Only when an explanation has been supported by a large number of tests, and when a majority of experts have reached a general consensus that it is a reliable description or explanation, we call it a scientific ________
blank
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Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is supported by a large body of evidence and by expert consensus.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Hypothesis: a tentative, testable idea or prediction.
- Scientific theory: an explanatory framework that integrates and explains many tested hypotheses and empirical observations.
- Scientific law: a descriptive statement (often mathematical) about consistent natural relationships, not necessarily explanatory.
- Empirical testing, reproducibility, peer review, and consensus: criteria that elevate an idea from hypothesis to theory.

2. Step-by-step reasoning process
- The phrase “supported by a large number of tests” indicates the idea has undergone repeated empirical verification rather than being a single or preliminary conjecture. That rules out “hypothesis.”
- “A majority of experts have reached a general consensus” implies broad scientific acceptance following peer review and replication, a hallmark of a theory.
- The description emphasizes being a “reliable description or explanation.” The word “explanation” is important: theories explain why phenomena occur, while laws describe patterns without necessarily explaining mechanisms.
- Combining these clues (extensive testing + expert consensus + explanatory power) points directly to the term “theory.”

3. Intermediate logical steps
- If it were merely tested once or unevenly, it would be a hypothesis — not enough tests.
- If it were only a consistent pattern without explanation, it could be called a law — but the prompt asks for an explanation, not just a description.
- Therefore, the only term matching all parts is “theory.”

4. Why the correct answer is correct
A scientific theory has been extensively tested, is supported by converging lines of evidence, explains observations, and has gained acceptance among experts. Examples include the theory of evolution, germ theory of disease, and plate tectonics — all terms scientists call theories despite their strong evidential support.

5. Why other options are incorrect
- Hypothesis: preliminary and not necessarily widely tested or accepted.
- Law: describes patterns but does not primarily serve as an explanatory framework.
- Opinion/model/guess: lack the required extensive empirical support and consensus.

6. Conclusion
The correct word to fill the blank is “theory,” which matches the provided answer.

Only when an explanation has been supported by a large number of tests, and when a majority of experts have reached a general consensus that it is a reliable description or explanation, we call it a scientific ________ blank .未知题型

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