MS Sample Set 14, Round 14 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Inflammation can be driven by what signaling molecule that is contained within mast cells, and whose inhibitors are commonly used as allergy medications?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HISTAMINE

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • HISTIDINE

BONUS bio phrase

The Cambrian Explosion documents the sudden increase in diversity primarily in what kingdom of life?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ANIMALIA
  • ANIMALS, METAZOA

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the least common multiple of 4, 14, and 21?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 84

BONUS math phrase

What is the volume in liters of a circular cylindrical container with a radius of 30 centimeters and a height of 1.7 meters?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 153π

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Researchers at Argonne National Lab are exploring the possibility of using neutrino detectors to search for dark matter. What is the electric charge of a neutrino?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 0

BONUS energy multiple_choice

In their experimental setup, laser light passes through a sample and contacts a device called a CCD. Which of the following roles does the CCD play? W) Lens X) Diffraction grating Y) Camera Z) Shutter

W: W) Lens

X: X) Diffraction grating

Y: Y) Camera

Z: Z) Shutter

Answer: Y) Y) Camera

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What star in the night sky has the largest proper motion?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BARNARD’S STAR

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three geologic processes that are currently active on the Moon: 1) Volcanic eruptions; 2) Mountain formation; 3) Rifting.

Choices:

  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Mountain formation
  • Rifting

Correct Answers:

  • 0

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Plasmids that are used in laboratory methods typically originate from which of the following groups of organisms? W) Bacteria X) Flies Y) Mice Z) Plants

W: W) Bacteria

X: X) Flies

Y: Y) Mice

Z: Z) Plants

Answer: W) W) Bacteria

BONUS bio phrase

Epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are responsible for the fight or flight response, are primarily synthesized in what organ?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ADRENAL GLANDS
  • SUPRARENAL GLANDS

TOSS-UP phys phrase

Magnetic fields such as those exhibited by permanent magnets are created via the motion of what subatomic particle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ELECTRON

BONUS phys phrase

While observing exoplanets, an astronomer notes that planet A orbits a star with a semimajor axis of 4 AU and has an orbital period of 5 years. If planet B orbits the same star at a semimajor axis of 16 AU, then, in years, what is its orbital period?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 40

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is log base 625 of 25?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1/2
  • 0.5

BONUS math phrase

A rhombus has sides of length 8 and largest angle of measure 120 degrees. What is its area?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 32√3

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following correctly pairs a monomer with one of its corresponding polymers? W) Lactose and allolactose X) Sucrose and glycogen Y) Glucose and cellulose Z) Mannose and mannitol

W: W) Lactose and allolactose

X: X) Sucrose and glycogen

Y: Y) Glucose and cellulose

Z: Z) Mannose and mannitol

Answer: Y) Y) Glucose and cellulose

BONUS bio multiselect

For pea plants, yellow seed color is dominant to green seed color. Identify all of the following three statements that are ALWAYS true if you breed two yellow-seeded plants: 1) All of the offspring will have yellow seeds; 2) None of the offspring will have green seeds; 3) Some of the offspring will have intermediate yellowish-green seeds.

Choices:

  • All of the offspring will have yellow seeds
  • None of the offspring will have green seeds
  • Some of the offspring will have intermediate yellowish-green seeds

Correct Answers:

  • 0

TOSS-UP phys phrase

When a pot of water heats on the stovetop, the hot water at the bottom rises to the top, causing cold water to settle to the bottom to replace it. Of what process is this an example?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CONVECTION

BONUS phys phrase

What is the state function that quantifies the spontaneity of a chemical reaction and equals enthalpy minus the product of temperature and entropy?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GIBBS FREE ENERGY

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are using computational approximations to predict the behavior of what subatomic particle found in orbitals?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ELECTRONS

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists at Brookhaven National Lab are studying the physical properties of B mesons and their antiparticles. Which of the following pairs of quarks would make up a meson that has negative electric charge? W) Up, anti-bottom X) Down, anti-bottom Y) Anti-strange, bottom Z) Anti-charm, bottom

W: W) Up, anti-bottom

X: X) Down, anti-bottom

Y: Y) Anti-strange, bottom

Z: Z) Anti-charm, bottom

Answer: Z) Z) Anti-charm, bottom

TOSS-UP ess phrase

In what eon are we currently living?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHANEROZOIC

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three heat sources that contribute significantly to the heat budget of Earth’s interior: 1) Tidal friction from the Sun; 2) Radioactive decay; 3) Tidal friction from the Moon.

Choices:

  • Tidal friction from the Sun
  • Radioactive decay
  • Tidal friction from the Moon

Correct Answers:

  • 2

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What color of light is produced when red and green light overlap?

Acceptable Answers:

  • YELLOW

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following methods of electricity generation use the kinetic energy of steam to turn a turbine? W) Nuclear power X) Hydroelectric power Y) Photovoltaics Z) Tidal power

W: W) Nuclear power

X: X) Hydroelectric power

Y: Y) Photovoltaics

Z: Z) Tidal power

Answer: W) W) Nuclear power

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at the Joint Genome Institute are studying the organism that causes dry rot in homes. In what kingdom is this organism?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FUNGI

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists at Los Alamos National Lab are using terahertz radiation for short-range communication. Which of the following is closest to the wavelength of this terahertz radiation? W) 1 millimeter X) 1 decimeter Y) 1 meter Z) 1 decameter

W: W) 1 millimeter

X: X) 1 decimeter

Y: Y) 1 meter

Z: Z) 1 decameter

Answer: W) W) 1 millimeter

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the slope of a line perpendicular to the line with equation 7x – 3y = 21?

Acceptable Answers:

  • –3/7

BONUS math phrase

Express the following as the logarithm of a single number: 2 log 32 + log 40 – 3 log 8

Acceptable Answers:

  • log 80

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for the energy required to start a chemical reaction and form the transition state?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ACTIVATION ENERGY

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three molecules that are examples of alkenes: 1) Propene; 2) Cyclopropene; 3) Cyclohexane.

Choices:

  • Propene
  • Cyclopropene
  • Cyclohexane

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What tail of a comet points straight away from the Sun at all times?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GAS TAIL
  • PLASMA TAIL, ION TAIL

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements about sunspots that are true: 1) They are hotter than other locations on the Sun’s surface; 2) They occur in one-year cycles; 3) They result from the Sun’s magnetic properties.

Choices:

  • They are hotter than other locations on the Sun’s surface
  • They occur in one-year cycles
  • They result from the Sun’s magnetic properties

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What part of the nervous system consists of the spinal cord and brain?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CNS
  • CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

BONUS bio multiple_choice

One of the types of finches Darwin observed is the warbler finch, which has a long, sharp, and narrow beak. What type of food does the warbler finch primarily consume? W) Cactuses X) Large seeds Y) Insects Z) Flower nectar

W: W) Cactuses

X: X) Large seeds

Y: Y) Insects

Z: Z) Flower nectar

Answer: Y) Y) Insects

TOSS-UP math phrase

A rectangle has dimensions √6 and √19. What is the length of its diagonal?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5

BONUS math phrase

To the nearest integer, what is the geometric mean of 9 and 55?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 22

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

A large magnitude earthquake occurs just off the coast of Alaska, immediately triggering a tsunami warning in Hawaii. Which of the following is closest to the number of hours that Hawaiians would have to prepare for the tsunami arrival? W) 4 X) 20 Y) 36 Z) 52

W: W) 4

X: X) 20

Y: Y) 36

Z: Z) 52

Answer: W) W) 4

BONUS ess phrase

In Bowen’s reaction series, the continuous series of crystallization is used to describe the composition of plagioclase feldspar. The first plagioclase minerals to precipitate from a cooling magma chamber will be calcium-rich plagioclase. As cooling continues, what metal will substitute for calcium in the plagioclase structure?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SODIUM
  • Na

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the pH, to the nearest integer, of a solution that was prepared by adding 1 microliter of a 1 molar hydrochloric acid solution to 10 milliliters of water?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4

BONUS phys phrase

Starting from rest, a bike accelerates at 5 meters per second squared for 3 seconds. In meters, what distance did it travel over this interval?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 22.5
  • 45/2, 22 1/2

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Thigmotropism in vines can allow them to wrap around other branches to grow higher. This form of taxis occurs in response to which of the following stimuli? W) Light X) Gravity Y) Touch Z) Heat

W: W) Light

X: X) Gravity

Y: Y) Touch

Z: Z) Heat

Answer: Y) Y) Touch

BONUS bio phrase

How many fatty acid chains are attached to glycerol in a typical fat molecule in vegetable oil?

Acceptable Answers:

  • THREE

TOSS-UP math phrase

The same-month birthdates of Laura, Vince, and Dean form an arithmetic sequence. If two of the dates are 6 and 28, what is the third date?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 17

BONUS math phrase

Using the origin as center, the point (–2, –1) is dilated by a factor of 4, and then the result is rotated by 90 degrees counterclockwise. What are the coordinates of the final image point?

Acceptable Answers:

  • (4, –8)

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What constant relates the recessional velocity of a galaxy to its distance from us?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HUBBLE CONSTANT

BONUS ess phrase

One model for the end of the Universe involves the gravitational attraction between galaxies eventually overcoming the metric expansion of space and collapsing. What is the name for this event?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BIG CRUNCH