MS Sample Set 15, Round 5 from NSB
The Gaia spacecraft is measuring the positions of Milky Way stars by measuring the apparent shift in stars against a distant background. What is the term for this method?
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Rank the following three objects in our solar system by increasing average density: 1) Saturn; 2) Pluto; 3) Halley’s Comet.
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Researchers at Argonne National Lab are studying the protein Nsp15, which is found in the viruses that cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. What subfamily are these viruses part of?
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Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Lab are studying the BCC crystal structure of metallic iron. When iron forms at ambient temperatures, how many iron atoms are there in this unit cell?
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Which of the following events is least likely to be associated with initiation of seed germination? W) Seed coat abrasion X) Water absorption Y) Respiratory restriction Z) Light and temperature modulation
W: W) Seed coat abrasion
X: X) Water absorption
Y: Y) Respiratory restriction
Z: Z) Light and temperature modulation
Answer: Y) Y) Respiratory restriction
Which of the following is NOT a component of the innate immune system? W) Neutrophil X) Basophil Y) Natural killer cell Z) Antibody
W: W) Neutrophil
X: X) Basophil
Y: Y) Natural killer cell
Z: Z) Antibody
Answer: Z) Z) Antibody
Let $$a = 4\times10^9$$. Expressing your answer in scientific notation with one significant figure, what is the square root of $$a$$?
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What is the radius of the circle with equation $$x^2 + y^2 + 12x - 6y + 16 = 0$$?
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What SI unit measures the same quantity as the US measure of weight, the pound? W) Newton X) Kilogram Y) Joule Z) Candela
W: W) Newton
X: X) Kilogram
Y: Y) Joule
Z: Z) Candela
Answer: W) W) Newton
Consider the reaction of 3 moles of phosphoric acid with 2 moles of sodium hydroxide. To the nearest gram, how much water will be produced by this reaction?
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Which of the following elements required to support life on Earth lacks a significant atmospheric cycling component? W) Sulfur X) Nitrogen Y) Phosphorus Z) Carbon
W: W) Sulfur
X: X) Nitrogen
Y: Y) Phosphorus
Z: Z) Carbon
Answer: Y) Y) Phosphorus
Which of the following best describes the epicenters of earthquakes associated with mid-ocean ridge spreading centers? W) Ultra deep focus X) Deep focus Y) Intermediate focus Z) Shallow focus
W: W) Ultra deep focus
X: X) Deep focus
Y: Y) Intermediate focus
Z: Z) Shallow focus
Answer: Z) Z) Shallow focus
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Lab are developing a preparation to generate active immunity in people against the bacterium that causes rabbit fever. What is the term for this type of preparation?
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Scientists at Argonne National Lab are building synthetic photonic crystals. Which of the following is an example of a natural photonic crystal? W) Diamond X) Corundum Y) Iridescent opal Z) Ruby
W: W) Diamond
X: X) Corundum
Y: Y) Iridescent opal
Z: Z) Ruby
Answer: Y) Y) Iridescent opal
Which of the following types of molecules is not generally composed of a long chain of monomers? W) Fatty acid X) Protein Y) DNA Z) Starch
W: W) Fatty acid
X: X) Protein
Y: Y) DNA
Z: Z) Starch
Answer: W) W) Fatty acid
Consider a cross between two plants that are heterozygous for a certain monogenic trait. What percentage of the offspring of this cross will also be heterozygous for this trait?
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Which of the following is not a root of the polynomial $$x^3 + x^2 - 2x$$? W) –2 X) –1 Y) 0 Z) 1
W: W) –2
X: X) –1
Y: Y) 0
Z: Z) 1
Answer: X) X) –1
To the nearest degree, what is the measure of an exterior angle in a regular polygon with 39 sides?
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Which of the following molecules has a pyramidal geometry? W) Methane X) Water Y) Carbon dioxide Z) Ammonia
W: W) Methane
X: X) Water
Y: Y) Carbon dioxide
Z: Z) Ammonia
Answer: Z) Z) Ammonia
Rank the following three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of increasing frequency: 1) Infrared; 2) Radio; 3) Gamma.
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The Spitzer Space Telescope operates at wavelengths between 3.6 and 160 microns. What region of the electromagnetic spectrum is this?
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What is the term for the asteroids locked into one-to-one orbital resonance with Jupiter?
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Scientists at Los Alamos National Lab are studying nanocrystalline materials that fluoresce when exposed to a wide range of wavelengths of light. What is the term for these materials?
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Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab are studying the processes by which the brain continuously reshapes itself throughout life. What is the term for this process?
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The tracheal system in insects includes many small external openings on the sides of their bodies. What function does this system serve? W) Respiration X) Reproduction Y) Digestion Z) Locomotion
W: W) Respiration
X: X) Reproduction
Y: Y) Digestion
Z: Z) Locomotion
Answer: W) W) Respiration
After a forest fire, annual plants will begin growing in the burnt area fairly quickly. Which of the following best explains why? W) Forest fires do not usually kill all of the local trees X) Forest fires expose bare rock, which is a good substrate for annual plant growth Y) As a climax community, forests cannot be destroyed Z) Forest fires do not destroy the topsoil, which supports plant growth
W: W) Forest fires do not usually kill all of the local trees
X: X) Forest fires expose bare rock, which is a good substrate for annual plant growth
Y: Y) As a climax community, forests cannot be destroyed
Z: Z) Forest fires do not destroy the topsoil, which supports plant growth
Answer: Z) Z) Forest fires do not destroy the topsoil, which supports plant growth
How many faces does an octagonal pyramid have?
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According to Descartes' rule of signs, what are the possible numbers of negative real zeroes the polynomial $$x^5 + 3x^4 - 3x^3 - 2x^2 + 7x - 12$$ may have?
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For an incandescent lightbulb, if the temperature of the coil were doubled, by what value would the peak frequency of emission be multiplied?
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A certain engine operates from a hot reservoir with a temperature of 500 kelvins and a cold sink with a temperature of 300 kelvins. As a percentage, what is the Carnot efficiency of this engine?
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