Mixed practice test 2, Grades 6–8 — question 4 of 24
Listen to the conversation between Dana and Mr. Salazar. Then answer the questions.
When the Hypothesis Is Wrong
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Dana: Mr. Salazar, our plant experiment didn't work. We thought the plants under the blue light would grow the tallest, but the ones under the white light did.
Mr. Salazar: That doesn't mean it didn't work. It means your hypothesis wasn't supported. That's a result, and it's worth reporting.
Dana: But won't I lose points for being wrong?
Mr. Salazar: Not for being wrong. You lose points if your conclusion ignores your data. Scientists are wrong all the time. The useful ones explain what they found.
Dana: So should I change my hypothesis so it matches what happened?
Mr. Salazar: No. Leave it exactly the way you wrote it. In your conclusion, say what you predicted, what actually happened, and one reason the results might have turned out that way. Then suggest what you would test next.
Dana: Like checking whether the white lamp was brighter than the blue one?
Mr. Salazar: That's exactly the kind of thing I mean.
Choose the best answer.
Why does Dana think her experiment did not work?
You can move on without answering. Unanswered questions are counted as wrong.