Grade 9 · Science · Unit 13 of 14
Science & Society
Trade-offs, unexpected effects and science careers.
What your child practises
Practises weighing the costs and benefits of technologies, spotting unforeseen consequences, taking action on science issues, and linking science to careers and hobbies.
Prince Edward Island Curriculum curriculum outcome: GCO 1 · weighing the costs and benefits of technologies and taking action on science issues
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Technology designed to help people can sometimes have…
- unforeseen consequences
- only good effects
- no effect
unforeseen consequences
Hint: Designers cannot predict everything.
Question 2
A geneticist studies…
- rocks
- weather
- genes and heredity
genes and heredity
Hint: Genetics is about traits and inheritance.
Question 3
Using a model of a bridge before building the real one helps to…
- make it more expensive
- test the design cheaply and safely
- avoid all testing
test the design cheaply and safely
Hint: Prototypes reveal problems early.
Question 4
A paleontologist studies…
- stars
- computers
- fossils
fossils
Hint: Fossils give evidence of life long ago.
Question 5
Changing a design after testing shows a flaw is…
- cheating
- a mistake to hide
- a normal part of problem solving
a normal part of problem solving
Hint: Designs improve through testing.
Question 6
Wind farms produce electricity without burning fuel. A concern they can raise is…
- effects on birds, bats or local views
- too much hydrogen
- no wind energy
effects on birds, bats or local views
Hint: Every technology has trade-offs.