MS Sample Set 15, Round 6 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at Fermi National Accelerator Lab are studying what substance that is thought to be the reason that the expansion of the universe is accelerating?

Acceptable Answers:

  • DARK ENERGY

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • DARK MATTER

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists supported by the Department of Energy are studying matter whose properties can be described using the Dirac equation. In that sense, this matter is similar to which of the following elementary particles? W) Photon X) Up quark Y) Gluon Z) W boson

W: W) Photon

X: X) Up quark

Y: Y) Gluon

Z: Z) W boson

Answer: X) X) Up quark

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Root nodules are commonly found in legumes. Which of the following types of plants is an example of a legume? W) Pineapple X) Tomato Y) Maple Z) Soybean

W: W) Pineapple

X: X) Tomato

Y: Y) Maple

Z: Z) Soybean

Answer: Z) Z) Soybean

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Base substitutions that occur in coding regions that result in the change from one amino acid to another in the resulting protein are referred to as what type of mutation? W) Silent X) Nonsense Y) Missense Z) Insertion

W: W) Silent

X: X) Nonsense

Y: Y) Missense

Z: Z) Insertion

Answer: Y) Y) Missense

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the second-smallest positive multiple of 13 with at least three digits?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 117

BONUS math phrase

Find the y-coordinates of all points of intersection of the parabola y = x² – 2x – 15 and the line y = 2x – 3.

Acceptable Answers:

  • –7; 9

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Jan tosses a football to Nick by exerting a force on the ball with her arm. According to Newton’s Third Law, what is the reaction force that opposes Jan’s exertion? W) Jan’s arm exerts a force on her body X) The football exerts a force on Jan’s arm Y) The football exerts a force on Nick’s arm when he catches it Z) Nick’s arm exerts a force on his body when he catches it

W: W) Jan’s arm exerts a force on her body

X: X) The football exerts a force on Jan’s arm

Y: Y) The football exerts a force on Nick’s arm when he catches it

Z: Z) Nick’s arm exerts a force on his body when he catches it

Answer: X) X) The football exerts a force on Jan’s arm

BONUS phys order

Rank the following three objects in terms of increasing de Broglie wavelength:

Choices:

  • one-kilogram block moving at one meter per second
  • 10-kilogram block moving at one meter per second
  • one-kilogram block traveling at 5 meters per second

Correct Order:

  • 2
  • 3
  • 1

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following layers of the Sun has the lowest density? W) Chromosphere X) Corona Y) Photosphere Z) Radiation zone

W: W) Chromosphere

X: X) Corona

Y: Y) Photosphere

Z: Z) Radiation zone

Answer: X) X) Corona

BONUS ess phrase

What type of star is thought to be the progenitor star of Type IA supernovae?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WHITE DWARF

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab scientists are studying the ability of a pill, originally designed to treat radiation poisoning, to remove MRI contrast dyes from the body. Which of the following lanthanide elements used in these dyes are they hoping to remove? W) Lead X) Gadolinium Y) Plutonium Z) Uranium

W: W) Lead

X: X) Gadolinium

Y: Y) Plutonium

Z: Z) Uranium

Answer: X) X) Gadolinium

BONUS energy multiselect

Identify all of the following three features that are advantages of lithium-ion batteries that do not contain cobalt: 1) Higher energy density; 2) Cheaper raw materials; 3) They are primary cells.

Choices:

  • Higher energy density
  • Cheaper raw materials
  • They are primary cells

Correct Answers:

  • 2

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What peripheral nervous system structures contain neuronal cell bodies and satellite glia, and are often considered nerve relays?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GANGLIA
  • GANGLION

BONUS bio phrase

Mycorrhizae is an example of a mutualistic relationship between organisms from what two kingdoms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PLANTAE AND FUNGI
  • PLANTS
  • FUNGUSES

TOSS-UP math phrase

For the function f(x) = –6x + 5, what is f⁻¹(–43)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 8

BONUS math phrase

How many positive integers less than 1,000 can be formed using some or all of the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, at most once each?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 85

TOSS-UP phys phrase

Organic compounds known as amines are so-named because they possess what element aside from carbon and hydrogen?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NITROGEN

BONUS phys phrase

When making coffee, Rishi heats up 500 g of water from 25 °C to 90 °C. In kilocalories, how much energy does this take?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 32.5
  • 65/2
  • 32 1/2

TOSS-UP ess phrase

The North American Plate and the Eurasia Plate meet at what specific seafloor feature that passes through Iceland?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Just before a lightning strike, how is charge distributed in a rain cloud? W) Negative at the base and top, positive in the center X) Positive at the base and top, negative in the center Y) Negative at the base, positive at the top Z) Positive at the base, negative at the top

W: W) Negative at the base and top, positive in the center

X: X) Positive at the base and top, negative in the center

Y: Y) Negative at the base, positive at the top

Z: Z) Positive at the base, negative at the top

Answer: Y) Y) Negative at the base, positive at the top

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Lab are studying the oxygen-evolving complex. What molecule does this complex break down to form oxygen?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WATER
  • H₂O

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists at Argonne National Lab are refining the SIR model. This model is meant to predict what? W) Annual rainfall X) Disease spread Y) Local wind speed Z) Stellar evolution rate

W: W) Annual rainfall

X: X) Disease spread

Y: Y) Local wind speed

Z: Z) Stellar evolution rate

Answer: X) X) Disease spread

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

When basophils react to a foreign substance, they secrete a signaling molecule that causes blood vessels to dilate and leak fluid at the site of inflammation. What is this signaling molecule? W) Antigen X) Histamine Y) Lumen Z) Pepsin

W: W) Antigen

X: X) Histamine

Y: Y) Lumen

Z: Z) Pepsin

Answer: X) X) Histamine

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following proteins is the most highly conserved across all living organisms? W) Insulin X) RNA polymerase Y) P53 Z) Hemoglobin

W: W) Insulin

X: X) RNA polymerase

Y: Y) P53

Z: Z) Hemoglobin

Answer: X) X) RNA polymerase

TOSS-UP math phrase

Two triangles have identical corresponding angle measures. The larger triangle has sides of lengths 9, 11, and 16. The smaller triangle has smallest side of length 5. What is the perimeter of the smaller triangle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 20

BONUS math phrase

What is the polynomial in the variable x with least degree, integer coefficients, and leading coefficient one that has –3 + √7 as a zero?

Acceptable Answers:

  • x² + 6x + 2

TOSS-UP phys phrase

An example of a fission reaction is the addition of a neutron to uranium-235, producing krypton-92, three neutrons, and an isotope of barium. What is the mass number of the barium isotope?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 141

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three waves that are transverse waves: 1) Light; 2) P waves generated by earthquakes; 3) Sound.

Choices:

  • Light
  • P waves generated by earthquakes
  • Sound

Correct Answers:

  • 1

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

What type of ocean wave has a typical period of approximately one hundredth of a second? W) Tsunami X) Tide Y) Capillary wave Z) Seiche

W: W) Tsunami

X: X) Tide

Y: Y) Capillary wave

Z: Z) Seiche

Answer: Y) Y) Capillary wave

BONUS ess phrase

Swelling soils increase in volume when they are wet due to the presence of what group of minerals?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CLAYS