MS Sample Set 5, Round 7 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT a reasonable line of evidence for a global cooling event? W) Glacial tills at low latitudes X) Heightened sea levels Y) Reduced photosynthesis Z) Reduced hydrologic cycle

W: W) Glacial tills at low latitudes

X: X) Heightened sea levels

Y: Y) Reduced photosynthesis

Z: Z) Reduced hydrologic cycle

Answer: X) X) Heightened sea levels

BONUS ess multiple_choice

At which of the following internal Earth boundaries do mantle plumes occur? W) Inner core/outer core boundary X) Asthenosphere/lithosphere boundary Y) Mantle/outer core boundary Z) Mantle/crust boundary

W: W) Inner core/outer core boundary

X: X) Asthenosphere/lithosphere boundary

Y: Y) Mantle/outer core boundary

Z: Z) Mantle/crust boundary

Answer: Y) Y) Mantle/outer core boundary

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the name of the ClO₄⁻ (read as: C-L-O-4 minus) ion?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PERCHLORATE

BONUS phys phrase

What is the ideal mechanical advantage of an 18-centimeter lever if the fulcrum is located 3 centimeters from the resistance?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following sets of states are included as a part of “tornado alley”? W) Texas, Kansas, and Missouri X) Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia Y) Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona Z) Mississippi, Georgia, and Kansas

W: W) Texas, Kansas, and Missouri

X: X) Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia

Y: Y) Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona

Z: Z) Mississippi, Georgia, and Kansas

Answer: W) W) Texas, Kansas, and Missouri

BONUS ess phrase

Hadley and Ferrel atmospheric cells are the result of what kind of heat transport?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CONVECTION

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What is the general name of the process through which light is generated from a chemical reaction without the release of significant heat energy?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CHEMILUMINESCENCE

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Which of the following statements is NOT true about the solar tower, Solar Two? W) It generated steam directly from water in its receiver X) It could supply electric power on demand to the local utility company Y) Nearly 2000 heliostats reflected sunlight onto a receiver located at the top of the tower Z) Concentrated sunlight heated molten salt to temperatures as high as 1000° Fahrenheit

W: W) It generated steam directly from water in its receiver

X: X) It could supply electric power on demand to the local utility company

Y: Y) Nearly 2000 heliostats reflected sunlight onto a receiver located at the top of the tower

Z: Z) Concentrated sunlight heated molten salt to temperatures as high as 1000° Fahrenheit

Answer: W) W) It generated steam directly from water in its receiver

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Which type of cell becomes cancerous in people who develop leukemia?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WHITE BLOOD CELL

BONUS bio phrase

What are the five most common chemical elements of living biological matter?

Acceptable Answers:

  • OXYGEN, CARBON, HYDROGEN, NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following adjectives describes the function: $$ y = \frac{1}{3 - x^2} $$ W) Even X) Odd Y) One-to-one Z) Polynomial

W: W) Even

X: X) Odd

Y: Y) One-to-one

Z: Z) Polynomial

Answer: W) W) Even

BONUS math phrase

Frodo drove 250 miles at an average speed of 50 miles per hour, and the remaining 360 miles at an average speed of 60 miles per hour. To the nearest integer, what was his average speed in miles per hour for the entire trip?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 55

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What term is used to describe sphere-shaped bacteria?

Acceptable Answers:

  • COCCI

BONUS bio phrase

Why are there no human vaccines against bacteriophages (read as: bahk-TIR-ee-oh-fay-jehs)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BACTERIOPHAGES DO NOT INFECT HUMANS
  • BACTERIOPHAGES ONLY INFECT PROKARYOTES

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following best describes the composition of polycrystalline silicon solar panels? W) A piece of semi-conducting material with a thin silicon film over the top X) One continuous sheet of silicon with a backing of metal-conducting material Y) Lots of individual PV cells that have a backing of metal-conducting material Z) Strips of silicon form the PV cells that have a backing of metal-conducting material

W: W) A piece of semi-conducting material with a thin silicon film over the top

X: X) One continuous sheet of silicon with a backing of metal-conducting material

Y: Y) Lots of individual PV cells that have a backing of metal-conducting material

Z: Z) Strips of silicon form the PV cells that have a backing of metal-conducting material

Answer: Y) Y) Lots of individual PV cells that have a backing of metal-conducting material

BONUS energy phrase

Aside from the residual heat generated from the formation of Earth, what three principle radioactive elements are thought to be the main sources of heat within Earth’s interior?

Acceptable Answers:

  • POTASSIUM, URANIUM, THORIUM

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the maximum number of bonds a carbon atom can form?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following situations requires the most power? W) Lifting a 60 newton weight 50 meters in 3 minutes X) Lifting a 60 newton weight 70 meters in 5 minutes Y) Lifting a 70 newton weight 50 meters in 3 minutes Z) Lifting a 70 newton weight 70 meters in 5 minutes

W: W) Lifting a 60 newton weight 50 meters in 3 minutes

X: X) Lifting a 60 newton weight 70 meters in 5 minutes

Y: Y) Lifting a 70 newton weight 50 meters in 3 minutes

Z: Z) Lifting a 70 newton weight 70 meters in 5 minutes

Answer: Y) Y) Lifting a 70 newton weight 50 meters in 3 minutes

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following contributes to the hydrophobicity of lipids? W) Water is polar and lipids are non-polar X) Water and lipids are both polar Y) Water and lipids are both non-polar Z) Water is non-polar and lipids are polar

W: W) Water is polar and lipids are non-polar

X: X) Water and lipids are both polar

Y: Y) Water and lipids are both non-polar

Z: Z) Water is non-polar and lipids are polar

Answer: W) W) Water is polar and lipids are non-polar

BONUS bio phrase

What is the name of the network responsible for echinoderm (read as: ee-KY-neh-dehrm) movement?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WATER VASCULAR SYSTEM

TOSS-UP math phrase

Give the name of the Greek mathematician, often referred to as the father of geometry, who deduced geometrical principles based upon postulates such as, “it is possible to draw a straight line from any point to any other point.”

Acceptable Answers:

  • EUCLID

BONUS math phrase

A committee of 3 is to be formed from a group of 6 people. How many different committees are possible?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 20

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following is a TRUE statement about fructose and glucose? W) They have different molecular formulas X) They have different molecular structures Y) They have the same molecular structure Z) They are both disaccharides (read as: dy-SAH-keh-ryds)

W: W) They have different molecular formulas

X: X) They have different molecular structures

Y: Y) They have the same molecular structure

Z: Z) They are both disaccharides (read as: dy-SAH-keh-ryds)

Answer: X) X) They have different molecular structures

BONUS general phrase

Name all of the layers of Earth’s atmosphere that have an increasing temperature as altitude increases.

Acceptable Answers:

  • THERMOSPHERE, STRATOSPHERE

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the term for breakage along planes of weak bonding that produces distinctive, smooth, flat surfaces?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CLEAVAGE

BONUS ess phrase

What are the three gases that primarily compose Uranus’s atmosphere?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HYDROGEN, HELIUM, METHANE

TOSS-UP general phrase

A see-saw is an example of what class of lever?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FIRST

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following animal structures does NOT make use of countercurrent exchange? W) Mammalian lungs X) Fish gills Y) Vertebrate kidneys Z) Muscles of a great white shark

W: W) Mammalian lungs

X: X) Fish gills

Y: Y) Vertebrate kidneys

Z: Z) Muscles of a great white shark

Answer: W) W) Mammalian lungs

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is always the RNA start codon, where translation begins?

Acceptable Answers:

  • AUG

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • ATG

BONUS bio phrase

When exposed to unfavorable environmental conditions, coral loses its symbiont zooxanthella (read as: zoo-zahn-THEH-lah), a condition known as “bleaching.” Name the process, beneficial to the coral as a whole, for which zooxanthellae are responsible.

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHOTOSYNTHESIS

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which kind of mouth would belong to a fish that feeds on crustaceans and other shellfish? W) Inferior X) Superior Y) Terminal Z) Protrusible

W: W) Inferior

X: X) Superior

Y: Y) Terminal

Z: Z) Protrusible

Answer: W) W) Inferior

BONUS general phrase

In a reaction that runs to completion, 3 moles of substance A react with 5 moles of substance B to create 2 moles of substance C. To create 18 moles of substance C, what is the total number of moles of reactants required?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 72

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the largest two-digit prime number?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 97

BONUS math phrase

What are the coordinates of the vertex of the parabola with equation $$ y = x^2 + 6x + 4? $$

Acceptable Answers:

  • (-3, -5)

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for an insoluble product that is formed in a chemical reaction as a result of combining two liquids?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PRECIPITATE

BONUS phys phrase

Name three properties of non-metals that correspond, respectively, to the following properties of metals: malleable, shiny, and conducting.

Acceptable Answers:

  • BRITTLE, DULL, INSULATING

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Lobsters and centipedes have jointed appendages and are both classified as arthropods. What defining characteristic, shared by all arthropods, provides a protective function but limits growth and flexibility?

Acceptable Answers:

  • EXOSKELETON

BONUS bio multiple_choice

In terms of available energy, why would low biomass be expected for any tundra biome? W) Plants are not able to grow in the cold temperatures X) High wind speeds remove the nutrients needed by plants Y) There is little sunlight to provide the initial energy Z) There are few top predators, so little energy is needed

W: W) Plants are not able to grow in the cold temperatures

X: X) High wind speeds remove the nutrients needed by plants

Y: Y) There is little sunlight to provide the initial energy

Z: Z) There are few top predators, so little energy is needed

Answer: Y) Y) There is little sunlight to provide the initial energy

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following is the dominant direction of surface currents at low latitudes along the coast of South America in the Pacific Ocean? W) Southwest X) Northwest Y) Southeast Z) Northeast

W: W) Southwest

X: X) Northwest

Y: Y) Southeast

Z: Z) Northeast

Answer: X) X) Northwest

BONUS general phrase

Object 1 has a mass of 3 kilograms and moves across a frictionless surface at a velocity of 4 meters per second. Object 1 then strikes object 2, which has a mass of 2 kilograms and was motionless prior to the collision. The collision is completely inelastic. Providing your answer as a decimal to the nearest tenth, what is the speed of object 2 after the collision, in meters per second?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2.4

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What scientist received the Nobel Prize for perfecting a technique for refining uranium?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MARIE CURIE

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • CURIE

BONUS phys multiple_choice

In a parallel circuit with constant voltage, if a branch was added, which of the following would happen to the total equivalent resistance and the total supplied current? W) Both would both increase X) Both would both decrease Y) The resistance would increase and the current would decrease Z) The resistance would decrease and the current would increase

W: W) Both would both increase

X: X) Both would both decrease

Y: Y) The resistance would increase and the current would decrease

Z: Z) The resistance would decrease and the current would increase

Answer: Z) Z) The resistance would decrease and the current would increase

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

The Solar System is believed to have formed following the collapse of which of the following? W) A galactic core X) A globular cluster Y) A neutron star Z) A molecular cloud

W: W) A galactic core

X: X) A globular cluster

Y: Y) A neutron star

Z: Z) A molecular cloud

Answer: Z) Z) A molecular cloud

BONUS ess phrase

Name the three types of tectonic plate boundaries.

Acceptable Answers:

  • DIVERGENT, CONVERGENT, TRANSFORM

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following describes most of the elements on the periodic table? W) Synthetic X) Nonmetals Y) Noble gases Z) Conductors

W: W) Synthetic

X: X) Nonmetals

Y: Y) Noble gases

Z: Z) Conductors

Answer: Z) Z) Conductors

BONUS phys phrase

When subjected to a potential difference of 100 volts, a certain capacitor builds up a charge on one plate of 0.2 coulombs. Providing your answer as a decimal to the nearest thousandth, what is this capacitor's capacitance in farads?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 0.002

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT an example of a direct-use application of geothermal energy? W) Bathing X) Production of electricity Y) Heating homes Z) Heating water at fish farms

W: W) Bathing

X: X) Production of electricity

Y: Y) Heating homes

Z: Z) Heating water at fish farms

Answer: X) X) Production of electricity

BONUS energy phrase

The 1947 Texas City disaster, the deadliest industrial accident in the United States, was caused by the detonation of what chemical compound, often used as an oxidizing agent in explosives?

Acceptable Answers:

  • AMMONIUM NITRATE

TOSS-UP math phrase

Solve the equation |x − 2| = 3.

Acceptable Answers:

  • x = −1 or x = 5

BONUS math phrase

Solve the inequality: −3x − 4 ≥ 6x − 3.

Acceptable Answers:

  • x ≤ −1/9