MS Sample Set 13, Round 5 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for a substance that is dissolved in a solvent?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SOLUTE

BONUS phys phrase

Consider the reaction of nitrogen gas with hydrogen gas to form ammonia. In the balanced form of this chemical equation, what is the sum of the coefficients?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

TOSS-UP ess phrase

An observer in a spaceship notes that the star she is traveling towards appears slightly bluer than it was when she was at rest. What term describes this decrease in apparent wavelength?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BLUESHIFT
  • DOPPLER EFFECT

BONUS ess phrase

The Local Group is a set of more than 54 of what astronomical structures?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GALAXIES

TOSS-UP math phrase

In a right triangle, one leg has length 9 and one angle measures 45 degrees. What is the length of the hypotenuse?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 9√2

BONUS math phrase

A factory says that a 100% rate at its packing station is 250 units per day. Last week, Kim’s rates for 5 days were 58%, 67%, 64%, 75%, and 56%. What was the average daily number of units packed by Kim during those 5 days?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 160

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab have developed a new method to chemically add synthetic tags to proteins. These tags are added to the side chains of what class of compounds that are the monomers that compose proteins?

Acceptable Answers:

  • AMINO ACIDS

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Lab have been studying glaucoma drugs, which are drugs designed to treat a disease of what human organ?

Acceptable Answers:

  • EYE

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the name for the process that turns shale into slate?

Acceptable Answers:

  • METAMORPHISM

BONUS ess multiple_choice

What type of drainage pattern is commonly found associated with volcanoes? W) Trellis X) Dendritic Y) Rectangular Z) Radial

W: W) Trellis

X: X) Dendritic

Y: Y) Rectangular

Z: Z) Radial

Answer: Z) Z) Radial

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the predominant organ that sits within the pericardial cavity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HEART

BONUS bio phrase

What theory posits that chloroplasts and mitochondria were originally ingested microorganisms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ENDOSYMBIOTIC THEORY
  • ENDOSYMBIOSIS, SYMBIOGENESIS

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Ames National Lab scientists are developing nanoparticles that replace the catalyst in fuel cells. This catalyst is composed of what expensive element? W) Iron X) Platinum Y) Palladium Z) Zinc

W: W) Iron

X: X) Platinum

Y: Y) Palladium

Z: Z) Zinc

Answer: X) X) Platinum

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Lab have been studying a mixture of aluminum, cerium, and magnesium due to its high strength. This can best be classified as what type of solid mixture?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ALLOY

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the second most common gas in the atmosphere of Jupiter?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HELIUM
  • He

BONUS ess multiple_choice

In years, which of the following is closest to the age of the solar system? W) 5 thousand X) 5 million Y) 5 billion Z) 5 trillion

W: W) 5 thousand

X: X) 5 million

Y: Y) 5 billion

Z: Z) 5 trillion

Answer: Y) Y) 5 billion

TOSS-UP math phrase

Simplify the fraction $$\displaystyle \frac{x^4 y^7}{x^2 y^{-5}}$$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • $$\displaystyle x^2 y^{12}$$

BONUS math multiselect

If p and q are consecutive odd integers, identify all of the following four numbers that are always even: 1) p + q 2) pq 3) 2p + 4q 4) (p + q)²

Choices:

  • p + q
  • pq
  • 2p + 4q
  • (p + q)²

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 3
  • 4

TOSS-UP bio multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are TRUE of vaccines: 1) Vaccines can only be used to prevent viral diseases 2) Some vaccines require multiple injections 3) The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is linked to the development of autism

Choices:

  • Vaccines can only be used to prevent viral diseases
  • Some vaccines require multiple injections
  • The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is linked to the development of autism

Correct Answers:

  • 2

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is an example of a gymnosperm? W) Corn X) Ginkgo Y) Broccoli Z) Daffodil

W: W) Corn

X: X) Ginkgo

Y: Y) Broccoli

Z: Z) Daffodil

Answer: X) X) Ginkgo

TOSS-UP phys phrase

How many neutrons does an atom of carbon-14 contain?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 8

BONUS phys phrase

What is the mechanical advantage of a pulley system containing 5 rope segments pulling on the load?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab are studying a special type of photosynthesis described as anoxygenic. This means that it does not produce what molecule?

Acceptable Answers:

  • OXYGEN
  • O₂, DIOXYGEN

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Lab are studying ferromagnetic materials like bismuth manganese chromates. What is the lightest element on the periodic table that is ferromagnetic in its standard state?

Acceptable Answers:

  • IRON

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Choanocytes are a type of specialized cell associated with what animals that have no true tissues?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SPONGES
  • PORIFERANS

BONUS bio phrase

A biologist crosses a plant with red flowers with a plant with white flowers. The offspring plants all have pink flowers. What type of genetic interaction is being demonstrated here?

Acceptable Answers:

  • INCOMPLETE DOMINANCE

TOSS-UP math phrase

Express the fraction 15/8 as a decimal.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1.875

BONUS math phrase

Four to the 64th power divided by 64 to the 4th power equals 2 to what power?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 104

TOSS-UP phys phrase

A chemist dips a penny into a hot solution composed of zinc and sodium hydroxide, which causes the penny to turn a silvery color. What aspect of a redox reaction did the zinc undergo when the penny was dipped into the solution?

Acceptable Answers:

  • REDUCTION

BONUS phys phrase

What is 30 degrees Celsius expressed in degrees Fahrenheit?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 86

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for viruses that exclusively infect bacteria?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BACTERIOPHAGE
  • PHAGE

BONUS bio multiselect

Identify all of the following three processes that are considered negative feedback loops: 1) Blood-clotting cascade 2) Thermoregulation 3) Blood glucose control

Choices:

  • Blood-clotting cascade
  • Thermoregulation
  • Blood glucose control

Correct Answers:

  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the leading coefficient of the polynomial $$\displaystyle -x^4 + 2x^3 - 4x + 9$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • –1

BONUS math phrase

Express the following in scientific notation rounded to two significant digits: the fraction with numerator $$\displaystyle 4.7 \times 10^5$$ and denominator $$\displaystyle 8.3 \times 10^{-2}}$$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • $$5.7 \times 10^6$$

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What greenhouse gas is responsible for the greatest proportion of Earth’s greenhouse warming?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WATER
  • WATER VAPOR

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following best describes a stream’s capacity? W) Maximum load of solid particles a stream can carry per unit time X) Maximum size of the sediment grains transported Y) Maximum water discharge Z) Minimum water discharge that would produce flooding

W: W) Maximum load of solid particles a stream can carry per unit time

X: X) Maximum size of the sediment grains transported

Y: Y) Maximum water discharge

Z: Z) Minimum water discharge that would produce flooding

Answer: W) W) Maximum load of solid particles a stream can carry per unit time

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following phenomena describes a beam of light entering a glass of water and bending from its original path? W) Diffraction X) Refraction Y) Dispersion Z) Reflection

W: W) Diffraction

X: X) Refraction

Y: Y) Dispersion

Z: Z) Reflection

Answer: X) X) Refraction

BONUS phys phrase

A 100-gram arrow completely pierces through a 1-kilogram target and leaves with half of its original speed. If the target is now moving at 1.5 meters per second, then in meters per second, what was the original speed of the arrow?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 30

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for different forms of a gene?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ALLELES

BONUS bio multiselect

Identify all of the following four structures that would typically be found in a bacterial cell: 1) Cell wall 2) Nucleus 3) Mitochondrion 4) Ribosome

Choices:

  • Cell wall
  • Nucleus
  • Mitochondrion
  • Ribosome

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 4

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is 300 + 500 – 555?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 245

BONUS math phrase

What is the area of a square with the same perimeter as a circle of radius 8?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 16π²

TOSS-UP phys phrase

When ultraviolet light is shined on a zinc plate, electrons are ejected with a kinetic energy dependent on the frequency of the light. What is the name of this phenomenon, first explained by Einstein in 1905?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

BONUS phys phrase

A ball is thrown horizontally off the top of a 320-meter cliff with an initial velocity of 1 meter per second. Assuming the ground below the cliff is flat, then to the nearest whole meter, how far away from the base of the cliff will the ball land?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 8

TOSS-UP ess phrase

The Sun is constantly shedding its corona by expelling it outward into the solar system. What is the term for this stream of particles?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SOLAR WIND

BONUS ess phrase

What is the theoretical endpoint of stellar evolution for a low-mass star, such as our Sun, that has cooled enough that it no longer emits light?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BLACK DWARF