MS Sample Set 14, Round 11 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following portions of the nervous system controls involuntary responses during times of stress? W) Somatic X) Enteric Y) Sympathetic Z) Parasympathetic

W: W) Somatic

X: X) Enteric

Y: Y) Sympathetic

Z: Z) Parasympathetic

Answer: Y) Y) Sympathetic

BONUS bio multiple_choice

During which of the following phases of meiosis do homologous chromosomes break apart? W) Telophase I X) Anaphase I Y) Prophase II Z) Anaphase II

W: W) Telophase I

X: X) Anaphase I

Y: Y) Prophase II

Z: Z) Anaphase II

Answer: X) X) Anaphase I

TOSS-UP phys phrase

When light is shined through a mixture made by suspending colloidal nanoparticles in water, the light is scattered. What is the name of this effect?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Tyndall effect

BONUS phys order

Rank the following three molecules by increasing magnitude of their net dipole moment: 1) Carbon monoxide 2) Carbon dioxide 3) Hydrogen fluoride

Choices:

  • Carbon monoxide
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Hydrogen fluoride

Correct Order:

  • 2
  • 1
  • 3

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Lab are studying the reactions that alkenes can undergo. Which of the following descriptions most accurately describes alkenes? W) Molecules containing a carbon-carbon double bond X) Molecules containing only carbon and hydrogen Y) Molecules that contain an organic acid group Z) Molecules that are saturated with carbon-hydrogen bonds

W: W) Molecules containing a carbon-carbon double bond

X: X) Molecules containing only carbon and hydrogen

Y: Y) Molecules that contain an organic acid group

Z: Z) Molecules that are saturated with carbon-hydrogen bonds

Answer: W) W) Molecules containing a carbon-carbon double bond

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists at the Joint BioEnergy Institute are studying the synthesis of macrolides, which are protein synthesis inhibitors. These molecules are often used for which of the following purposes? W) Lubricants X) Antibiotics Y) Antivirals Z) Lactamases

W: W) Lubricants

X: X) Antibiotics

Y: Y) Antivirals

Z: Z) Lactamases

Answer: X) X) Antibiotics

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What general type of microscope uses visible wavelengths and lenses to enlarge an image of a sample?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Light microscope
  • Optical microscope

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following animals has the highest osmolarity in their extracellular fluids? W) Trout X) Eagle Y) Squid Z) Human

W: W) Trout

X: X) Eagle

Y: Y) Squid

Z: Z) Human

Answer: Y) Y) Squid

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the coefficient of the bc term in the expansion of $(3a - 4b - 5c)^2$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 40

BONUS math phrase

In the alternating arithmetic sequence with first three terms –8, 11, –14, what is the sum of the first 11 terms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • –23

TOSS-UP ess phrase

The Crab Nebula is an example of a remnant of what cataclysmic event?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Supernova

BONUS ess phrase

What principle of astronomy assumes that the Universe is isotropic and homogeneous?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Cosmological principle

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following best describes the relative heterogeneity of the matter distribution and the cosmic microwave background? W) The CMB is more heterogeneous than the matter distribution X) The matter distribution is more heterogeneous than the CMB Y) The CMB and the matter distribution are perfectly homogeneous Z) The matter distribution is more homogeneous than the CMB

W: W) The CMB is more heterogeneous than the matter distribution

X: X) The matter distribution is more heterogeneous than the CMB

Y: Y) The CMB and the matter distribution are perfectly homogeneous

Z: Z) The matter distribution is more homogeneous than the CMB

Answer: X) X) The matter distribution is more heterogeneous than the CMB

BONUS energy phrase

How many electrons would be contained in the computational model of a neutral neon atom?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 10

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

A Gram stain would be most useful in distinguishing organisms from which of the following groups? W) Bacteria X) Fungi Y) Protozoans Z) Plants

W: W) Bacteria

X: X) Fungi

Y: Y) Protozoans

Z: Z) Plants

Answer: W) W) Bacteria

BONUS bio phrase

What membrane transmits sound from the external auditory canal to the middle ear?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Tympanic membrane
  • Eardrum

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

If a polynomial has 3, 4, –5, and –6 as zeroes, which of the following must be a factor of the polynomial? W) x – 6 X) x + 3 Y) x + 4 Z) x + 5

W: W) x – 6

X: X) x + 3

Y: Y) x + 4

Z: Z) x + 5

Answer: Z) Z) x + 5

BONUS math multiselect

Identify all of the following three numbers that are divisible by 18: 1) 414 2) 702 3) 836

Choices:

  • 414
  • 702
  • 836

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP phys phrase

Two beams of light with wavelengths of 500 nanometers are projected onto the same point. For these beams to destructively interfere, what is the minimal path length difference, in nanometers, between the beams?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 250

BONUS phys multiselect

Consider a spaceship that is orbiting the Earth. Identify all of the following three statements that are TRUE: 1) The spaceship experiences no net gravitational force 2) The spaceship experiences no net acceleration 3) The spaceship’s velocity is changing

Choices:

  • The spaceship experiences no net gravitational force
  • The spaceship experiences no net acceleration
  • The spaceship’s velocity is changing

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at the Joint Genome Institute are studying the specialized DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. What is the name of this sequence?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Centromere

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists studying enzymes that reduce nitrogen to ammonia have found they can also reduce carbon dioxide to what fuel-relevant, single-carbon molecule?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Methane
  • CH₄

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Phosphorite typically contains phosphate in what mineral phase? W) Apatite X) Fluorite Y) Muscovite Z) Talc

W: W) Apatite

X: X) Fluorite

Y: Y) Muscovite

Z: Z) Talc

Answer: W) W) Apatite

BONUS ess phrase

What type of fold occurs when a sequence of sedimentary layers is upfolded?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Anticline

TOSS-UP math phrase

Convert “two-five” in base 6 to base 10.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 17

BONUS math phrase

To the nearest integer, what is the length of a space diagonal in a right rectangular prism with edges of lengths 5, 6, and 9?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 12

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

A nonsense mutation is most likely to result in which of the following events? W) Transcriptional run-on X) Intron inclusion Y) Protein truncation Z) Post-translational modification

W: W) Transcriptional run-on

X: X) Intron inclusion

Y: Y) Protein truncation

Z: Z) Post-translational modification

Answer: Y) Y) Protein truncation

BONUS bio phrase

How many mature sperm cells are formed from the development of a single diploid primary spermatocyte?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4

TOSS-UP phys phrase

It is typically more difficult to start moving a heavy object sitting on the ground than it is to keep it moving. This is because of what type of friction?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Static

BONUS phys order

Rank the following three ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of increasing wavelength: 1) X rays 2) Radio waves 3) Visible light

Choices:

  • X rays
  • Radio waves
  • Visible light

Correct Order:

  • 1
  • 3
  • 2

TOSS-UP math phrase

A group of 14 people took a trivia test. Jack’s score of 55 ranked him 8th on the list, right after Jill. If the median of all scores was 58.5, what was Jill’s score?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 62

BONUS math phrase

A rectangle has an area of 338 square meters. It can be divided into 2 congruent squares with one segment. In meters, what is the perimeter of the rectangle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 78

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following best explains why Titan has an atmosphere while Enceladus does not? W) Titan’s orbit shields it from solar wind X) Titan is more massive Y) Titan has a lower average temperature Z) Titan has a high orbital eccentricity

W: W) Titan’s orbit shields it from solar wind

X: X) Titan is more massive

Y: Y) Titan has a lower average temperature

Z: Z) Titan has a high orbital eccentricity

Answer: X) X) Titan is more massive

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following values, in solar masses, is closest to the maximum mass a main sequence star can possess and still end its life as a white dwarf? W) 0.2 X) 1 Y) 3 Z) 7

W: W) 0.2

X: X) 1

Y: Y) 3

Z: Z) 7

Answer: Z) Z) 7

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Angular momentum can be expressed in which of the following combinations of SI units? W) Kilogram meters per second X) Kilogram meters squared per second Y) Kilogram seconds Z) Kilograms per meter second

W: W) Kilogram meters per second

X: X) Kilogram meters squared per second

Y: Y) Kilogram seconds

Z: Z) Kilograms per meter second

Answer: X) X) Kilogram meters squared per second

BONUS phys phrase

Andrew is tuning the A string on his violin by comparing it to a 440 Hz tuning fork. If his violin string is 437 Hz, what beat frequency will he hear?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following locations primarily consists of smooth muscle? W) Bicep X) Stomach Y) Heart Z) Deltoid

W: W) Bicep

X: X) Stomach

Y: Y) Heart

Z: Z) Deltoid

Answer: X) X) Stomach

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following biomes would be characterized by a large proportion of coniferous trees, populations of hibernating mammals, moraine lakes, and bogs? W) Tundra X) Deciduous forest Y) Grassland Z) Taiga

W: W) Tundra

X: X) Deciduous forest

Y: Y) Grassland

Z: Z) Taiga

Answer: Z) Z) Taiga

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following types of tectonic boundaries most immediately precedes the creation of a new ocean basin? W) Ocean-ocean convergent X) Ocean-continent divergent Y) Continent-continent divergent Z) Ocean-continent convergent

W: W) Ocean-ocean convergent

X: X) Ocean-continent divergent

Y: Y) Continent-continent divergent

Z: Z) Ocean-continent convergent

Answer: Y) Y) Continent-continent divergent

BONUS ess phrase

Low-grade metamorphism of shale will transform it into what rock?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Slate

TOSS-UP math phrase

The endpoints of a diameter of a circle have coordinates (7, –4) and (–3, 16). What is the y-coordinate of the center of the circle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

BONUS math phrase

Solve for x: $\sqrt{x + 13} = x + 7$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • –4

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • –9

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What type of heat transfer best describes the heat that the Sun transmits to the Earth?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Radiation

BONUS phys phrase

A particle is moving with a horizontal velocity of 6 m/s and a vertical velocity of –8 m/s. What is its speed, in m/s?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 10

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Cities along the southern and eastern coasts of the Great Lakes often receive more precipitation during the winter than their counterparts across the Lakes due to what phenomenon?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Lake-effect snow
  • Lake-effect

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three planets that do not have a significant planetary magnetic field: 1) Mercury 2) Jupiter 3) Mars

Choices:

  • Mercury
  • Jupiter
  • Mars

Correct Answers:

  • 3