HS Sample Set 16, Round 5 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

SNPs are used in DNA fingerprinting to distinguish individuals from each other. Which of the following events most likely precipitated the generation of a SNP? W) Inversion X) Reciprocal translocation Y) Point mutation Z) Frameshift mutation

W: W) Inversion

X: X) Reciprocal translocation

Y: Y) Point mutation

Z: Z) Frameshift mutation

Answer: Y) Y) Point mutation

BONUS bio multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements about catabolic processes that are true in human cells: 1) Amino acids must be converted into glucose for entry into the Krebs cycle 2) Fatty acids undergo beta oxidation to form acetyl-CoA 3) Nitrogenous waste from protein metabolism is excreted as ammonia or urea

Choices:

  • Amino acids must be converted into glucose for entry into the Krebs cycle
  • Fatty acids undergo beta oxidation to form acetyl-CoA
  • Nitrogenous waste from protein metabolism is excreted as ammonia or urea

Correct Answers:

  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What is the molecular geometry of sulfur tetrafluoride?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SEE-SAW

BONUS chem phrase

What is the chemical formula of the ionic species formed when aluminum oxide reacts with hydroxide ions?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Al(OH)4

TOSS-UP ess phrase

In the course of its evolution, what is the main element that has accumulated when helium becomes exhausted in the core of a red giant star?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CARBON

BONUS ess multiple_choice

What kind of telescope requires nested mirrors to form a focused image? W) Radio telescope X) Infrared telescope Y) Ultraviolet telescope Z) X-ray telescope

W: W) Radio telescope

X: X) Infrared telescope

Y: Y) Ultraviolet telescope

Z: Z) X-ray telescope

Answer: Z) Z) X-ray telescope

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Researchers at SLAC National Lab are studying scattering processes that violate the conservation of helicity to the maximum possible extent. Which of the following best describes helicity? W) The projection of a particle’s spin onto its momentum X) The angle between a particle’s magnetic moment and its spin Y) The angular momentum of a particle with respect to the collision axis Z) The expectation value of a particle’s magnetic quadrupole moment

W: W) The projection of a particle’s spin onto its momentum

X: X) The angle between a particle’s magnetic moment and its spin

Y: Y) The angular momentum of a particle with respect to the collision axis

Z: Z) The expectation value of a particle’s magnetic quadrupole moment

Answer: W) W) The projection of a particle’s spin onto its momentum

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists supported by the Department of Energy are using machine learning to classify genetic data. Which of the following describes the difference between classification and clustering? W) Classification is performed with machine learning, while clustering is performed with mixed models X) Classification is performed with machine learning, while clustering is performed with generalized models Y) Classification is a type of unsupervised learning, while clustering is a type of supervised learning Z) Classification is a type of supervised learning, while clustering is a type of unsupervised learning

W: W) Classification is performed with machine learning, while clustering is performed with mixed models

X: X) Classification is performed with machine learning, while clustering is performed with generalized models

Y: Y) Classification is a type of unsupervised learning, while clustering is a type of supervised learning

Z: Z) Classification is a type of supervised learning, while clustering is a type of unsupervised learning

Answer: Z) Z) Classification is a type of supervised learning, while clustering is a type of unsupervised learning

TOSS-UP math phrase

A geometric sequence has second term –7 and third term 4. What is its first term?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 49/4
  • 12¼
  • 12.25

BONUS math phrase

A set of 15 points has 4 that are collinear, another 5 that are collinear, and the remaining 6 are also collinear. Otherwise, no three points in the set are collinear. How many lines contain at least two of the 15 points?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 77

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

A firework is launched on a parabolic arc and explodes into ten fragments at the apex of this arc. After these pieces fall to the ground, their positions and masses are measured. Which of the following will be closest to the center of mass of these pieces? W) The launch point of the firework X) The point directly below where the firework exploded Y) The point at which the firework would have landed had it not exploded Z) The focus of the parabola

W: W) The launch point of the firework

X: X) The point directly below where the firework exploded

Y: Y) The point at which the firework would have landed had it not exploded

Z: Z) The focus of the parabola

Answer: Y) Y) The point at which the firework would have landed had it not exploded

BONUS phys phrase

In kilocalories and to two significant figures, how much energy does it take to heat 5 grams of water from 0 to 100 °C and convert it all to steam, given that water has a heat of vaporization of 540 calories per gram?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3.2

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What human organ is responsible for filtering and removing old red blood cells from the circulation, along with other various immunological roles?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SPLEEN

BONUS bio multiselect

Identify all of the following three scenarios that are examples of facilitated diffusion: 1) A cortisol molecule passes through the plasma membrane 2) A sodium ion is pumped out of a cell by an ATPase 3) A water molecule passes through an aquaporin channel

Choices:

  • A cortisol molecule passes through the plasma membrane
  • A sodium ion is pumped out of a cell by an ATPase
  • A water molecule passes through an aquaporin channel

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What sedimentary rock is the primary ore of aluminum?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BAUXITE

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Rachel is trying to synthesize an alcohol from an alkane. Which of the following best describes the synthetic route she should take? W) An oxidation reaction followed by a substitution reaction X) A reduction reaction followed by a substitution reaction Y) A substitution reaction followed by an oxidation reaction Z) Two substitution reactions

W: W) An oxidation reaction followed by a substitution reaction

X: X) A reduction reaction followed by a substitution reaction

Y: Y) A substitution reaction followed by an oxidation reaction

Z: Z) Two substitution reactions

Answer: Z) Z) Two substitution reactions

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is an application of the principle of inclusions? W) Mineral size will decrease with increasing metamorphic grade X) Any feature cutting across a layered rock must be younger than the rock it transects Y) Porphyroblasts are older than their host rock Z) Xenoliths are older than their host rock

W: W) Mineral size will decrease with increasing metamorphic grade

X: X) Any feature cutting across a layered rock must be younger than the rock it transects

Y: Y) Porphyroblasts are older than their host rock

Z: Z) Xenoliths are older than their host rock

Answer: Z) Z) Xenoliths are older than their host rock

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following best explains why yardangs are narrower at their base? W) They typically have sediment deposited at their tops X) Sand abrasion typically only occurs close to the ground Y) There is little desert wind above 10 meters above the ground Z) Their bases are eroded by water that cannot reach their tops

W: W) They typically have sediment deposited at their tops

X: X) Sand abrasion typically only occurs close to the ground

Y: Y) There is little desert wind above 10 meters above the ground

Z: Z) Their bases are eroded by water that cannot reach their tops

Answer: X) X) Sand abrasion typically only occurs close to the ground

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Chemists at Ames Lab are using powder X-ray diffraction to study novel hetero-structures. Which of the following photon wavelengths is closest to the one they used for their diffraction experiment? W) 10 centimeters X) 100 microns Y) 100 nanometers Z) 1 angstrom

W: W) 10 centimeters

X: X) 100 microns

Y: Y) 100 nanometers

Z: Z) 1 angstrom

Answer: Z) Z) 1 angstrom

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists supported by the Department of Energy are studying twistronics, which is the study of how the angle between two layers of a two-dimensional material affects their electronic properties. What carbon-based material most commonly makes up the layers these scientists are studying?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GRAPHENE

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the remainder when $$2x^4 - 7x - 3$$ is divided by $$x - 2$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 15

BONUS math phrase

What is the standard deviation of the following list of 4 numbers: 9, 11, 13, 19?

Acceptable Answers:

  • $\sqrt{14}$

TOSS-UP phys phrase

A battery that produces an electromotive force of 24 volts is connected to a 6-ohm resistor. Three amperes of current flows through the circuit. In ohms, what is the internal resistance of the battery?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

BONUS phys phrase

To the nearest decibel, if a sound wave doubles in intensity, by how much does its decibel value increase?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for rod-shaped prokaryotic cells?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BACILLI
  • BACILLUS
  • BACILLIFORM

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following structures are possessed by lycophytes, cycads, and angiosperms? W) Flowers X) Pollen Y) Megaphylls Z) Xylem

W: W) Flowers

X: X) Pollen

Y: Y) Megaphylls

Z: Z) Xylem

Answer: Z) Z) Xylem

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What rule in organic synthesis states that the more electropositive of a reacting species tends to bond to the least-highly-substituted carbon atom in an alkene during an addition reaction?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MARKOVNIKOV’S RULE

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Infrared spectroscopy is most concerned with measuring what? W) Electronic transitions between valence energy levels X) Vibrational frequencies of chemical bonds Y) Electronic transitions between inner energy levels Z) Nuclear spin flips

W: W) Electronic transitions between valence energy levels

X: X) Vibrational frequencies of chemical bonds

Y: Y) Electronic transitions between inner energy levels

Z: Z) Nuclear spin flips

Answer: X) X) Vibrational frequencies of chemical bonds

TOSS-UP ess phrase

How far, in parsecs, is a star with a parallax of 0.4 arcseconds?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2.5

BONUS ess multiple_choice

During the formation of a neutron star, protons and electrons combine to form neutrons and neutrinos. This reaction is mechanistically similar to what mode of radioactive decay? W) Alpha X) Beta plus Y) Beta minus Z) Electron capture

W: W) Alpha

X: X) Beta plus

Y: Y) Beta minus

Z: Z) Electron capture

Answer: Z) Z) Electron capture

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Pacific Northwest National Lab researchers are studying the genomes of a phylum of fungi that includes truffles, morels, and baker’s yeast. What phylum are they researching?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ASCOMYCOTA
  • ASCOMYCETES

BONUS energy multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are true of the muon: 1) It can have integer spin 2) Its electric charge can be negative one-third 3) It is a fermion

Choices:

  • It can have integer spin
  • Its electric charge can be negative one-third
  • It is a fermion

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP math phrase

A bag contains 14 uniquely-colored marbles. Two marbles are drawn simultaneously. How many different combinations are possible?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 91

BONUS math phrase

A twice-differentiable function \(f\) on the real numbers has a negative second derivative for all \(x\), and its graph contains the two points \((2,4)\) and \((5,9)\). What is the maximum possible integer value of \(f(11)\)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 18

TOSS-UP phys phrase

A test charge is experiencing no net forces as it sits between two charges of +3 C and +12 C. If the distance between the test charge and the 3-C charge is 5 m, then, in meters, what is the distance between the 3-C and the 12-C charges?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 15

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Astronomers can use which of the following to determine the surface temperature of a star after measuring the peak wavelength of the star’s spectrum? W) Wien’s Law X) Stefan-Boltzmann equation Y) Hertzsprung–Russell diagram Z) Rayleigh–Jeans law

W: W) Wien’s Law

X: X) Stefan-Boltzmann equation

Y: Y) Hertzsprung–Russell diagram

Z: Z) Rayleigh–Jeans law

Answer: W) W) Wien’s Law