HS Sample Set 1, Round 14 from NSB
Name the elements in the following reaction that have been oxidized and reduced, respectively: Zn(solid) + CuSO₄(aqueous) → ZnSO₄(aqueous) + Cu(solid)
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Which of the following is closest to the pKa of an acid whose Ka = 5.0 × 10⁻⁴? W) 2.3 X) 3.3 Y) 4.0 Z) 5.0
W: W) 2.3
X: X) 3.3
Y: Y) 4.0
Z: Z) 5.0
Answer: X) X) 3.3
Which of the following best describes the repressor protein in the lac operon: W) uncompetitive inhibitor X) structural protein Y) regulatory protein Z) transcriptional factor
W: W) uncompetitive inhibitor
X: X) structural protein
Y: Y) regulatory protein
Z: Z) transcriptional factor
Answer: Y) Y) regulatory protein
Through which of the following mechanisms do allosteric inhibitors typically operate: W) binding the substrate X) binding to an enzyme’s active site Y) binding to a site other than the active site and changing the shape of an enzyme Z) acting as a competitive inhibitor and overpowering the active sites of enzymes
W: W) binding the substrate
X: X) binding to an enzyme’s active site
Y: Y) binding to a site other than the active site and changing the shape of an enzyme
Z: Z) acting as a competitive inhibitor and overpowering the active sites of enzymes
Answer: Y) Y) binding to a site other than the active site and changing the shape of an enzyme
In the radioactive decay scheme of uranium, what is the final stable element produced?
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Consider an astronaut on the Moon and $g$ is exactly $\tfrac{1}{6}$ of $g$ on Earth. If he threw an object vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 1.6 m/s, how many meters up would it be after 1 s, rounding to the first decimal place?
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Which of the following represents the inverse function of $$f(x) = x^3 + 5\;?$$ W) $(x - 5)^3$ X) $x^3 - 5$ Y) $\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{x - 5}$ Z) $\displaystyle \bigl(\tfrac{x - 5}{5}\bigr)^{\!1/3}$
W: W) $(x - 5)^3$
X: X) $x^3 - 5$
Y: Y) $\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{x - 5}$
Z: Z) $\displaystyle \bigl(\tfrac{x - 5}{5}\bigr)^{\!1/3}$
Answer: Y) Y) $\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{x - 5}$
Giving your answer in meters squared, find the total surface area of a right prism whose base is a right triangle with legs of length 3 m and 4 m and whose altitude is 2 m.
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Which of the following is a tree that is very well-adapted to surviving above shallow permafrost: W) cottonwood X) white pine Y) aspen Z) black spruce
W: W) cottonwood
X: X) white pine
Y: Y) aspen
Z: Z) black spruce
Answer: Z) Z) black spruce
Which of the following BEST describes a small lake in an arctic environment that is likely to be surrounded by a ring of “drunken trees” leaning toward the lake: W) paternoster lake X) thermokarst Y) tarn Z) fen
W: W) paternoster lake
X: X) thermokarst
Y: Y) tarn
Z: Z) fen
Answer: X) X) thermokarst
Order the following 3 hexadecimal numbers from SMALLEST to LARGEST: 1) 3E8 2) BB8 3) 1F4
Choices:
Correct Order:
An experiment aboard a recent Space Shuttle mission exposed Salmonella typhimurium to a space environment. Which of the following resulted when the bacteria came back to Earth: W) they were more virulent X) they were less virulent Y) they had about the same virulence Z) they changed into a new but similar species of bacteria
W: W) they were more virulent
X: X) they were less virulent
Y: Y) they had about the same virulence
Z: Z) they changed into a new but similar species of bacteria
Answer: W) W) they were more virulent
Which of the following is TRUE of red supergiants: W) some form Cepheid variables X) most end as nova stars Y) most have luminosities about 10 to 100 times that of our Sun Z) most have surface temperatures at least 2× that of our Sun
W: W) some form Cepheid variables
X: X) most end as nova stars
Y: Y) most have luminosities about 10 to 100 times that of our Sun
Z: Z) most have surface temperatures at least 2× that of our Sun
Answer: W) W) some form Cepheid variables
Which of the following is NOT characteristic of B-type stars like Rigel or Spica: W) very luminous X) apparent blue color Y) medium-strength hydrogen spectral lines Z) average solar mass of about 3.2
W: W) very luminous
X: X) apparent blue color
Y: Y) medium-strength hydrogen spectral lines
Z: Z) average solar mass of about 3.2
Answer: Z) Z) average solar mass of about 3.2
According to VSEPR bonding theory, if 2 of the bonded atoms in an octahedral molecule are replaced by 2 lone pairs (as in XeF₄), the molecule will assume what geometric shape: W) linear X) trigonal bipyramidal Y) square planar Z) square pyramidal
W: W) linear
X: X) trigonal bipyramidal
Y: Y) square planar
Z: Z) square pyramidal
Answer: Y) Y) square planar
According to VSEPR bonding theory, if one bonded atom in a trigonal bipyramidal molecule is replaced by 2 lone pairs (as in ClF₃), the molecule will assume what shape: W) T-shaped X) see-saw Y) linear Z) bent
W: W) T-shaped
X: X) see-saw
Y: Y) linear
Z: Z) bent
Answer: W) W) T-shaped
Which of the following mutations would most likely affect a gene the LEAST: W) single base deletion X) single base substitution Y) single base insertion Z) quadruple base deletion
W: W) single base deletion
X: X) single base substitution
Y: Y) single base insertion
Z: Z) quadruple base deletion
Answer: X) X) single base substitution
Which of the following BEST explains why a single base substitution in a gene-coding region will sometimes lead to no change in amino acid sequence: W) all nucleotides are subject to the same mutation rate X) some nucleotide bases are covalently joined by stronger bonds Y) the code is degenerate with more than one triplet coding for the same amino acid Z) some amino acids act in the same fashion in determining the tertiary structure of a protein
W: W) all nucleotides are subject to the same mutation rate
X: X) some nucleotide bases are covalently joined by stronger bonds
Y: Y) the code is degenerate with more than one triplet coding for the same amino acid
Z: Z) some amino acids act in the same fashion in determining the tertiary structure of a protein
Answer: Y) Y) the code is degenerate with more than one triplet coding for the same amino acid
Which of the following experimental approaches was used by scientists to discover that the atomic nucleus held most of the atom’s mass and positive charge: W) directing alpha particles at thin metal strips X) finding the amount of magnetic deflection in cathode rays within a well-evacuated tube Y) exposing photographic film to certain radium salts Z) using a crude cyclotron to disintegrate large nuclei
W: W) directing alpha particles at thin metal strips
X: X) finding the amount of magnetic deflection in cathode rays within a well-evacuated tube
Y: Y) exposing photographic film to certain radium salts
Z: Z) using a crude cyclotron to disintegrate large nuclei
Answer: W) W) directing alpha particles at thin metal strips
Name all of the following 4 sub-atomic particles that are never found in isolation:
Choices:
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Which of the following is a quadratic equation with a root of multiplicity 2: W) $9x^2 - 30x + 25 = 0$ X) $x^2 + 2x - 15 = 0$ Y) $6x^2 - 11x - 2 = 0$ Z) $4x^2 - 1 = 0$
W: W) $9x^2 - 30x + 25 = 0$
X: X) $x^2 + 2x - 15 = 0$
Y: Y) $6x^2 - 11x - 2 = 0$
Z: Z) $4x^2 - 1 = 0$
Answer: W) W) $9x^2 - 30x + 25 = 0$
Given $$f(x) = x^2 + 2x + 3\,, $$ express $$f(x + 1)$$ in standard polynomial form.
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Placodonts, which lived during the Triassic Period, were a group of: W) meat-eating land reptiles X) flying reptiles Y) small, lightweight, plant-eating reptiles Z) marine reptiles
W: W) meat-eating land reptiles
X: X) flying reptiles
Y: Y) small, lightweight, plant-eating reptiles
Z: Z) marine reptiles
Answer: Z) Z) marine reptiles
Which of the following is NOT true regarding seismic waves through the Earth: W) P-waves travel through the mantle X) S-waves travel through the mantle Y) P-waves travel through the outer core Z) S-waves travel through the outer core
W: W) P-waves travel through the mantle
X: X) S-waves travel through the mantle
Y: Y) P-waves travel through the outer core
Z: Z) S-waves travel through the outer core
Answer: Z) Z) S-waves travel through the outer core
Which of the following would a Leyden jar most likely be considered: W) an electroscope X) a capacitor Y) a resistor Z) a Tesla cage
W: W) an electroscope
X: X) a capacitor
Y: Y) a resistor
Z: Z) a Tesla cage
Answer: X) X) a capacitor
How many joules of energy are used by an electrical appliance operating on 8 A of current flowing through a 20 Ω resistance circuit for 5 minutes?
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Which of the following BEST describes where the zodiacal light is brightest to a stargazer at mid-northern latitudes: W) within about 20° of the ecliptic X) at the western horizon at sunrise Y) at right angles to the Milky Way Z) parallel with the Milky Way
W: W) within about 20° of the ecliptic
X: X) at the western horizon at sunrise
Y: Y) at right angles to the Milky Way
Z: Z) parallel with the Milky Way
Answer: W) W) within about 20° of the ecliptic
Which of the following is the BEST explanation for what causes zodiacal light: W) reflection of moonlight off the Earth’s surface X) dispersion of the Earth’s radiant heat off the troposphere Y) sunlight reflected off interplanetary dust particles Z) radiation from the Van Allen belts
W: W) reflection of moonlight off the Earth’s surface
X: X) dispersion of the Earth’s radiant heat off the troposphere
Y: Y) sunlight reflected off interplanetary dust particles
Z: Z) radiation from the Van Allen belts
Answer: Y) Y) sunlight reflected off interplanetary dust particles
How many quantum numbers are required to completely describe a specific electron in a multi-electron atom?
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Which of the following describes the quantum number that indicates the direction in space of the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus of an atom: W) magnetic quantum number X) principal quantum number Y) angular momentum quantum number Z) spin quantum number
W: W) magnetic quantum number
X: X) principal quantum number
Y: Y) angular momentum quantum number
Z: Z) spin quantum number
Answer: W) W) magnetic quantum number
Which of the following BEST explains why leaves fall off trees in the autumn: W) the leaves die and passively fall off X) an abscission layer forms at the base of the leaf stem causing it to fall off Y) the leaves slowly dry out from the bottom up because of abscisic acid that prevents phloem from delivering nutrients Z) the vascular tissue of the leaves fill up with resin increasing their stiffness and causing them to become brittle
W: W) the leaves die and passively fall off
X: X) an abscission layer forms at the base of the leaf stem causing it to fall off
Y: Y) the leaves slowly dry out from the bottom up because of abscisic acid that prevents phloem from delivering nutrients
Z: Z) the vascular tissue of the leaves fill up with resin increasing their stiffness and causing them to become brittle
Answer: X) X) an abscission layer forms at the base of the leaf stem causing it to fall off
Which of the following will most likely result from a single base deletion in DNA: W) nonsense mutation X) stop codon Y) frame shift mutation Z) inversion mutation
W: W) nonsense mutation
X: X) stop codon
Y: Y) frame shift mutation
Z: Z) inversion mutation
Answer: Y) Y) frame shift mutation
Because of its linear-temperature relationship and its chemical inertness, which of the following materials is almost always used in resistance temperature detectors: W) mercury X) platinum Y) iron Z) brass
W: W) mercury
X: X) platinum
Y: Y) iron
Z: Z) brass
Answer: X) X) platinum
Which of the following is the main advantage for the use of geothermal heat pumps in the U.S.: W) geothermal steam reservoirs can be tapped almost anywhere in the U.S. X) heat can be delivered directly for its intended use Y) steam can be used to directly generate electricity Z) all areas of the U.S. have nearly constant shallow-ground temperatures
W: W) geothermal steam reservoirs can be tapped almost anywhere in the U.S.
X: X) heat can be delivered directly for its intended use
Y: Y) steam can be used to directly generate electricity
Z: Z) all areas of the U.S. have nearly constant shallow-ground temperatures
Answer: Z) Z) all areas of the U.S. have nearly constant shallow-ground temperatures
In the algebra of real-valued functions, give the name or number of all of the following 3 choices that the implied domain usually excludes: 1) numbers causing division by zero 2) numbers causing imaginary numbers in the range 3) numbers causing irrational numbers in the range
Choices:
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Add the following rational expressions and give your answer in fully factored form: \[\frac{x+6}{x+4}\;-\;\frac{x+2}{x+2}\;+\;\frac{x}{x}\]
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The aurora occur high in what layer of Earth’s atmosphere?
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During a Nor’easter, areas far to the east of the storm center will feel which of the following storm-generated winds: W) northeasterly X) southeasterly Y) southwesterly Z) northwesterly
W: W) northeasterly
X: X) southeasterly
Y: Y) southwesterly
Z: Z) northwesterly
Answer: Y) Y) southwesterly
Which of the following most accurately represents the complete range of wavelengths to which the human eye is sensitive: W) 320 to 600 nm X) 380 to 740 nm Y) 450 to 850 nm Z) 480 to 950 nm
W: W) 320 to 600 nm
X: X) 380 to 740 nm
Y: Y) 450 to 850 nm
Z: Z) 480 to 950 nm
Answer: X) X) 380 to 740 nm
Which of the following is NOT true: W) over 50% of all stars that appear to be single are double or multiple systems X) aurora borealis can occur in all 4 seasons Y) tetanus toxin causes muscle stiffness in affected humans Z) the Large Hadron Collider at CERN began colliding electrons in September of 2008
W: W) over 50% of all stars that appear to be single are double or multiple systems
X: X) aurora borealis can occur in all 4 seasons
Y: Y) tetanus toxin causes muscle stiffness in affected humans
Z: Z) the Large Hadron Collider at CERN began colliding electrons in September of 2008
Answer: Z) Z) the Large Hadron Collider at CERN began colliding electrons in September of 2008
If the surface temperature of a star increased from 6 000 K to 18 000 K, how many times as much energy would it radiate?
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Using the most common temperature-based spectral classification system, a star with an apparent color of blue and a surface temperature of 55 000 K would have what spectral letter classification?
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What is the most common name for the terminus of a tRNA molecule to which amino acids are attached?
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What protein, that takes its name from its apparent molecular weight, can arrest cells in the G₁–S checkpoint, initiate apoptosis, and, when deactivated, is implicated in a wide variety of cancers?
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According to general solubility rules, name all of the following 5 substances that are NOT soluble in water:
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Consider a hypothetical reaction, A + B → C + D. At zero time, [A] = 1 M; after 30 s [A] = 0.5 M; and after 50 s [A] = 0.3 M. Calculate the average rate of disappearance of A over the time interval 30 s to 50 s, in molarity per second.
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What is the most common name for the field, which is believed to act somewhat like a fluid that fills space and endows quarks with mass?
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Order the following 3 isotopes from the one with the LOWEST nuclear binding energy to the HIGHEST: 1) iron-58 2) hydrogen-2 3) oxygen-16
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Into what specific mitochondrial compartment are hydrogen ions pumped out during chemiosmosis?
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Name all of the following 4 hormones that are formed primarily from the amino acid tyrosine: glucagon; thyroxine; epinephrine; erythropoietin
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