HS Sample Set 2, Round 13 from NSB
Which of the following species in the Great Lakes would be most likely to be affected by PCBs from industrial waste? W) Zooplankton X) Lake trout Y) Herring gull Z) Phytoplankton
W: W) Zooplankton
X: X) Lake trout
Y: Y) Herring gull
Z: Z) Phytoplankton
Answer: Y) Y) Herring gull
Which of the following components of the sarcomere changes its dimensions during muscle contraction or relaxation? W) A band X) M line Y) H zone Z) Z disc
W: W) A band
X: X) M line
Y: Y) H zone
Z: Z) Z disc
Answer: Y) Y) H zone
In general, what is the name for each individual step in a mechanism?
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What is the common name for the amino acid having the side chain of methyl, CH₃?
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Solve for $x$: $$(x - 3)(x + 5) = x^2 + x$$
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Find the coordinates of the point on the graph of $$f(x) = 2 + 4\sqrt{x}$$ where the tangent line is parallel to the line $$4x - 6y = 3\,. $$
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If thermal energy is supplied to an insulated solid substance and the temperature does not change, which of the following is true of the solid? W) It has a high value of thermal conductivity X) It is undergoing a phase change Y) It has a very low specific heat Z) It has a high specific heat
W: W) It has a high value of thermal conductivity
X: X) It is undergoing a phase change
Y: Y) It has a very low specific heat
Z: Z) It has a high specific heat
Answer: X) X) It is undergoing a phase change
Which of the following is the frequency, in hertz, of a 50 megavolt photon, given Planck’s constant $6.6 \times 10^{-34}\,$J·s and the elementary charge $1.6 \times 10^{-19}\,$C? W) $1.2 \times 10^{24}$ X) $8.3 \times 10^{23}$ Y) $1.2 \times 10^{22}$ Z) $8.3 \times 10^{21}$
W: W) $1.2 \times 10^{24}$
X: X) $8.3 \times 10^{23}$
Y: Y) $1.2 \times 10^{22}$
Z: Z) $8.3 \times 10^{21}$
Answer: Y) Y) $1.2 \times 10^{22}$
The first exoplanet was discovered around which of the following kinds of stars? W) K dwarf X) M dwarf Y) Pulsar Z) Brown dwarf
W: W) K dwarf
X: X) M dwarf
Y: Y) Pulsar
Z: Z) Brown dwarf
Answer: Y) Y) Pulsar
Which of the following best approximates the percentage of solar-type stellar systems that are triples? W) 0.01% X) 0.1% Y) 1% Z) 10%
W: W) 0.01%
X: X) 0.1%
Y: Y) 1%
Z: Z) 10%
Answer: Z) Z) 10%
Which of the following provides the highest average efficiency increase in vehicle engines? W) Variable valve timing and lift X) Cylinder deactivation Y) Integrated starter/generator systems Z) Direct fuel injection with turbocharging or supercharging
W: W) Variable valve timing and lift
X: X) Cylinder deactivation
Y: Y) Integrated starter/generator systems
Z: Z) Direct fuel injection with turbocharging or supercharging
Answer: Z) Z) Direct fuel injection with turbocharging or supercharging
Rank the following four locations in terms of evaporative cooling effectiveness, from worst to best: 1) Portland, Oregon; 2) New York City, New York; 3) Tucson, Arizona; 4) Boise, Idaho.
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A person with the genotype aaBbCcDd could produce how many different gamete genotypes?
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Name all of the following four arteries that are found in the human arm or hand: 1) tibial; 2) brachial; 3) deep plantar; 4) axillary.
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In an endothermic reaction, dinitrogen tetroxide decomposes to form nitric oxide. If the two substances were in equilibrium in a piston, identify all of the following conditions that would generate more nitric oxide: 1) pressure is removed; 2) temperature is increased; 3) more dinitrogen tetroxide is added.
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If a codeine solution has a pH of 8.3, what is the solution hydroxide-ion molarity to one significant figure?
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What are the coordinates of the center of the circle with equation $$x^2 + y^2 - 4x + 6y = 0\;?$$
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Providing your answer in slope-intercept form, what is the equation of the line that is normal to the graph of $$f(x) = 3x^2 - 5x$$ at the point $(1, -2)$?
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A 4 kg object is moving at 10 m/s to the left when it explodes into two equal pieces. If one piece moves at 2 m/s to the right after the explosion, what is the speed and direction of the other piece?
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Two point charges of +2.0 μC each are 10.0 m apart. What is the work (in millijoules) required to separate them to infinity? W) 3.6 X) –3.6 Y) 0.4 Z) –0.4
W: W) 3.6
X: X) –3.6
Y: Y) 0.4
Z: Z) –0.4
Answer: X) X) –3.6
How is it known that the engine powering active galactic nuclei must be at most several hundred AU in size? W) Spatially resolved AGN are no larger X) Cooling timescale ~ sound‐crossing time Y) Variability timescale ~ light‐crossing time Z) Orbits of stars are only several hundred AU wide
W: W) Spatially resolved AGN are no larger
X: X) Cooling timescale ~ sound‐crossing time
Y: Y) Variability timescale ~ light‐crossing time
Z: Z) Orbits of stars are only several hundred AU wide
Answer: Y) Y) Variability timescale ~ light‐crossing time
To the nearest order of magnitude, what was the temperature of the universe, in Kelvin, at the time of recombination?
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Which of the following organisms is most likely to be found in the profundal zone of a lake? W) Blue-green algae X) Aquatic plants Y) Blood worms Z) Fish that feed on phytoplankton
W: W) Blue-green algae
X: X) Aquatic plants
Y: Y) Blood worms
Z: Z) Fish that feed on phytoplankton
Answer: Y) Y) Blood worms
In a longitudinal section of simple columnar epithelium, such as that lining the intestine and gallbladder, capillaries would be found in which layer? W) Basement membrane X) Lamina propria Y) Surface epithelium Z) Basal epithelium
W: W) Basement membrane
X: X) Lamina propria
Y: Y) Surface epithelium
Z: Z) Basal epithelium
Answer: X) X) Lamina propria
Suppose that Boyle’s law becomes inverted but all other gas laws remain unchanged. Identify all of the following experimental observations you would expect: 1) as a balloon is put underwater, its diameter increases; 2) filling a tire causes the tire to cool; 3) as helium is let out of a tank, the temperature of the tank increases.
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Assuming that all particles within a solid are equally spaced hard spheres, what two crystal structures have the least amount of empty space?
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What are the equations of each vertical asymptote for the graph of the function $$f(x) = \frac{x - 1}{x^3 - x}\;?$$
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What is the value of the differential approximation error $dy - \Delta y$ for $y = x^2 + 2$ as $x$ changes from 1 to 1.1?
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Three resistors of 20 Ω, 40 Ω, and 60 Ω are in series across a 6 V battery. What is the voltage drop across the 20 Ω resistor?
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You look straight down into a pond and see an apparent depth of 5.0 m. If $n_{\text{air}}=1.00$ and $n_{\text{water}}=1.30$, what is the real depth? W) 0.3 m X) 3.8 m Y) 5.0 m Z) 6.7 m
W: W) 0.3 m
X: X) 3.8 m
Y: Y) 5.0 m
Z: Z) 6.7 m
Answer: Z) Z) 6.7 m
The focal ratio of a radio telescope is generally which of the following? W) Less than 1 X) Between 1 and 2 Y) Between 2 and 10 Z) Greater than 10
W: W) Less than 1
X: X) Between 1 and 2
Y: Y) Between 2 and 10
Z: Z) Greater than 10
Answer: W) W) Less than 1
The Sagittarius Dwarf Irregular Galaxy is 1.0 Mpc away. To two significant figures, what is its distance modulus?
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Which of the following statements is NOT true about the "snowflake diverter" at PPPL? W) It is used in fusion research X) It increases impurity contamination of the main plasma Y) Its name is derived from the appearance of its magnetic field lines Z) It reduces interaction between hot plasma and cold walls
W: W) It is used in fusion research
X: X) It increases impurity contamination of the main plasma
Y: Y) Its name is derived from the appearance of its magnetic field lines
Z: Z) It reduces interaction between hot plasma and cold walls
Answer: X) X) It increases impurity contamination of the main plasma
By number, rank the following four choices by their R-value from least to greatest: 1) 4-inch thick brick; 2) half-inch thick drywall; 3) one-eighth-inch thick flat glass; 4) 3.5-inch thick stagnant air space.
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Telomerase is frequently activated in cancer cells. Which describes its action? W) Cuts telomeres to make them shorter X) Prevents telomeres from getting shorter Y) Controls spindle fibers during cell division Z) Inhibits DNA repair
W: W) Cuts telomeres to make them shorter
X: X) Prevents telomeres from getting shorter
Y: Y) Controls spindle fibers during cell division
Z: Z) Inhibits DNA repair
Answer: X) X) Prevents telomeres from getting shorter
At which stage of meiosis could trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) be introduced? W) Anaphase I X) Telophase I Y) Telophase II Z) Prophase I
W: W) Anaphase I
X: X) Telophase I
Y: Y) Telophase II
Z: Z) Prophase I
Answer: W) W) Anaphase I
In the Haber process, 22.4 L of H₂ and 22.4 L of N₂ react to completion. Providing your answer to two significant figures, how many liters of NH₃ are produced?
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Which of the following elements, if doped into germanium, would produce a p-type semiconductor? W) Gallium X) Silicon Y) Arsenic Z) Selenium
W: W) Gallium
X: X) Silicon
Y: Y) Arsenic
Z: Z) Selenium
Answer: W) W) Gallium
Evaluate $$\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{x^5}{e^x}\;.$$
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In interval notation, give the open interval on which the function $$f(x) = x^3 + 12x^2 - 3$$ is concave down.
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Given that the electric potential at infinity is zero, which of the following is true midway between two equal positive charges? W) The electric field is zero and the electric potential is zero X) The electric field is zero and the electric potential is nonzero Y) The electric field is nonzero and the electric potential is zero Z) The electric field is nonzero and the electric potential is nonzero
W: W) The electric field is zero and the electric potential is zero
X: X) The electric field is zero and the electric potential is nonzero
Y: Y) The electric field is nonzero and the electric potential is zero
Z: Z) The electric field is nonzero and the electric potential is nonzero
Answer: X) X) The electric field is zero and the electric potential is nonzero
Kirk’s minimum audible intensity is $1.0\times10^{-12}\,$W/m². If he listens to a sound of $1.0\times10^{-11}\,$W/m², what is its sound level in decibels?
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Which of the following most directly contributes to the opacity of a star’s atmosphere? W) Hydrogen X) Metal lines Y) Free electrons Z) Helium
W: W) Hydrogen
X: X) Metal lines
Y: Y) Free electrons
Z: Z) Helium
Answer: X) X) Metal lines
If the sidereal period of a superior planet were exactly a century, its synodic period would be which of the following? W) Slightly longer than a year X) Slightly shorter than a century Y) Slightly longer than a century Z) Exactly 50 years
W: W) Slightly longer than a year
X: X) Slightly shorter than a century
Y: Y) Slightly longer than a century
Z: Z) Exactly 50 years
Answer: W) W) Slightly longer than a year
What is the term for the rate at which an electricity generator steadily changes its output to meet demand?
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By number, identify all of the following statements regarding energy systems that are true: 1) Aerobic vs anaerobic distinction is made depending on whether CO₂ is produced; 2) Both aerobic and anaerobic systems use substrate phosphorylation to synthesize ATP; 3) Energy systems differ in the rate and duration of energy production; 4) Lactic acid is produced during energy production by the high-energy phosphate system.
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The calamus, rachis, and barb are structures belonging to which of the following? W) A bird’s feather X) A snail’s tongue Y) A bear’s claw Z) A porcupine’s quill
W: W) A bird’s feather
X: X) A snail’s tongue
Y: Y) A bear’s claw
Z: Z) A porcupine’s quill
Answer: W) W) A bird’s feather
Shark livers help with buoyancy by producing which oily material? W) Squalene X) Isoprene Y) Oleic acid Z) Linoleic acid
W: W) Squalene
X: X) Isoprene
Y: Y) Oleic acid
Z: Z) Linoleic acid
Answer: W) W) Squalene
Consider the reaction $$\mathrm{NH_4HS}(s)\to \mathrm{NH_3}(g) + \mathrm{H_2S}(g).$$ When 0.020 mol NH₄HS are placed in a 2.0 L container at 127 °C and fully decompose, what is the pressure in atmospheres? (R = 0.0821 L·atm·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹) W) 0.02 X) 0.16 Y) 0.66 Z) 1.0
W: W) 0.02
X: X) 0.16
Y: Y) 0.66
Z: Z) 1.0
Answer: Y) Y) 0.66
Place the following four doses of radiation in order from largest to smallest effect: 1) chest X-ray; 2) eating 100 bananas; 3) airplane flight NY→LA; 4) mammogram.
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