MS Sample Set 7, Round 15 from NSB
In a milliliter of seawater one might expect to find 10^4 members of the SAR11 clade of marine bacteria. Expressing your answer in scientific notation, how many SAR11 bacteria would one expect to find in a cubic meter of this seawater?
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In what year was the idea that humans would contribute to climate change via emissions and the greenhouse effect first published? W) 1850 X) 1896 Y) 1958 Z) 1969
W: W) 1850
X: X) 1896
Y: Y) 1958
Z: Z) 1969
Answer: X) X) 1896
What kind of dam consists of a line of large gates, set between flanking piers, that can be opened or closed to control the amount of water passing the dam?
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By number, identify all of the following four statements that are true of La Rance Barrage in Brittany, France: 1) It is the world’s first tidal power station; 2) Its electricity production costs are higher than that of nuclear power generation; 3) It has caused some silting of the Rance ecosystem; 4) It follows tidal patterns so as to minimize negative biological impact.
Choices:
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What is the name for the temperature above which a ferromagnetic material becomes a paramagnet?
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A 10 kilogram mass hangs from a string in an elevator that is accelerating upwards at 2.0 meters per second squared. What is the tension in the string in newtons? W) 10 X) 78 Y) 98 Z) 118
W: W) 10
X: X) 78
Y: Y) 98
Z: Z) 118
Answer: Z) Z) 118
Which of the following is a nonvascular plant? W) Moss X) Fern Y) Horsetail Z) Rhododendron
W: W) Moss
X: X) Fern
Y: Y) Horsetail
Z: Z) Rhododendron
Answer: W) W) Moss
A parent cell is 2n = 2, and undergoes meiosis. Assuming nondisjunction occurs in one cell during metaphase II, identify the number of chromosomes that can be expected in each of the two gametes.
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The tens digit of a two digit number is twice the units digit. If the digits are reversed, the new number is 18 less than the original number. What is the original number?
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If A is a point on the line with equation y = x – 1, and if A is located 2√2 units from the point (4, –1), what are the coordinates of A?
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Space is not a true vacuum as it contains a low density of particles. How many particles would you expect to find in a cubic meter of deep space? W) 0.1 X) 100 Y) 10,000 Z) 1,000,000
W: W) 0.1
X: X) 100
Y: Y) 10,000
Z: Z) 1,000,000
Answer: Z) Z) 1,000,000
What is the term for the path of the deepest part of a river?
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What is the primary function of the Calvin cycle?
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Identify all of the following four plant structures that are NOT present in conifers: 1) vines; 2) bulbs; 3) rhizomes; 4) simple leaves.
Choices:
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Coulombic repulsion is about how many times as strong as Newtonian gravitational attraction? W) 10^2 X) 10^20 Y) 10^40 Z) 10^100
W: W) 10^2
X: X) 10^20
Y: Y) 10^40
Z: Z) 10^100
Answer: Y) Y) 10^40
A long circular wire of some resistivity ρ in ohms per meter has a resistance of 10 Ω. If the radius of the wire were multiplied by a factor of √2, what would be the new resistance in ohms?
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When a black chicken is crossed with a white chicken, all of the offspring are checkered (partially white and partially black). This is an example of what type of inheritance pattern?
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In the human skull, which of the following sinuses sits most posteriorly? W) Sphenoid X) Ethmoid Y) Maxillary Z) Frontal
W: W) Sphenoid
X: X) Ethmoid
Y: Y) Maxillary
Z: Z) Frontal
Answer: W) W) Sphenoid
A triangle with sides of length 3, 5, and 6 is classified as which of the following? W) Acute X) Right Y) Obtuse Z) The classification can’t be determined from the information given
W: W) Acute
X: X) Right
Y: Y) Obtuse
Z: Z) The classification can’t be determined from the information given
Answer: Y) Y) Obtuse
If f(x) = x^2 + 2x for x > 0, and g(x) = 2x – 5, determine the value of $$g^{-1}(f^{-1}(15))$$.
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Which of the following earthquakes is recognized as having the highest magnitude? W) 1989 Loma Prieta, California X) 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Y) 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana Z) 1812 New Madrid, Missouri
W: W) 1989 Loma Prieta, California
X: X) 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska
Y: Y) 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana
Z: Z) 1812 New Madrid, Missouri
Answer: X) X) 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska
What was the magnitude of the Prince William Sound earthquake that occurred in Alaska in 1964?
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What is the most common element found in the Earth’s crust and magma? W) Oxygen X) Aluminum Y) Iron Z) Silicon
W: W) Oxygen
X: X) Aluminum
Y: Y) Iron
Z: Z) Silicon
Answer: W) W) Oxygen
Radiocarbon dating is accomplished by measuring the ratio of two carbon isotopes, one of which is radioactive. What isotopes are these?
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Solar dryers do which of the following? W) Harness the power of the Sun to dry clothes by means of a special solar alternator to reduce electricity consumption X) Harness the power of the Sun to provide a way of storing food for underdeveloped communities Y) Use the Sun’s heat to convert water into steam through a solar collector and a turbine Z) Use the Sun’s heat and wind to evaporate water and then condense it to be able to dry fruits through steam
W: W) Harness the power of the Sun to dry clothes by means of a special solar alternator to reduce electricity consumption
X: X) Harness the power of the Sun to provide a way of storing food for underdeveloped communities
Y: Y) Use the Sun’s heat to convert water into steam through a solar collector and a turbine
Z: Z) Use the Sun’s heat and wind to evaporate water and then condense it to be able to dry fruits through steam
Answer: X) X) Harness the power of the Sun to provide a way of storing food for underdeveloped communities
Suppose your parents would like to install a solar water heater system in their dream house in Houston, Texas. During the winter, your family likes to use hot water more often than during other seasons. Given that the latitude of Texas is 29.5° and assuming the collectors do not track the Sun’s position, should the solar collectors be tilted at an angle greater than, less than, or equal to 29.5° in order to have more hot water in the winter?
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Name an object commonly used by the Large Hadron Collider in its high-energy particle collisions.
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DO NOT ACCEPT:
What is the molecular geometry of methane?
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Which of the following is NOT an autoimmune disease? W) Multiple sclerosis X) Shingles Y) Lupus Z) Rheumatoid arthritis
W: W) Multiple sclerosis
X: X) Shingles
Y: Y) Lupus
Z: Z) Rheumatoid arthritis
Answer: X) X) Shingles
The Lyon law suggests that females are a mosaic because one of the X chromosomes present in a female cell is randomly inactivated during development. What is the name given to the deactivated X chromosome when visualized through a microscope?
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The product of two polynomials is x^5 – 1. One of the polynomials is x – 1. What is the other polynomial? W) x^4 – x^3 + x^2 – x + 1 X) x^4 – x^2 + 1 Y) x^4 + x^3 + x^2 + x + 1 Z) x^4 + x^2 + 1
W: W) x^4 – x^3 + x^2 – x + 1
X: X) x^4 – x^2 + 1
Y: Y) x^4 + x^3 + x^2 + x + 1
Z: Z) x^4 + x^2 + 1
Answer: Y) Y) x^4 + x^3 + x^2 + x + 1
The circumference of the base of a right circular cylinder is 7π units. The volume of the cylinder is 98π units^2. What is the height of the cylinder, in units?
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What geologic term describes a landscape where dissolution of limestone or dolostone has formed many caves and a hummocky land surface?
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What geologic dating technique measures radioactive decay caused during the shattering of a nucleus by cosmic rays on the surface of an exposed rock? W) Cosmogenic X) Fission-track Y) Magnetic Z) Optically-stimulated luminescent
W: W) Cosmogenic
X: X) Fission-track
Y: Y) Magnetic
Z: Z) Optically-stimulated luminescent
Answer: W) W) Cosmogenic
You are playing outside when the neighbor’s child comes running up to you screaming that he’s been bitten by a snake. You look at the small wound, and immediately notice a very foul smell on his hands. Which of the following snakes most likely bit him? W) Gopher snake X) Rosy boa Y) Garter snake Z) Rattle snake
W: W) Gopher snake
X: X) Rosy boa
Y: Y) Garter snake
Z: Z) Rattle snake
Answer: Y) Y) Garter snake
Which of the following muscles is NOT considered a principal muscle for facial expression? W) Orbicularis oris X) Buccinator Y) Hyoglossus Z) Platysma
W: W) Orbicularis oris
X: X) Buccinator
Y: Y) Hyoglossus
Z: Z) Platysma
Answer: Y) Y) Hyoglossus
Insects comprise closest to which of the following fractions of all known species on Earth? W) 1/6 X) 1/3 Y) 2/3 Z) 3/4
W: W) 1/6
X: X) 1/3
Y: Y) 2/3
Z: Z) 3/4
Answer: Y) Y) 2/3
What is the most abundant element dissolved in ocean water? W) Chlorine X) Sodium Y) Magnesium Z) Sulfur
W: W) Chlorine
X: X) Sodium
Y: Y) Magnesium
Z: Z) Sulfur
Answer: W) W) Chlorine
Solar panels commonly possess a blocking diode. What is its function? W) To prevent the panel from draining the energy storage system X) To protect the panel from excessive voltage levels Y) To protect the panel from excessive current levels Z) To store energy to be used for the circuit later
W: W) To prevent the panel from draining the energy storage system
X: X) To protect the panel from excessive voltage levels
Y: Y) To protect the panel from excessive current levels
Z: Z) To store energy to be used for the circuit later
Answer: W) W) To prevent the panel from draining the energy storage system
Which of the following is a typical quality factor for a tuning fork? W) 10 X) 100 Y) 1,000 Z) 10,000
W: W) 10
X: X) 100
Y: Y) 1,000
Z: Z) 10,000
Answer: Y) Y) 1,000
Vernal pools are which of the following? W) Ponds that are found throughout the Mediterranean region X) Wetlands that come and go with the seasons Y) Water bodies that are dry in the summer Z) Lakes that shift slightly every year
W: W) Ponds that are found throughout the Mediterranean region
X: X) Wetlands that come and go with the seasons
Y: Y) Water bodies that are dry in the summer
Z: Z) Lakes that shift slightly every year
Answer: X) X) Wetlands that come and go with the seasons
What form of nitrogen results from the reactions catalyzed by denitrifying bacteria?
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What endocrine gland is located on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland?
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Pellagra results from a deficiency of what? W) Vitamin B12 X) Vitamin B5 Y) Vitamin B3 Z) Magnesium
W: W) Vitamin B12
X: X) Vitamin B5
Y: Y) Vitamin B3
Z: Z) Magnesium
Answer: Y) Y) Vitamin B3
If ∠ABC is inscribed in a circle and measures 70 degrees, what is the degree measure of arc ABC?
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Determine the area in square units for a triangle whose sides have lengths 7, 8, and 9 units, respectively.
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With over 10,000 different species, grasses are the most widespread plant on the planet. Which of the following makes them different from, and more successful than, flowering plants? W) Continuous growth from the bottom X) Continuous growth from the apex Y) Lack of flowers Z) Flowers taking the form of leaves
W: W) Continuous growth from the bottom
X: X) Continuous growth from the apex
Y: Y) Lack of flowers
Z: Z) Flowers taking the form of leaves
Answer: W) W) Continuous growth from the bottom
Piedmont glaciers, such as the Wilson-Piedmont glacier in Murdo Sound, Antarctica, are defined by which of the following characteristics? W) They contain unusually salty ice X) They are older than other glacier types Y) They spread broadly into flat valleys Z) They occur only in Antarctica
W: W) They contain unusually salty ice
X: X) They are older than other glacier types
Y: Y) They spread broadly into flat valleys
Z: Z) They occur only in Antarctica
Answer: Y) Y) They spread broadly into flat valleys
You graph a series of equipotentials between two point charges of equal but opposite charge. Which of the following would NOT be true? W) The equipotentials cross all lines of force at right angles X) If you graphed all possible equipotentials, there would be no straight lines Y) If you graphed all possible equipotentials, the potentials would be mirrored across an axis perpendicular to the line that runs through the two charges Z) The voltage is the same at any point along one of the equipotential lines
W: W) The equipotentials cross all lines of force at right angles
X: X) If you graphed all possible equipotentials, there would be no straight lines
Y: Y) If you graphed all possible equipotentials, the potentials would be mirrored across an axis perpendicular to the line that runs through the two charges
Z: Z) The voltage is the same at any point along one of the equipotential lines
Answer: X) X) If you graphed all possible equipotentials, there would be no straight lines
You want to design an experiment to measure the moment of inertia of a hollow spherical ball, or at least to theoretically calculate the ball’s moment of inertia. Which of the following would NOT be sufficient to do so? W) Observe that the ball is actually an extremely thin shell, and measure its mass in grams and its outer radius in meters X) Measure the ball’s mass in grams, its inner radius in meters, and its outer radius in meters Y) Suspend the ball from a wire oscillating in simple harmonic motion with a known torsional restoring constant K, and measure the velocity of the ball at the lowest point of its oscillation Z) Suspend the ball from a wire oscillating in simple harmonic motion with a known torsional restoring constant K, and measure the period of the ball
W: W) Observe that the ball is actually an extremely thin shell, and measure its mass in grams and its outer radius in meters
X: X) Measure the ball’s mass in grams, its inner radius in meters, and its outer radius in meters
Y: Y) Suspend the ball from a wire oscillating in simple harmonic motion with a known torsional restoring constant K, and measure the velocity of the ball at the lowest point of its oscillation
Z: Z) Suspend the ball from a wire oscillating in simple harmonic motion with a known torsional restoring constant K, and measure the period of the ball
Answer: Y) Y) Suspend the ball from a wire oscillating in simple harmonic motion with a known torsional restoring constant K, and measure the velocity of the ball at the lowest point of its oscillation