Which term is a testable prediction often implied by a theory?

• A. Melts
• B. Water vapour
• C. Hypothesis
• D. Evaporation

Answer: (C)

A theory invites a specific, testable statement about what will happen under certain conditions, and that statement is called a hypothesis. A hypothesis is precise and falsifiable, so scientists can design experiments to see if the prediction holds or if results contradict it. The other terms describe processes or phenomena (like melting, evaporation, or water vapour) rather than a forecast derived from theory. For example, if a theory suggests that heating a gas at constant volume increases its pressure, a corresponding hypothesis would be: “If the temperature is raised at fixed volume, the pressure will increase.” This makes the idea testable and scientific.