HS Sample Set 6, Round 1 from NSB
Expressing your answer in simplest form, if \(y = x^6\ln(x)\), what is the derivative of \(y\) with respect to \(x\)?
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A national achievement test is administered. The test has a mean score of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. If Vince’s z-score is 1.20, what is his score on the test?
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The amino acid sequence of a protein represents the translation of which of the following? W) The template DNA strand X) The nontemplate DNA strand Y) The tRNA nucleotide sequence Z) The reverse-complement of the mRNA strand
W: W) The template DNA strand
X: X) The nontemplate DNA strand
Y: Y) The tRNA nucleotide sequence
Z: Z) The reverse-complement of the mRNA strand
Answer: X) X) The nontemplate DNA strand
Which of the following insect orders is characterized by the beak or stylet arising from the posterior part of the head and extending along the insect’s sternum? W) Hymenoptera X) Homoptera Y) Coleoptera Z) Hemiptera
W: W) Hymenoptera
X: X) Homoptera
Y: Y) Coleoptera
Z: Z) Hemiptera
Answer: X) X) Homoptera
Which of the following principles of fluid dynamics does an airplane use to create an upward force? W) Archimedes’ X) Pascal’s Y) Venturi’s Z) Bernoulli’s
W: W) Archimedes’
X: X) Pascal’s
Y: Y) Venturi’s
Z: Z) Bernoulli’s
Answer: Z) Z) Bernoulli’s
If magnetic monopoles exist, which of the following Maxwell’s equations would be changed? W) Gauss’s law for magnetism only X) Gauss’s law for magnetism and Ampère’s law Y) Gauss’s law for magnetism and Faraday’s law Z) Gauss’s law for magnetism, Ampère’s law, and Faraday’s law
W: W) Gauss’s law for magnetism only
X: X) Gauss’s law for magnetism and Ampère’s law
Y: Y) Gauss’s law for magnetism and Faraday’s law
Z: Z) Gauss’s law for magnetism, Ampère’s law, and Faraday’s law
Answer: Y) Y) Gauss’s law for magnetism and Faraday’s law
Which of the following is the rate at which atmospheric gases and particles are moved across a surface? W) Vertical dispersion X) Turbulence Y) Flux Z) Stratospheric transport
W: W) Vertical dispersion
X: X) Turbulence
Y: Y) Flux
Z: Z) Stratospheric transport
Answer: Y) Y) Flux
Which of the following is true of sandstone formed from a long-term paleodesert? W) It would exhibit clearly graded bedding X) It would have preserved ripples but not dunes Y) It would appear black due to the dark iron-rich minerals present Z) It would contain well rounded grains and have high quartz content
W: W) It would exhibit clearly graded bedding
X: X) It would have preserved ripples but not dunes
Y: Y) It would appear black due to the dark iron-rich minerals present
Z: Z) It would contain well rounded grains and have high quartz content
Answer: Z) Z) It would contain well rounded grains and have high quartz content
Which of the following bonds is the longest in length? W) Fluorine–fluorine X) Chlorine–chlorine Y) Bromine–bromine Z) Iodine–iodine
W: W) Fluorine–fluorine
X: X) Chlorine–chlorine
Y: Y) Bromine–bromine
Z: Z) Iodine–iodine
Answer: Z) Z) Iodine–iodine
Ozonolysis cleaves which of the following? W) Carbon–carbon double bonds in alkenes X) Carbon–carbon bonds in alkanes Y) Oxygen–oxygen bonds Z) Bonds between carbon and hydrogen
W: W) Carbon–carbon double bonds in alkenes
X: X) Carbon–carbon bonds in alkanes
Y: Y) Oxygen–oxygen bonds
Z: Z) Bonds between carbon and hydrogen
Answer: W) W) Carbon–carbon double bonds in alkenes
Which of the following best represents the conversion of the rectangular coordinates (3, 4) into polar coordinates? W) (5, 37°) X) (37°, 5) Y) (5, 53°) Z) (53°, 5)
W: W) (5, 37°)
X: X) (37°, 5)
Y: Y) (5, 53°)
Z: Z) (53°, 5)
Answer: Y) Y) (5, 53°)
Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int_{\sqrt{2}}^{3\sqrt{2}} (3x^2 + 6)\,dx\) in simplest radical form.
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What modified base in the anticodon’s wobble position can base-pair with uracil, cytosine, or adenine in the third position of an mRNA codon?
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Kearns-Sayre Syndrome is caused by a mutation in mitochondrial DNA. Both males and females can have the disease, but it can only be transmitted by the mother, never the father. Why? W) The gene is on the X chromosome, and females are XX X) The sperm that fertilizes the egg contributes only its chromosomes and none of its mitochondria Y) The mutant protein is only active in the egg, not the sperm Z) The disease is sex-limited
W: W) The gene is on the X chromosome, and females are XX
X: X) The sperm that fertilizes the egg contributes only its chromosomes and none of its mitochondria
Y: Y) The mutant protein is only active in the egg, not the sperm
Z: Z) The disease is sex-limited
Answer: X) X) The sperm that fertilizes the egg contributes only its chromosomes and none of its mitochondria
Which of the following effects does lowering the temperature have on the decay rate of a sample of radioactive material? W) The decay will speed up X) The decay will slow down Y) There is no change Z) There is an inverse relationship between temperature and fission
W: W) The decay will speed up
X: X) The decay will slow down
Y: Y) There is no change
Z: Z) There is an inverse relationship between temperature and fission
Answer: Y) Y) There is no change
FutureGen 2.0 power plants will reduce carbon dioxide production by burning coal in which of the following ways? W) With a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide instead of air to produce concentrated carbon dioxide X) With an enhanced concentration of oxygen instead of air to produce less carbon dioxide per ton of coal burned Y) In a catalytic chamber that scrubs the carbon dioxide out of the emissions Z) Using carbon dioxide-reduced coal in an 80% nitrogen and 18% oxygen mixture
W: W) With a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide instead of air to produce concentrated carbon dioxide
X: X) With an enhanced concentration of oxygen instead of air to produce less carbon dioxide per ton of coal burned
Y: Y) In a catalytic chamber that scrubs the carbon dioxide out of the emissions
Z: Z) Using carbon dioxide-reduced coal in an 80% nitrogen and 18% oxygen mixture
Answer: W) W) With a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide instead of air to produce concentrated carbon dioxide
Two identical coherent electromagnetic waves, each with intensity 10 W/m², are superimposed with a phase difference of 60°. What is the resulting intensity in W/m²?
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An ideal gas is initially at 3 atm and 2 L. It is compressed isothermally to 1.5 L. What is the final pressure in atm?
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The observation that the mean luminosity of more distant stars tends to be higher than the mean luminosity of nearby stars in a flux-limited sample is an example of which kind of bias? W) Eddington X) Selection Y) Confirmation Z) Hindsight
W: W) Eddington
X: X) Selection
Y: Y) Confirmation
Z: Z) Hindsight
Answer: X) X) Selection
Which of the following features is NOT associated with subduction zone geology? W) San Joaquin Valley, California X) Accreted terrains of coastal California Y) North Carolina barrier islands Z) Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington
W: W) San Joaquin Valley, California
X: X) Accreted terrains of coastal California
Y: Y) North Carolina barrier islands
Z: Z) Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington
Answer: Y) Y) North Carolina barrier islands
Which of the following is true for an adiabatic process? W) Temperature remains constant X) Pressure remains constant Y) Net heat transfer to the surroundings is zero Z) Work done on the surroundings is zero
W: W) Temperature remains constant
X: X) Pressure remains constant
Y: Y) Net heat transfer to the surroundings is zero
Z: Z) Work done on the surroundings is zero
Answer: Y) Y) Net heat transfer to the surroundings is zero
A reaction between two solutions A and B has rate constant \(k=1\). Doubling [A] (holding [B] constant) doubles the rate; doubling [B] (holding [A] constant) quadruples the rate. What is the overall reaction order?
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In meiosis, new genetic combinations first arise during which stage? W) Anaphase I X) Anaphase II Y) Prophase I Z) Prophase II
W: W) Anaphase I
X: X) Anaphase II
Y: Y) Prophase I
Z: Z) Prophase II
Answer: Y) Y) Prophase I
What is the term for an inanimate object that can transmit infectious disease from one individual to another?
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Which of the following classes of stars does NOT have radiative zones? W) A X) G Y) M Z) O
W: W) A
X: X) G
Y: Y) M
Z: Z) O
Answer: Y) Y) M
Under which circumstance does ocean depth affect wave motion? W) When ocean depth falls below half the wavelength of a wave X) When the ocean wave has a period exceeding 20 seconds Y) When the ocean waves are impacted by tides Z) When the ocean floor has high relief, regardless of depth
W: W) When ocean depth falls below half the wavelength of a wave
X: X) When the ocean wave has a period exceeding 20 seconds
Y: Y) When the ocean waves are impacted by tides
Z: Z) When the ocean floor has high relief, regardless of depth
Answer: W) W) When ocean depth falls below half the wavelength of a wave
What is the radius of the circle with equation \(x^2 + 6x + y^2 - 8y - 11 = 0\)?
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Providing your answer as an improper fraction in lowest terms, solve for \(x\) in \(9^{2x} = 27^{3x-4}\).
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If a single nucleotide is inserted into the middle of a protein-coding sequence, what is the likely outcome? W) A frameshift mutation that leads to multiple missense and/or nonsense mutations X) A single codon will have a missense mutation Y) One codon will have a missense or nonsense mutation, and another nucleotide will be deleted Z) A frameshift mutation that is silent
W: W) A frameshift mutation that leads to multiple missense and/or nonsense mutations
X: X) A single codon will have a missense mutation
Y: Y) One codon will have a missense or nonsense mutation, and another nucleotide will be deleted
Z: Z) A frameshift mutation that is silent
Answer: W) W) A frameshift mutation that leads to multiple missense and/or nonsense mutations
Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding short-day plants? W) Flowering occurs when night length is less than critical length X) Continuity of darkness is crucial; flowering will not occur if darkness is interrupted by a momentary light flash Y) Short-day plants are synonymous with long-night plants Z) Photoperiod can be detected via phytochromes
W: W) Flowering occurs when night length is less than critical length
X: X) Continuity of darkness is crucial; flowering will not occur if darkness is interrupted by a momentary light flash
Y: Y) Short-day plants are synonymous with long-night plants
Z: Z) Photoperiod can be detected via phytochromes
Answer: W) W) Flowering occurs when night length is less than critical length
If you heat a container of gas to twice its prior absolute temperature without changing the environment, you have done which of the following? W) Increased the system’s enthalpy and decreased its entropy X) Increased the system’s enthalpy and entropy Y) Decreased the system’s enthalpy and entropy Z) Decreased the system’s enthalpy and increased its entropy
W: W) Increased the system’s enthalpy and decreased its entropy
X: X) Increased the system’s enthalpy and entropy
Y: Y) Decreased the system’s enthalpy and entropy
Z: Z) Decreased the system’s enthalpy and increased its entropy
Answer: X) X) Increased the system’s enthalpy and entropy
What is the name of the technique used to enrich gaseous U-235 after it has been combined with fluorine?
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When an object with volume 10 m³ is completely submerged in water (\(\rho=1000\) kg/m³, \(g=9.8\) m/s²), what is the buoyant force in newtons?
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In the elastic region of a stress-strain curve, the Young’s modulus of a material is: W) The slope of the stress-strain curve X) The integral of the curve in the elastic region Y) The y-intercept of the stress-strain curve Z) The second derivative of the curve just after the elastic–plastic transition
W: W) The slope of the stress-strain curve
X: X) The integral of the curve in the elastic region
Y: Y) The y-intercept of the stress-strain curve
Z: Z) The second derivative of the curve just after the elastic–plastic transition
Answer: W) W) The slope of the stress-strain curve
What is the name for the gravitational equilibrium points in the orbital plane of two bodies?
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A galaxy shows a strong bar and very loosely wound spiral arms. Which of the following would most likely be its class? W) S0 X) SBa Y) SBc Z) Sb
W: W) S0
X: X) SBa
Y: Y) SBc
Z: Z) Sb
Answer: Y) Y) SBc
For a flame test, a high-molar solution of which chemical is best to clean your nichrome wire? W) Sodium hydroxide X) Nitrous acid Y) Hydrochloric acid Z) Lithium hydroxide
W: W) Sodium hydroxide
X: X) Nitrous acid
Y: Y) Hydrochloric acid
Z: Z) Lithium hydroxide
Answer: Y) Y) Hydrochloric acid
To heat 0.5 kg of water from 20 °C to 80 °C, how much energy is needed (in kJ)?
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Which of the following values for \(a\) and \(b\) provides a counterexample to the statement “If 4 divides \(a+b\), then 4 divides \(a\) or 4 divides \(b\)”? W) \(a=5\) and \(b=7\) X) \(a=5\) and \(b=6\) Y) \(a=4\) and \(b=8\) Z) \(a=4\) and \(b=6\)
W: W) \(a=5\) and \(b=7\)
X: X) \(a=5\) and \(b=6\)
Y: Y) \(a=4\) and \(b=8\)
Z: Z) \(a=4\) and \(b=6\)
Answer: W) W) \(a=5\) and \(b=7\)
Providing your answer as an improper fraction in lowest terms, what is the area under the curve bounded by the x-axis, \(x=4\), and \(y=\sqrt{x}\)?
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Name the circulatory adaptation in the legs of ducks and geese that allows them to swim in near-freezing water without becoming hypothermic.
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Which of the following is NOT true regarding fast muscle fibers? W) They are found in higher relative abundance in world-class sprinters versus marathoners X) They fatigue most rapidly Y) They have the highest mitochondrial density Z) The primary pathway for ATP production is fermentation
W: W) They are found in higher relative abundance in world-class sprinters versus marathoners
X: X) They fatigue most rapidly
Y: Y) They have the highest mitochondrial density
Z: Z) The primary pathway for ATP production is fermentation
Answer: Y) Y) They have the highest mitochondrial density
Nanticoke Generating Station in Ontario will convert some generators to use which fuel instead of coal? W) Natural gas X) Uranium-238 Y) Petroleum Z) Ethanol
W: W) Natural gas
X: X) Uranium-238
Y: Y) Petroleum
Z: Z) Ethanol
Answer: W) W) Natural gas
Of the following metals, which one is NOT most commonly used as a primary coolant in liquid-metal fast reactors? W) Lithium X) Mercury Y) Lead Z) Sodium
W: W) Lithium
X: X) Mercury
Y: Y) Lead
Z: Z) Sodium
Answer: W) W) Lithium
What type of antineutrino is produced in beta decay?
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There is an electrostatic force of attraction between any two of three metal spheres P, Q, and R. Which assignment of charge is possible? W) P: positive, Q: negative, R: positive X) P: positive, Q: negative, R: neutral Y) P: positive, Q: positive, R: positive Z) P: neutral, Q: positive, R: neutral
W: W) P: positive, Q: negative, R: positive
X: X) P: positive, Q: negative, R: neutral
Y: Y) P: positive, Q: positive, R: positive
Z: Z) P: neutral, Q: positive, R: neutral
Answer: X) X) P: positive, Q: negative, R: neutral
Consider Hurricane Katrina’s track. Alabama’s Dauphin Island suffered the most extreme damage in which quadrant of the storm? W) Northeast X) Northwest Y) Southwest Z) Southeast
W: W) Northeast
X: X) Northwest
Y: Y) Southwest
Z: Z) Southeast
Answer: W) W) Northeast
When the lunar surface is bombarded with solar wind, which resource may be exploited from the Moon’s surface? W) Helium for nuclear fusion X) Iron for steel Y) Sulfur for acids Z) Silicon for computer technologies
W: W) Helium for nuclear fusion
X: X) Iron for steel
Y: Y) Sulfur for acids
Z: Z) Silicon for computer technologies
Answer: W) W) Helium for nuclear fusion
For the molecular orbital diagram of H₂, in which orbital are the two electrons located? W) One electron in each hydrogen’s 1s atomic orbital X) Both electrons in the σ 1s orbital Y) Both electrons in the σ* 1s orbital Z) Both electrons in the π 1s orbital
W: W) One electron in each hydrogen’s 1s atomic orbital
X: X) Both electrons in the σ 1s orbital
Y: Y) Both electrons in the σ* 1s orbital
Z: Z) Both electrons in the π 1s orbital
Answer: X) X) Both electrons in the σ 1s orbital
Providing your answer to one significant figure, determine the pH of a 5.0 M solution of acetic acid (Ka = 2×10⁻⁵).
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