explain why it is important that a hypothesis be stated so that it can be modified?

Answer 1

before any concrete scientific proof of a fact, a hypothesis has to be formulated; formulating it is a step towards proving it...in fact, 'dsproving' it as Karl Popper would say (in Logic of Scientific Discovery)....

hypotheses can be statistically tested... or facts accumulated to disprove it in any manner possible... if the hypothesis does fail, then the facts analysed again and it is reformulated...until it withstands all tests...

Answer 2

A hypothesis is where one starts. Then one works to find cases where the hypothesis fail. Then one modifies his hypothesis.