Question

consider the following prediction.
prediction: if the rate at which yeast cells produce ethanol from sugar is determined by the number of cells present, then a greater quantity of yeast will produce more ethanol when temperature, water, and amount of sugar are controlled.
which of the following best describes this prediction?

a. the prediction is not useful because it has not yet been peer-reviewed by other scientists.

b. the prediction is not useful because scientists are skeptical of anyone who claims to see into the future.

c. the prediction is useful because it explains what observations will be made if a hypothesis is true.

d. the prediction is useful because it proves that the hypothesis is true before any data have been collected.

Explanation:

• Option A: A prediction's usefulness isn't solely based on peer - review. Even before peer - review, a well - structured prediction (like a hypothesis - driven prediction) can be useful for guiding experiments. So A is incorrect.
• Option B: Scientific predictions are not about "seeing into the future" in a mystical sense. They are logical deductions from hypotheses to guide empirical testing. So B's reasoning is wrong.
• Option C: In the scientific method, a prediction (also called a hypothesis - driven prediction) tells us what we should observe if the underlying hypothesis (here, the idea that ethanol production rate is determined by the number of yeast cells) is true, while controlling other variables (temperature, water, sugar amount). This is a key part of the scientific method as it provides a way to test the hypothesis. So C is correct.
• Option D: A prediction cannot prove a hypothesis is true before data collection. Proof in science comes from empirical evidence (data) that either supports or refutes the hypothesis. A prediction just sets up what we expect to see if the hypothesis holds. So D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. The prediction is useful because it explains what observations will be made if a hypothesis is true.