MS Sample Set 12, Round 3 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Four points are all equidistant from a fifth point. Which of the following types of figures must contain the four points? W) Circle X) Sphere Y) Square Z) Rectangle

W: W) Circle

X: X) Sphere

Y: Y) Square

Z: Z) Rectangle

Answer: X) X) Sphere

BONUS math phrase

If two coplanar concentric circles have radii of 5 and 11, respectively, what is the area of the region between them?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 96π

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

In the tri-nomen Canis lupis familiaris, Canis refers to what taxonomic rank? W) Family X) Genus Y) Species Z) Subspecies

W: W) Family

X: X) Genus

Y: Y) Species

Z: Z) Subspecies

Answer: X) X) Genus

BONUS bio phrase

The two strands of DNA are held together by hydrogen bonds between what components of the DNA?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BASES
  • NITROGENOUS BASES

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What subatomic particles can be found in a cloud around the nucleus?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ELECTRONS

BONUS phys phrase

The alloy brass is composed of copper and what other metal?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ZINC

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Argonne National Lab scientists are studying a class of mixtures in which one substance is uniformly distributed, but not dissolved, in another substance. What is the name for this general class of mixtures?

Acceptable Answers:

  • COLLOID

BONUS energy phrase

DOE scientists have been studying vanadium dioxide, a material that can conduct electricity without conducting heat. This material is also well-known for acting as a metallic conductor ONLY above 67 °C. Below that temperature, it behaves as what type of electric material?

Acceptable Answers:

  • INSULATOR

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a mineral? W) Gabbro X) Muscovite Y) Breccia Z) Andesite

W: W) Gabbro

X: X) Muscovite

Y: Y) Breccia

Z: Z) Andesite

Answer: X) X) Muscovite

BONUS ess order

Place the following three minerals in order of decreasing hardness: 1) Quartz; 2) Corundum; 3) Apatite.

Choices:

  • Quartz
  • Corundum
  • Apatite

Correct Order:

  • 2
  • 1
  • 3

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What effect occurs when the observer of a sound wave is moving relative to the source of the sound?

Acceptable Answers:

  • DOPPLER EFFECT
  • DOPPLER SHIFT

BONUS phys phrase

Protons and neutrons are made up of still smaller particles, called what?

Acceptable Answers:

  • QUARKS

TOSS-UP energy phrase

DOE researchers are studying how global temperature increases affect the upper altitude limit of Engelmann spruce. What is the term for the upper altitude limit at which trees can grow?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TREE LINE

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Researchers at SLAC are developing zeolite catalysts for methanol production. Which of the following statements best explains why zeolites are such effective catalysts? W) They are very electron-poor X) They are made from nonmetals Y) They have a lot of pores Z) They are very dense

W: W) They are very electron-poor

X: X) They are made from nonmetals

Y: Y) They have a lot of pores

Z: Z) They are very dense

Answer: Y) Y) They have a lot of pores

TOSS-UP bio phrase

A disaccharide, such as lactose, is composed of how many simple sugar subunits?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

BONUS bio phrase

What chambers of the human heart are responsible for pumping blood out of the heart and into the rest of the body?

Acceptable Answers:

  • VENTRICLES
  • LEFT AND RIGHT VENTRICLES

TOSS-UP ess phrase

SN 1987A was what type of cosmic event?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SUPERNOVA

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • TYPE-ONE SUPERNOVA

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three planets that have an axial tilt greater than that of Earth: 1) Mercury; 2) Mars; 3) Jupiter.

Choices:

  • Mercury
  • Mars
  • Jupiter

Correct Answers:

  • 2

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What type of bond is formed between sodium and chlorine in table salt?

Acceptable Answers:

  • IONIC

BONUS phys order

Rank the following three substances in increasing order of pH: 1) Milk; 2) Vinegar; 3) Ammonia.

Choices:

  • Milk
  • Vinegar
  • Ammonia

Correct Order:

  • 2
  • 1
  • 3

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the leading coefficient of the polynomial $$x^5 - 2x^3 - 4x + 6$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1

BONUS math phrase

A squirrel runs 11 meters north, 7 meters west, and then 4 meters north. To the nearest whole meter, how far is the squirrel from its original starting point?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 17

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Some inhibitors, rather than competing with the substrate at the active site, bind to a distal site on the enzyme to inhibit activity. What type of inhibition is this? W) Competitive X) Co-factor Y) Feedback Z) Allosteric

W: W) Competitive

X: X) Co-factor

Y: Y) Feedback

Z: Z) Allosteric

Answer: Z) Z) Allosteric

BONUS bio phrase

What phase of mitosis is marked by the sister chromatids traveling in opposite directions away from the metaphase plate?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ANAPHASE

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for the substance that is dissolved when forming a solution?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SOLUTE

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are true of the phases of matter: 1) In solids, atoms vibrate in place; 2) Boiling and evaporation are both types of vaporization; 3) A two-liter glass of ice water has the same thermal energy as a one-liter glass of ice water.

Choices:

  • In solids, atoms vibrate in place
  • Boiling and evaporation are both types of vaporization
  • A two-liter glass of ice water has the same thermal energy as a one-liter glass of ice water

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP math phrase

Rounded to the nearest whole number, what is $$\pi^2$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 10

BONUS math phrase

If two exterior angles of a triangle are 135 degrees and 120 degrees, what is the degree measure of the interior angle not adjacent to either of the given exterior angles?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 75

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Subduction zones are associated with what type of plate boundary?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CONVERGENT

BONUS ess phrase

What are the two most abundant elements in Earth's crust?

Acceptable Answers:

  • OXYGEN AND SILICON

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the square of the binomial $$x - 8$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • $$x^2 - 16x + 64$$

BONUS math phrase

The total volume of 3 identical tanks that are circular cylinders is $$540\pi$$. If the height of one tank is 5, what is its radius?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

In what part of the digestive tract are nutrients primarily absorbed into the bloodstream? W) Stomach X) Small intestine Y) Large intestine Z) Pancreas

W: W) Stomach

X: X) Small intestine

Y: Y) Large intestine

Z: Z) Pancreas

Answer: X) X) Small intestine

BONUS bio multiple_choice

What is the largest terrestrial biome, characterized by large populations of coniferous trees? W) Chaparral X) Tundra Y) Taiga Z) Tropical rainforest

W: W) Chaparral

X: X) Tundra

Y: Y) Taiga

Z: Z) Tropical rainforest

Answer: Y) Y) Taiga

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Reverse osmosis, capacitive deionization, and forward osmosis are all examples of what process that makes seawater drinkable?

Acceptable Answers:

  • DESALINATION

BONUS energy phrase

DOE researchers have used advanced imaging methods to visualize how the structural fibers in the cytosol of a cell connect the nucleus to the extracellular matrix. What is the general term for these fibers that give structure to the inside of the cell?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CYTOSKELETON

TOSS-UP math phrase

An item is originally priced at 20 dollars. Discounts are based on the current marked price. In three consecutive sales, the price is reduced by 10%, then 10%, and then 50%. In dollars and cents, what is the final price of the item?

Acceptable Answers:

  • $8.10

BONUS math phrase

What is the area of a right triangle with hypotenuse of length 9 and one leg of length 4?

Acceptable Answers:

  • $$2\sqrt{65}$$

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Relative to the Sun, in which of the following directions is Sirius located on a Hertzsprung–Russell diagram? W) Up and left X) Up and right Y) Down and left Z) Down and right

W: W) Up and left

X: X) Up and right

Y: Y) Down and left

Z: Z) Down and right

Answer: W) W) Up and left

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following best describes the shape of the Milky Way galaxy? W) Elliptical X) Barred spiral Y) Spiral Z) Irregular

W: W) Elliptical

X: X) Barred spiral

Y: Y) Spiral

Z: Z) Irregular

Answer: X) X) Barred spiral

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Amino acids all contain an amine group and what other group? W) Hydroxyl X) Ketone Y) Aldehyde Z) Carboxyl

W: W) Hydroxyl

X: X) Ketone

Y: Y) Aldehyde

Z: Z) Carboxyl

Answer: Z) Z) Carboxyl

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three compounds that consist of only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen: 1) Glucose; 2) Ethanol; 3) Acetic acid.

Choices:

  • Glucose
  • Ethanol
  • Acetic acid

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What nerve in the human body is responsible for carrying signals from retinal photoreceptors to the brain?

Acceptable Answers:

  • OPTIC NERVE

BONUS bio order

Pyelonephritis, or inflammation of the kidney, can occur from an ascending urinary tract infection. Place the following three locations in chronological order of the route the bacteria takes: 1) Kidney; 2) Bladder; 3) Urethra.

Choices:

  • Kidney
  • Bladder
  • Urethra

Correct Order:

  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following would NOT contribute to sea level rise? W) Land subsidence X) Thermal expansion of seawater Y) Melting of sea ice Z) Melting of continental glaciers

W: W) Land subsidence

X: X) Thermal expansion of seawater

Y: Y) Melting of sea ice

Z: Z) Melting of continental glaciers

Answer: Y) Y) Melting of sea ice

BONUS ess order

Order the three layers of the atmosphere in order of decreasing altitude: 1) Stratosphere; 2) Mesosphere; 3) Thermosphere.

Choices:

  • Stratosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Thermosphere

Correct Order:

  • 3
  • 2
  • 1