What term refers to a well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations?

• A. Scientific Model
• B. Scientific Law
• C. Scientific Theory
• D. Scientific Method

Answer: (C)

A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations is a scientific theory. Theories are evidence-based explanations that connect many different phenomena under a single framework and make predictions that can be tested through further experimentation and observation. They’re built from a large body of data, and while new evidence can lead to refinements or extensions, a theory remains a robust way of understanding how and why things occur.

A scientific law, by contrast, describes a consistent relationship or pattern observed under certain conditions, often in a concise statement or equation, and tells what happens rather than why. A scientific model is a simplified representation used to explain or simulate a system, and the scientific method is the process scientists use to investigate questions.