MS Sample Set 13, Round 3 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP math phrase

Simplify the expression $$x(2xy^2)^2$$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4x^3y^4

BONUS math phrase

From a point 20 feet from the base of a tree, the angle of elevation to the top is 60 degrees. To the nearest foot, what is the height of the tree?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 35

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Mushrooms are parts of organisms that are contained in what kingdom of life?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Fungi

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • Fungus

BONUS bio phrase

What group of airborne chemicals do insects use to communicate with each other?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Pheromones

TOSS-UP phys phrase

When nitric acid and sodium hydroxide react, the products are a salt and what other compound?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Water

BONUS phys phrase

What is the oxidation state of hydrogen atoms in ammonia?

Acceptable Answers:

  • +1
  • 1

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Lab have successfully simulated an atomic nucleus using a quantum computer. From these calculations, they were able to extract the binding energy of a deuteron, the bound state of what two subatomic particles?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Proton and neutron

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists at Savannah River National Lab are researching novel methods to store hydrogen gas. One such method is a physical storage process in which gas is adsorbed onto glass microbeads. This adsorption creates a heterogeneous mixture of hydrogen and glass that is NOT a solution, but does display the Tyndall effect. What is the general name for this type of mixture?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Colloid

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following geologic structures forms from sediment deposited at the mouth of a river? W) Fjord X) Delta Y) Levee Z) Berm

W: W) Fjord

X: X) Delta

Y: Y) Levee

Z: Z) Berm

Answer: X) X) Delta

BONUS ess phrase

Rhyolitic lavas have a chemical composition identical to what intrusive igneous rock?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Granite

TOSS-UP phys phrase

The specific gravity of a solid or a liquid is defined as its density compared to that of what substance?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Water

BONUS phys phrase

You want to hide your gold in a bottle that you plan to let sink in a freshwater lake. If the bottle has a mass of 105 grams and a total volume of 1 liter, and the gold comes in nuggets of 10 grams each, what is the minimum number of nuggets you need to put in the bottle before it will sink?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 90

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab are studying a nuclear reaction that involves deuterium [doo-TEER-ee-um] and tritium as reactants. What general type of nuclear reaction is this?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Fusion
  • Nuclear fusion

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab are studying magnetic reconnection, a process that can occur in what phase of matter?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Plasma

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Many people suffer from anemia because they lack what metal that is a component of hemoglobin?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Iron

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Microscopic zooplankton can best be classified as which of the following trophic levels? W) Decomposers X) First-level carnivores Y) Herbivores Z) Tertiary carnivores

W: W) Decomposers

X: X) First-level carnivores

Y: Y) Herbivores

Z: Z) Tertiary carnivores

Answer: Y) Y) Herbivores

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What adjective, meaning Earth-like, is used to refer to the four inner planets?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Terrestrial
  • Terrestrial planets

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are true regarding the Moon’s formation: 1) It was a captured asteroid; 2) It formed at the same time as Earth; 3) It contains material that used to be part of Earth.

Choices:

  • It was a captured asteroid
  • It formed at the same time as Earth
  • It contains material that used to be part of Earth

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for the heat required to change the phase of a solid to a liquid?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Heat of fusion
  • Enthalpy of fusion

BONUS phys phrase

Lithium has two stable isotopes and has an atomic mass of 6.941 amu. How many neutrons do most lithium nuclei possess?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Four

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following is a rational number? W) √9 X) √10 Y) √11 Z) √12

W: W) √9

X: X) √10

Y: Y) √11

Z: Z) √12

Answer: W) W) √9

BONUS math phrase

Six dogs have an average woofiness of 7. Another 8 dogs have a woofiness of 4. To the nearest tenth, what is the average woofiness of both groups of dogs combined?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5.3

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What plant vascular system transports nutrients and carbohydrates throughout the plant?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Phloem

BONUS bio multiple_choice

You press down on your arm and feel a pulse beating. From which of the following types of blood vessels is the pulse originating? W) Vein X) Artery Y) Capillary Z) Lymphatics

W: W) Vein

X: X) Artery

Y: Y) Capillary

Z: Z) Lymphatics

Answer: X) X) Artery

TOSS-UP phys phrase

The recoil that follows from the firing of a gun is a direct result of the conservation of what quantity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Momentum
  • Linear momentum

BONUS phys phrase

To two significant figures, how many grams are in 4 pounds of gold?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1800

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the surface area of a cube with edges of length 3?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 54

BONUS math phrase

Solve the following equation for x: $$(3x - 7)^2 = 64$$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • -1/3, 5

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a term for a high area of land that separates one drainage basin from another? W) Divide X) Apex Y) Peak Z) Block mountain

W: W) Divide

X: X) Apex

Y: Y) Peak

Z: Z) Block mountain

Answer: W) W) Divide

BONUS ess phrase

What type of earthquake body waves are longitudinal waves and can therefore pass through liquids and solids?

Acceptable Answers:

  • P waves
  • P
  • Primary

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the sum of the two expressions $$2a + 9b$$ and $$3a - 8b$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5a + b
  • b + 5a

BONUS math phrase

What is 9525% of 24?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2286

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What type of cells in mammals serves as the main carriers of oxygen within the circulatory system?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Erythrocytes
  • Red blood cells
  • RBC

BONUS bio multiple_choice

The malleus, incus, and stapes [STAY-peez] are small bones that play a role in which of the following functions? W) Hearing X) Balance Y) Locomotion Z) Respiration

W: W) Hearing

X: X) Balance

Y: Y) Locomotion

Z: Z) Respiration

Answer: W) W) Hearing

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab scientists have developed ReACT, a new amino acid labeling technique. This technique can be used to study which of the following biomolecules? W) Proteins X) Phospholipids Y) DNA Z) RNA

W: W) Proteins

X: X) Phospholipids

Y: Y) DNA

Z: Z) RNA

Answer: W) W) Proteins

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab are studying how defects in the mixtures of multiple metals can change the properties of the mixture. Generally, these researchers are studying solutions defined by metallic bonding character, which are given what name in chemistry?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Alloys

TOSS-UP math phrase

Simplify the following expression: $$a^8 \times a^3$$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • a^11

BONUS math phrase

What is the smallest positive integer that has a remainder of 3 when divided by 5, a remainder of 0 when divided by 2, and a remainder of 1 when divided by 3?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 28

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What cataclysmic event is necessary for the creation of a neutron star?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Supernova

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a correct pairing of a layer of the Sun’s atmosphere and its effective temperature? W) Photosphere and 6,000 kelvins X) Photosphere and 10,000 kelvins Y) Corona and 6,000 kelvins Z) Corona and 10,000 kelvins

W: W) Photosphere and 6,000 kelvins

X: X) Photosphere and 10,000 kelvins

Y: Y) Corona and 6,000 kelvins

Z: Z) Corona and 10,000 kelvins

Answer: W) W) Photosphere and 6,000 kelvins

TOSS-UP phys phrase

Astronomers and physicists believe that the universe’s expansion is accelerating due to the action of what undiscovered form of energy that composes 73% of the universe’s mass-energy?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Dark energy

BONUS phys phrase

Consider a ball that is thrown at 20 meters per second at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal. In meters per second, what is the horizontal velocity of this ball during its flight?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 10√3

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Prokaryotes

BONUS bio phrase

What is the principal pigment that plants use to absorb light for photosynthesis?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Chlorophyll

TOSS-UP ess phrase

By definition, mafic rocks are rich in what two elements?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Iron and magnesium

BONUS ess phrase

If you see lightning and hear the thunder 15 seconds later, then, to the nearest whole kilometer, how far away was the lightning strike?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5