MS Sample Set 8, Round 16 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP general phrase

In an RNA molecule, a codon is AUG. What is the 5’ to 3’ sequence of the anticodon for the tRNA?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CAU

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following could be viewed with an electron microscope but not with a light microscope? W) Ribosomes X) Plant cells Y) Animal cells Z) Mitochondria

W: W) Ribosomes

X: X) Plant cells

Y: Y) Animal cells

Z: Z) Mitochondria

Answer: W) W) Ribosomes

TOSS-UP math phrase

In base-3, what is the product of 100 and 110?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 11000

BONUS math phrase

In a right triangle with legs of length 8 and 15, expressing your answer in simplest form, what is the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 120/17
  • 7 1/17

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

A chisel would represent what type of simple machine? W) Pulley X) Wedge Y) Lever Z) Screw

W: W) Pulley

X: X) Wedge

Y: Y) Lever

Z: Z) Screw

Answer: X) X) Wedge

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following best demonstrates the mass continuity of fluid flow? W) Water flows fastest through the narrowest piece of a long pipe X) Water flows slower after having moved further from Earth’s center Y) Pressure is lower in water moving at high speed Z) A small force can be used on a small tube to lift a large object sitting on a large tube

W: W) Water flows fastest through the narrowest piece of a long pipe

X: X) Water flows slower after having moved further from Earth’s center

Y: Y) Pressure is lower in water moving at high speed

Z: Z) A small force can be used on a small tube to lift a large object sitting on a large tube

Answer: W) W) Water flows fastest through the narrowest piece of a long pipe

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following characteristics will a lake that has undergone eutrophication exhibit? W) The lake will be clear and cold X) The lake will be high in nutrients Y) The lake will support large numbers of fish Z) The lake will have low primary productivity

W: W) The lake will be clear and cold

X: X) The lake will be high in nutrients

Y: Y) The lake will support large numbers of fish

Z: Z) The lake will have low primary productivity

Answer: X) X) The lake will be high in nutrients

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following animal products has NOT been correctly paired with the animal that produces it? W) Ambergris, sperm whale X) Lanolin, goat Y) Carticin, sharks Z) Leaf lard, pig

W: W) Ambergris, sperm whale

X: X) Lanolin, goat

Y: Y) Carticin, sharks

Z: Z) Leaf lard, pig

Answer: X) X) Lanolin, goat

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

What type of galaxy usually occupies the central regions of a galaxy cluster? W) Peculiar X) Elliptical Y) Lenticular Z) Spiral

W: W) Peculiar

X: X) Elliptical

Y: Y) Lenticular

Z: Z) Spiral

Answer: X) X) Elliptical

BONUS ess phrase

Which atmospheric element is converted into a bioavailable form through the Haber-Bosch process?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Nitrogen

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following distinguishes different isotopes of an element? W) Chemical reactivity X) Number of electrons Y) Number of protons Z) Their mass

W: W) Chemical reactivity

X: X) Number of electrons

Y: Y) Number of protons

Z: Z) Their mass

Answer: Z) Z) Their mass

BONUS general order

List the following four geologic time scale divisions in order from largest to smallest: 1) periods; 2) eras; 3) epochs; 4) eons.

Choices:

  • Periods
  • Eras
  • Epochs
  • Eons

Correct Order:

  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  • 3

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following theorems does NOT allow one to conclude directly that two triangles are congruent? W) Side-side-angle X) Side-angle-side Y) Hypotenuse-leg Z) Side-side-side

W: W) Side-side-angle

X: X) Side-angle-side

Y: Y) Hypotenuse-leg

Z: Z) Side-side-side

Answer: W) W) Side-side-angle

BONUS math phrase

The diameter of a circle is increased by 50%. By what percentage is the area of the circle increased?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 125%
  • 125

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

What fuel is used in a nuclear reactor? W) Polonium-275 X) Radium-226 Y) Uranium-235 Z) Curium-258

W: W) Polonium-275

X: X) Radium-226

Y: Y) Uranium-235

Z: Z) Curium-258

Answer: Y) Y) Uranium-235

BONUS energy multiple_choice

How can CO₂ captured via carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) also be used to increase energy output in the U.S.? W) Increased output at oil fields X) Increased output at geothermal sources Y) Increased output at hydroelectric dams Z) Increased output at wind farms

W: W) Increased output at oil fields

X: X) Increased output at geothermal sources

Y: Y) Increased output at hydroelectric dams

Z: Z) Increased output at wind farms

Answer: W) W) Increased output at oil fields

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following metals is the most reactive with water? W) Ca X) Fe Y) K Z) Mg

W: W) Ca

X: X) Fe

Y: Y) K

Z: Z) Mg

Answer: Y) Y) K

BONUS phys phrase

Providing your answer to the nearest hundred, what is the half-life in years of carbon-14?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5,700

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following statements does NOT support the cell theory? W) All organisms are composed of cells X) Cells are alive Y) Cells arise de novo (from nothing) Z) Cells are the fundamental units of living organisms

W: W) All organisms are composed of cells

X: X) Cells are alive

Y: Y) Cells arise de novo (from nothing)

Z: Z) Cells are the fundamental units of living organisms

Answer: Y) Y) Cells arise de novo (from nothing)

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following are the result of the 5’ to 3’ directionality of DNA polymerase? W) Semi-conservative DNA replication X) Okazaki fragments Y) Thymine dimers Z) Degradation of the 3’ to 5’ strand of parental DNA

W: W) Semi-conservative DNA replication

X: X) Okazaki fragments

Y: Y) Thymine dimers

Z: Z) Degradation of the 3’ to 5’ strand of parental DNA

Answer: X) X) Okazaki fragments

TOSS-UP ess phrase

To the nearest Kelvin, what is the temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following would be affected the least by the Coriolis effect? W) Direction for a wind blowing from the north X) A hurricane Y) A tornado Z) A high pressure system

W: W) Direction for a wind blowing from the north

X: X) A hurricane

Y: Y) A tornado

Z: Z) A high pressure system

Answer: Y) Y) A tornado

TOSS-UP general phrase

What structure of the brain, referred to as “little brain,” is responsible for maintaining balance and posture as well as coordination of voluntary movements?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Cerebellum

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following organelles is found in motile cells of higher order animals, but NOT in flowering plant cells? W) Cytoplasm X) Cell wall Y) Centrioles Z) Centrosome

W: W) Cytoplasm

X: X) Cell wall

Y: Y) Centrioles

Z: Z) Centrosome

Answer: Y) Y) Centrioles

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

The secant of 70° is equivalent to which of the following expressions? W) 1/cos(70°) X) 1/sin(70°) Y) sin(70°)/cos(70°) Z) cos(70°)/sin(70°)

W: W) 1/cos(70°)

X: X) 1/sin(70°)

Y: Y) sin(70°)/cos(70°)

Z: Z) cos(70°)/sin(70°)

Answer: W) W) 1/cos(70°)

BONUS math multiple_choice

2^30 is nearest which of the following powers of 10? W) 10^8 X) 10^9 Y) 10^11 Z) 10^12

W: W) 10^8

X: X) 10^9

Y: Y) 10^11

Z: Z) 10^12

Answer: X) X) 10^9

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

The source of the tremendous energy and rapid rotations of stars detected at the center of the Milky Way is attributed to which of the following? W) Supernova explosions X) Dark matter Y) Neutron star Z) Supermassive black hole

W: W) Supernova explosions

X: X) Dark matter

Y: Y) Neutron star

Z: Z) Supermassive black hole

Answer: Z) Z) Supermassive black hole

BONUS phys phrase

One common way to express the distance from the Earth to the Sun is in light-minutes, about 8.5 light-minutes. If the Sun were to go out in an instant, how long, in seconds, would it take people on Earth to notice?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 510

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the first amino acid encoded by all eukaryotic mRNAs?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Methionine

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is the role of DNA ligase in DNA replication? W) Joining the 3’ end of the DNA that replaces the primer to the rest of the sequence X) Unwinding the parental DNA strand Y) Relieving strain caused by over-winding the DNA strand Z) Synthesis of an RNA primer

W: W) Joining the 3’ end of the DNA that replaces the primer to the rest of the sequence

X: X) Unwinding the parental DNA strand

Y: Y) Relieving strain caused by over-winding the DNA strand

Z: Z) Synthesis of an RNA primer

Answer: W) W) Joining the 3’ end of the DNA that replaces the primer to the rest of the sequence

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the term that refers to waves at high tide during a spring tide?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Tidal surges
  • Tidal surge

BONUS ess phrase

What is the term for the surface where the water pressure head is equal to the atmospheric pressure?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Water table

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

What will raising water temperature (under pressure) from 100 °C to 110 °C do to the cooking time of a potato? W) Decrease it by 10% X) Decrease it by 50% Y) Increase it by 50% Z) No change

W: W) Decrease it by 10%

X: X) Decrease it by 50%

Y: Y) Increase it by 50%

Z: Z) No change

Answer: X) X) Decrease it by 50%

BONUS energy multiple_choice

At what specific angle of incidence should the irradiance hit a solar panel in order to produce maximum power? W) 0 degrees X) 15 degrees Y) 45 degrees Z) 90 degrees

W: W) 0 degrees

X: X) 15 degrees

Y: Y) 45 degrees

Z: Z) 90 degrees

Answer: W) W) 0 degrees

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT a way in which bacteria can obtain foreign DNA? W) Transduction X) Conjugation Y) Transformation Z) Transcription

W: W) Transduction

X: X) Conjugation

Y: Y) Transformation

Z: Z) Transcription

Answer: Z) Z) Transcription

BONUS general phrase

What is the term for a volcano that has NOT erupted for tens of thousands of years and is not expected to erupt again?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Extinct

TOSS-UP math phrase

Given that a particular right triangle contains one 45° angle and one side of length 6, what are all possible lengths of one of the other two sides?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3√2; 6; 6√2

BONUS math phrase

On the domain 5 ≤ x ≤ 12, what is the maximum y-value of the parabola with equation $$y = 17 - (x + 7)^2$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • -127

TOSS-UP phys phrase

While on the side of the road, a student is approached and passed by an emergency vehicle with its siren blaring. While the vehicle is approaching the student, the pitch that the student hears is higher than when the vehicle is receding away after passing him. What is the name of the effect which is responsible for this difference in pitch?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Doppler effect

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following best explains why diamond is much harder than graphite even though both are made of arranged carbon atoms? W) Graphite is arranged in sheets, whereas diamond’s layers are intertwined in a crystalline structure, making it stronger X) Graphite is opaque and grey while diamond has a greater clarity and sheen to it Y) Diamond is arranged in sheets, whereas graphite’s layers are intertwined in a crystalline structure, making them weaker Z) The density of graphite is greater than that of diamond, meaning the carbon atoms are more likely to leave the structure

W: W) Graphite is arranged in sheets, whereas diamond’s layers are intertwined in a crystalline structure, making it stronger

X: X) Graphite is opaque and grey while diamond has a greater clarity and sheen to it

Y: Y) Diamond is arranged in sheets, whereas graphite’s layers are intertwined in a crystalline structure, making them weaker

Z: Z) The density of graphite is greater than that of diamond, meaning the carbon atoms are more likely to leave the structure

Answer: W) W) Graphite is arranged in sheets, whereas diamond’s layers are intertwined in a crystalline structure, making it stronger

TOSS-UP energy phrase

In ecology, GPP is the amount of light energy that is converted to chemical energy via photosynthesis per unit of time. In this case, for what is GPP an abbreviation?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Gross primary production

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • Gross primary productivity

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Which of the following is one of the main disadvantages of molten carbonate fuel cells, when compared to solid oxide fuel cells? W) Sensitivity to carbon dioxide X) Risk of corrosion at high temperatures Y) They require an external reformer to convert more energy-dense fuels to hydrogen Z) Sensitivity to fuel impurities

W: W) Sensitivity to carbon dioxide

X: X) Risk of corrosion at high temperatures

Y: Y) They require an external reformer to convert more energy-dense fuels to hydrogen

Z: Z) Sensitivity to fuel impurities

Answer: X) X) Risk of corrosion at high temperatures

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

The ocean’s distinct smell comes from dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which is released upon the death of what ocean organism? W) Worms X) Nudibranchs Y) Phytoplankton Z) Shrimp

W: W) Worms

X: X) Nudibranchs

Y: Y) Phytoplankton

Z: Z) Shrimp

Answer: Y) Y) Phytoplankton

BONUS bio phrase

Which organ in the human body is sometimes referred to as the “graveyard” for red blood cells?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Spleen

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the term used to describe the period when Jupiter is directly opposite the Sun as viewed from Earth?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Opposition

BONUS ess multiple_choice

The presence of oxygen in our atmosphere makes it which of the following? W) A low pressure gradient atmosphere X) An oxidizing atmosphere Y) A high pressure gradient atmosphere Z) A reducing atmosphere

W: W) A low pressure gradient atmosphere

X: X) An oxidizing atmosphere

Y: Y) A high pressure gradient atmosphere

Z: Z) A reducing atmosphere

Answer: X) X) An oxidizing atmosphere