NCERT Class 8 Science MCQ | Chapter 1: Exploring the Investigative World of Science
1. What is an important starting point for scientific investigation?
(A) Memorising facts
(B) Asking focused questions
(C) Guessing the answer
(D) Avoiding experiments
Answer: (B) Asking focused questions
2. According to the chapter, science begins with:
(A) Wonder and curiosity
(B) Memorisation
(C) Written examinations
(D) Laboratory equipment
Answer: (A) Wonder and curiosity
3. What is the main purpose of investigation in science?
(A) To collect marks
(B) To find new facts and improve understanding
(C) To prove that every idea is correct
(D) To avoid asking questions
Answer: (B) To find new facts and improve understanding
4. Which of the following is an important part of scientific investigation?
(A) Careful observation
(B) Random guessing
(C) Ignoring evidence
(D) Changing many things at once
Answer: (A) Careful observation
5. What should a scientist generally do after asking a focused question?
(A) Stop investigating
(B) Design a way to investigate it
(C) Assume the answer
(D) Ignore observations
Answer: (B) Design a way to investigate it
6. Which two activities are especially important when investigating a question scientifically?
(A) Reading and memorising
(B) Observing and experimenting
(C) Drawing and colouring
(D) Guessing and copying
Answer: (B) Observing and experimenting
7. The chapter uses the example of a puri to demonstrate:
(A) How food is prepared
(B) Systematic scientific investigation
(C) How to measure temperature
(D) How plants grow
Answer: (B) Systematic scientific investigation
8. Which of the following could be changed while investigating why a puri puffs up?
(A) Thickness of the rolled dough
(B) The colour of the plate
(C) The shape of the kitchen
(D) The time of day only
Answer: (A) Thickness of the rolled dough
9. Which of the following is a variable that can be controlled while frying a puri?
(A) Temperature of the oil
(B) Number of stars in the sky
(C) Size of the Earth
(D) Colour of sunlight
Answer: (A) Temperature of the oil
10. Why is it useful to change only one factor at a time in an experiment?
(A) To make the experiment longer
(B) To identify the effect of that particular factor
(C) To avoid making observations
(D) To increase the number of variables
Answer: (B) To identify the effect of that particular factor
11. Suppose a student wants to study the effect of oil temperature on how a puri puffs. Which condition should remain the same?
(A) Thickness of the dough
(B) Temperature of the oil
(C) The variable being tested
(D) All experimental conditions can change
Answer: (A) Thickness of the dough
12. Which of the following can be measured while studying how a puri puffs?
(A) Time taken to puff up
(B) Number of stars in the galaxy
(C) Distance between Earth and Sun
(D) Number of leaves on a tree
Answer: (A) Time taken to puff up
13. Which observation could have a simple yes/no answer during the puri investigation?
(A) Whether the puri puffs up
(B) The mass of the Earth
(C) The distance to the Moon
(D) The age of the flour
Answer: (A) Whether the puri puffs up
14. Why should observations and measurements be recorded during an experiment?
(A) To make the experiment look complicated
(B) To help understand and compare the results
(C) To avoid repeating the experiment
(D) To replace the scientific question
Answer: (B) To help understand and compare the results
15. Which of the following is an example of a scientific question from the chapter?
(A) What colour is my favourite?
(B) What factors affect the way a puri puffs up?
(C) Which food tastes best?
(D) Which plate looks beautiful?
Answer: (B) What factors affect the way a puri puffs up?
16. According to the chapter, science can be explored:
(A) Only in advanced laboratories
(B) Only by professional scientists
(C) Even through simple observations at home
(D) Only using expensive equipment
Answer: (C) Even through simple observations at home
17. Which of the following best describes systematic investigation?
(A) Changing many conditions randomly
(B) Observing, measuring, experimenting, and recording carefully
(C) Guessing without testing
(D) Accepting the first answer
Answer: (B) Observing, measuring, experimenting, and recording carefully
18. What does the root symbol at the bottom of the left-hand pages represent?
(A) The speed of scientific progress
(B) A foundation of knowledge connected to environment, traditions, and heritage
(C) The movement of planets
(D) The structure of a plant only
Answer: (B) A foundation of knowledge connected to environment, traditions, and heritage
19. What does the kite symbol on the right-hand pages represent?
(A) The need to memorise facts
(B) Curiosity taking flight to explore the unknown
(C) The force of gravity
(D) The movement of air only
Answer: (B) Curiosity taking flight to explore the unknown
20. According to the chapter, scientific investigation works best when we balance:
(A) Memorisation and examination
(B) Observation and creative thinking
(C) Speed and competition
(D) Reading and writing
Answer: (B) Observation and creative thinking
21. Which of the following is mentioned as an example of an everyday scientific question?
(A) Why does dough rise?
(B) Why are books printed?
(C) Why are classrooms large?
(D) Why do pencils have colours?
Answer: (A) Why does dough rise?
22. What happens when scientists make observations and conduct experiments?
(A) Their understanding can improve
(B) Their questions always disappear
(C) They never need further investigation
(D) Their observations become unnecessary
Answer: (A) Their understanding can improve
23. What should a student do after completing one round of an investigation?
(A) Stop asking questions
(B) Think of new questions based on the observations
(C) Ignore the results
(D) Change all variables randomly
Answer: (B) Think of new questions based on the observations
24. Which of the following questions is suggested in the chapter as a possible further investigation about puris?
(A) What happens if a hole is made in the puri before frying?
(B) What colour is the frying pan?
(C) How many plates are in the kitchen?
(D) How many stars are visible at noon?
Answer: (A) What happens if a hole is made in the puri before frying?
25. What is the central message of the chapter “Exploring the Investigative World of Science”?
(A) Science is mainly about memorising facts
(B) Science involves curiosity, careful observation, experimentation, and systematic investigation
(C) Scientific investigation can only be done in laboratories
(D) Scientific questions should always have immediate answers
Answer: (B) Science involves curiosity, careful observation, experimentation, and systematic investigation
Assertion–Reason Questions
Class 8 Science Chapter 1: Exploring the Investigative World of Science
Directions:
Choose the correct option:
(A) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(B) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(C) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(D) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
1. Assertion: A scientific investigation should begin with a focused question.
Reason: A focused question helps decide what needs to be observed or investigated.
Answer: (A)
2. Assertion: In an experiment, it is useful to change only one factor at a time.
Reason: Keeping other conditions the same helps identify the effect of the factor being studied.
Answer: (A)
3. Assertion: Scientific investigation can be carried out only in a laboratory.
Reason: Everyday observations, such as investigating why a puri puffs up, can also lead to scientific investigation.
Answer: (D)
4. Assertion: Recording observations and measurements is important during an experiment.
Reason: Observations and measurements can help us understand and compare the results of an investigation.
Answer: (A)
5. Assertion: After completing one experiment, scientists may ask new questions.
Reason: Observations from an investigation can lead to further questions and investigations.
Answer: (A)
