TEAS Reading Questions

TEAS Reading Questions Related

Review TEAS Reading Questions related questions and content

How are Hypotheses Confirmed? Most scientists agree that while the scientific method is an invaluable methodological tool, it is not a failsafe method for arriving at object ruth. It is a debatable, for example, whether a hypothesis can actually be confirmed by experience. When a hypothesis is of the form "All x and y," it is commonly believed that a piece of evidence that is both x and y confirms the hypothesis. For example, for the hypothesis "All monkeys are hairy," a particular monkey that is hairy is thought to be a confirming piece of evidence for the hypothesis. A problem arises when one encounters evidence that disproves a hypothesis: while no scientist would argue that one piece of evidence proves a hypothesis, it is possible for one piece of evidence to disprove a hypothesis. To return to the monkey example, one hairless monkey out of one billion hairy monkeys disproves the hypothesis "All monkeys are hairy." Single pieces of evidence then, seem to affect to given hypothesis in radically different ways. For this reason, the confirmation of hypotheses is better described as probabilistic. Hypotheses that can only be proven or disproven based on evidence need to be based on probability because sample sets for such hypotheses are too large. Int eh monkey example, every single monkey in the history of monkeys would need to be examined before the hypothesis could be proven or disproven. By making confirmation a function of probability, one may make provisional or working conclusions the tallow for the possibility of given hypothesis being disconfirmed in the future. Int he monkey case, then, encountering a hairy monkey would slighting rise the probability that "all monkeys are hairy," while encountering a hairless monkey would slightly decrease the probability that "all monkeys are hairy." This method of confirming hypotheses is both counterintuitive and controversial, but it allows for evidence to equitably affect hypotheses and it does not require infinite sample sets for confirmation or disconfirmation.

A synonym for disconfirmed would be:

  • A. proven
  • B. dissipated
  • C. distilled
  • D. disproven
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The word 'disconfirmed' can be understood by breaking down 'disconfirm,' where 'dis' indicates 'not' and 'confirm' means 'to prove.' Therefore, 'disconfirmed' means 'not proven,' which aligns with the meaning of 'disproven.' In the given passage, it is mentioned that evidence can disprove a hypothesis, not necessarily prove it. This supports the synonymity between 'disconfirmed' and 'disproven.'

Choice A ('proven') is incorrect because 'proven' is the opposite of 'disconfirmed.'

Choice B ('dissipated') is incorrect as it means to disappear or scatter, not related to disproving a hypothesis.

Choice C ('distilled') is incorrect as it means to purify a liquid through heating and cooling, not related to proving or disproving hypotheses.

You may also like to solve these questions

Announcement for all faculty members: It has come to the university's attention that there is crowding in the faculty canteen between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., an issue that is due to the increase in staff numbers in several faculty departments. A number of faculty members have complained that hey stood in line so long that they were unable to get lunch, or did not have time to eat lunch. to offset the crowding, the university has polled the various departments about schedules, and has settled on a recommended rooster for when the members of each department should visit the faculty canteen for lunch: - Business Dept: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Art Dept: 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Math and Science Dept: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. - Social Sciences Dept: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Humanities Dept: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. We ask that all faculty members respect this schedule. Faculty will be expected to display a department badge before entering the canteen for lunch.

Which best describes the final two sentences of the announcement?

  • A. a friendly reminder to all faculty members to bring a badge when entering the canteen
  • B. a word of caution to faculty members about trying to enter the canteen at the wrong time
  • C. an implied suggestion that faculty members should consider getting lunch elsewhere
  • D. an indication of university sanctions for faculty members who enter the canteen outside the schedule
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The final two sentences in the announcement serve as a word of caution to faculty members about trying to enter the canteen at the wrong time. It emphasizes the importance of respecting the given schedule and displaying a department badge before entering for lunch. The tone indicates a warning rather than simply a friendly reminder or a suggestion to eat elsewhere. Choice A is incorrect as the tone is more cautionary than friendly. Choice C is incorrect as there is no implied suggestion to get lunch elsewhere; instead, the focus is on following the recommended schedule. Choice D is incorrect as there is no mention of university sanctions, but rather a request to display a department badge and respect the designated lunch schedules.

Mother Jones, who was a labor activist, wrote the following about children working in cotton mills in Alabama: "Little girls and boys, barefooted, walked up and down between the endless rows of spindles, reaching thin little hands into the machinery to repair snapped threads. They crawled under machinery to oil it. They replaced spindles all day long; all night through...six-year-olds with faces of sixty did an eight-hour shift for ten cents a day; the machines, built int he North, were built low for the hands of little children."

What do you predict occurred after Mother Jones's publication about child labor in cotton mills?

  • A. More children signed up to work in the factories
  • B. Cotton factories in the South closed
  • C. Laws were passed to prevent child labor
  • D. The pay scale for these children was increased
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: After Mother Jones's publication detailing the harsh conditions of child labor in cotton mills, it is likely that public awareness increased, leading to public outcry. This heightened awareness and outrage often result in legislative actions being taken. Therefore, it is reasonable to predict that laws were passed to prevent child labor, as the excerpt vividly describes the unsafe and exploitative working conditions faced by children. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the publication would not have encouraged more children to work in such harsh conditions, led to the closure of cotton factories, or increased the pay scale for child laborers; instead, it would have prompted societal action to protect children from such exploitation.

The Dewey Decimal System is a library classification system: 000 Computer science, 100 Philosophy and psychology, 200 Religion, 300 Social sciences, 400 Languages, 500 Science, 600 Technical science, 700 Arts, 800 Literature, 900 History.

Teddy has been assigned to write a history paper about the United States during the Cold War. What choice of three classes would likely be the most useful?

  • A. 100, 300, 700
  • B. 100, 300, 800
  • C. 100, 400, 900
  • D. 200, 300, 900
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Based on the Dewey Decimal System, which is a library classification system, the subjects related to Chomsky's work, which touches on philosophy, social sciences, and history, fall under classes 100, 400, and 900. Therefore, these classes would be the most useful for Teddy's history paper about the United States during the Cold War. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not include the specific classes related to the required subjects for Teddy's paper.

Thomas and his sister are planning to see a new science fiction film, but they have to work around their schedules. Both are free for a showing before 6 p.m. or after 10 p.m. Here are the current show times for cinemas in their area: - Twin Theatres: 6:15 p.m. 7:20 p.m., and 8:40 p.m. - Reveler Cinema: 5:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. - Big Screen 14: 6:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 9:10 p.m., and 10:05 p.m. - Best Seat in The House: 8:20 p.m., 9:55 p.m., and 11:25 p.m.

Given this new information, which cinema is the best option for Thomas and his sister?

  • A. Twin Theatres
  • B. Reveler Cinema
  • C. Big Screen 14
  • D. Best Seat in The House
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The best cinema option for Thomas and his sister after the unexpected rearrangement of their schedules is Best Seat in The House. This is because the only showing available after 10:30 p.m. is at 11:25 p.m. at Best Seat in The House. None of the other cinemas have showings available after 10:30 p.m., making Best Seat in The House the optimal choice for them to catch the film. Twin Theatres, Reveler Cinema, and Big Screen 14 do not have showings after 10:30 p.m., so they are not suitable options for Thomas and his sister given their schedule constraints.

NOTE: The instructor of a history class has just finished grading the essay exams from his students, and the results are not good. The essay exam was worth 70% of the final course score. The highest score in the class was a low B, and more than half of the class of 65 students failed the exam. In view of this, the instructor reconsiders his grading plan for the semester and sends out an email message to all students.

Which of the following best describes the instructor's purpose in writing this email to his students?

  • A. to berate students for the poor scores they received on the recent essay exam
  • B. to encourage students to continue working hard despite failure
  • C. to give students the opportunity to make up the bad score and avoid failing the course
  • D. to admit that the essay exam was likely too difficult for most students
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The instructor's primary purpose in writing the email is to offer students the chance to make up the bad score they received on the recent essay exam, which was worth 70% of their final course score. The email does not berate students for their poor performance, nor does it admit that the exam was too difficult. While the instructor does offer encouragement to students who choose to complete an extra credit project, the main focus is on providing an opportunity to improve their scores and avoid failing the course.

Copyright © 2025 Nokea. All rights reserved.