MS Sample Set 3, Round 15 from NSB
Which of the following types of scientists would most likely use the PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, method in their experiments? W) nuclear chemist X) astronomer Y) geneticist Z) physicist
W: W) nuclear chemist
X: X) astronomer
Y: Y) geneticist
Z: Z) physicist
Answer: Y) Y) geneticist
Giving your answer in grams, add 3000 centigrams to 5000 milligrams:
Acceptable Answers:
Oxygen released by plants during photosynthesis originates from what substance?
Acceptable Answers:
Name all of the following 4 organisms that are considered to have no true tissues: sponges; flatworms; round worms; rotifers
Choices:
Correct Answers:
Order the following 3 elements from the one that most easily loses an electron to the one which will be the most difficult to remove an electron from: potassium; fluorine; nitrogen
Choices:
Correct Order:
Which of the following BEST describes the following reaction: $$4\text{Fe} + 3\text{O}_2 \to 2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3\,$$? W) synthesis X) combustion Y) single replacement Z) double replacement
W: W) synthesis
X: X) combustion
Y: Y) single replacement
Z: Z) double replacement
Answer: W) W) synthesis
Which of the following terms is LEAST related to the action of glaciers? W) esker X) terminal moraine Y) karst topography Z) kettle lake
W: W) esker
X: X) terminal moraine
Y: Y) karst topography
Z: Z) kettle lake
Answer: Y) Y) karst topography
The Moon is full on September 7, 2006. On which of the following days that month will a last quarter Moon occur? W) the 14th X) the 21st Y) the 28th Z) the 29th
W: W) the 14th
X: X) the 21st
Y: Y) the 28th
Z: Z) the 29th
Answer: W) W) the 14th
If 2 fair dice are rolled simultaneously, what is the probability that the 2 dice will show the same number expressed as a fraction in lowest terms?
Acceptable Answers:
If the volume of a rectangular pyramid is 36 cubic meters and its base measures 3 m in length and 4 m in width, find its height, in meters:
Acceptable Answers:
Which of the following forms of coal typically has the HIGHEST percent carbon content? W) peat X) anthracite Y) bituminous Z) lignite
W: W) peat
X: X) anthracite
Y: Y) bituminous
Z: Z) lignite
Answer: X) X) anthracite
The U.S. contains a vast energy resource that could fuel the nation for several hundred more years at our current rate of consumption if it were not so difficult and expensive to mine. Which of the following BEST describes this resource? W) tar sands X) deep underground peat beds Y) oil shale Z) propane
W: W) tar sands
X: X) deep underground peat beds
Y: Y) oil shale
Z: Z) propane
Answer: Y) Y) oil shale
Which of the following BEST describes why all mammalian nucleated non-sex cells have the same chromosomes but appear and function in greatly different ways? W) different cells lose and acquire different genes as they mature X) as cells mature they develop different genes Y) different genes are turned on and off as cells mature Z) cells transport pieces of chromosomes called plasmids to control how different cells will function and appear
W: W) different cells lose and acquire different genes as they mature
X: X) as cells mature they develop different genes
Y: Y) different genes are turned on and off as cells mature
Z: Z) cells transport pieces of chromosomes called plasmids to control how different cells will function and appear
Answer: Y) Y) different genes are turned on and off as cells mature
What would be the number of chromosomes in a normal human skin cell that went through one complete sequence of mitosis and did not go through cytokinesis?
Acceptable Answers:
A litmus paper test is used to determine: W) whether a solution is acidic or basic X) simple metallic elements Y) rates of reactions Z) bacterial counts in drinking water
W: W) whether a solution is acidic or basic
X: X) simple metallic elements
Y: Y) rates of reactions
Z: Z) bacterial counts in drinking water
Answer: W) W) whether a solution is acidic or basic
A carboxyl group is the functional group in which of the following classes of compounds? W) ester X) organic acid Y) halocarbon Z) hydrocarbon
W: W) ester
X: X) organic acid
Y: Y) halocarbon
Z: Z) hydrocarbon
Answer: X) X) organic acid
Which of the following is the most immediate driving force of surface ocean currents such as the North Pacific Drift and Gulf Stream currents? W) tides X) centripetal force of the oceans Y) daily temperature variations Z) winds
W: W) tides
X: X) centripetal force of the oceans
Y: Y) daily temperature variations
Z: Z) winds
Answer: Z) Z) winds
Looking at a weather map of the Northern Hemisphere, which of the following BEST describes the circulation of air around a low pressure system, designated with an “L”? W) a counterclockwise flow of air into the center X) a counterclockwise flow of air out of the center Y) a clockwise flow of air into the center Z) a clockwise flow of air out of the center
W: W) a counterclockwise flow of air into the center
X: X) a counterclockwise flow of air out of the center
Y: Y) a clockwise flow of air into the center
Z: Z) a clockwise flow of air out of the center
Answer: W) W) a counterclockwise flow of air into the center
Solve the following radical equation for x, when x is a real number: $$\sqrt{2x} = 6$$
Acceptable Answers:
If the surface area of a right rectangular prism is 188 cm² and its length is 6 cm and its height is 7 cm, find its width, to the nearest whole centimeter:
Acceptable Answers:
Which of the following is a polymer commonly used to manufacture plastic bottles, toys and indoor/outdoor carpeting? W) polyvinyl chloride X) polystyrene Y) polypropylene Z) nylon
W: W) polyvinyl chloride
X: X) polystyrene
Y: Y) polypropylene
Z: Z) nylon
Answer: Y) Y) polypropylene
Beeswax is BEST described as a: W) protein with small amounts of sugar X) petroleum derivative Y) short-chain carbohydrate Z) long-chain hydrocarbon
W: W) protein with small amounts of sugar
X: X) petroleum derivative
Y: Y) short-chain carbohydrate
Z: Z) long-chain hydrocarbon
Answer: Z) Z) long-chain hydrocarbon
What is the term for the front transparent covering of the human eye through which light travels first?
Acceptable Answers:
Order the following 4 human vertebral bone types from uppermost to lowermost in the vertebral column: sacral; lumbar; cervical; thoracic
Choices:
Correct Order:
Which of the following statements is NOT true? W) neutral pH solutions have small but equal numbers of hydronium and hydroxide ions X) when an acid is added to water it will increase the solution’s concentration of hydronium ions Y) strong acids dissociate almost completely in water Z) strong bases do not dissociate in water
W: W) neutral pH solutions have small but equal numbers of hydronium and hydroxide ions
X: X) when an acid is added to water it will increase the solution’s concentration of hydronium ions
Y: Y) strong acids dissociate almost completely in water
Z: Z) strong bases do not dissociate in water
Answer: Z) Z) strong bases do not dissociate in water
If the work input remains the same and there is an increase in the output of a simple machine, there would also have to be an increase in the machine’s: W) power X) efficiency Y) friction Z) effort force
W: W) power
X: X) efficiency
Y: Y) friction
Z: Z) effort force
Answer: X) X) efficiency
Which of the following is NOT true about rocks? W) corundum is harder than quartz X) pyrite is also known as ‘fool’s gold’ Y) halite occurs as a perfect cubic crystal Z) felsic rocks contain large amounts of magnesium and iron
W: W) corundum is harder than quartz
X: X) pyrite is also known as ‘fool’s gold’
Y: Y) halite occurs as a perfect cubic crystal
Z: Z) felsic rocks contain large amounts of magnesium and iron
Answer: Z) Z) felsic rocks contain large amounts of magnesium and iron
Of the following 4 tectonic plates, name the largest and the smallest: the Pacific plate; the North American plate; the Juan de Fuca plate; the African plate
Choices:
Correct Answers:
Which of the following equations has a graph that is a circle? W) \(x^2 + y^2 = 25\) X) \(4y = 3x + 2\) Y) \(y = x^2\) Z) \(x - 3 = 0\)
W: W) \(x^2 + y^2 = 25\)
X: X) \(4y = 3x + 2\)
Y: Y) \(y = x^2\)
Z: Z) \(x - 3 = 0\)
Answer: W) W) \(x^2 + y^2 = 25\)
Find the distance between and give the coordinates of the midpoint between the following points: (12, 8) and (18, 8)
Acceptable Answers:
Name all of the following 5 substances that are NOT derived from petroleum: amber; kerosene; asphalt; latex; paraffin
Choices:
Correct Answers:
Of the following 5 choices, which is the poorest conductor of electricity: sulfuric acid solution; copper wire; pure aluminum; salt solution; pure water
Acceptable Answers:
Which of the following types of nucleic acid carries a complementary copy of a gene from the DNA to the cytoplasm to instruct the order in which amino acids will be made into a protein? W) transfer RNA X) messenger RNA Y) ribosomal RNA Z) DNA
W: W) transfer RNA
X: X) messenger RNA
Y: Y) ribosomal RNA
Z: Z) DNA
Answer: X) X) messenger RNA
What cellular organelle functions to modify and package proteins it received from the rough endoplasmic reticulum and will typically prepare them for exporting outside the cell?
Acceptable Answers:
Which of the following is the BEST evidence that light travels as a wave? W) a metal that is heated produces different colors X) passing light through two pinholes can produce an interference pattern Y) light has a constant speed in a vacuum Z) high frequencies have short wavelengths
W: W) a metal that is heated produces different colors
X: X) passing light through two pinholes can produce an interference pattern
Y: Y) light has a constant speed in a vacuum
Z: Z) high frequencies have short wavelengths
Answer: X) X) passing light through two pinholes can produce an interference pattern
Which of the following is NOT true? W) weight decreases as you move away from the Earth’s surface X) mass times gravitational acceleration is weight Y) gravitational potential energy increases with increasing height Z) kinetic energy can only decrease when potential energy decreases
W: W) weight decreases as you move away from the Earth’s surface
X: X) mass times gravitational acceleration is weight
Y: Y) gravitational potential energy increases with increasing height
Z: Z) kinetic energy can only decrease when potential energy decreases
Answer: Z) Z) kinetic energy can only decrease when potential energy decreases
Which of the following is NOT true about glaciations? W) the land under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is being pushed down below sea level by the weight of the ice above X) most of the icebergs found in the North Atlantic come from the Iceland coast Y) current ice sheets can be nearly 2 miles thick Z) glaciers can form near the equator at high altitude
W: W) the land under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is being pushed down below sea level by the weight of the ice above
X: X) most of the icebergs found in the North Atlantic come from the Iceland coast
Y: Y) current ice sheets can be nearly 2 miles thick
Z: Z) glaciers can form near the equator at high altitude
Answer: X) X) most of the icebergs found in the North Atlantic come from the Iceland coast
In which of the following ways is firn formed on glaciers? W) the partial melting and refreezing of snow crystals into ice grains X) the polishing of rocks and boulders by abrasion in stream beds Y) layers of sand and sediment originating in glaciers that are transported upslope by strong winds Z) friction between bedrock along the base of a glacier
W: W) the partial melting and refreezing of snow crystals into ice grains
X: X) the polishing of rocks and boulders by abrasion in stream beds
Y: Y) layers of sand and sediment originating in glaciers that are transported upslope by strong winds
Z: Z) friction between bedrock along the base of a glacier
Answer: W) W) the partial melting and refreezing of snow crystals into ice grains
Expand the following expression, giving your answer in standard binomial form: \((4x + 3y)^2\)
Acceptable Answers:
How many different outcomes are possible if eight hydrogen fuel cars compete in a race for which first, second, and third prizes will be awarded and no ties are possible?
Acceptable Answers:
What is the scientific technique astronomers have most commonly used since the 1800’s to analyze stars and other heavenly bodies for the presence of certain elements?
Acceptable Answers:
Arrange the following 4 ecological systems in order of increasing or broad level of complexity: population; community; niche; biosphere
Choices:
Correct Order:
The ability to interbreed and produce sexually competent offspring is a classic characteristic of what taxonomical level of organisms?
Acceptable Answers:
Consider a microbial species that lives in the gut of cows and breaks down cellulose. The cow benefits from the microbe predigesting cellulose and the microbe benefits from the cow by having a place to live. What is the scientific term for this sort of symbiosis?
Acceptable Answers:
DO NOT ACCEPT:
Arrange the four states of matter in order of increasing kinetic energies for a given material:
Choices:
Correct Order:
What is the weight per volume percent concentration of a solution made by mixing 20 g of glucose with enough water to make 1 L of solution?
Acceptable Answers:
Arrange the following 4 layers of the Earth’s atmosphere in order of decreasing air pressure: stratosphere; exosphere; thermosphere; troposphere
Choices:
Correct Order:
Of the following 4 ocean life zones, name the one that contains the least variety of ocean life and the one that contains the greatest variety of ocean life, respectively: intertidal zone; neritic zone; bathyal zone; abyssal zone
Choices:
Correct Answers:
Evaluate the following radical expression: –√(√16)
Acceptable Answers:
Simplify the following expression if x represents a negative quantity: \(\sqrt[4]{16x^4}\)
Acceptable Answers: