MS Sample Set 13, Round 1 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for chemicals that are used to transmit impulses from one neuron to another?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NEUROTRANSMITTERS

BONUS bio phrase

What is the term for the point on a stem at which a leaf is attached?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NODE

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Satellites that stay above the same spot on Earth while in orbit are in what type of orbit?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GEOSTATIONARY
  • GEOSYNCHRONOUS EARTH ORBIT

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • GEOSYNCHRONOUS

BONUS ess phrase

Kepler's laws of planetary motion were empirically determined from data collected by what Danish astronomer?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TYCHO BRAHE

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the discriminant of the quadratic polynomial $$2x^2 + 7x + 3$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 25

BONUS math phrase

Purity of gold is measured in karats, with 100 % pure gold being 24 karats. To the nearest whole number, what percent pure is 14-karat gold?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 58

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Scientists at Argonne National Lab have been studying the drinking mechanisms in mosquitoes. They watched liquid flow through the proboscis using synchrotron X-rays to penetrate the exoskeleton, which is made of what material? W) Chitin X) Keratin Y) Cellulose Z) Maltose

W: W) Chitin

X: X) Keratin

Y: Y) Cellulose

Z: Z) Maltose

Answer: W) W) Chitin

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Researchers at Los Alamos National Lab are using direct numerical simulations to study the interaction of shock waves with fluid flow. Which of the following equations or sets of equations is most relevant in modeling the motion of fluids like water? W) Schrodinger equation X) Maxwell’s equations Y) Einstein field equations Z) Euler equations

W: W) Schrodinger equation

X: X) Maxwell’s equations

Y: Y) Einstein field equations

Z: Z) Euler equations

Answer: Z) Z) Euler equations

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Seismic activity in the ocean may lead to what destructive phenomenon? W) Tsunamis X) Monsoons Y) Storm surge Z) Hurricanes

W: W) Tsunamis

X: X) Monsoons

Y: Y) Storm surge

Z: Z) Hurricanes

Answer: W) W) Tsunamis

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three stream features that result from deposition: 1) Cut bank; 2) Point bar; 3) Delta.

Choices:

  • Cut bank
  • Point bar
  • Delta

Correct Answers:

  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following substances has a pH value that is less than 7? W) Vinegar X) Sodium bicarbonate Y) Soapy water Z) Ammonia

W: W) Vinegar

X: X) Sodium bicarbonate

Y: Y) Soapy water

Z: Z) Ammonia

Answer: W) W) Vinegar

BONUS phys phrase

To one significant figure, what is the mass percent of hydrogen in water?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 10

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for an automatic response to a stimulus, such as sneezing or blinking?

Acceptable Answers:

  • REFLEX

BONUS bio phrase

What region in the eukaryotic nucleus is the site of initial rRNA synthesis?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NUCLEOLUS

TOSS-UP ess phrase

The Milky Way, Andromeda, and Maffei 1 are examples of what systems that can be found in space?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GALAXY

BONUS ess phrase

What planet was hypothesized to exist by mathematician Urbain Leverrier due to observed discrepancies in Uranus’s orbit?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NEPTUNE

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the SI derived unit for frequency?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HERTZ

BONUS phys phrase

The volume of a balloon is expanded from one liter to five liters. The temperature is held constant at 20 °C and the initial pressure was 10 atmospheres. In atmospheres, what is the new pressure?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Researchers at the National Energy Technology Lab have recovered pressurized ocean cores from the Gulf of Mexico that contain methane hydrates. When the methane that is extracted from these cores is fully combusted in oxygen to drive a heat engine, what are the two end products?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CARBON DIOXIDE AND WATER

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Brookhaven National Lab are constructing geometric figures out of DNA. One of these figures is a regular polyhedron with triangular faces and six vertices. What is the name for this polyhedron?

Acceptable Answers:

  • OCTAHEDRON

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following is closest to the percent increase in the speed of a car that accelerates from 21.7 to 85.1 miles per hour? W) 192 X) 292 Y) 392 Z) 492

W: W) 192

X: X) 292

Y: Y) 392

Z: Z) 492

Answer: X) X) 292

BONUS math phrase

What is the total surface area of a rectangular box having edge lengths of 4, 6, and 7?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 188

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

The atomic number of molybdenum is 42. What does this number indicate? W) Every atom has 42 total protons & neutrons in the nucleus X) Every atom has a mass of 42 a.m.u. Y) Every atom has 42 protons in the nucleus Z) Every atom will form bonds that measure 42 degrees

W: W) Every atom has 42 total protons & neutrons in the nucleus

X: X) Every atom has a mass of 42 a.m.u.

Y: Y) Every atom has 42 protons in the nucleus

Z: Z) Every atom will form bonds that measure 42 degrees

Answer: Y) Y) Every atom has 42 protons in the nucleus

BONUS phys phrase

In the balanced equation for the complete combustion of methane, what is the coefficient in front of methane?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What group of mammals lays eggs?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MONOTREMES

BONUS bio phrase

During what phase of mitosis do chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell?

Acceptable Answers:

  • METAPHASE

TOSS-UP math phrase

If set A contains the four elements 1, 3, 5, and 7, and set B contains the four elements 1, 2, 3, and 4, then what elements are in the intersection of sets A and B?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1 AND 3

BONUS math phrase

What are the slope and y-intercept of the line containing the points (–12, –2) and (–8, 8)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SLOPE = 5/2 AND Y-INTERCEPT = 28

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Oceanographers use which of the following terms to describe global ocean circulation patterns? W) Density conveyor X) Isostatic conveyor Y) Thermohaline conveyor Z) Carbonate conveyor

W: W) Density conveyor

X: X) Isostatic conveyor

Y: Y) Thermohaline conveyor

Z: Z) Carbonate conveyor

Answer: Y) Y) Thermohaline conveyor

BONUS ess phrase

Barchan and transverse are types of what geologic feature?

Acceptable Answers:

  • DUNES

TOSS-UP phys phrase

In millivolts, what voltage is needed to produce a current of 3 milliamperes over a piece of metal with a resistance of 2 ohms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

BONUS phys phrase

Suppose that a projectile was thrown vertically downwards from a height of 10 meters. If its speed at the ground was 20 m/s, then to the nearest meter per second, what was its initial velocity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 14

TOSS-UP math phrase

Giving your answer as a fraction, what is the reciprocal of 4.5?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2/9

BONUS math phrase

4 blue marbles, 3 green marbles, and 3 red marbles are in a jar. Two marbles are selected without replacement. What is the probability that the two marbles are the same color?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4/15

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Hirudinea is a class that contains which of the following organisms? W) Tapeworms X) Hagfish Y) Centipedes Z) Leeches

W: W) Tapeworms

X: X) Hagfish

Y: Y) Centipedes

Z: Z) Leeches

Answer: Z) Z) Leeches

BONUS bio phrase

The human eye focuses light through the lens onto what photosensitive structure?

Acceptable Answers:

  • RETINA

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Earth’s magnetic field arises from movement in its outer core that is primarily composed of what two metals?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NICKEL AND IRON

BONUS ess order

Rank the following three minerals in order of increasing Mohs hardness: 1) Fluorite; 2) Apatite; 3) Quartz.

Choices:

  • Fluorite
  • Apatite
  • Quartz

Correct Order:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at Los Alamos National Lab are studying a group of pumps associated with Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. These organisms are part of what domain?

Acceptable Answers:

  • EUBACTERIA

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Lab used chemical vapor deposition to grow large monolayer films of what form of carbon, touted for its unprecedented strength and high electrical conductivity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GRAPHENE

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the circumference of a circle of radius 7?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 14π

BONUS math multiselect

Identify all of the following 4 terms that apply to the sequence with nth term given by 3n – 2: 1) geometric; 2) arithmetic; 3) increasing; 4) decreasing.

Choices:

  • geometric
  • arithmetic
  • increasing
  • decreasing

Correct Answers:

  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following best describes how fungi feed? W) They are chemoautotrophs X) They are photoautotrophs Y) They are heterotrophs Z) Some are photoautotrophs, while others are chemoautotrophs

W: W) They are chemoautotrophs

X: X) They are photoautotrophs

Y: Y) They are heterotrophs

Z: Z) Some are photoautotrophs, while others are chemoautotrophs

Answer: Y) Y) They are heterotrophs

BONUS bio phrase

What is the adjective for the part of the human nervous system that is divided into the sensory division and the motor division?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PERIPHERAL

TOSS-UP phys phrase

The cosmic background radiation originating from the big bang has been redshifted into what part of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MICROWAVE

BONUS phys order

Rank the following three objects in terms of increasing momentum: 1) A one-ton car traveling at 10 meters per second; 2) A one-and-a-half-ton car traveling at 10 meters per second; 3) A one-ton car traveling at 20 meters per second.

Choices:

  • A one-ton car traveling at 10 meters per second
  • A one-and-a-half-ton car traveling at 10 meters per second
  • A one-ton car traveling at 20 meters per second

Correct Order:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3