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Name:
_______________________________________
TOPIC TEST _____

That’s biased
 Time allowed: 20 minutes
 Part A: 10 multiple-choice questions (10 marks)
 Part B: 4 free-response questions (10 marks)
 Total: 20 marks

Part A
10 multiple-choice questions
1 mark each: 10 marks
Circle the correct answer.

1 Which statement is FALSE about a good For Questions 3 to 5, a biased question is

questionnaire?
A It is not biased
B It captures sensitive information that can be
accessed by other people
C It has clear and precise questions
D It uses simple language
2 Which statement about bias is FALSE?
A It makes sure that a sample is truly
representative of the population.
B It is an unwanted influence in sampling or
questionnaires.
C It produces unreliable results.
D It favours a particular section of the
population unfairly
presented. Select the improved unbiased question.
3 ‘How many times a week do you eat unhealthy
fast food?’
A ‘How many times a week do you eat healthy
home-cooked meals?’
B ‘How many times a week do you eat fast
food?’
C ‘How many times a week do you eat?’
D ‘How many times a week do you eat
fattening fast food?’
4 ‘Rate your experience at our restaurant:
Excellent, Good, Average’
A ‘Rate your experience at our restaurant:
Terrible, Fair, Average’
B ‘Rate your experience at our restaurant:
‘Outstanding, Great, Good’
C ‘Rate your experience at our restaurant:
‘Disappointing, Average, Great’
D ‘Rate your experience at our restaurant:
‘Terrible, Disappointing, No comment’

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5 ‘Do you spend money at our wonderful local
businesses or do you waste money at the
horrible big companies?’
A ‘Do you spend money at our wonderful local
businesses or at the big companies?’
B ‘Do you spend money at our local businesses
or do you waste money at the horrible big
companies?’
C ‘Do you shop with our wonderful local
businesses or do you shop with multinational
companies?’
D ‘Do you shop with local businesses or
multinational companies?’
8 A survey is conducted where people at a rugby
league match were asked what their favourite
sport was. Why is this sample biased?
A Not as many females would be present at the
match.
B Because the people asked were at a rugby
league match, they would more likely select
rugby league as their favourite sport.
C Not all sports were listed in the survey.
D Some people at the match could not
understand English.

9 What is one error that can happen in a survey?

A The participant interpreting the question
6 Cynthia needs a sample of 50 students to
incorrectly.
complete a survey on the school uniform. Which
method below would create the most accurate B The participant not answering the question.
sample?
C The surveyor reading the question correctly.
A Select names out of a hat.
D The surveyor writing the answers correctly.
B Select the first 50 students to walk through
the school gates.
C Use student ID numbers to select a similar
10 Luca went to the local shopping centre and
number of students from each year level,
surveyed 100 customers at the Nelson Bank
making sure there is a mixture of boys and about their favourite bank. 84 people said that
girls. Nelson Bank was their favourite bank. Luca
D Select 50 students from Cynthia’s year level. concluded that 84% of Australians prefer Nelson
Bank. What is the main thing wrong with this
conclusion?
A The sample was taken from the local
7 The government would like to survey people shopping centre.
about work conditions in Australia. They phone
people’s homes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday B People in the car park were not sampled.
to Friday. Why would this survey be biased?
C Only 100 people were asked.
A People would think they are trying to sell
D Only people at the Nelson Bank were
them something.
sampled.
B Only females would be able to participate as
they usually stay home.
C Children would not be able to participate
because they cannot answer the telephone.
D Most people would not be at home during
those hours.

Part B
4 free-response questions
10 marks
Show your working where appropriate.

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11 Rebecca wrote ‘How often do you exercise?’ in a questionnaire she gave students at her school about their
lifestyle.
a What problem might people have in answering this question?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________

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b Rewrite the question to provide some options.

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______________________

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_______________________________________________________________________________________
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[3 marks]

12 Laith is surveying the members of a soccer club about the quality of the facilities at the club.
Write an example of a biased question he could ask if he wanted to show how great the club
is and then explain why it is biased.

_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________
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[2 marks]

13 Gloria asks a sample of people in her community:

‘What do you think about the condition of the local park?’.

a Give an example of a sample that would be biased.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________
b State how you could ensure that an accurate sample is found.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________

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_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________
[3 marks]

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14 Trent interviewed students in his Year 11 Specialist Maths class about which subject they felt was the most
important to study for in preparation for yearly exams. 12 of the 15 students surveyed chose Mathematics. Trent
wrote an article in the school newsletter with the headline ‘80% of Year 11 students prefer studying
Mathematics’. Describe 2 things that are wrong with this claim.

_________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________
[2 marks]

This is the end of the test.

Use the rest of this page for extra working space.

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Answers
1 B 2 A 3 B 4 C 5 D
6 C 7 D 8 B 9 A 10 D
11 a No options or choices have been provided in the question.
b Teacher to check.
12, 13 Teacher to check.
14 Trent chose only his Specialist Maths class rather than all of Year 11, he only chose 15 students to
represent all of Year 11 (not enough).

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