Final answer:
The hypothesis for the statement 'The lake begins to freeze only if the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius' would be: If the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius, then the lake will begin to freeze.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hypothesis for the statement 'The lake begins to freeze only if the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius' would be:
If the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius, then the lake will begin to freeze.
This hypothesis states a cause-and-effect relationship between the temperature dropping below freezing and the lake freezing. It can be tested by observing whether or not the lake freezes when the temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius or below.