A tentative theory about the natural world.

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Multiple Choice

A tentative theory about the natural world.

Explanation:
In science, a theory is a well-supported explanation of natural phenomena that links together observations and experiments into a coherent framework and can make testable predictions. A tentative theory about the natural world reflects that idea: it’s an explanatory idea that can be tested and refined as new evidence comes in. It goes beyond simply describing what is observed, which is the realm of observational or descriptive science. A paradigm, by contrast, is the broad set of assumptions and guiding viewpoints that shape how scientists interpret data across a field. Environmentalism is a social movement focused on protecting the environment, not a scientific explanation of how the natural world works. So the best description is a theory.

In science, a theory is a well-supported explanation of natural phenomena that links together observations and experiments into a coherent framework and can make testable predictions. A tentative theory about the natural world reflects that idea: it’s an explanatory idea that can be tested and refined as new evidence comes in. It goes beyond simply describing what is observed, which is the realm of observational or descriptive science. A paradigm, by contrast, is the broad set of assumptions and guiding viewpoints that shape how scientists interpret data across a field. Environmentalism is a social movement focused on protecting the environment, not a scientific explanation of how the natural world works. So the best description is a theory.

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