Question

practice it! which of the following statements is a strong hypothesis for this investigation? if the amount of cyanobacteria increases, it will directly affect the amount of fish that survive in the great lakes. if various fertilizers are continually emptied into the great lakes, then the growth rate of cyanobacteria will increase. if global warming increases, then the amount of bacterial species will increase in the great lakes. if the growth rate of cyanobacteria increases, then various fertilizers are continually emptied into the great lakes.

Explanation:

A strong hypothesis has a clear independent variable (cause) and dependent variable (effect) with a logical relationship.

• First option: Vague about "affect" (doesn't specify direction/mechanism).
• Second option: Independent variable (fertilizers emptied) and dependent variable (cyanobacteria growth rate) with a logical cause - effect (fertilizers can promote cyanobacteria growth via nutrient addition).
• Third option: Global warming and bacterial species increase is less direct/clear for Great Lakes cyanobacteria context.
• Fourth option: Reverses cause - effect (fertilizers cause cyanobacteria growth, not vice versa).

Answer:

B. If various fertilizers are continually emptied into the great lakes, then the growth rate of cyanobacteria will increase.