Reading & WritingChapter 3: Command of Evidence
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Prompt
3-9: What is a hypothesis?
💡Recall the definition rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
A testable prediction or explanation that can be evaluated with evidence.
ExampleApply this card to the next Evidence for Scientific Conclusions item you study.
Prompt
3-9: Hypothesis-to-prediction map?
💡Recall the strategy rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
If X affects Y as proposed, changing or observing X should correspond to Y changing in the predicted direction.
Prompt
3-9: Why use a comparison group?
💡Recall the design rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
It shows what happened without the focal treatment or condition.
Prompt
3-9: What can a null result do?
💡Recall the evidence rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Weaken a hypothesis that clearly predicted a difference under that condition.
Prompt
3-9: What can an opposite-direction result do?
💡Recall the direction rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Often weaken the prediction more strongly than a small null difference.
Prompt
3-9: Observational association proves causation—true?
💡Recall the causation rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
False. It can support an association while alternative causes remain.
ExampleApply this card to the next Evidence for Scientific Conclusions item you study.
Prompt
3-9: Evidence fits Hypotheses A and B equally. Strength for A?
💡Recall the alternative rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Limited; a finding uniquely predicted by A would be stronger.
Prompt
3-9: Are hypothetical findings allowed?
💡Recall the format rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Yes. The task is to reason about what would count as evidence if the finding were true.
Prompt
3-9: Why is a personal anecdote usually weak science evidence?
💡Recall the discipline rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
It lacks a systematic comparison and may not represent the relevant population.
Prompt
3-9: Support versus causal proof?
💡Recall the scope rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Support raises credibility; proof would require design and evidence strong enough to rule out alternatives.
Prompt
3-9: What official SAT skill contains this topic?
💡Recall the mapping rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Information and Ideas → Command of Evidence. This topic is an internal teaching subdivision, not a separate official skill.
ExampleApply this card to the next Evidence for Scientific Conclusions item you study.
Prompt
3-9: Is this Textual or Quantitative practice?
💡Recall the mapping rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
A deliberate mix of Textual and Quantitative evidence.
Prompt
3-9: What is the central focus?
💡Recall the focus rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
mapping a scientific hypothesis to its prediction and most diagnostic comparison
Prompt
3-9: What does relevant evidence look like?
💡Recall the relevance rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
A plausible finding under the relevant conditions that matches or contradicts the hypothesis's testable prediction.
Prompt
3-9: Give an irrelevant-evidence pattern.
💡Recall the trap rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
An anecdote, uncontrolled neighboring measure, or result equally predicted by competing explanations.
Prompt
3-9: What scope rule matters most?
💡Recall the scope rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Observational support should not be inflated into causal proof.
ExampleApply this card to the next Evidence for Scientific Conclusions item you study.
Prompt
3-9: What verification step prevents errors?
💡Recall the verification rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Write ‘If the hypothesis is right, I should observe ___’ and test each finding against that prediction.
Prompt
3-9: Support means prove—true or false?
💡Recall the certainty rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
False. Evidence may strengthen or be consistent with a claim without establishing certainty.
Prompt
3-9: What is the minimum-assumption rule?
💡Recall the strategy rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Prefer the evidence that reaches the supplied claim most directly with the fewest unstated bridges.
Prompt
3-9: Command of Evidence versus Inferences?
💡Recall the skill boundary rule before revealing the answer.
Answer
Command of Evidence gives the claim and asks for evidence; Inferences gives evidence and asks for the conclusion.
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