MS Sample Set 6, Round 16 from NSB
Factor completely over the integers: $$x^3 - 27$$
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Three fair six‐sided dice are rolled. Providing your answer as a fraction in lowest terms, what is the probability they will sum to 4?
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Which of the following is considered a low latitude climate? W) Taiga X) Savannah Y) Deciduous forest Z) Chaparral
W: W) Taiga
X: X) Savannah
Y: Y) Deciduous forest
Z: Z) Chaparral
Answer: X) X) Savannah
What type of galaxy is the Milky Way?
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For a graph of a sinusoidal sound‐wave function, which of the following quantities can be on the x axis? W) Position X) Wavelength Y) Amplitude Z) Frequency
W: W) Position
X: X) Wavelength
Y: Y) Amplitude
Z: Z) Frequency
Answer: W) W) Position
Which of the following is closest to the potential energy in joules of a 50 pound boulder on top of a 100 foot cliff (use $g=9.8\text{ m/s}^2$)? W) 1,500 X) 1,700 Y) 6,800 Z) 11,000
W: W) 1,500
X: X) 1,700
Y: Y) 6,800
Z: Z) 11,000
Answer: Y) Y) 6,800
Which of the following is closest to the maximum efficiency of a DC/DC converter? W) 60% X) 70% Y) 80% Z) 90%
W: W) 60%
X: X) 70%
Y: Y) 80%
Z: Z) 90%
Answer: Z) Z) 90%
In October 2011, astrophysicists announced surprising findings from the Crab pulsar. Which of the following statements is NOT true? W) They used the VERITAS array to make the discovery X) They detected gamma‐ray emissions far beyond what was expected Y) They can explain their results based on curvature radiation Z) They hope to test the Lorentz invariance in the future
W: W) They used the VERITAS array to make the discovery
X: X) They detected gamma‐ray emissions far beyond what was expected
Y: Y) They can explain their results based on curvature radiation
Z: Z) They hope to test the Lorentz invariance in the future
Answer: Y) Y) They can explain their results based on curvature radiation
What is the final electron acceptor in the Krebs cycle before the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation?
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Identify the specific stage at which nondisjunction most likely occurred if one meiotic cell produces four gametes, two of which lack chromosome 3 and two of which have an extra copy of chromosome 3.
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DO NOT ACCEPT:
Providing your answer as a fraction in lowest terms, 32 square inches is equal to how many square feet?
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What are the vertex, axis of symmetry, and maximum value, respectively, of $$f(x) = -6x^2 + 12x - 4$$?
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Identify which of the following are characteristics of a monocot: 1) Single cotyledon 2) Flower parts in multiples of four or five 3) Parallel leaf veins 4) Pollen has a single pore
Choices:
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If fluorine undergoes free‐radical halogenation faster than bromine, how fast would chlorine be expected to undergo the reaction based on periodic trends? W) Faster than both fluorine and bromine X) Faster than fluorine but slower than bromine Y) Faster than bromine but slower than fluorine Z) Slower than both fluorine and bromine
W: W) Faster than both fluorine and bromine
X: X) Faster than fluorine but slower than bromine
Y: Y) Faster than bromine but slower than fluorine
Z: Z) Slower than both fluorine and bromine
Answer: Y) Y) Faster than bromine but slower than fluorine
During which month is the Earth farthest from the Sun?
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Sunspots occur when magnetic field lines at the Sun’s surface become twisted and reconnect. What process on the surface of the Sun causes this twisting?
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What is the name of the conjugate base of sulfuric acid?
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Calculate the volume in milliliters of solution needed to make 2 L of a 1 mM solution from a 0.1 M stock.
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In nuclear power plants, the heat released from nuclear fissions is used in which of the following? W) Steam power cycle X) Stirling cycle Y) Rankine engine Z) Uranium enclosure
W: W) Steam power cycle
X: X) Stirling cycle
Y: Y) Rankine engine
Z: Z) Uranium enclosure
Answer: W) W) Steam power cycle
Which of the following is the effect of a low‐pass filter on the output power of a circuit? W) The power is doubled X) The power is halved Y) The circuit resonates and the power is maximized Z) The circuit resonates diminishing the power to zero
W: W) The power is doubled
X: X) The power is halved
Y: Y) The circuit resonates and the power is maximized
Z: Z) The circuit resonates diminishing the power to zero
Answer: X) X) The power is halved
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of heterokonts? W) They are eukaryotic X) Most species prefer salt water Y) Many are algae Z) Many have two unequal flagella
W: W) They are eukaryotic
X: X) Most species prefer salt water
Y: Y) Many are algae
Z: Z) Many have two unequal flagella
Answer: X) X) Most species prefer salt water
During a car accident, a passenger’s corpus callosum was severed. Which brain structure connects the left and right hemispheres?
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If $\tan\theta = \tfrac{3}{4}$ for acute $\theta$ in a right triangle, what is $\csc\theta$ in lowest terms?
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Two coins are removed at random without replacement from a box containing 2 dimes, 3 nickels, and 1 token (value 0). What is the probability that one coin’s value is 5 ¢ more than the other’s?
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Which of the following is the most common type of galaxy in the universe? W) Irregular X) Elliptical Y) Spiral Z) Barred spiral
W: W) Irregular
X: X) Elliptical
Y: Y) Spiral
Z: Z) Barred spiral
Answer: X) X) Elliptical
Which of the following groups contains the most stars on a Hertzsprung–Russell diagram? W) White dwarfs X) Blue supergiants Y) Red dwarfs Z) Hypergiants
W: W) White dwarfs
X: X) Blue supergiants
Y: Y) Red dwarfs
Z: Z) Hypergiants
Answer: Y) Y) Red dwarfs
Which of the following vitamins is produced by bacteria in the human colon? W) A X) B Y) D Z) K
W: W) A
X: X) B
Y: Y) D
Z: Z) K
Answer: Z) Z) K
Beriberi, characterized by fatigue and nervous disorders, was caused by a deficiency of which dietary vitamin?
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Twenty grams each of O₂, He, H₂O vapor, and Xe are placed in a container at STP. Which gas has the largest partial pressure?
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In infrared spectroscopy, which peak would indicate impurities in a lab‐synthesized fatty acid? W) Amino group X) Carboxylic acid –OH stretch Y) Carbon–carbon double bond Z) sp²‐hybridized C–H bonds
W: W) Amino group
X: X) Carboxylic acid –OH stretch
Y: Y) Carbon–carbon double bond
Z: Z) sp²‐hybridized C–H bonds
Answer: W) W) Amino group
The Coriolis effect causes south‐bound currents in the Southern Hemisphere to do which of the following? W) Curve toward the east X) Curve toward the west Y) Move in a less circular pattern Z) Move downward
W: W) Curve toward the east
X: X) Curve toward the west
Y: Y) Move in a less circular pattern
Z: Z) Move downward
Answer: W) W) Curve toward the east
The Clean Water Act of 1972 focused on reducing which type of pollution? W) Thermal X) Acid rain Y) Sewage Z) Pesticide
W: W) Thermal
X: X) Acid rain
Y: Y) Sewage
Z: Z) Pesticide
Answer: Y) Y) Sewage
Which of the following is true about sound and light waves transmitted through air? W) Sound waves are longitudinal while light waves are transverse X) Sound waves are transverse while light waves are longitudinal Y) Both are compression waves Z) Both are shear waves
W: W) Sound waves are longitudinal while light waves are transverse
X: X) Sound waves are transverse while light waves are longitudinal
Y: Y) Both are compression waves
Z: Z) Both are shear waves
Answer: W) W) Sound waves are longitudinal while light waves are transverse
A ball travels a distance of $10\pi$ m around a circle of radius 40 m. What is its displacement? W) $\displaystyle \frac{40\sin(\pi/4)}{\sin(3\pi/8)}$ X) $40\sin\bigl(\tfrac{2}{3}\bigr)$ Y) $10\pi$ Z) $\displaystyle \frac{40\sin(\pi/8)}{\sin(7\pi/16)}$
W: W) $\displaystyle \frac{40\sin(\pi/4)}{\sin(3\pi/8)}$
X: X) $40\sin\bigl(\tfrac{2}{3}\bigr)$
Y: Y) $10\pi$
Z: Z) $\displaystyle \frac{40\sin(\pi/8)}{\sin(7\pi/16)}$
Answer: W) W) $\displaystyle \frac{40\sin(\pi/4)}{\sin(3\pi/8)}$
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using high‐voltage DC transmission for bulk power? W) It is more reliable than AC current X) It has lower energy losses than AC current Y) It can synchronize AC from renewable sources Z) It can increase grid power where new lines are hard to install
W: W) It is more reliable than AC current
X: X) It has lower energy losses than AC current
Y: Y) It can synchronize AC from renewable sources
Z: Z) It can increase grid power where new lines are hard to install
Answer: W) W) It is more reliable than AC current
What is the name of the metabolic pathway that generates glucose from non‐carbohydrate substrates such as lactate, glycerol, and glucogenic amino acids?
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In Drosophila, the white‐eye gene affects multiple traits. What term describes one gene affecting many characteristics?
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Which of the following does NOT correctly represent Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (where $p$ is the dominant allele frequency and $q$ the recessive)? W) $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$ X) $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = (p + q)^2$ Y) $2p + pq + 2q = 1$ Z) $p + q = 1$
W: W) $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$
X: X) $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = (p + q)^2$
Y: Y) $2p + pq + 2q = 1$
Z: Z) $p + q = 1$
Answer: Y) Y) $2p + pq + 2q = 1$
Given an ellipse with vertices $(10,0)$ and $(-10,0)$ and co‐vertices $(0,9)$ and $(0,-9)$, what is its standard‐form equation?
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What is the equation in standard form of the plane with $y$‐intercept 2 and XZ‐trace $2x + z = 8$?
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A study finds a moderate negative correlation between cigarettes smoked per day and lifespan. Which correlation coefficient best fits? W) 0.5 X) –0.1 Y) –0.5 Z) –0.95
W: W) 0.5
X: X) –0.1
Y: Y) –0.5
Z: Z) –0.95
Answer: Y) Y) –0.5
Name all atmospheric layers in which temperature decreases with altitude: 1) Exosphere 2) Thermosphere 3) Troposphere 4) Stratosphere 5) Mesosphere
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In hydrothermal‐vent communities, energy production at the base of the food web is based on which of the following? W) Blue‐green algae X) Photosynthetic bacteria Y) Chemosynthetic bacteria Z) Brown algae
W: W) Blue‐green algae
X: X) Photosynthetic bacteria
Y: Y) Chemosynthetic bacteria
Z: Z) Brown algae
Answer: Y) Y) Chemosynthetic bacteria
Which condition could result from overgrazing of livestock? W) Soil formation X) Desertification Y) Aggregate buildup Z) Chemical precipitation
W: W) Soil formation
X: X) Desertification
Y: Y) Aggregate buildup
Z: Z) Chemical precipitation
Answer: X) X) Desertification
If the pH of a weak‐acid solution equals its pKa, what is the ratio [acid]:[conjugate base]?
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Metals A and B at the same temperature are used in a circuit. A is a better heat conductor than B. Which is necessarily true? W) Current through A > current through B X) Voltage across A > voltage across B Y) A has higher resistivity than B Z) A has lower resistivity than B
W: W) Current through A > current through B
X: X) Voltage across A > voltage across B
Y: Y) A has higher resistivity than B
Z: Z) A has lower resistivity than B
Answer: Z) Z) A has lower resistivity than B
In photosynthesis, during which stage is oxygen released as a byproduct? W) Photosystem I X) Photosystem II Y) Calvin reaction Z) ATP synthase
W: W) Photosystem I
X: X) Photosystem II
Y: Y) Calvin reaction
Z: Z) ATP synthase
Answer: X) X) Photosystem II
On an island with half the birds having small beaks and half large, a prevalence of small seeds leads hundreds of years later to more small‐beaked birds. Which best explains this natural selection outcome? W) Small‐beaked birds were better fighters X) Large beaks shrunk due to smaller food Y) Small‐beaked birds were more successful foragers and reproduced more Z) Large‐beaked birds had more offspring
W: W) Small‐beaked birds were better fighters
X: X) Large beaks shrunk due to smaller food
Y: Y) Small‐beaked birds were more successful foragers and reproduced more
Z: Z) Large‐beaked birds had more offspring
Answer: Y) Y) Small‐beaked birds were more successful foragers and reproduced more
Name the soft tissue in humans primarily responsible for producing blood cells and platelets.
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How does PCR overcome the fact that DNA polymerases denature at high temperatures? W) Polymerase is added between each heating cycle X) Use DNA polymerase from heat‐resistant bacteria (e.g., from hot springs) Y) Use RNA polymerase and reverse‐transcribe to DNA Z) Most DNA polymerases are inherently heat‐resistant
W: W) Polymerase is added between each heating cycle
X: X) Use DNA polymerase from heat‐resistant bacteria (e.g., from hot springs)
Y: Y) Use RNA polymerase and reverse‐transcribe to DNA
Z: Z) Most DNA polymerases are inherently heat‐resistant
Answer: X) X) Use DNA polymerase from heat‐resistant bacteria (e.g., from hot springs)