True/False/Can't Tell — Science Passages

This practice set focuses on passages drawn from the natural sciences — biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and related fields. Science passages in the UCAT VR are designed to test whether you can distinguish between what a passage actually states and what you might assume based on general scientific knowledge.

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Quick-Reference Strategy

1. Read the statement first. Identify the core claim and any qualifiers (all, some, most, never, always).
2. Scan the passage for keywords from the statement. Read the surrounding 1–2 sentences.
3. Compare precisely. Does the passage support, contradict, or stay silent on the claim?
4. Beware of outside knowledge. You may know a scientific fact is true in real life, but if the passage does not state it, the answer is Can't Tell.

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Focus Notes for Science Passages

Science passages often contain:

• Numerical data — percentages, measurements, time periods. Match these precisely against the statement.
• Causal claims — "X causes Y" vs "X is associated with Y." Correlation is not causation unless the passage says so.
• Scope limitations — "in this study," "among participants," "in laboratory conditions." The findings may not generalise beyond the stated scope.
• Hedged language — "may," "suggests," "could," "appears to." These are softer than "proves," "demonstrates," or "confirms."

Common Traps

Trap	Example
Outside knowledge	You know climate change is real, but the passage only discusses one study's findings
Correlation → causation	Passage says "linked to"; statement says "caused by"
Scope expansion	Passage discusses mice; statement claims it applies to humans
Precision mismatch	Passage says "approximately 40%"; statement says "exactly 40%"

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Approach Each Question

For every question below, you will be given a short passage excerpt and a statement. Decide whether the statement is True, False, or Can't Tell based solely on the passage.

Remember: the passage is your only source of truth. Nothing else exists.