Classify the following statements as a theory (a broad, well-supported explanation encompassing all living things), a hypothesis (a proposed explanation that applies to a specific phenomenon or observation), or neither (a statement that is not scientifically testable or can vary based on opinion).

Question options:

- Plants drop their leaves in the fall due to cold temperatures

-All living organism contain DNA, which encodes the genes that determine what the organisms look like and how it interacts with the environment

- God introduced a soul into humans, setting humans apart from all other living organisms

- All living organisms are made up of one or more cells

- The diversity of organism alive today is due to evolution

- The thick shell of lobster protects it from predation

- Coneflowers use animals as vectors for pollination rather than passive wind-blown pollination

- Bacteria secret antibiotics in the presence of other bacteria in times of food stress

- College students are the luckiest people on earth

Answer:

Theory

- All living organism contain DNA, which encodes the genes that determine what the organisms look like and how it interacts with the environment

- All living organisms are made up of one or more cells

- The diversity of organism alive today is due to evolution

Hypothesis

- Plants drop their leaves in the fall due to cold temperatures

- The thick shell of lobster protects it from predation

- Coneflowers use animals as vectors for pollination rather than passive wind-blown pollination

- Bacteria secret antibiotics in the presence of other bacteria in times of food stress

Neither

- God introduced a soul into humans, setting humans apart from all other living organisms

- College students are the luckiest people on earth

Explanation:

A theory is a group or system of linked ideas meant to explain a phenomenon based on general principles. A theory is usually tested through experiments to prove and give evidence. Examples include: the theory of Evolution by Charles Darwin, the relativity theory by Einstein.

A hypothesis is a form of premature theory which may be described as a tentative assumption made in an effort to test it empirically.

From the statement above it can be observed that the foregoing have been matched according to their qualification as theory, hypothesis or neither of them. The statements that do not qualify as "neither" suggest an impartial or merely opinion statement that cannot be verified.