Question

which of the following is true of theories? they are just like a hypothesis. the explain what is going to happen. they explain why something happens. they are an educated guess.

Explanation:

To determine the correct statement about theories, we analyze each option:

• "They are just like a hypothesis": Theories are well - supported explanations, while hypotheses are tentative. So this is incorrect.
• "The explain what is going to happen": Theories explain why things happen, not just what will happen. Predictions about what will happen are more related to hypotheses or forecasts. So this is incorrect.
• "They explain why something happens": Theories in science (and other fields) are comprehensive explanations that tell us the reasons behind phenomena. This is a key characteristic of a theory.
• "They are an educated guess": An educated guess is a hypothesis, not a theory. Theories are based on extensive evidence. So this is incorrect.

Answer:

The option "They explain why something happens" (the orange - colored option with the text "They explain why something happens") is the correct one.