ACT Science : ACT Science

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : How To Find Research Summary In Biology

A scientific experiment is conducted to test if calcium can affect gene regulation. Scientists hypothesize that high levels of calcium would interact with the proteins Cs3 and Gfy, which in turn would increase the transcription of genes F4597 and BC392. The experiment procedure is summarized below.

 

  1. Isolate the genes F4597 and BC392.
  2. Create a vector within yeast cells containing the two genes
  3. Culture yeast cells
  4. Grow yeast cells in different growth mediums—one medium lacking calcium (plate A), and one medium with supplemented calcium (plate B)

What new information would weaken this experiment? 

Possible Answers:

Research showing that Ca++ alone does not affect proteins, but requires a coupling with Ka+ in order to be effective. 

Research showing Na levels did not change the activity of protein Sl298. 

Calcium is shown to have significant impacts on all proteins. 

Another experiment shows potassium increases F4597 gene activity. 

Another experiment with results showing Ca++ levels affected a different protein Hrt and increased activity of the Cp340 gene. 

Correct answer:

Research showing that Ca++ alone does not affect proteins, but requires a coupling with Ka+ in order to be effective. 

Explanation:

Researching showing isolated Ca++ does not affect proteins undermines the root of this experimental design and hypothesis because it looks at the sole effects of Ca++ on proteins. 

Example Question #6 : How To Find Research Summary In Biology

A scientific experiment is conducted to test if calcium can affect gene regulation. Scientists hypothesize that high levels of calcium would interact with the proteins Cs3 and Gfy, which in turn would increase the transcription of genes F4597 and BC392. The experiment procedure is summarized below.

 

  1. Isolate the genes F4597 and BC392.
  2. Create a vector within yeast cells containing the two genes
  3. Culture yeast cells
  4. Grow yeast cells in different growth mediums—one medium lacking calcium (plate A), and one medium with supplemented calcium (plate B)

Would new information about the lack of absorption of calcium through a growth medium strengthen or weaken this experiment and why?

Possible Answers:

This information would have no affect on the experiment.

This information would weaken the experiment because it would decrease the influence of the independent variable (amount of calcium). 

This information would strengthen the experiment because it would add another variable to study.

The information would weaken the experiment.

This information would strengthen the experiment because it would increase the range of results.

Correct answer:

This information would weaken the experiment because it would decrease the influence of the independent variable (amount of calcium). 

Explanation:

Information showing that calclum is not properly absorbed into growth mediums would weaken the experiment because it would skew the results for Plate B and create a smaller contrast between Plate A and Plate B.

Example Question #141 : Act Science

A scientific experiment is conducted to test if calcium can affect gene regulation. Scientists hypothesized that high levels of calcium would interact with the proteins Cs3 and Gfy, which in turn would increase the transcription of genes F4597 and BC392. The experiment procedure is summarized below.

 

  1. Isolate the genes F4597 and BC392.
  2. Create a vector within yeast cells containing the two genes
  3. Culture yeast cells
  4. Grow yeast cells in different growth mediums- one medium lacking calcium (plate A) and one medium with supplemented calcium (plate B)

What result would disprove the hypothesis? 

Possible Answers:

All of these outcomes would disprove the hypothesis. 

Plate B has vastly increased gene activity while Plate A has only a little gene activity.

Plate B has increased gene activity while Plate A does not. 

Both Plate A and Plate B had equal gene activity. 

All of these outcomes would support the hypothesis. 

Correct answer:

Both Plate A and Plate B had equal gene activity. 

Explanation:

If both Plate A and Plate B had equal gene activity, it would mean that calcium levels did not affect the proteins or the gene activity. This would disprove the hypothesis, which stated that calcium would increase the transcription of the genes. 

Example Question #1 : How To Find Research Summary In Biology

A scientific experiment is conducted to test if calcium can affect gene regulation. Scientists hypothesized that high levels of calcium would interact with the proteins Cs3 and Gfy, which in turn would increase the transcription of genes F4597 and BC392. The experiment procedure is summarized below.

 

  1. Isolate the genes F4597 and BC392.
  2. Create a vector within yeast cells containing the two genes
  3. Culture yeast cells
  4. Grow yeast cells in different growth mediums- one medium lacking calcium (plate A) and one medium with supplemented calcium (plate B)

What might it suggest if both plates were found to have no gene activity?

Possible Answers:

None of the statements could be reasons for no gene activity within the plates. 

There was contamination at one or several steps in the experiment that prevented the yeast from growing.  

An outside variable is suppressing the gene activity and masking the results of calcium. 

All of the statements could be reasons for no gene activity within the plates. 

The vectors were done incorrectly and gene activity is not possible regardless of calcium levels. 

Correct answer:

All of the statements could be reasons for no gene activity within the plates. 

Explanation:

All of the possible statements are situations that could exist within this experiment. It is very possible contamination took place. If the vectors were not done properly, then the genes might even be in the yeast cells, which would show up as no gene activity. It is also always possible an outside factor not addressed in the experiment is interferring with the results. 

Example Question #4 : How To Find Research Summary In Biology

A new drug is in its clinical trial phase. The graph below shows the data for participants sleep patterns before medication use and then after using the medication for three months. Series 1 shows the average hours slept a night for each participant prior to medication. Series 2 shows the average hours slept a night for each participant after three months of use. The average hours slept a night was obtained by recording sleep every night for one month, and then finding the average. Patients one through five took a placebo pil, not the actual Moonlight medication. Note: The y-axis is measured in hours slept a night, while the x-axis lists each anonymous patient numerically.

 

 

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If Patient 1, Patient 2, and Patient 3 were all females, you could infer from the data given that __________.

Possible Answers:

males reported a smaller placebo effect than the females reported

females reported a smaller placebo effect than the males reported

only females reported a placebo effect

only males reported a placebo effect

there was not a difference in the strength of the placebo affect between females and males

Correct answer:

females reported a smaller placebo effect than the males reported

Explanation:

The placebo was given to patient 1 through patient 5; patient 4 and patient 5 are males. Patient 4 and Patient 5 reported a much larger increase in average hours slept a night, while the female patients given the placebo reported a smaller change in average hours slept a night. According to the chart, the first three patients saw an average increase of about one hour of sleep a night. Patient 4 and Patient 5 saw an average increase of at least two hours of sleep a night. 

Example Question #1 : How To Find Research Summary In Biology

 

Scientists studied a species of termites and looked at their foraging habitats across the United States. The termite’s population in a given tree was measured by the level of decomposition within a tree due to the termites eating the bark. The experiment also kept track of the level of shade tolerance for each species of tree. For the species of trees in this experiment, shade tolerance fell into two main categorizes- shade tolerant (ST) and intermediate shade (IS). Lastly, they recorded the average amount of rainfall in that given month for the species location being observed. The chart below summarizes the data. Scientists hypothesized that the level of decomposition would be highest in tree species with a higher average rainfall. In addition, they hypothesized trees allowing more shade would allow for more termites, and in turn more decomposition. 

 

 

Tsuga canadensis

Morus rubra

Pinus

strobus

Acer rubrum

Arbutus

menziesii

Quercus

lobata

Juniperus

scopulorum

Decomposition

(in ccm)

2.38

3.21

1.01

.970

2.89

1.31

4.03

Shade tolerance

ST

ST

IS

IS

ST

IS

ST

Average rainfall

47.27

50.89

43.26

41.65

46.87

44.98

52.75

According to the data in the chart, did the experiment support or disprove their hypothesis? 

Possible Answers:

The data in the chart supports the hypothesis by showing a high level of decomposition in species with higher average rainfall. In addition, trees allowing more shade had higher levels of decomposition. 

The data in the chart supports the hypothesis by showing a high level of decomposition in species with higher average rainfall. In addition, trees allowing more shade had lower levels of decomposition. 

The data in the chart supports the hypothesis by showing a low level of decomposition in species with higher average rainfall. In addition, trees allowing more shade had lower levels of decomposition. 

The data in the chart supports the hypothesis by showing a low level of decomposition in species with higher average rainfall. In addition, trees allowing more shade had higher levels of decomposition. 

The data in the chart supports the hypothesis by showing a high level of decomposition in species with lower average rainfall. In addition, trees allowing more shade had higher levels of decomposition. 

Correct answer:

The data in the chart supports the hypothesis by showing a high level of decomposition in species with higher average rainfall. In addition, trees allowing more shade had higher levels of decomposition. 

Explanation:

As stated in the prompt, scientists hypothesized the level of decomposition would be highest in tree species with a higher average rainfall. In addition, they hypothesized trees allowing more shade would allow for more termites, and in turn more decomposition. 

Example Question #11 : How To Find Research Summary In Biology

Scientists studied a species of termites and looked at their foraging habitats across the United States. The termite’s population in a given tree was measured by the level of decomposition within a tree due to the termites eating the bark. The experiment also kept track of the level of shade tolerance for each species of tree. For the species of trees in this experiment, shade tolerance fell into two main categorizes- shade tolerant (ST) and intermediate shade (IS). Lastly, they recorded the average amount of rainfall in that given month for the species location being observed. The chart below summarizes the data. Scientists hypothesized that the level of decomposition would be highest in tree species with a higher average rainfall. In addition, they hypothesized trees allowing more shade would allow for more termites, and in turn more decomposition. 

 

 

Tsuga canadensis

Morus rubra

Pinus

strobus

Acer rubrum

Arbutus

menziesii

Quercus

lobata

Juniperus

scopulorum

Decomposition

(in ccm)

2.38

3.21

1.01

.970

2.89

1.31

4.03

Shade tolerance

ST

ST

IS

IS

ST

IS

ST

Average rainfall

47.27

50.89

43.26

41.65

46.87

44.98

52.75

Based on this experiment, the optimal foraging habitats of termites can best be described as __________.

Possible Answers:

none of the answers listed

dry, sunny environments

rainy, sunny environments

rainy, shady environments

dry, shady environments

Correct answer:

rainy, shady environments

Explanation:

The experimental data shows that the greatest amount of termites are found in trees that have a high shade tolerance and get a lot of rain. 

Example Question #143 : Act Science

An experiment was done to look at the effects of iodine supplements on the production of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Individuals in the study were divided into categorizes based on the dosage of iodine supplemented. The chart below summarizes the data collected. THY1 is the average amount of thyroxine in the group prior to taking the supplement. THY2 is the average amount of thyroxine in the group after three months of taking supplements.

 

 

THY1

Dosage of Iodine

THY2

Group 1

3.220

0

3.289

Group 2

2.988

0

3.102

Group 3

3.134

1mmg

3.248

Group 4

3.387

3mmg

4.001

Group 5

3.024

6mmg

5.830

Group 2 was given a placebo supplement, which shows:

Possible Answers:

The placebo supplement resulted in a smaller thyroxine increase than the thyroxine increase in the control group. 

The placebo supplement did not change the thyroxine level.

The placebo supplement resulted in a higher thyroxine decrease than the thyroxine decrease in the control group. 

The placebo supplement resulted in a thyroxine increase that was the same as the  thyroxine increase in the control group. 

The placebo supplement resulted in a higher thyroxine increase than the thyroxine increase in the control group. 

Correct answer:

The placebo supplement resulted in a higher thyroxine increase than the thyroxine increase in the control group. 

Explanation:

Group 2 had a higher thyroxine increase ( a .114 difference)  than the thyroxine increase in Group 1 (0.069).  

Example Question #144 : Act Science

An experiment was done to look at the effects of iodine supplements on the production of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Individuals in the study were divided into categorizes based on the dosage of iodine supplemented. The chart below summarizes the data collected. THY1 is the average amount of thyroxine in the group prior to taking the supplement. THY2 is the average amount of thyroxine in the group after three months of taking supplements.

 

 

THY1

Dosage of Iodine

THY2

Group 1

3.220

0

3.289

Group 2

2.988

0

3.102

Group 3

3.134

1mmg

3.248

Group 4

3.387

3mmg

4.001

Group 5

3.024

6mmg

5.830

The results of this experiment strengthen the theory that: 

Possible Answers:

Iodine supplements have a greater impact when at smaller dosages. 

Iodine supplements have a greater impact when at higher dosages. 

Iodine supplements do not have an impact when at high dosages. 

Iodine supplements have a smaller impact when at higher dosages. 

Iodine supplements do not have any impact on Thyroxine levels. 

Correct answer:

Iodine supplements have a greater impact when at higher dosages. 

Explanation:

When looking at the chart, the higher the thyroxine level, the greater the difference between THY1 and THY2. 

Example Question #141 : Act Science

Mitochondria make 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life. The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging (MFRTA) theorizes that individuals who live longest produce fewer mitochondrial oxygen reactive species than individuals that have a shorter life span. Therefore, lifespan will increase if fewer mtROS are produced, and lifespan will decrease if more mtROS are produced. An experiment was done to test this theory, and the results are shown in the chart below. Four test groups of flies were involved, two groups consisted of females, and two groups consisted of males.

 

 

Test group 1

Test group 2

 

Test group 3

 

Test group 4

 # of mtROS

 3.9

 2.5

 3.2

 2.7

 Lifespan

110 days

120 days

95 days

89 days

Based on this experiment, a test group living in a low oxygen environment would:

Possible Answers:

None of the answers listed

have a shorter lifespan

have a longer lifespan. 

produce a lower mtROS amount

produce a higher mtROS amount

Correct answer:

None of the answers listed

Explanation:

We do not know the relationship between a low-oxygen environment and the mtROS amount. One might hypothesize that a low-oxygen environment would lower the influence of the mitochondrial oxygen reactive species because there is less oxygen to react with. However, this experiment does not begin to address this issue, therefore no conclusion can be made. 

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