A student hypothesizes that increased sunlight will accelerate the growth of an avocado tree. How can

Question

the student test their hypothesis?
Answers
Compare the growth rates of avocado trees exposed to varying amounts of sunlight over several weeks.

Record the temperature and humidity in the area where the avocado trees are growing.

Read articles about the effect of sunlight on photosynthesis and avocado tree growth.

Measure the height of avocado trees once after exposing them to sunlight for a single day.

Answer 1

To effectively test the student's hypothesis that increased sunlight will accelerate the growth of an avocado tree, the best option is:

Compare the growth rates of avocado trees exposed to varying amounts of sunlight over several weeks.

This approach allows for a controlled experiment where different groups of avocado trees can be subjected to different levels of sunlight (e.g., full sun, partial shade, and full shade) while keeping other factors (like water, soil quality, and temperature) consistent. By measuring and comparing their growth rates over time, the student can gather empirical evidence to support or refute the hypothesis.

The other options are not as effective for testing the hypothesis:

• Recording temperature and humidity can provide context but does not directly test the hypothesis.
• Reading articles may inform the student but does not provide experimental data.
• Measuring height after a single day does not account for growth over time and would not provide sufficient data to assess the impact of sunlight on growth.