MS Sample Set 13, Round 11 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the term for a failed star that has a minimum mass of approximately 12 Jupiter-masses?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BROWN DWARF

BONUS ess phrase

The Maunder Minimum refers to a period of time during which very few of what features were observed?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SUNSPOTS

TOSS-UP math phrase

A number is 12 more than 4 times the number. What is the number?

Acceptable Answers:

  • –4

BONUS math phrase

Two cards are drawn at random without replacement from a standard deck. What is the probability that they share the same color or the same face value?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 9/17

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What type of plant ground tissue primarily consists of cells with thick, strong cell walls that are dead at maturity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SCLERENCHYMA

BONUS bio phrase

In grasshoppers, air enters and leaves their bodies through small openings on the side of their bodies called what?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SPIRACLES

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Biologists at Oak Ridge National Lab were the first to identify and culture a novel oral pathogen *Desulfobulbus oralis*. In what domain of life is this Gram-negative organism found?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BACTERIA
  • EUBACTERIA

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are trying to prevent corrosion in the next generation of instruments concentrating solar power, which require the use of high temperature fluids like molten salts. Which of the following is the purpose of these high temperature fluids? W) Heat thermoelectric materials X) Cool down the solar cells Y) Boil water to steam Z) Heat residential buildings

W: W) Heat thermoelectric materials

X: X) Cool down the solar cells

Y: Y) Boil water to steam

Z: Z) Heat residential buildings

Answer: Y) Y) Boil water to steam

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the main component of gas bubbles in boiling water?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WATER
  • WATER VAPOR

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following pairs of types of solids and their properties is NOT correctly matched? W) Ionic solid, brittle X) Metallic solid, malleable Y) Network covalent solid, malleable Z) Molecular covalent solid, soft

W: W) Ionic solid, brittle

X: X) Metallic solid, malleable

Y: Y) Network covalent solid, malleable

Z: Z) Molecular covalent solid, soft

Answer: Y) Y) Network covalent solid, malleable

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Tobacco is highly addictive because it contains what acetylcholine-mimicking compound?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NICOTINE

BONUS bio phrase

In the fight-or-flight response, there is a release of what neurotransmitter that is directly synthesized from dopamine?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NOREPINEPHRINE
  • NORADRENALINE

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • ADRENALINE, EPINEPHRINE

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following mass movement events occurs when rock layers fall down-slope along weak bedding planes? W) Rockfall X) Rockslide Y) Rock avalanche Z) Earthflow

W: W) Rockfall

X: X) Rockslide

Y: Y) Rock avalanche

Z: Z) Earthflow

Answer: X) X) Rockslide

BONUS ess phrase

What is the chemical formula for the mineral fluorite?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CaF₂

TOSS-UP math multiselect

Identify all of the following 3 types of numbers that both 5/13 and 1/8 are: 1) Rational; 2) Irrational; 3) Real.

Choices:

  • Rational
  • Irrational
  • Real

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 3

BONUS math phrase

79 teams play in a single-elimination tournament; that is, each game is played by two teams, and the losing team is eliminated. Some teams have byes in the first round and don’t have to play, but, after the first round, each remaining team plays every round until they are eliminated. How many games are played in the first round?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 15

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What law of circuits states that the current drawn in a circuit is equal to the voltage divided by the resistance?

Acceptable Answers:

  • OHM’S LAW

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three quantities that are always constant for an object as it undergoes free-fall near the Earth’s surface: 1) Velocity; 2) Acceleration; 3) Force.

Choices:

  • Velocity
  • Acceleration
  • Force

Correct Answers:

  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at Argonne National Lab are studying the secondary metabolites of *Streptococcus*, a bacterium with a large amount of peptidoglycan in its cell wall. In a classical Gram stain, what color would this bacterium be stained?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PURPLE
  • VIOLET

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists at Idaho National Lab have developed a new method to recycle rare metals present in electronics. Their method involves using an electric current to reduce the precious metals and reform them at the cathode. What is this general process of metal refining called?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ELECTROLYSIS

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

What is the equation of the axis of symmetry for the graph of $$y = x^2 - 10x - 24$$? W) $x = -12$ X) $x = -5$ Y) $x = 5$ Z) $x = 12$

W: W) $x = -12$

X: X) $x = -5$

Y: Y) $x = 5$

Z: Z) $x = 12$

Answer: Y) Y) $x = 5$

BONUS math phrase

A regular polygon with 24 sides has exterior angles of what degree measure?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 15

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the primary mode of energy transport near the Sun’s core?

Acceptable Answers:

  • RADIATION

BONUS ess phrase

Giving your answer to the nearest day, how many days after a new moon is a third quarter moon?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 22

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Cyanobacteria and plants are able to move directionally in response to light sources through photoreceptor-modulated signal cascades. What is the name for this motion?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHOTOTAXIS

BONUS bio phrase

In the Cnidarian life cycle, what is the term for the stage in which the organism remains attached to a surface and does not swim around?

Acceptable Answers:

  • POLYP

TOSS-UP math phrase

Two triangles have identical corresponding angle measures. The larger triangle has sides of lengths 6, 8, and 10. The smaller triangle has smallest side of length 5. What is the perimeter of the smaller triangle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 20

BONUS math phrase

Given the linear function $f(x) = -5x + b$, where $b$ is a real number, if $f(2) = 13$, what is $f(7)$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • –12

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Red tides are a type of algal bloom associated with what group of organisms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • DINOFLAGELLATES

BONUS bio multiple_choice

In which of the following organs would one find the greatest amount of keratin proteins? W) Heart X) Skin Y) Stomach Z) Lung

W: W) Heart

X: X) Skin

Y: Y) Stomach

Z: Z) Lung

Answer: X) X) Skin

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for molecules with the same molecular formula, but different structural formulas?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ISOMERS

BONUS phys order

Rank the following three substances in terms of increasing total mass: 1) Twelve moles of hydrogen atoms; 2) One mole of iron atoms; 3) Three moles of carbon atoms.

Choices:

  • Twelve moles of hydrogen atoms
  • One mole of iron atoms
  • Three moles of carbon atoms

Correct Order:

  • 1
  • 3
  • 2

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Scientists at Savannah River National Lab are studying new ways of separating and storing tritium gas. Which of the following correctly describes the constituent particles in a nucleus of tritium? W) One proton and one neutron X) One proton and two neutrons Y) Two protons and one neutron Z) Two protons and three neutrons

W: W) One proton and one neutron

X: X) One proton and two neutrons

Y: Y) Two protons and one neutron

Z: Z) Two protons and three neutrons

Answer: X) X) One proton and two neutrons

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Ames Lab are using the Mössbauer effect to study metals. In this effect, a nucleus absorbs what particle without experiencing any recoil?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHOTON

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following molecules contributes the most to the absorption of UV light in the stratosphere? W) Carbon dioxide X) Water vapor Y) Methane Z) Ozone

W: W) Carbon dioxide

X: X) Water vapor

Y: Y) Methane

Z: Z) Ozone

Answer: Z) Z) Ozone

BONUS ess multiple_choice

What silicate group is first to crystallize from a cooling magma? W) Inosilicates X) Cyclosilicates Y) Phyllosilicates Z) Nesosilicates

W: W) Inosilicates

X: X) Cyclosilicates

Y: Y) Phyllosilicates

Z: Z) Nesosilicates

Answer: Z) Z) Nesosilicates

TOSS-UP math phrase

If $f(x) = x + 4$ and $g(x) = 2x - 3$, what is $f(g(5))$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 11

BONUS math phrase

What is the median of the first 10 cubes of positive integers?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 170.5
  • 341/2, 170 ½

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following reactions is endothermic? W) Chlorine gas reacts with hydrogen gas to form hydrogen chloride gas X) Liquid water vaporizes to yield steam Y) Sodium metal reacts with water to yield sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas Z) Liquid water freezes to yield solid ice

W: W) Chlorine gas reacts with hydrogen gas to form hydrogen chloride gas

X: X) Liquid water vaporizes to yield steam

Y: Y) Sodium metal reacts with water to yield sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas

Z: Z) Liquid water freezes to yield solid ice

Answer: X) X) Liquid water vaporizes to yield steam

BONUS phys multiple_choice

A student is performing an electroplating experiment in which he places two nickel electrodes in a solution of copper sulfate and connects the electrodes to a battery. He notes that the electroplating only occurs on one of the electrodes, while the other electrode remains pure nickel. Which of the following would cause the other electrode to participate in the plating instead? W) Changing the nickel to a metal with a higher reduction potential X) Changing the nickel to a metal with a lower reduction potential Y) Waiting until the entirety of the first electrode has been plated Z) Switching the terminals of the battery to which the electrodes are connected

W: W) Changing the nickel to a metal with a higher reduction potential

X: X) Changing the nickel to a metal with a lower reduction potential

Y: Y) Waiting until the entirety of the first electrode has been plated

Z: Z) Switching the terminals of the battery to which the electrodes are connected

Answer: Z) Z) Switching the terminals of the battery to which the electrodes are connected

TOSS-UP bio phrase

In certain adverse conditions, a bacterium will form an internal structure around its DNA that enables it to remain dormant for years while waiting for the environment to become more favorable. What is the term for this structure?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ENDOSPORE

BONUS bio phrase

What blood type is considered to be the universal receiver?

Acceptable Answers:

  • AB
  • AB+

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the term for the region around a star in which orbiting planets can sustain liquid water, and therefore, potentially life?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HABITABLE ZONE
  • GOLDILOCKS ZONE

BONUS ess phrase

What planet in our solar system has an axial tilt closest in degree measure to that of Earth?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MARS

TOSS-UP phys phrase

A proton is being repelled by a certain charged particle that is a distance $D$ away from it. If the proton is moved to distance $2D$, by what factor is the force on the proton multiplied?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ONE-FOURTH

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • FOUR

BONUS phys phrase

Two charges each have their magnitudes tripled, and the distance separating them is doubled. By what factor is the magnitude of the electric force between them multiplied?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 9/4
  • 2 ¼, 2.25