MS Sample Set 5, Round 1 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP general phrase

Providing your answer as a decimal to the nearest hundredth, what is the density in grams per cubic centimeter of a material with a mass of 2.02 grams and a volume of 0.500 cubic centimeters?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4.04

BONUS general multiselect

By number, identify all of the following four characteristics that are TRUE of hail: 1) most hail is less than 5 inches in diameter; 2) it is formed of partially frozen raindrops; 3) it is formed from chunks of ice; 4) it falls from the clouds as rain.

Choices:

  • most hail is less than 5 inches in diameter
  • it is formed of partially frozen raindrops
  • it is formed from chunks of ice
  • it falls from the clouds as rain

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 3

TOSS-UP math phrase

In triangle ABC, angle C is a right angle, side AC is equal to 15 units, and side BC is equal to 8 units. What is the length, in units, of side AB?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 17

BONUS math phrase

By how much is the sum of the first 10 even positive integers greater than the sum of the first 10 positive integers?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 55

TOSS-UP phys phrase

How many protons are in an atom of carbon-14?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

BONUS phys phrase

Given g as 10 meters per second squared, what is the weight, in newtons, of a crate with a mass of 10 kilograms being raised from the floor at a steady speed?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 100

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following determines the size of the image formed by a telescope? W) The focal length of the main lens or mirror X) The thickness of the lens Y) The size of the aperture Z) The size of the mirror

W: W) The focal length of the main lens or mirror

X: X) The thickness of the lens

Y: Y) The size of the aperture

Z: Z) The size of the mirror

Answer: W) W) The focal length of the main lens or mirror

BONUS ess multiselect

By name or number, identify all of the following four moon phases in which a neap tide can occur: 1) first quarter, 2) last quarter, 3) new moon, 4) full moon.

Choices:

  • first quarter
  • last quarter
  • new moon
  • full moon

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP general phrase

A female who is heterozygous for a dominant, X-linked trait crosses with a male who also displays this trait phenotypically. What percentage of their sons will display this trait?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 50%

BONUS general multiselect

By name or number, identify all of the following four choices that are unsaturated hydrocarbons: 1) propane; 2) ethene; 3) acetylene; 4) benzene.

Choices:

  • propane
  • ethene
  • acetylene
  • benzene

Correct Answers:

  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

TOSS-UP phys phrase

How many valence electrons are in beryllium?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following compounds is LEAST soluble in water? W) Ammonia X) Molecular nitrogen Y) Sodium chloride Z) Methanol

W: W) Ammonia

X: X) Molecular nitrogen

Y: Y) Sodium chloride

Z: Z) Methanol

Answer: X) X) Molecular nitrogen

TOSS-UP ess phrase

In which geologic period did reptiles first appear in Earth’s history?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Carboniferous

BONUS ess phrase

The stratopause is the boundary between which two atmospheric layers?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Stratosphere and Mesosphere

TOSS-UP phys phrase

When an electron or proton is accelerated through a potential difference of 1 volt, how much energy does it gain in electron volts?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Lanthanides are elements with which of the following orbitals partially filled? W) S X) P Y) D Z) F

W: W) S

X: X) P

Y: Y) D

Z: Z) F

Answer: Z) Z) F

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Tampa Bay desalination plant? W) It can produce up to 25 million gallons of drinking water per day X) It uses the process of reverse osmosis to produce drinking water from saltwater Y) Concentrated seawater is directed back to the power plant, where it is mixed with cooling water and returned to the Bay Z) Increased salinity in Tampa Bay is a proven environmental hazard of this operation

W: W) It can produce up to 25 million gallons of drinking water per day

X: X) It uses the process of reverse osmosis to produce drinking water from saltwater

Y: Y) Concentrated seawater is directed back to the power plant, where it is mixed with cooling water and returned to the Bay

Z: Z) Increased salinity in Tampa Bay is a proven environmental hazard of this operation

Answer: Z) Z) Increased salinity in Tampa Bay is a proven environmental hazard of this operation

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Which of the following processes involves the scattering of a photon off of an electron? W) Compton scattering X) Møller scattering Y) Pair production Z) Bhabha scattering

W: W) Compton scattering

X: X) Møller scattering

Y: Y) Pair production

Z: Z) Bhabha scattering

Answer: W) W) Compton scattering

TOSS-UP math phrase

Given that a plane is at an angle between 1 and 89 degrees to the axis of a right circular cylinder, what is the name of the curve formed at their intersection?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Ellipse

BONUS math phrase

To be labeled “sugar free,” a candy must contain less than 0.5 grams of sugar per 40 grams. If a serving of sugar free candy is 25 grams, what is the maximum amount of sugar allowed, to the nearest hundredth of a gram?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 0.31

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a depositional feature formed by a glacier? W) Arête X) Horn Y) Cirque Z) Kame

W: W) Arête

X: X) Horn

Y: Y) Cirque

Z: Z) Kame

Answer: Z) Z) Kame

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Iceland is very tectonically active; which of the following does NOT contribute to its interesting geologic and tectonic past and present? W) Location atop a divergent boundary X) Location adjacent to a subduction zone Y) Location atop a hot spot Z) Abundant transform faults

W: W) Location atop a divergent boundary

X: X) Location adjacent to a subduction zone

Y: Y) Location atop a hot spot

Z: Z) Abundant transform faults

Answer: X) X) Location adjacent to a subduction zone

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

The kinetic energy of an object is proportional to which of the following? W) Its velocity X) The square of its velocity Y) Its momentum Z) Its angular momentum

W: W) Its velocity

X: X) The square of its velocity

Y: Y) Its momentum

Z: Z) Its angular momentum

Answer: X) X) The square of its velocity

BONUS phys phrase

One liter of oxygen and two liters of hydrogen are reacted in a closed container to form a gaseous product. If the temperature within the container is the same before and after the reaction, what is the ratio of final pressure to initial pressure in the container?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2 : 3
  • 2 to 3, 2/3

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following events are associated with the highest tides? W) Spring tides X) Neap tides Y) Slack tides Z) Ebb tides

W: W) Spring tides

X: X) Neap tides

Y: Y) Slack tides

Z: Z) Ebb tides

Answer: W) W) Spring tides

BONUS ess order

By name or number, rank the following sedimentary rocks in order of increasing grain size: 1) conglomerate; 2) sandstone; 3) shale.

Choices:

  • conglomerate
  • sandstone
  • shale

Correct Order:

  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What is the name of the device that relies on sunshine to cook food when firewood is scarce?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Solar cooker
  • Solar oven

BONUS energy phrase

Which U.S. state will have the first wave-power farm?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Oregon

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What kinds of leaves do not possess a petiole?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Sessile

BONUS bio phrase

Match the terms serrate, entire, and lobed with the numbers of the following leaf descriptions: 1) they have little bent teeth like those of a saw; 2) they have divisions that do not arrive at the center of half of the blade; 3) they have a smooth margin.

Acceptable Answers:

  • Serrate = 1; Entire = 3; Lobed = 2

TOSS-UP math phrase

Bob is building shelves 18 inches long. He uses a saw with a kerf, or cut width, of an eighth of an inch. Considering the kerf, how many shelves exactly 18 inches long can he make from a board that is 72 inches long?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3

BONUS math phrase

What is the perimeter, in inches, of an isosceles trapezoid with parallel sides measuring 4 inches and 10 inches and a height of 4 inches?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 24

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following best describes the position of a gene on a chromosome? W) Chiasma X) Allele Y) Histone Z) Locus

W: W) Chiasma

X: X) Allele

Y: Y) Histone

Z: Z) Locus

Answer: Z) Z) Locus

BONUS bio phrase

What are the common names of the two generally accepted families of living owls?

Acceptable Answers:

  • True owls and barn owls
  • Typical owls

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following tectonic settings is MOST conducive to geothermal power generation? W) Plate boundaries X) Passive margins Y) Continental shields Z) Denudation

W: W) Plate boundaries

X: X) Passive margins

Y: Y) Continental shields

Z: Z) Denudation

Answer: W) W) Plate boundaries

BONUS energy phrase

You want to design a battery pack filled with many cell phone lithium-ion batteries capable of storing 10 megawatt hours of energy to offset a gas turbine power plant. If the battery pack operates at a constant voltage of 4 volts, how much capacity, in ampere hours, would you need to store 10 megawatt hours of energy?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2,500,000

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for the reactant used up first in a reaction?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Limiting reagent

BONUS phys multiple_choice

A spring lies flat on a frictionless table and oscillates with a mass attached to the end of it. Which of the following is NOT true regarding this system? W) Kinetic energy is greatest at the equilibrium position X) Potential energy is greatest at two different displacements Y) Potential energy is least at the equilibrium position Z) Increasing the mass of the attached object will increase the magnitude of the spring force

W: W) Kinetic energy is greatest at the equilibrium position

X: X) Potential energy is greatest at two different displacements

Y: Y) Potential energy is least at the equilibrium position

Z: Z) Increasing the mass of the attached object will increase the magnitude of the spring force

Answer: Z) Z) Increasing the mass of the attached object will increase the magnitude of the spring force

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following ocean animals’ eggs hatch at low tide? W) Sea turtle X) Sea star Y) Grunion Z) Sea anemone

W: W) Sea turtle

X: X) Sea star

Y: Y) Grunion

Z: Z) Sea anemone

Answer: W) W) Sea turtle

BONUS bio phrase

What is the name of a small, circular piece of bacterial DNA that contains only a few genes?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Plasmid

TOSS-UP math phrase

Identify the real zeros of the function \(f(x) = \sqrt{x^2 - 4}\).

Acceptable Answers:

  • -2 and 2

BONUS math multiple_choice

Which of the following points lies on the curve with equation \(y = 2x^3 - |5x| + 3\)? W) (-2, 29) X) (-2, 1) Y) (-2, 9) Z) (-2, -23)

W: W) (-2, 29)

X: X) (-2, 1)

Y: Y) (-2, 9)

Z: Z) (-2, -23)

Answer: Z) Z) (-2, -23)

TOSS-UP general multiselect

By name or number, identify all of the following four organisms that are mollusks: 1) squid; 2) sea star; 3) chiton; 4) sea cucumber.

Choices:

  • squid
  • sea star
  • chiton
  • sea cucumber

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 3

BONUS general phrase

By name or number, identify which of the following three coral reef types is directly attached to a shore, or borders it with an intervening shallow channel or lagoon: 1) atoll; 2) barrier; 3) fringing.

Acceptable Answers:

  • Fringing (3)

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following minerals has the highest density? W) Chromite X) Galena Y) Platinum Z) Pyrite

W: W) Chromite

X: X) Galena

Y: Y) Platinum

Z: Z) Pyrite

Answer: Y) Y) Platinum

BONUS ess phrase

Kyanite is a metamorphic mineral that forms at temperatures greater than 600 °C. Assuming a geothermal gradient of 20 °C per kilometer, what is the minimum depth, in kilometers, at which kyanite will form?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 30

TOSS-UP general multiselect

By name or number, identify all of the following three properties that would be the same at both sea level and the top of Mount Everest: 1) mass; 2) specific heat; 3) weight.

Choices:

  • mass
  • specific heat
  • weight

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

BONUS general phrase

What type of photoreceptor is most abundant in the human eye?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Rods

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What type of tree has cones and needlelike leaves?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Conifer
  • Evergreen

BONUS bio phrase

What element is most commonly used as the final electron acceptor during oxidative phosphorylation?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Oxygen