagrams below.

Saltwater plants of the same species were grown in soil in separate containers with 1 liter of water. All of the plants were the same height at the beginning of the experiment. Different amounts of salt were dissolved in each container as shown in the diagrams. All other conditions were held constant. Measurements for the final height of each plant are provided.

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9. What is the control in this experiment? (1)

___________________________________________________________________________________

10. State one conclusion, based on the information provided, about the growth of this type of saltwater plant in water containing 0 to 20 grams of salt per liter. [1]

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

TEST TAKING STRATEGIESEssay / Open-Ended Questions

Read the essay/open-ended and look for the key verb . Every essay/open-ended question centers on a key verb, which suggests the

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correct approach for developing your answer. Here are some examples of key verbs:

Analyze – To break an idea or concept into parts in order to determine their nature and relationships.Compare – To state similaritiesContrast – To state differencesDefine – To explain what something is or meansDescribe – To illustrate something in words or tell about itDiscuss – To make observations using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detailExplain – To make plain or understandableShow – To clearly state and support position or idea

Keep the following strategies in mind when answering essay/open-ended questions:

1. Read the entire question through first.2. Make a brief outline. Include all the main ideas you want to cover.3. Write a thesis statement. A thesis statement states the topic of the essay

and the main ideas.4. Write one paragraph about each main idea. Each main-idea paragraph

should include a topic sentence and supporting details. Use examples, description, or discussion to elaborate on the supporting details.

5. Make sure your essay has a strong conclusion. Each should be a fully-developed paragraph.

6. Read your essay and correct errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Read the entire question carefully.2. Read all of the choices provided as possible answers.3. Think : Re-read, look for clues, and make certain that you understand the

question and the choices provided as possible answers.4. Eliminate the answer choices that you know are incorrect.5. Think : Choose the best answer to the question.

Analyzing Graphs

1. Read the title of the graph.2. Read the labels.3. Examine the key, if any. Note colors, patterns, or shading. Study how

they are shown on the graph.

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4. Read the test question about the graph.5. Choose the best answer.

Analyzing Maps

1. Identify the map’s title, key, scale, and compass rose. Always read the map title first!

2. Determine what type of information the map presents.3. Read the multiple-choice question that goes with the map.4. Decide which part of the map will help you find the answer.5. Answer the question in your own words without looking at the answer

choices.6. Eliminate the answer choices that are obviously wrong.7. Choose the best answer.

Scientific Investigations

Whether scientists do experiments, make models, or study natural processes by making observations, all scientists follow some similar steps in their investigations. Although all scientists use these steps, they do not all use them in the same order. For example, a scientist usually needs to learn/research what others know about a topic before they know what questions to ask. The steps scientists use include the following:

asking questions and making predictions {hypothesis} learning about others’ work planning investigations making observations and collecting data developing and using models Analyzing observations or data. {Used by scientists to infer, or make a guess based on evidence as to what

happened during the investigation.} drawing conclusions describing work to others

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