Reading a Paper and Its Supporting Information · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Claims in, evidence out

Science · Chemistry · ages 22-23
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What does reading laterally mean?

    • Reading every page of one paper slowly
    • Leaving the page to check other trusted sources
    • Skipping methods and trusting the headline

  2. What must hold for a room-temperature conductor claim to stand?

    • A bold headline in a popular outlet
    • Repeatable measurement on a pure sample matching the claim
    • Praise from the authors for their own method

  3. In the famous feed study, measured word shifts alone prove that emotions spread like a contagion.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which measurement splits the timer idea from the set-size idea?

    • Cell size across lean and rich food
    • The number of labs studying cells
    • The age of the microscope used

  5. If the timer idea of cell division is right, what should rich food do to cell size?

    • Shrink cells, since fast growth divides sooner
    • Grow bigger cells, since fast growth fills the same time
    • Leave size unchanged whatever the food

  6. A paper reports a new catalytic reaction. Which check fits the supporting information?

    • Counting how many figures the paper contains
    • Checking the procedure, characterisation, and controls against the claim
    • Memorizing the authors and their affiliations

  7. Two outlets disagree about one claim. How do you pick a side?

    • Back the outlet you already like
    • Back the longer of the two stories
    • Weigh the quality of the evidence on each side

  8. A catalysis paper shows two strong supporting runs but no test without the catalyst. What is missing, and why does it matter?

    • A control run, since background reaction is the rival explanation left alive
    • A longer title, since short titles hide weak work
    • More authors, since small teams err more
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_8t32DdAY44-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Claims in, evidence out W1-mt_8t32DdAY44-s1

  1. Leaving the page to check other trusted sources · Outside checks beat inside repetition for testing a claim.
  2. Repeatable measurement on a pure sample matching the claim · Repeatability, purity, and an exact evidence match carry the claim.
  3. False · Typed words are not measured feelings, so the discussion outruns the data.
  4. Cell size across lean and rich food · Size across speeds fits one picture and breaks the other.
  5. Grow bigger cells, since fast growth fills the same time · A timer predicts size follows speed; a set size predicts size holds steady.
  6. Checking the procedure, characterisation, and controls against the claim · The evidence behind the headline lives in the supporting files.
  7. Weigh the quality of the evidence on each side · Liking never settles truth; evidence quality does.
  8. A control run, since background reaction is the rival explanation left alive · Without the blank run, the catalyst gets credit the background may deserve.
Worksheet · LightMySky