Question the Answer

The chapter ends with section 1.1 Happy Exploring! and Activity 1.1: Question the Answer.

In tests you are given questions and you find answers. This activity turns that around. To think like a scientist, it is equally important to ask interesting questions. Great scientists do not just answer questions; they ask amazing ones. As the book said last year: *to be a wise person, you must be a whys person.*

Scientists work in a loop: observe something, ask a question about it, think of an explanation, test it, and draw a conclusion from what you find. The book warns that even an experiment that confirms what you expected may lead to new questions, and more experiments.

The book's own example: the answer is just make it half! The question could be How do we get equal shares of cake?, or My essay is too long, or I can't fit this in the envelope, or even I cannot dance to such a long song. One answer, very different questions.

Now it is your turn. The book gives four answers: Because the cat's teeth were crooked. · Just add some milk. · Don't panic, I have my towel. · 42. There are never any wrong questions, so let your imagination run. Only skip the obvious ones like What is 32 + 10?