MS Sample Set 7, Round 6 from NSB
Numerous individuals contributed to the development of the scientific method, and thus modern science. Which of the following scientists placed an emphasis on mathematics, drew upon the writings of Muslim scientists, and described a repeating cycle of observations, hypothesis generation, experiments, and independent verification? W) Aristotle X) John Dalton Y) Roger Bacon Z) Robert Boyle
W: W) Aristotle
X: X) John Dalton
Y: Y) Roger Bacon
Z: Z) Robert Boyle
Answer: Z) Z) Robert Boyle
What are the two types of optical phenomena that must occur for light to form a rainbow through the water droplets in the air?
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Using his arms, a boy holds a box weighing 1 kilogram 1 meter above the ground for 1 minute. How much work, in joules, does the boy do on the box?
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How many Btus are needed to raise the temperature of 5 pounds of water from 45° Fahrenheit to 65° Fahrenheit? W) 20 X) 40 Y) 75 Z) 100
W: W) 20
X: X) 40
Y: Y) 75
Z: Z) 100
Answer: Z) Z) 100
The “great ocean conveyor belt” refers to what? W) The series of strong currents that shipping companies follow X) The path of water as it circulates throughout the world’s ocean Y) The influx of migrants from Europe and Asia across the sea to the New World Z) A collection of prominent currents, such as the Gulf Stream and the East Australian Current
W: W) The series of strong currents that shipping companies follow
X: X) The path of water as it circulates throughout the world’s ocean
Y: Y) The influx of migrants from Europe and Asia across the sea to the New World
Z: Z) A collection of prominent currents, such as the Gulf Stream and the East Australian Current
Answer: X) X) The path of water as it circulates throughout the world’s ocean
Within our solar system, what are the four Jovian planets?
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Which of the following animals possesses a lateral line? W) Fish X) Salamander Y) Snake Z) Turtle
W: W) Fish
X: X) Salamander
Y: Y) Snake
Z: Z) Turtle
Answer: W) W) Fish
Following is a list of organisms in a food chain: grass, grasshoppers, mice, snakes, and hawks. A toxin exhibits biomagnification and can be found in all members of this food chain. Which organism will have the highest concentration of this toxin?
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What is the probability that a randomly chosen person has his or her next birthday on a weekend?
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If \((a + b)/b = 3.5\), what is \(a/b\)?
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What term describes the height of an object in the sky? W) Zenith X) Altitude Y) Nadir Z) Meridian
W: W) Zenith
X: X) Altitude
Y: Y) Nadir
Z: Z) Meridian
Answer: X) X) Altitude
What is responsible for producing ozone in the stratosphere? W) The interaction of oxygen and ultraviolet light X) Biogenic emissions Y) Volcanic emissions Z) The interaction of methane and ultraviolet light
W: W) The interaction of oxygen and ultraviolet light
X: X) Biogenic emissions
Y: Y) Volcanic emissions
Z: Z) The interaction of methane and ultraviolet light
Answer: W) W) The interaction of oxygen and ultraviolet light
What is the difference between magma and lava? W) Lava cools more slowly than magma X) Lava interacts with oxygen on the Earth’s surface, while magma remains beneath the surface Y) Magma erupts from volcanoes and hot spots, while lava flows below or on the surface Z) Magma is the liquid form of lava, while lava is the hardened rock from magma
W: W) Lava cools more slowly than magma
X: X) Lava interacts with oxygen on the Earth’s surface, while magma remains beneath the surface
Y: Y) Magma erupts from volcanoes and hot spots, while lava flows below or on the surface
Z: Z) Magma is the liquid form of lava, while lava is the hardened rock from magma
Answer: X) X) Lava interacts with oxygen on the Earth’s surface, while magma remains beneath the surface
Put the following three Earth layers in order from the outermost layer to the innermost layer: 1) asthenosphere; 2) inner core; 3) lithosphere.
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Under atmospheric pressure, carbon dioxide in the solid state transitions directly into the gaseous state. What is this phase change called?
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To a chemist, the term “organic” means that a compound is based on what element?
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Appearing approximately 2.7 billion years ago, the first oxygen-producing organisms most likely belonged to what group of bacteria?
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Agar is derived from what organism? W) Brown algae X) Red algae Y) Green algae Z) Fungi
W: W) Brown algae
X: X) Red algae
Y: Y) Green algae
Z: Z) Fungi
Answer: X) X) Red algae
On the graph of the function \(y = (x + 2)^2\), what is the x-value of the point with the least y-value? W) -2 X) 0 Y) 2 Z) 4
W: W) -2
X: X) 0
Y: Y) 2
Z: Z) 4
Answer: W) W) -2
In terms of \(n\), what is the number of diagonals that can be drawn from any one vertex of a convex polygon with \(n\) sides?
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Which of the following scales is used to rate hurricanes? W) Saffir-Simpson X) Modified Mercalli Y) Enhanced Fujita Z) Richter Magnitude
W: W) Saffir-Simpson
X: X) Modified Mercalli
Y: Y) Enhanced Fujita
Z: Z) Richter Magnitude
Answer: W) W) Saffir-Simpson
Snowflakes can take on a variety of shapes depending on the physical environment in which they form. In addition to temperature, what is the major physical factor that determines snowflake shape?
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A scientist wants to use a figure to show the change in ATP production over time by a cell infected by the flu virus. In what type of graph should a scientist most likely present the results of this experiment?
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Divergent boundaries have a unique structure in their centers. For example, one such structure contains the Red Sea and was formed from the separation of the African and Arabian Plate. What is the name for this structure?
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A battery generates what type of current?
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Rank the following three materials from best thermal insulator to worst: 1) brick; 2) fiberglass batting; 3) steel.
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Correct Order:
For the balanced combustion reaction of methane to produce carbon dioxide and water, which of the following would NOT be expected? W) The reaction is exothermic X) The reactants are gases Y) A catalyst is necessary Z) The reaction produces heat
W: W) The reaction is exothermic
X: X) The reactants are gases
Y: Y) A catalyst is necessary
Z: Z) The reaction produces heat
Answer: Y) Y) A catalyst is necessary
Which of the following sound wave frequencies in hertz would a human be most likely to hear? W) 10 X) 1,000 Y) 50,000 Z) 100,000
W: W) 10
X: X) 1,000
Y: Y) 50,000
Z: Z) 100,000
Answer: X) X) 1,000
Epiphytes primarily obtain water and nutrients through what? W) Roots X) Leaves Y) Other plants Z) Haustoria
W: W) Roots
X: X) Leaves
Y: Y) Other plants
Z: Z) Haustoria
Answer: X) X) Leaves
The Q10 effect is the degree by which metabolic activity is reduced with a 10° Celsius drop in temperature. A typical Q10 value is 2, meaning that metabolic activity is halved for every 10° decrease in temperature. If a collection of cells with a Q10 value of 2 produces 10 nanograms of carbon dioxide per hour at 40° Celsius, how much would you expect them to produce in nanograms in one hour at 10° Celsius?
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What is the least integer between –44.5 and –15.7?
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For the equation \(y = x^2 + 6x – 3\), what is the axis of symmetry of its graph?
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In which of the following rock types are you most likely to find a fossil? W) Sandstone X) Slate Y) Conglomerate Z) Granite
W: W) Sandstone
X: X) Slate
Y: Y) Conglomerate
Z: Z) Granite
Answer: W) W) Sandstone
What will be limited by the presence of a thick snowpack on the surface of sea ice, which will reduce primary production among sea ice algae?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a tundra? W) Presence of large carnivores X) Absence of migrant animals Y) Herbaceous vegetation Z) Permafrost
W: W) Presence of large carnivores
X: X) Absence of migrant animals
Y: Y) Herbaceous vegetation
Z: Z) Permafrost
Answer: X) X) Absence of migrant animals
The African baobab has evolved large, white, pungent flowers to attract what pollinator?
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Which of the following best describes Bernoulli’s principle? W) As the speed of a moving fluid increases, the pressure of the moving fluid decreases X) The individual actions of an organism during its lifetime are the driving force of adaption Y) The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced Z) All atoms of a given element are exactly alike and atoms of different elements could join to form compounds
W: W) As the speed of a moving fluid increases, the pressure of the moving fluid decreases
X: X) The individual actions of an organism during its lifetime are the driving force of adaption
Y: Y) The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced
Z: Z) All atoms of a given element are exactly alike and atoms of different elements could join to form compounds
Answer: W) W) As the speed of a moving fluid increases, the pressure of the moving fluid decreases
Aquifers are areas of underground bodies of rock through which large amounts of water can flow and be stored. Which of the following rock arrangements will make for the least productive aquifer? W) Well-sorted, small-grained rocks that are loosely packed X) Well-sorted, small-grained rocks that are tightly packed Y) Poorly sorted rock with grains of many different sizes that are loosely packed Z) Poorly sorted rock with grains of many different sizes that are tightly packed
W: W) Well-sorted, small-grained rocks that are loosely packed
X: X) Well-sorted, small-grained rocks that are tightly packed
Y: Y) Poorly sorted rock with grains of many different sizes that are loosely packed
Z: Z) Poorly sorted rock with grains of many different sizes that are tightly packed
Answer: Z) Z) Poorly sorted rock with grains of many different sizes that are tightly packed
What term is used to describe the amount of energy needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit?
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What are the percentages of ethanol used in the fuel of a regular vehicle and a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV), respectively? W) 40% and 90% X) 25% and 95% Y) 10% and 85% Z) 50% and 60%
W: W) 40% and 90%
X: X) 25% and 95%
Y: Y) 10% and 85%
Z: Z) 50% and 60%
Answer: Y) Y) 10% and 85%
A vector of magnitude 14 is added to a vector of magnitude 2. The magnitude of the resulting vector is which of the following? W) 12 X) 16 Y) Between 2 and 14, inclusive Z) Between 12 and 16, inclusive
W: W) 12
X: X) 16
Y: Y) Between 2 and 14, inclusive
Z: Z) Between 12 and 16, inclusive
Answer: Z) Z) Between 12 and 16, inclusive
Identify all of the following four substances that are examples of compounds: 1) alcohol; 2) soil; 3) milk; 4) water.
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Assuming that the following structures are unlabeled and unstained, which would be least likely to be visualized using a light microscope with the standard resolution of 0.2 microns? W) Nucleus X) Cell wall Y) Ribosome Z) Mitochondria
W: W) Nucleus
X: X) Cell wall
Y: Y) Ribosome
Z: Z) Mitochondria
Answer: Y) Y) Ribosome
Animals have two sources of DNA in their cells and plants have three sources. Name the three organelles in which plant DNA can be found.
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Providing your answer in slope-intercept form, what is the equation of the line passing through the points (6, –5) and (2, 7)?
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What are the coordinates for the point of intersection in the first quadrant of the graphs with equations \(xy = 4\) and \(y = x + 3\)?
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Which of the following contains the largest amount of the earth’s freshwater? W) Rivers and lakes X) Groundwater Y) Ice caps and glaciers Z) Soil moisture
W: W) Rivers and lakes
X: X) Groundwater
Y: Y) Ice caps and glaciers
Z: Z) Soil moisture
Answer: Y) Y) Ice caps and glaciers
Which of the following greenhouse gases is the longest-lived in the atmosphere? W) Methane X) Water vapor Y) Nitrous oxide Z) CFC-11
W: W) Methane
X: X) Water vapor
Y: Y) Nitrous oxide
Z: Z) CFC-11
Answer: Y) Y) Nitrous oxide
Which of the following most accurately describes the difference between graphite and diamond? W) The carbon atoms are arranged in hexagonal planes in graphite, while they are arranged in a crystal structure in a diamond X) The carbon atoms in graphite are held together by weak hydrogen bonds, while they are held together by strong covalent bonds in a diamond Y) The carbon atoms in graphite are mixed in with impurities, while diamond contains no impurities Z) The carbon atoms in graphite are bonded to more other atoms than the carbon atoms in diamond
W: W) The carbon atoms are arranged in hexagonal planes in graphite, while they are arranged in a crystal structure in a diamond
X: X) The carbon atoms in graphite are held together by weak hydrogen bonds, while they are held together by strong covalent bonds in a diamond
Y: Y) The carbon atoms in graphite are mixed in with impurities, while diamond contains no impurities
Z: Z) The carbon atoms in graphite are bonded to more other atoms than the carbon atoms in diamond
Answer: W) W) The carbon atoms are arranged in hexagonal planes in graphite, while they are arranged in a crystal structure in a diamond
Which of the following is NOT true of the Earth’s magnetic field? W) It is created by the molten iron in the Earth’s outer core X) It changes over time Y) The intensity of the field is the same at the poles and at the equator Z) It is possible that in a few hundred thousand years, the Earth’s magnetic north pole will be reversed
W: W) It is created by the molten iron in the Earth’s outer core
X: X) It changes over time
Y: Y) The intensity of the field is the same at the poles and at the equator
Z: Z) It is possible that in a few hundred thousand years, the Earth’s magnetic north pole will be reversed
Answer: Y) Y) The intensity of the field is the same at the poles and at the equator