ACT Science Conflicting Viewpoints Scientific Theory vs Opinion Distinguishing in Context

What This Is and Why It Matters for the ACT

Conflicting Viewpoints: Scientific Theory vs Opinion appears in the Reading and Science sections of the ACT. This topic tests your ability to distinguish between scientific theories and opinions, a crucial skill in evaluating evidence-based arguments. It appears on every Reading test and is a moderate difficulty topic.

Key Concepts (What You Must Know)

• Scientific theory: an explanation for a set of phenomena, supported by evidence and testing.
• Opinion: a personal viewpoint or belief, not necessarily supported by evidence.
• Evidence-based argument: an argument that uses facts and data to support a claim.
• Correlation vs. causation: a relationship between two variables, but not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship.

Step-by-Step Strategy for This Topic

1. Read the passage carefully: Identify the main topic and the author's purpose.
2. Identify the theory or opinion: Determine whether the text presents a scientific theory or an opinion.
3. Look for evidence: Check if the text provides evidence to support the theory or opinion.
4. Eliminate wrong answers: Get rid of options that clearly contradict the passage or are unrelated to the topic.
5. Choose the correct answer: Select the option that best matches the author's argument.
6. Verify your answer: Double-check that your answer aligns with the passage and the author's purpose.

How It’s Tested on the ACT

• Reading: Passage-based questions that test your ability to distinguish between scientific theories and opinions.
• Science: Data representation and conflicting viewpoints questions that require you to analyze evidence and arguments.
• Common distractors: Be cautious of options that:
  • Misinterpret data or evidence.
  • Present a correlation as a causation.
  • Use emotional appeals instead of evidence.

Common Mistakes & Exam Traps

• The mistake: Failing to identify the author's purpose.
  • Why it happens: Rushing through the passage or not reading carefully.
  • How to avoid it: Take your time to read the passage and identify the author's purpose.
  • Exam board insight: The examiners penalize students for not understanding the author's purpose.
• The mistake: Misinterpreting data or evidence.
  • Why it happens: Failing to analyze the data or evidence carefully.
  • How to avoid it: Take your time to analyze the data and evidence, and look for patterns or correlations.
  • Exam board insight: The examiners penalize students for misinterpreting data or evidence.

Practice Questions (3-5 questions)

Question 1: The passage below discusses the relationship between exercise and weight loss.

The study found that participants who exercised regularly lost more weight than those who did not. However, the study also found that the participants who exercised regularly had a higher calorie intake than those who did not. Therefore, it is likely that exercise is not the primary cause of weight loss.

A) The study found that exercise is the primary cause of weight loss.
B) The study found that exercise is not the primary cause of weight loss.
C) The study found that exercise has no effect on weight loss.
D) The study found that exercise is the primary cause of weight gain.
E) The study found that exercise is the primary cause of weight gain.

Answer: B) The study found that exercise is not the primary cause of weight loss.

Explanation: The passage presents a correlation between exercise and weight loss, but it does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. The study found that participants who exercised regularly had a higher calorie intake, which suggests that exercise may not be the primary cause of weight loss.

Question 2: The passage below discusses the benefits of a plant-based diet.

A plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. In fact, studies have shown that a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 50%.

A) A plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
B) A plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it increases the risk of chronic diseases.
C) A plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it has no effect on chronic diseases.
D) A plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it reduces the risk of chronic diseases by up to 50%.
E) A plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it increases the risk of chronic diseases by up to 50%.

Answer: A) A plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it reduces the risk of chronic diseases.

Explanation: The passage presents a scientific theory that a plant-based diet is the healthiest choice for humans because it reduces the risk of chronic diseases. The study found that a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 50%, which supports the author's claim.

Quick Reference Card (60-Second Summary)

• Scientific theory: an explanation for a set of phenomena, supported by evidence and testing.
• Opinion: a personal viewpoint or belief, not necessarily supported by evidence.
• Evidence-based argument: an argument that uses facts and data to support a claim.
• Correlation vs. causation: a relationship between two variables, but not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship.
• Take your time: Read the passage carefully and analyze the data and evidence.
• Identify the author's purpose: Determine the author's purpose and the main topic of the passage.
• Eliminate wrong answers: Get rid of options that clearly contradict the passage or are unrelated to the topic.

If You Get Stuck on Test Day

• Don't panic: Take a deep breath and read the passage carefully.
• Eliminate wrong answers: Get rid of options that clearly contradict the passage or are unrelated to the topic.
• Make an educated guess: Choose the option that best matches the author's argument.
• Pacing strategy: Allocate 9 minutes per passage to read and analyze the data and evidence.

Related ACT Topics

• Evaluating evidence: This topic is closely related to evaluating evidence, which requires you to analyze data and evidence to support or refute a claim.
• Scientific evidence: This topic is also related to scientific evidence, which requires you to analyze data and evidence to support or refute a scientific theory.
• Causation vs. correlation: This topic is related to causation vs. correlation, which requires you to analyze data and evidence to determine whether a relationship is causal or correlational.