ISB 202 Ch 1

T/F Science, art and religion deal with different domains of knowledge and experience and are, therefore, not inherently contradictory to one another

T

T/F The use of control groups enables scientists to determine cause-effect relationships.

T

T/F Schick states that any procedure that serves to systematically eliminate reasonable grounds for doubt can be considered 'scientific'

T

Schick argues that if we want to know the truth about a claim, we should: a. let go of our prejudices and preconceptions and examine the evidence b. go with our gut instincts c. listen to radio talk show hosts for validation of our beliefs d. all of the above e. none of the above

A

Scott, who is 12 years old, wants to be a scientist when he grows up because he loves plants. So, he decided to study the effects of light on the growth of plants. He had noticed that the plants of a certain species in his yard grew taller than those growing in the shade. Thinking that they were taller because of the greater amount of light, he planted some sprouts of the plants and exposed them to different amounts of light - one group received a lot of light from a lamp, and the other group received less. He then measured the amount of growth of the plants in each group and made a graph of their growth rates in order to compare them. The question is, was Scott doing something scientific? a. Yes, because he had a hypothesis to guide his experimental design, he collected empirical data, and will use his data to test his hypothesis. b. No, because he is too young to think scientifically c. No, because everyone already knows that light affects plant growth d. No, both B and C

A

Which of the following would NOT be an indicator for a conclusion? a. strongly believe b. therefore c. so d. as a result e. which implies that

A

As discussed by Schick, a. all hypotheses should be considered equal in merit b. some hypotheses are better than others c. one should never consider more than one hypothesis at a time when trying to explain something d. none of the above

B

A scientist discovered that air pressures decreases as the height above the surface increases. This relationship is an example of: a. a direct proportion b. an inverse proportion c. neither of the above d. either a or b could be true

B

According to Schick, science a. attempts to produce gadgets that can be used by people b. seeks to understand the laws and principles that govern the universe c. both a and b

B

Are the premises sufficient for Michael to draw the conclusion he drew? a. yes b. no c. it is impossible to say

B

Based on his work with depressed patients and a review of the scientific literature on depression, Dr. Nelson speculated that some types of depression may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain related to a chemical called dopamine. This is an example of a: a. fact b.hypothesis c. theory d. experiment

B

Can scientists use the scientific method to state, "It is a scientific fact that abortion is morally right - or wrong"? a. yes - this is a conclusion that science allows us to make b. no - this is a conclusion that science cannot make

B

Charlotte and Shannel were in a debate about climate change. Charlotte stated that, "climate change can't be occurring because that would be too terrible to be true. So, it just can't be happening". Shannel stated that temperature records, based on direct temperature measurements from around the world for the last 40 years, show a clear increase in the temperature of the planet. And, she said, "the fact that Arctic sea ice and mountain glaciers all over the world have melted tremendously also shows that the planet is warming." Given this scenario, which of the following is true? a. Charlotte has presented an argument b. Shannel has presented an argument c. Both have presented an argument d. Neither have presented an argument

B

Consider the claim below when answering the following questions. Michael said that, "it is well known that ghosts cause spikes in electrical activity as measured on EMF equipment." Michael detected a spike on his EMF instrument when investigating a house that was said to be haunted and so he concluded that he had detected a ghost. Is the premise of Michael's argument demonstrably true? a) yes b) no

B

Developing an understanding of the Law of Gravity in order to enable us to understand the motions of the planets is the domain of ________, whereas using our knowledge of physics to build the spacecraft that carries us to the planets is the domain of _________. a. science; science b. science; technology c. technology; technology d. technology, science

B

In order for a hypothesis or theory to be considered scientific, it must be possible to determine if it is: a. correct (right) b. incorrect (wrong)

B

Is Michael's argument a valid and sound argument? a. yes b. no c. it is impossible to say

B

To control for factors that might affect the outcome of a clinical study (other than the medicine that is being tested), scientists often use a: a. hypothesis b. placebo c. nocebo d. theory e. law

B

What type of error has been made in the following argument? Jenny said that Mr. Rogers is a socialist and atheist and he supports the proposed health plan. "Therefore," she concluded that, "as God-fearing capitalists, we should reject the health plan because Mr. Rogers is obviously immoral." a. appeal to authority b. ad hominem d. division c. false dilemma d. Division e. composition

B

Modern science began: a. with the Greeks approximately 2500 years ago b. at the dawn of the Dark Ages when the Roman empire collapsed c. in the 1500s, with the work of Galileo Galilei and Francis Bacon d. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s e. with the dawn of the Space program in the late 1950s and early 1960s

C

One of the key ideas that Schick discusses in Chapter 1 is that: a. belief alone is a reliable means of getting at the truth about a claim b. the certainty of a person's belief is a good measure of the likelihood that the belief is true (i.e., the more certain we are of our beliefs, the more likely they are to be true) c. belief - without supporting evidence - does not help us discover the truth about a claim d. both a and b

C

Schick asserts that, if we believe that reality is what we want it to be, then: a. we will be better off b. we will be able to make better decisions c. we cannot know anything about the world d. both A and B

C

The PCL textbook, and our ISB 202 course, both discuss several different disciplines of science because: a. the real world is integrated in the sense that physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes all operate together to create the world we experience, and so we need to know something about these sciences in order to better understand and appreciate the world. b. without this knowledge we are more likely to make mistakes when trying to understand how things occur c. both A and B d. the writer of the text and the course instructor just want to load you up with a lot of trivial facts about science

C

The synthesis of a large collection of information that contains well-tested and verified hypotheses about certain aspects of the world is known as a scientific: a. fact b. hypothesis c. theory d. experiment

C

The word "argument," as used when practicing critical thinking is: a. a confrontation between two or more people b. a negative action because of the emotions it generates c. the reasons one gives to support a claim d. a string of statements asserting or clarifying one's views e. both a and b

C

Using the methods of science to study nature a. is ultimately pointless because scientific knowledge is imperfect and tentative - all of it always changes which means we don't really know anything. b. takes away from our sense of wonder because it explains how things work, rather than leaving them cloaked in mystery c. adds depth to our understanding and therefore to our appreciation of nature d. is no more reliable than going with one's intuition about how nature works

C

What type of error has been made in the following argument? Martin said that we have to increase our use of nuclear power, or increase our use of fossil fuels in order to meet our energy needs. (He did not consider conserving energy or developing alternative energies.) a. hasty generalization b. slippery slope c. false dilemma/dichotomyd. begging the question e. straw man

C

What type of error has been made in the following argument? Millions of people believe acupuncture can help heal leg injuries, therefore, you should use it to treat your injury. a. false dilemma b. appeal to tradition c. appeal to the masses d. straw man e. hasty generalization

C

Which of the following is a scientific hypothesis? a. horse-like creatures live on a planet orbiting a star on the other side of the universe b. Invisible, undetectable creatures exist in dimensions of space that we cannot access c. Gravitons, which are thought to transmit the gravitational force, should exist and, if so, they will be detectable by instruments that we have the ability to make. d. John sometimes behaves strangely because spirits sometimes control his words and actions

C

An argument is fallacious (incorrect) if it has: a. false premises b. irrelevant premises c. insufficient premises d. all of the above e. b and c only

D

Equations are used in science because: a. they show how things are related to one another b. they enable scientists to precisely quantify the relationships among variables c. they serve as a sort of shorthand; i.e., it take less time to state an equation than to explain it in words d. all of the above e. scientists just like to create problems for those who are strong in mathematics

D

In the parlance of science, a "blind" researcher, is one that: a. has lost his sight in one or both eyes b. has strong expectations about what he/she wants the results of an experiment to be c. is so biased that he or she cannot interpret the data correctly d. does not know which group (experimental or control) a research subject is in e. both B and C

D

Melissa, who is 14 years old, wants to be a botanist when she grows up because she loves plants. So, she decided to begin her training by "doing something scientific". Specifically, she measured the heights of all the shrubs in her yard and recorded the data in a notebook and then made a graph showing the maximum, minimum, and average height of the shrubs. The question is, was she doing something scientific? a Yes, because science entails collecting data and that is what she is doing b. Yes, because science entails making graphs of data. c. No, because she is too young to think scientifically d. No, because she did not have a hypothesis to guide her data collection and to serve as a basis for interpreting the data e. Both A and B are correct

D

Most psychic hotlines are staffed by: a. trained counselors b. professional psychics c. psychiatrists d. unemployed housewives

D

Rico wanted to find out if the majority of people in Texas do not support gun control laws. So, he surveyed 25 of his friends at the local shooting range. He found that 90% of them are strongly opposed to gun control laws. Rico therefore concluded that "Texans strongly oppose gun control laws". Which of the following is true? a. Based on his survey results, Rico's conclusion must be correct. b. The sample size of Rico's survey is appropriate. c. The group Rico surveyed is appropriate for the purposes of determining how most Texans feel about gun control laws. d. The survey Rico conducted is not adequate to support his conclusion. e. A, B, and C are correct

D

Schick reports information that suggests that many high school science teachers are: a. highly qualified to teach science b. have won numerous awards for science teaching c. both a and b d. Are not really prepared to teach science as indicated by many of the unsupported or discredited ideas they believe are true

D

The authors of "How to Think About Weird Things" state that the principles of reasoning and analysis used in their book: a. should be accepted on faith because he is an expert b. are relative and, therefore, apply to some people but not all people c. all of the above are reasonable according to Schick d. can be verified for yourself by using them

D

The people quoted in "How to Think About Weird Things" argue or state that skeptical thinking: a) is a very negative form of thinking b) promotes inequality and conflict among people c. both A and B d. is necessary for civilization and humankind to survive e) prevents us from ever arriving at a belief/conclusion.

D

The scientific attitude is based on: a. curiosity b. the desire to test one's ideas using experiments or studies c. a willingness to accept that one may not know everything there is to know about a topic d. all of the above e. a sense of superiority to other people

D

What type of error has been made in the following argument? Alyssa said that Maggie should believe in Carol's psychic's abilities. When Maggie asked why she should believe in them, Alyssa said it was because Carol is psychic. a. hasty generalization b. slippery slope c. false dilemma d. begging the question e. straw man

D

What type of error has been made in the following argument? The spokesperson for the National Rifle Association said that, because the President wants to ban assault-style weapons and large ammunition clips, as well as run background checks on people who want to purchase a gun, "He wants to take away people's Second Amendment rights." However, whether one supports gun ownership or not, this is a misrepresentation of the President's position because he has never suggested banning all gun ownership. Under his proposal, people could still own hunting rifles and handguns, which means that citizens of the U.S. would still have the right "to keep and bear arms," as stated in the Second Amendment. So, what type of fallacy has been committed by the NRA spokesperson? a. appeal to the masses b. appeal to tradition c. faulty analogy d. straw man e. slippery slope

D

Which of the following does NOT constitute one of the criteria of adequacy; i.e., a criterion that can be used to determine whether one hypothesis or theory is better than another? a. testability b. the ability to predict new phenomena c. simplicity: the idea that the most likely explanation is the 'most simple'; i.e., it involves the fewest assumptions d. it's subjectivity; i.e., different people can use the hypothesis or theory to validate their own beliefs e. consistency with other theories; i.e., it doesn't conflict with other well accepted scientific beliefs

D

Which of the following does Schick think is false? a. We create our own reality. b. If an experience seems real, then it is real. c. Mystical ways of knowing are superior to ordinary ways of knowing. d. All of the above e. None of the above

D

Which of the following is NOT true of science? a. It attempts to discover the order in nature b. It attempts to determine cause-effect relationships among processes c. It is based on rational (logical) thinking d. It sometimes explains things in terms of supernatural processes e. It is both a body of knowledge and a method of learning about nature

D

Which of the following is incorrect regarding science? a. It enables us to advance our understanding of the world. b. It enables us to make predictions about what will happen based on an understanding of how nature works. c. Science and technology are related, but are NOT the same thing. d. Someday, perhaps a very long time from now, science will answer all questions regarding human experience and values

D

Which of the following is true regarding the following argument? Premise: Ships have mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. Premise: The circumstances are too unusual to be accounted for by natural explanations. Conclusion: Some of the ships were probably pulled into a parallel universe by some type of space-time anomaly, or taken away by aliens. a. This argument is valid and sound. b. This argument is valid, but not sound. c. This argument is not valid, but it is sound. d. This argument is neither valid nor sound

D

According to Schick, science is: a. a method of discovering the truth b. a way of solving problems and answering questions c. a particular worldview; namely, that of scientism d. all of the above e. a and b only

E

Scientific investigation begins with: a. random observations made without any constraints on what one should observe; followed by an attempt to find patterns in the observations b. a hypothesis which attempts to predict what will occur based on what the scientist thinks he or she understands about a phenomena c. a problem to be solved; a question to be answered d. both a and c e. both b and c

E

What type of argument or error has been made in the following argument? David said that the Big Bang theory should not be taught in schools because, in his mind, it implies that the universe may have begun "on its own" without a divine being. And, he argued, if people accept that, they will eventually give up their religious beliefs and ultimately live immoral lives. a. appeal to the masses b. appeal to tradition c. faulty analogy d. genetic fallacy e. slippery slope

E

Which of the following involves passion, talent, and intelligence? a. art b. literature c. music d. science e. all of these

E

T/F According to Schick, hypotheses are discovered using a sort of "formula" for finding them - a formula which all scientists use.

F

T/F According to Schick, the fact that we want something to be true is a good reason to believe that it is true.

F

T/F According to an attorney cited by Schick, so-called "quack medicine" or "quackery" is relatively harmless.

F

T/F If someone cannot do an experiment in a laboratory then, by definition, they cannot do science and, therefore, these people are not scientists

F

T/F According to Schick, we need good reasons for our beliefs because there are innumerable beliefs to choose from and without good reasons for accepting them, we might as well guess as to what is true - and this isn't reliable.

T

T/F Ad hoc hypotheses cannot be verified and so, are not considered to be good hypotheses

T

T/F In order for a hypothesis to be useful, it must be possible to test it.

T

T/F In order for us to explain and predict something, it must follow a pattern or obey 'rules'

T

T/F Schick argues that the continuation of a democratic society depends upon its citizens making rational choices based on rational beliefs

T

Schick states that much of what we read or hear regarding extraordinary claims is: a. well supported with factual evidence b. well supported with logical reasons c. both A and B d. lacking in good 'whys'; i.e., lacking in information as to why we should believe the claim".

d. The premise of this course is that we should have good reasons for believing what we believe. This is the basis of science. Without good reasons, we have no way of deciding whether something is true or untrue, probable or improbable, possible or impossible.