MS Sample Set 3, Round 5 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

You are asked to measure the length of an object with a foot-ruler and you get the following three results: 2.99 inches, 3.00 inches, and 3.01 inches. If the object’s actual length is 3.28 inches, then the data is: W) precise but not accurate X) accurate but not precise Y) both accurate and precise Z) neither accurate nor precise

W: W) precise but not accurate

X: X) accurate but not precise

Y: Y) both accurate and precise

Z: Z) neither accurate nor precise

Answer: W) W) precise but not accurate

BONUS general phrase

Giving your answer in liters and rounded to the first decimal place, what volume of fluid results after adding 3,400 milliliters of solution A and 34 deciliters of solution B to 5.2 liters of water?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 12.0

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is a reptile: W) blue poison arrow frog X) sea lamprey Y) snapping turtle Z) salamander

W: W) blue poison arrow frog

X: X) sea lamprey

Y: Y) snapping turtle

Z: Z) salamander

Answer: Y) Y) snapping turtle

BONUS bio phrase

Which one of the following five organisms is LEAST related to the others: mites; spiders; scorpions; fleas; ticks?

Acceptable Answers:

  • fleas

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the mass, in grams, of 1 cubic centimeter of water at standard temperature and pressure?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following would most likely occur to a sample of water if it underwent an increase in atmospheric pressure from 1 atmosphere to 5 atmospheres: W) its mass would increase and its temperature would rise by about 5ºC X) its mass would increase and its volume would decrease by about 5% Y) its mass would decrease and its volume would decrease by about 25% Z) its mass would remain the same and its volume would remain the same

W: W) its mass would increase and its temperature would rise by about 5ºC

X: X) its mass would increase and its volume would decrease by about 5%

Y: Y) its mass would decrease and its volume would decrease by about 25%

Z: Z) its mass would remain the same and its volume would remain the same

Answer: Z) Z) its mass would remain the same and its volume would remain the same

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Eras on the Geological Time Scale are directly subdivided into what time units?

Acceptable Answers:

  • periods

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a period on the Geological Time Scale that is part of the Paleozoic Era: W) Devonian X) Cretaceous Y) Tertiary Z) Quaternary

W: W) Devonian

X: X) Cretaceous

Y: Y) Tertiary

Z: Z) Quaternary

Answer: W) W) Devonian

TOSS-UP math phrase

How many 4-ounce containers can be packed from 1200 pounds of dry tea leaves?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4800

BONUS math phrase

Evaluate the following expression: 6 + 2(5 + 4 – 1).

Acceptable Answers:

  • 22

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

At which of the following locations would you find the intersection of 0º longitude and 0º latitude: W) where the International Date Line crosses the equator X) where the prime meridian crosses the equator Y) along the 180th meridian Z) at the North and South Poles

W: W) where the International Date Line crosses the equator

X: X) where the prime meridian crosses the equator

Y: Y) along the 180th meridian

Z: Z) at the North and South Poles

Answer: X) X) where the prime meridian crosses the equator

BONUS general phrase

Giving your answer in grams, add 2,000 milligrams to 0.04 kilograms.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 42

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is a rasp-like feeding structure found in many mollusks: W) gonad X) nephridium Y) radula Z) mantle

W: W) gonad

X: X) nephridium

Y: Y) radula

Z: Z) mantle

Answer: Y) Y) radula

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is the BEST description for the location in the human body of the esophagus: W) behind the trachea connecting the mouth to the lungs X) behind the trachea connecting the mouth to the stomach Y) in front of the trachea connecting the mouth to the stomach Z) in front of the trachea connecting the mouth with the lungs

W: W) behind the trachea connecting the mouth to the lungs

X: X) behind the trachea connecting the mouth to the stomach

Y: Y) in front of the trachea connecting the mouth to the stomach

Z: Z) in front of the trachea connecting the mouth with the lungs

Answer: X) X) behind the trachea connecting the mouth to the stomach

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the most common term used to describe why astronauts orbiting the Earth experience apparent weightlessness?

Acceptable Answers:

  • free fall

BONUS phys phrase

What is the most common term for the maximum downward speed an object can attain, considering air resistance, when it is in free fall from a few miles up in the atmosphere?

Acceptable Answers:

  • terminal velocity

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true of tornados in the U.S.: W) the funnel cloud typically develops out of a nimbostratus cloud X) their strength is measured with Fujita Scale Y) supercells are the most dangerous and violent tornadoes in the U.S. Z) wind speeds can reach an excess of 200 mph

W: W) the funnel cloud typically develops out of a nimbostratus cloud

X: X) their strength is measured with Fujita Scale

Y: Y) supercells are the most dangerous and violent tornadoes in the U.S.

Z: Z) wind speeds can reach an excess of 200 mph

Answer: W) W) the funnel cloud typically develops out of a nimbostratus cloud

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is closest to average barometric pressure at sea level, in inches: W) 1013 X) 10.13 Y) 29.92 Z) 27.72

W: W) 1013

X: X) 10.13

Y: Y) 29.92

Z: Z) 27.72

Answer: Y) Y) 29.92

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following numbers is evenly divisible by 4: W) 174 X) 414 Y) 636 Z) 1126

W: W) 174

X: X) 414

Y: Y) 636

Z: Z) 1126

Answer: Y) Y) 636

BONUS math phrase

If it takes a hiker 2 hours to make a descent from 10,500 feet to 7,500 feet, what is his average rate of descent, in feet per minute?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 25

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following types of scientists would MOST likely use agar in their experiments: W) biochemist X) microbiologist Y) geologist Z) physicist

W: W) biochemist

X: X) microbiologist

Y: Y) geologist

Z: Z) physicist

Answer: X) X) microbiologist

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT proper laboratory procedure: W) always read the upper edges of a meniscus when determining volume of water in a flask X) the abbreviation TD on a pipette means ‘to deliver’ Y) a borosilicate beaker is a better choice for heating a solution than one made of soda-lime Z) an analytical balance is more precise than a triple-beam balance

W: W) always read the upper edges of a meniscus when determining volume of water in a flask

X: X) the abbreviation TD on a pipette means ‘to deliver’

Y: Y) a borosilicate beaker is a better choice for heating a solution than one made of soda-lime

Z: Z) an analytical balance is more precise than a triple-beam balance

Answer: W) W) always read the upper edges of a meniscus when determining volume of water in a flask

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the general name for the twenty or so different building blocks from which most proteins are made?

Acceptable Answers:

  • amino acids

BONUS bio phrase

What specific type of nucleic acid carries an amino acid to a growing protein?

Acceptable Answers:

  • transfer RNA
  • tRNA

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT an element: W) tin X) lead Y) radon Z) sulfate

W: W) tin

X: X) lead

Y: Y) radon

Z: Z) sulfate

Answer: Z) Z) sulfate

BONUS phys phrase

If 50 grams of one reactant chemically combines with 25 grams of another reactant to form a product, what is the total mass, in grams, of the product?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 75

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true: W) the Milky Way is an elliptical galaxy X) our Sun will become a red giant in the far distant future Y) constellations are patterns of stars in the night sky Z) the average sunspot cycle is 11 years

W: W) the Milky Way is an elliptical galaxy

X: X) our Sun will become a red giant in the far distant future

Y: Y) constellations are patterns of stars in the night sky

Z: Z) the average sunspot cycle is 11 years

Answer: W) W) the Milky Way is an elliptical galaxy

BONUS ess phrase

What is the name for the highest mountain on any planet in the Solar System?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Olympus
  • Olympus Mons, Mt. Olympus

TOSS-UP math phrase

What was the net gain or loss in yardage for a football team that in four straight plays gained 12 yards, then lost 9 yards, gained 3 yards, and finally lost 23 yards?

Acceptable Answers:

  • loss of 17

BONUS math phrase

Consider an isosceles triangle whose two sides of equal length meet to form a vertex angle of 96º. What is the degree measure of each base angle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 42

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

If you were told you were anemic and had to increase your dietary iron uptake, which of the following foods would provide the most iron: W) green beans X) spinach Y) beef spleen Z) broiled chicken thighs

W: W) green beans

X: X) spinach

Y: Y) beef spleen

Z: Z) broiled chicken thighs

Answer: Y) Y) beef spleen

BONUS general phrase

Which one of the following five grains feeds more people, accounting for the core food of about one-half of all humans on Earth: corn; barley; wheat; rice; sorghum?

Acceptable Answers:

  • rice

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What structure is exterior to the plasma membrane of a plant cell that is absent from an animal cell?

Acceptable Answers:

  • cell wall
  • wall

BONUS bio phrase

Plant cell walls are made primarily of microfibers of what common polysaccharide?

Acceptable Answers:

  • cellulose

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Potential energy is most synonymous with: W) kinetic energy X) mechanical energy Y) work energy Z) stored energy

W: W) kinetic energy

X: X) mechanical energy

Y: Y) work energy

Z: Z) stored energy

Answer: Z) Z) stored energy

BONUS phys phrase

If sodium has an atomic mass of 23 and an atomic number of 11, what is the mass, in grams, of 3 moles of sodium?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 69

TOSS-UP ess phrase

The bulk of the thermal energy at the Earth’s surface is stored in what major reservoir?

Acceptable Answers:

  • oceans
  • seas

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • water

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true about volcanoes: W) magma that flows out of a volcano is called lava X) the Ring of Fire borders the entire edge of the Pacific Ocean Basin Y) shield volcanoes are associated with hot spots Z) the vast majority of volcanoes are found along the mid-oceanic ridge

W: W) magma that flows out of a volcano is called lava

X: X) the Ring of Fire borders the entire edge of the Pacific Ocean Basin

Y: Y) shield volcanoes are associated with hot spots

Z: Z) the vast majority of volcanoes are found along the mid-oceanic ridge

Answer: Z) Z) the vast majority of volcanoes are found along the mid-oceanic ridge

TOSS-UP math phrase

If one of two complementary angles is 32º greater than the other, how many degrees is the larger angle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 61

BONUS math phrase

Find the area of a triangle, in meters squared, given a base of 10 meters and height of 5 meters.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 25

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

In which of the following biomes are you MOST likely to find permafrost: W) taiga X) deciduous forest Y) tundra Z) chaparral

W: W) taiga

X: X) deciduous forest

Y: Y) tundra

Z: Z) chaparral

Answer: Y) Y) tundra

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following materials is the STRONGEST in terms of tensile strength per mass: W) steel X) a spider’s web Y) cotton fibers Z) nylon fibers

W: W) steel

X: X) a spider’s web

Y: Y) cotton fibers

Z: Z) nylon fibers

Answer: X) X) a spider’s web

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

What structures on the outside of bacteria are MOST typically associated with the ability of bacteria to control their movement: W) flagella X) cilia Y) pseudopodia Z) spirillus

W: W) flagella

X: X) cilia

Y: Y) pseudopodia

Z: Z) spirillus

Answer: W) W) flagella

BONUS bio order

Order the following four human ear structures from the OUTERMOST to the INNERMOST: anvil; stapes; hammer; oval window.

Choices:

  • anvil
  • stapes
  • hammer
  • oval window

Correct Order:

  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the ideal mechanical advantage of a lever where the effort force is one-quarter that needed to lift a resistance force?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4

BONUS phys phrase

What is the frequency of a 50-hertz wave, in cycles per second, if the wave has an amplitude of 2 meters?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 50

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Which one of the following five choices is a metamorphic rock: tuff; obsidian; slate; gabbro; peridotite?

Acceptable Answers:

  • slate

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true about rocks: W) layering is characteristic of sedimentary rock X) during metamorphosis, limestone becomes marble Y) chalk is primarily made up of microscopic shells Z) quartz reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to give off carbon dioxide

W: W) layering is characteristic of sedimentary rock

X: X) during metamorphosis, limestone becomes marble

Y: Y) chalk is primarily made up of microscopic shells

Z: Z) quartz reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to give off carbon dioxide

Answer: Z) Z) quartz reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to give off carbon dioxide

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true about polygons: W) the sum of the exterior angles of any polygon equals 720º X) a regular polygon is always equilateral Y) a square is not a regular polygon Z) a regular pentagon is a polygon with 5 congruent angles and 5 congruent sides

W: W) the sum of the exterior angles of any polygon equals 720º

X: X) a regular polygon is always equilateral

Y: Y) a square is not a regular polygon

Z: Z) a regular pentagon is a polygon with 5 congruent angles and 5 congruent sides

Answer: Y) Y) a square is not a regular polygon

BONUS math phrase

What three consecutive numbers add up to 192?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 63, 64, 65