MS Sample Set 4, Round 3 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Approximately what percentage of the energy need in the U.S. is currently met by biomass? W) 15% X) 10% Y) 4% Z) 1%

W: W) 15%

X: X) 10%

Y: Y) 4%

Z: Z) 1%

Answer: Y) Y) 4%

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Which of the following is an advantage of using biomass in the form of corn to produce ethanol? W) Using corn to produce ethanol means that the U.S. will no longer need to import petroleum-based products X) Corn-based ethanol is more fuel efficient than gasoline Y) Corn-based ethanol production has little impact on water supply Z) Food for cattle is produced when corn grain is converted to ethanol

W: W) Using corn to produce ethanol means that the U.S. will no longer need to import petroleum-based products

X: X) Corn-based ethanol is more fuel efficient than gasoline

Y: Y) Corn-based ethanol production has little impact on water supply

Z: Z) Food for cattle is produced when corn grain is converted to ethanol

Answer: Z) Z) Food for cattle is produced when corn grain is converted to ethanol

TOSS-UP general phrase

What is the shape of the orbits of the planets around the Sun in our Solar System?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ELLIPSE
  • ELLIPTICAL

BONUS general phrase

What was the first planet discovered with a telescope?

Acceptable Answers:

  • URANUS

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

When looking through a glass of water with a straw in it, why might the straw appear bent and somewhat distorted? W) Refraction X) Diffraction Y) Reflection Z) Pressure

W: W) Refraction

X: X) Diffraction

Y: Y) Reflection

Z: Z) Pressure

Answer: W) W) Refraction

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following regions of the electromagnetic spectrum has a longer wavelength than visible light? W) Ultraviolet X) Gamma rays Y) Microwaves Z) X-rays

W: W) Ultraviolet

X: X) Gamma rays

Y: Y) Microwaves

Z: Z) X-rays

Answer: Y) Y) Microwaves

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following activities will increase your carbon footprint? W) Eating a more beef-rich diet X) Eating a more local vegetarian diet Y) Keeping your family’s car tires inflated to the correct level Z) Using public transportation like buses and trains

W: W) Eating a more beef-rich diet

X: X) Eating a more local vegetarian diet

Y: Y) Keeping your family’s car tires inflated to the correct level

Z: Z) Using public transportation like buses and trains

Answer: W) W) Eating a more beef-rich diet

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is least likely to be impacted by climate change? W) Atmosphere X) Hydrosphere Y) Cryosphere Z) Mantle

W: W) Atmosphere

X: X) Hydrosphere

Y: Y) Cryosphere

Z: Z) Mantle

Answer: Z) Z) Mantle

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following must be true about the product of an integer and one greater than the integer? W) The product is negative X) The product is positive Y) The product is even Z) The product is odd

W: W) The product is negative

X: X) The product is positive

Y: Y) The product is even

Z: Z) The product is odd

Answer: Y) Y) The product is even

BONUS math phrase

The circumference of a circle is 6π. What is its area in terms of π?

Acceptable Answers:

TOSS-UP phys phrase

Melting an ice cube and boiling water are examples of what type of change that does not produce a new substance?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHYSICAL
  • PHASE

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Thermodynamics tells us that we cannot reduce entropy in a closed system; it will always increase. Of what does entropy serve as a measure? W) System size X) Temperature Y) Disorder Z) Flux

W: W) System size

X: X) Temperature

Y: Y) Disorder

Z: Z) Flux

Answer: Y) Y) Disorder

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

What do we call the evaporation of water from plants that occurs chiefly while their stomata are open for the passage of carbon dioxide and oxygen during photosynthesis? W) Transpiration X) Chemotaxis Y) Chemosynthesis Z) Chlorophyll

W: W) Transpiration

X: X) Chemotaxis

Y: Y) Chemosynthesis

Z: Z) Chlorophyll

Answer: W) W) Transpiration

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following organisms cannot perform photosynthesis? W) Cyanobacteria X) Ferns Y) Mushrooms Z) Trees

W: W) Cyanobacteria

X: X) Ferns

Y: Y) Mushrooms

Z: Z) Trees

Answer: Y) Y) Mushrooms

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the largest prime number less than 9?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 7

BONUS math multiple_choice

The lengths of two sides of a triangle are 3 and 12. Which of the following could be the length of the third side? W) 4 X) 8 Y) 12 Z) 16

W: W) 4

X: X) 8

Y: Y) 12

Z: Z) 16

Answer: Y) Y) 12

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true about incandescent lamps? W) They have the least expensive initial purchase price X) They typically can last over one million hours Y) They provide warm light Z) They operate without a ballast

W: W) They have the least expensive initial purchase price

X: X) They typically can last over one million hours

Y: Y) They provide warm light

Z: Z) They operate without a ballast

Answer: X) X) They typically can last over one million hours

BONUS energy multiple_choice

In most developing countries excluding China and India, which of the following is the primary source of energy for household energy consumption in rural and poor areas? W) Hydroelectricity X) Wind Y) Biomass Z) Solar

W: W) Hydroelectricity

X: X) Wind

Y: Y) Biomass

Z: Z) Solar

Answer: Y) Y) Biomass

TOSS-UP phys phrase

If a heavy box is sitting on a table, not moving at all, what force is counteracting the pull of gravity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NORMAL FORCE

BONUS phys phrase

You are standing on a scale in an elevator that is accelerating upwards as it goes from the basement to the roof. How does the reading of the scale compare with that obtained when the elevator was standing still?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GREATER
  • HIGHER, LARGER

TOSS-UP math phrase

Express 14⁄50 as a simplified mixed number.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3 7⁄4

BONUS math phrase

At the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, underwater robots dove down in the water 5000 feet. If the robot dove down another 3000 feet, then rose up 6500 feet, where would the robot be in relation to sea level?

Acceptable Answers:

  • –1500
  • 1500 below sea level

TOSS-UP bio phrase

In vascular plants, what is the name of the transport tissue that primarily carries water to the plant?

Acceptable Answers:

  • XYLEM

BONUS bio phrase

What force allows the xylem to transport water against gravity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CAPILLARY ACTION

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following is a primary issue associated with harnessing solar power via panels? W) Low efficiency X) Overheating the foundation under the panels Y) Difficult assembly Z) Rain damage to the solar panels

W: W) Low efficiency

X: X) Overheating the foundation under the panels

Y: Y) Difficult assembly

Z: Z) Rain damage to the solar panels

Answer: W) W) Low efficiency

BONUS energy order

Based solely on wind speeds, rank the following states in order from most to least windy: Florida; Missouri; Nebraska; Arkansas.

Choices:

  • Florida
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Arkansas

Correct Order:

  • 3
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the name of a fracture or zone of fractures in the Earth that allows large masses of rocks to move relative to each other?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FAULT
  • FAULT LINE, FAULT ZONE

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is used to describe a thrust fault? W) Divergent X) Transverse Y) Spreading Z) Convergent

W: W) Divergent

X: X) Transverse

Y: Y) Spreading

Z: Z) Convergent

Answer: Z) Z) Convergent

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

In the Pythagorean theorem, a² + b² = c². If all side lengths are smaller than 1 unit long, which of the following is largest? W) a² X) b² Y) c² Z) c

W: W) a²

X: X) b²

Y: Y) c²

Z: Z) c

Answer: Z) Z) c

BONUS math phrase

What is the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle with legs of length 7 and 24?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 25

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

The human genome has been mapped. In this mapping process, they identified genes that coded for all of the following, except: W) Race X) Hair color Y) Handedness Z) Vision

W: W) Race

X: X) Hair color

Y: Y) Handedness

Z: Z) Vision

Answer: W) W) Race

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Feather color in chickens can be a codominant trait. You cross a white chicken with a black chicken. Which of the following phenotypes will you see in the first generation of chicks? W) All of the chicks will be gray X) The chicks will be more black than white Y) Each of the chicks will be black and white in about equal proportions Z) The chicks will be more white than black

W: W) All of the chicks will be gray

X: X) The chicks will be more black than white

Y: Y) Each of the chicks will be black and white in about equal proportions

Z: Z) The chicks will be more white than black

Answer: Y) Y) Each of the chicks will be black and white in about equal proportions

TOSS-UP general phrase

What element is considered the main building block of life on Earth?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CARBON

BONUS general phrase

What is the most abundant element in the universe?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HYDROGEN

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Which of the following well types is used to determine whether oil or gas is present: exploration, confirmation, or development?

Acceptable Answers:

  • EXPLORATION

BONUS ess multiple_choice

What is the purpose of a confirmation well? W) To verify that the site will physically support a drilling platform X) To verify that the oil is accessible Y) To verify that a formation has enough hydrocarbons to make it worth developing Z) To verify that the cost of extricating the oil will not be too high

W: W) To verify that the site will physically support a drilling platform

X: X) To verify that the oil is accessible

Y: Y) To verify that a formation has enough hydrocarbons to make it worth developing

Z: Z) To verify that the cost of extricating the oil will not be too high

Answer: Y) Y) To verify that a formation has enough hydrocarbons to make it worth developing

TOSS-UP math phrase

A bicyclist rode 25,000 meters in 30 minutes. How many kilometers per hour is this?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 50

BONUS math phrase

What is the product of the first three even negative integers?

Acceptable Answers:

  • –48

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT a mineral? W) Quartz X) Marble Y) Feldspar Z) Calcite

W: W) Quartz

X: X) Marble

Y: Y) Feldspar

Z: Z) Calcite

Answer: X) X) Marble

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a type of metamorphic rock that is created from sandstone? W) Andesite X) Schist Y) Gneiss Z) Quartzite

W: W) Andesite

X: X) Schist

Y: Y) Gneiss

Z: Z) Quartzite

Answer: Z) Z) Quartzite

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

When you stretch a rubber band and hold it, what type of energy results? W) Kinetic X) Stationary Y) Torque Z) Potential

W: W) Kinetic

X: X) Stationary

Y: Y) Torque

Z: Z) Potential

Answer: Z) Z) Potential

BONUS phys phrase

Name two forms of potential energy.

Acceptable Answers:

  • CHEMICAL; MECHANICAL; NUCLEAR; GRAVITATIONAL; ELECTRICAL
  • any two of the above

TOSS-UP general phrase

What is the name for a narrow, cylindrical container that is scaled and used in a laboratory to measure exact amounts of a liquid, which is then poured out of the top?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GRADUATED CYLINDER

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following is true about the use of boiling chips in an experiment? W) The addition of boiling chips increases the safety of the boiling process X) The addition of boiling chips slows down the boiling process Y) Boiling chips provide a surface area upon which chemical reactions can occur Z) Larger boiling chips are more effective than smaller boiling chips

W: W) The addition of boiling chips increases the safety of the boiling process

X: X) The addition of boiling chips slows down the boiling process

Y: Y) Boiling chips provide a surface area upon which chemical reactions can occur

Z: Z) Larger boiling chips are more effective than smaller boiling chips

Answer: W) W) The addition of boiling chips increases the safety of the boiling process

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What kind of vertebrates have hair or fur and feed their young with milk?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MAMMALS

BONUS bio multiselect

By name or number, indicate which one or ones of the following biomes that animals with thick fur and large amounts of fat storage would most likely live in: 1) Coniferous forest; 2) Savannah; 3) Rainforest; 4) Tundra; 5) Temperate forest.

Choices:

  • Coniferous forest
  • Savannah
  • Rainforest
  • Tundra
  • Temperate forest

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 4

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is an inevitable consequence of the global climate change we are facing today? W) Extinction of humans X) Rise in sea level Y) World war Z) Closing down of Arctic waterways

W: W) Extinction of humans

X: X) Rise in sea level

Y: Y) World war

Z: Z) Closing down of Arctic waterways

Answer: X) X) Rise in sea level

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which part of Earth’s atmosphere is farthest from Earth’s surface? W) Stratosphere X) Exosphere Y) Thermosphere Z) Troposphere

W: W) Stratosphere

X: X) Exosphere

Y: Y) Thermosphere

Z: Z) Troposphere

Answer: X) X) Exosphere

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following animals does NOT live in or around Antarctica? W) Seal X) Polar bear Y) Penguin Z) Nematode

W: W) Seal

X: X) Polar bear

Y: Y) Penguin

Z: Z) Nematode

Answer: X) X) Polar bear

BONUS general phrase

What is the name given to ground that is continuously frozen for at least two years?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PERMAFROST