MS Sample Set 3, Round 7 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the pH of a neutral aqueous solution?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 7

BONUS phys phrase

If a solution has a low pH, what ion predominates in the solution?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HYDRONIUM
  • HYDROGEN
  • H3O+
  • H+

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

When the nickel-iron crystals in iron meteorites cool very slowly it often causes them to: W) fall apart X) be exceedingly brittle with a flake-like appearance Y) have large crystals Z) have a soft outer layer and a dense hard inner core

W: W) fall apart

X: X) be exceedingly brittle with a flake-like appearance

Y: Y) have large crystals

Z: Z) have a soft outer layer and a dense hard inner core

Answer: Y) Y) have large crystals

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT typically true about fossils: W) index fossils are not geographically widespread X) fossilized marine animals have been found in the Himalayan Mountains Y) fossils found in tar pits are very well preserved Z) petrified wood is a type of fossil

W: W) index fossils are not geographically widespread

X: X) fossilized marine animals have been found in the Himalayan Mountains

Y: Y) fossils found in tar pits are very well preserved

Z: Z) petrified wood is a type of fossil

Answer: W) W) index fossils are not geographically widespread

TOSS-UP math phrase

Giving your answer in meters to the first decimal place, if one leg of an isosceles right triangle is 10 meters long, how long is the hypotenuse?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 14.1

BONUS math phrase

Consider 2 cars that start from the same point along a highway and travel in the same direction. One car travels at a constant rate of 40 miles per hour and the other at a constant rate of 50 miles per hour. How many hours later are the cars 40 miles apart?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

If you draw a triangle on a sphere such as a basketball, which of the following is TRUE: W) the sum of the 3 angles is greater than 180° X) the sum of the 3 angles is equal to 180° Y) the sum of the 3 angles is less than 180° Z) the triangle has negative curvature and is not considered a triangle

W: W) the sum of the 3 angles is greater than 180°

X: X) the sum of the 3 angles is equal to 180°

Y: Y) the sum of the 3 angles is less than 180°

Z: Z) the triangle has negative curvature and is not considered a triangle

Answer: W) W) the sum of the 3 angles is greater than 180°

BONUS general phrase

What metallic element is silvery white, takes on a high polish, is extensively used for making stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, and is used in making rechargeable batteries?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NICKEL
  • Ni

TOSS-UP bio phrase

The grasshopper body is grossly divided into what 3 parts?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HEAD; THORAX; ABDOMEN

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is the primary excretory organ of the grasshopper: W) mandible X) gonopore Y) malpighian tube Z) siphon

W: W) mandible

X: X) gonopore

Y: Y) malpighian tube

Z: Z) siphon

Answer: Y) Y) malpighian tube

TOSS-UP phys phrase

If a screwdriver is used to tighten a screw, then the screwdriver is an example of what simple machine?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WHEEL AND AXLE

BONUS phys phrase

What is the force, in newtons, with which gravity pulls a 70-kilogram person towards the Earth’s surface?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 686
  • 700

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Human-induced global climate change is believed to be caused primarily by the release of what gas into the atmosphere?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CARBON DIOXIDE
  • CO2

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a gas that is a pollutant when present in the troposphere but beneficial when present in the stratosphere: W) nitrogen X) chlorofluorocarbons Y) hydrogen Z) ozone

W: W) nitrogen

X: X) chlorofluorocarbons

Y: Y) hydrogen

Z: Z) ozone

Answer: Z) Z) ozone

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following produces red-colored eyes in humans in some photographs taken with a flash: W) light that reflects off the retina X) light of a certain wavelength that is scattered by the cornea Y) light that is illuminating the optic nerve Z) certain films react with red light more than others

W: W) light that reflects off the retina

X: X) light of a certain wavelength that is scattered by the cornea

Y: Y) light that is illuminating the optic nerve

Z: Z) certain films react with red light more than others

Answer: W) W) light that reflects off the retina

BONUS general phrase

Giving your answer in meters rounded to the second decimal place, add 2,500 centimeters to 350 millimeters:

Acceptable Answers:

  • 25.35

TOSS-UP bio phrase

How many chromosomes does a mature human sperm typically have?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 23

BONUS bio phrase

Of the 4 main blood types, what type has the LEAST amount of reacting antigens and is therefore the most common type for blood transfusions?

Acceptable Answers:

  • O

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true concerning pure liquid water: W) it is a good solvent for simple sugars X) it has a high specific heat Y) it is a requirement for all known life forms Z) the colder it gets the denser it gets from 100°C to 0°C

W: W) it is a good solvent for simple sugars

X: X) it has a high specific heat

Y: Y) it is a requirement for all known life forms

Z: Z) the colder it gets the denser it gets from 100°C to 0°C

Answer: Z) Z) the colder it gets the denser it gets from 100°C to 0°C

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following is LEAST accurate: W) water is a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom X) each carbon dioxide molecule has 2 oxygen atoms Y) dioxide means something has two oxygen molecules Z) carbon dioxide is made of two elements

W: W) water is a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom

X: X) each carbon dioxide molecule has 2 oxygen atoms

Y: Y) dioxide means something has two oxygen molecules

Z: Z) carbon dioxide is made of two elements

Answer: Y) Y) dioxide means something has two oxygen molecules

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

To calculate the distance between an earthquake epicenter and a seismograph, seismologists construct a time-travel curve. What 2 seismic waves are plotted on this curve: W) P-waves and S-waves X) P-waves and surface waves Y) S-waves and surface waves Z) P-waves and L-waves

W: W) P-waves and S-waves

X: X) P-waves and surface waves

Y: Y) S-waves and surface waves

Z: Z) P-waves and L-waves

Answer: W) W) P-waves and S-waves

BONUS ess phrase

Of the following 3 seismic waves, name all that can travel through Earth’s liquid outer core: S-wave; surface wave; P-wave

Acceptable Answers:

  • P-wave

TOSS-UP math phrase

If a + b = 12, b + c = 20, and c + d = 6, find a if d = 1.

Acceptable Answers:

  • -3

BONUS math phrase

Using π = 3.14, give the integer value, in square centimeters, for the area of a circle whose diameter is 200 centimeters:

Acceptable Answers:

  • 31400

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following statements is NOT true: W) yeast reproduces asexually X) lichens are the mainstay of the caribou diet Y) coal is not a native mineral Z) a spider’s web is made from a specialized carbohydrate

W: W) yeast reproduces asexually

X: X) lichens are the mainstay of the caribou diet

Y: Y) coal is not a native mineral

Z: Z) a spider’s web is made from a specialized carbohydrate

Answer: Z) Z) a spider’s web is made from a specialized carbohydrate

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following celestial objects is the farthest from Earth: W) the most distant quasar X) the Andromeda galaxy Y) the closest binary star Z) Vega

W: W) the most distant quasar

X: X) the Andromeda galaxy

Y: Y) the closest binary star

Z: Z) Vega

Answer: W) W) the most distant quasar

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the scientific term for the male reproductive structure in plants?

Acceptable Answers:

  • STAMEN
  • ANTHER

BONUS bio phrase

What is the most common term for the root system in most dicots?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TAP ROOT

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following occurs as a bottle of milk falls from the edge of a table until just before it strikes a floor: W) all the bottle’s potential energy is lost to heat and friction X) the potential energy of the bottle decreases Y) the potential energy of the bottle increases Z) the total potential energy of the bottle remains the same

W: W) all the bottle’s potential energy is lost to heat and friction

X: X) the potential energy of the bottle decreases

Y: Y) the potential energy of the bottle increases

Z: Z) the total potential energy of the bottle remains the same

Answer: X) X) the potential energy of the bottle decreases

BONUS phys phrase

What is the total pressure, in atmospheres, at a depth of 40 meters in saltwater?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5
  • 4.87

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Where does most of Earth’s groundwater come from: W) percolation of seawater into underground aquifers where it undergoes natural desalination X) precipitation Y) aquifers that have been there since Earth's origin Z) glacial melting and runoff

W: W) percolation of seawater into underground aquifers where it undergoes natural desalination

X: X) precipitation

Y: Y) aquifers that have been there since Earth's origin

Z: Z) glacial melting and runoff

Answer: X) X) precipitation

BONUS ess multiple_choice

A conglomerate rock belongs to which of the following groups of rocks: W) foliated metamorphic X) clastic sedimentary Y) chemical sedimentary Z) organic sedimentary

W: W) foliated metamorphic

X: X) clastic sedimentary

Y: Y) chemical sedimentary

Z: Z) organic sedimentary

Answer: X) X) clastic sedimentary

TOSS-UP math phrase

Solve the following equation for x: |x – 3| = –7

Acceptable Answers:

  • NO SOLUTION
  • EMPTY SET

BONUS math phrase

Solve the following equation for x over the real numbers: (64)² = 16x²

Acceptable Answers:

  • 16; –16

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following is the primary industrial use for diamond dust: W) it is melted and made into liquid crystal displays X) as an abrasive Y) as a bonding agent in high-end ceramics Z) as a strengthening agent in high-tech cements

W: W) it is melted and made into liquid crystal displays

X: X) as an abrasive

Y: Y) as a bonding agent in high-end ceramics

Z: Z) as a strengthening agent in high-tech cements

Answer: X) X) as an abrasive

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following BEST explains why when a balloon filled with air is moved from a cold room to a warm room, the balloon expands: W) the air pressure on the outside of the balloon is now greater X) the air molecules inside the balloon get bigger Y) the air molecules inside the balloon move faster Z) the room’s air molecules are repelled from the outside of the balloon by electrostatic forces

W: W) the air pressure on the outside of the balloon is now greater

X: X) the air molecules inside the balloon get bigger

Y: Y) the air molecules inside the balloon move faster

Z: Z) the room’s air molecules are repelled from the outside of the balloon by electrostatic forces

Answer: Y) Y) the air molecules inside the balloon move faster

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following trees have simple, pinnate leaves: W) red oak and fig X) sugar maple and sycamore Y) sassafras and palm Z) cherry and apple

W: W) red oak and fig

X: X) sugar maple and sycamore

Y: Y) sassafras and palm

Z: Z) cherry and apple

Answer: Z) Z) cherry and apple

BONUS bio phrase

Of the 4 general types of biological molecules—proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids—which category would most enzymes fall under?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PROTEINS

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

The octet rule MOST directly involves which of the following: W) only atoms with 8 or more protons X) the sharing of valence electrons Y) the balance of neutrons to protons Z) the loss of protons in radioactive decay

W: W) only atoms with 8 or more protons

X: X) the sharing of valence electrons

Y: Y) the balance of neutrons to protons

Z: Z) the loss of protons in radioactive decay

Answer: X) X) the sharing of valence electrons

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following is LEAST accurate: W) all atoms have protons in their nuclei X) covalent bonding of atoms involves the sharing of electrons Y) potassium and bromine normally form covalent bonds Z) most of the mass of an atom is in its nucleus and the atom is mostly empty space

W: W) all atoms have protons in their nuclei

X: X) covalent bonding of atoms involves the sharing of electrons

Y: Y) potassium and bromine normally form covalent bonds

Z: Z) most of the mass of an atom is in its nucleus and the atom is mostly empty space

Answer: Y) Y) potassium and bromine normally form covalent bonds

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Oceanic crust being formed at spreading centers is primarily made of: W) granite X) basalt Y) peridotite Z) andesite

W: W) granite

X: X) basalt

Y: Y) peridotite

Z: Z) andesite

Answer: X) X) basalt

BONUS ess phrase

What is the name of the process that occurs along a convergent plate boundary whereby one of the plates bends and sinks into the mantle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SUBDUCTION

TOSS-UP math phrase

If Dan can paint a wall in 3 hours but Ryan takes 6 hours, how many hours will it take them to paint the wall if they work together?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

BONUS math phrase

Subtract the following, giving your answer in simplest radical form: √20 − 2√45

Acceptable Answers:

  • −4√5

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Pheromones are chemicals produced by various species and function primarily in: W) camouflage X) digestion Y) sweat secretion Z) communication

W: W) camouflage

X: X) digestion

Y: Y) sweat secretion

Z: Z) communication

Answer: Z) Z) communication

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following U.S. states is LEAST prone to having earthquakes because it does not lie near an existing fault zone: W) Florida X) Alaska Y) Washington Z) Missouri

W: W) Florida

X: X) Alaska

Y: Y) Washington

Z: Z) Missouri

Answer: W) W) Florida

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the scientific term for the process arthropods go through to shed their exoskeleton to allow them to grow into a new one?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MOLTING

BONUS bio phrase

What is the primary protein from which eagles’ talons are made?

Acceptable Answers:

  • KERATIN