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SECTION 4 : SAMPLE QUESTIONS

NATIONAL COMPETITION - ROUND 1

TOSS-UP

1. ERSC; Multiple Choice: Common volcanic rocks are:

w. Andesite, basalt, and tuff.

x. Granite, diorite (pron: di'-a-rite), gabbro (pron: gab'-ro).

y. County rock, sill, dike.

z. None of the above.

ANSWER: W -- ANDESITE, BASALT, AND TUFF.

BONUS

1. ERSC; Multiple Choice: When a rock is identified as felsic (pron: fel-sic), this means the rock is:

w. Silicate poor.

x. Silicate rich.

y. Iron rich.

z. All of the above.

ANSWER: X -- SILICATE RICH.

TOSS-UP

2. CHEM; Short Answer: Who discovered Nitrogen?

ANSWER: (DANIEL) RUTHERFORD.

BONUS

2. CHEM; Multiple Choice: Which of the following would be an Arrhenius acid?

w. CrO2 (pron: chromium (4) oxide).

x. KMnO4 (pron: potassium permanganate).

y. HOCI (pron: hypochlorous acid).

z. Na2O (sodium oxide).

ANSWER: Y -- HOCl (PRON: HYPOCHLOROUS ACID).

TOSS-UP

3. COMP; Multiple Choice: Two microcomputers that are located near each other can be directly connected to transmit data by hard wiring them using a

w. Half-duplex.

x. Concentrator.

y. Null modem.

z. Multiplexer.

ANSWER: Y -- NULL MODEM.

BONUS

3. COMP; Multiple Choice: What is the name of the attempt to emulate human intuition, judgment, and common sense?

w. Machine language.

x. BASIC programming.

y. High-level language.

z. Heuristic programming.

ANSWER: Z -- HEURISTIC PROGRAMMING.

TOSS-UP

4. BIOL; Multiple Choice: In humans, there are many anatomical adaptations that function to increase surface area for chemical reactions and transport mechanisms. All of the following are examples except:

w. The alveoli of the lungs.

x. The microvilli of the small intestine.

y. The cristae of the inner mitochondrial membrane.

z. The sensory hairs (cilia) in the cochlea of the inner ear.

ANSWER: Z -- THE SENSORY HAIRS (CILIA) IN THE COCHLEA OF THE INNER EAR.

BONUS

4. BIOL; Short Answer: What starchy substance comes from the bitter root of the cassava plant and is used to thicken soups and puddings?

ANSWER: TAPIOCA.

TOSS-UP

5. PHYS; Multiple Choice: If the absolute temperature of the filament of a lamp were doubled, the energy radiated per second by the filament would:

w. Remain the same.

x. Increase by a factor of 2.

y. Increase by a factor of 4.

z. Increase by a factor of 16.

ANSWER: Z -- INCREASE BY A FACTOR OF 16.

(Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Tipler, 1991)

BONUS

5. PHYS; Multiple Choice: A round viewing window with a 20-centimeter diameter is installed in a tank at the Shedd Aquarium. It is 5 meters below the water surface. The force on the window is approximately:

w. 1,500 Newtons.

x. 3,000 Newtons.

y. 4,500 Newtons.

z. 6,000 Newtons.

ANSWER: W -- 1,500 NEWTONS.

TOSS-UP

6. GENR; Short Answer: What device first proved that Earth rotates on its axis?

ANSWER: FOUCAULT PENDULUM (pron: fu'-colt).

BONUS

6. GENR; Short Answer: What is the name of the ocean whose wind systems cause an almost complete reversal of its circulation?

ANSWER: INDIAN OCEAN.

TOSS-UP

7. CHEM; Multiple Choice: In the presence of excess oxygen, potassium, rubidium, and cesium form .

w. Normal oxides.

x. Peroxides.

y. Superoxides.

z. Hyperoxides.

ANSWER: Y -- SUPEROXIDES.

(General Chemistry, Whitten, Gailey, Davis, 1992)

BONUS

7. CHEM; Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a colligative property?

w. Freezing point.

x. Malleability.

y. Rate of diffusion through a membrane.

z. Vapor pressure.

ANSWER: X -- MALLEABILITY.

TOSS-UP

8. ASTR; Multiple Choice: Elements on Earth with atomic numbers higher than that of iron were formed in:

w. Supernovae.

x. The core of red giant stars.

y. The surface of interstellar dust grains.

z. The solar nebula when the solar system formed.

ANSWER: W -- SUPERNOVAE.

BONUS

8. ASTR; Multiple Choice: The farthest astronomical phenomena from our vantage point on Earth are singular sources of light brighter than hundreds of galaxies combined. These phenomena are called:

w. Quasars.

x. Pulsars.

y. Superclusters.

z. Quarks.

ANSWER: W -- QUASARS.

TOSS-UP

9. BIOL; Multiple Choice: There are various types of plant stems that have different functions. Which of the following is not a type of stem?

w. Tendrils.

x. Nodes.

y. Tubers.

z. Rhizomes (pron: ri-zomes').

ANSWER: X -- NODES.

BONUS

9. BIOL; Short Answer: The Rh (pron: R-h) factor was named after what animal?

ANSWER: RHESUS MONKEY.

TOSS-UP

10. MATH; Short Answer: A pyramidal solid has a base that is an octagon. What is the TOTAL number of faces on this solid?

ANSWER: 9 (the 8 lateral faces in addition to the base).

BONUS

10. MATH; Multiple Choice: The polar equation, r = 6t/pi (read: r equals 6t divided by pie) represents which of the following graphs?

w. Cardioid (pron: CAR-dee-oid).

x. Three-leaved rose.

y. Archimedian-spiral.

z. Limacon (pron: lee-ma-son).

ANSWER: Y - ARCHIMEDIAN-SPIRAL.

TOSS-UP

11. PHYS; Multiple Choice: If a piece of iron is exposed to the sun, its temperature rises until:

w. It is hot enough to reflect all the energy that strikes it.

x. The heat absorbed exceeds its thermal capacity.

y. The heat absorbed equals its thermal capacity.

z. It loses and gains heat at the same rate.

ANSWER: Z -- IT LOSES AND GAINS HEAT AT THE SAME RATE.

(Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Tipler, 1991)

BONUS

11. PHYS; Multiple Choice: Ice skating is possible and practical because of what unique property of water?

w. The coefficient of kinetic friction of steel on frozen water decreases with decreasing temperature.

x. Ice readily sublimes.

y. The melting point decreases with increasing pressure.

z. Ice is a good thermal insulator.

ANSWER: Y -- THE MELTING POINT DECREASES WITH INCREASING PRESSURE.

TOSS-UP

12. CHEM; Multiple Choice: The chemical formula of milk of magnesia is:

w. Magnesium hydroxide.

x. Magnesium carbonate.

y. Magnesium sulfate.

z. Magnesium oxide.

ANSWER: W -- MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE.

(General Chemistry, Whitten, Gailey, Davis, 1992)

BONUS

12. CHEM; Multiple Choice: Oceans are the primary source for which one of the following elements?

w. Chlorine.

x. Bromine.

y. Magnesium.

z. Iron.

ANSWER: X -- BROMINE.

TOSS-UP

13. COMP; Multiple Choice: What is the name of stored collection of facts on a particular subject and the rules by which the facts relate?

w. Knowledge base.

x. Inference engine.

y. Shell.

z. Heuristic program.

ANSWER: W -- KNOWLEDGE BASE.

BONUS

13. COMP; Multiple Choice: BASIC was developed as a simplified version of:

w. COBOL.

x. Pascal.

y. RPG (pron: R-P-G).

z. FORTRAN.

ANSWER: Z -- FORTRAN.

TOSS-UP

14. BIOL; Multiple Choice: Which of the following statements about the gymnosperms is not true?

w. They are seed plants.

x. They include ginkgo (pron: ging'-ko) and cycads (pron: si'-kad).

y. They are cone-bearers.

z. They are the flowering plants.

ANSWER: Z -- THEY ARE THE FLOWERING PLANTS.

BONUS

14. BIOL; Short Answer: In proportion to its size, what bird lays the largest egg?

ANSWER: KIWI.

TOSS-UP

15. ASTR; Multiple Choice: Which planets rotate in retrograde motion, opposite in direction of their revolution around the sun?

w. Mercury and Pluto.

x. Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.

y. Venus and Uranus.

z. Venus, Earth, and Mars.

ANSWER: Y -- VENUS AND URANUS.

BONUS

15. ASTR; Multiple Choice: Craters and maria (seas) cover the Moon. Compared to the near side of the Moon, the far side is:

w. More cratered, with more extensive maria.

x. More cratered, with less extensive maria.

y. Less cratered, with more extensive maria.

z. Less cratered, with less extensive maria.

ANSWER: X -- MORE CRATERED, WITH LESS EXTENSIVE MARIA.

TOSS-UP

16. PHYS; Multiple Choice: A system absorbs heat Q and has an equal amount of positive work done on it. What is the change in the internal energy of the system?

w. Q.

x. 2Q.

y. -2Q.

z. Zero.

ANSWER: X -- 2Q.

(Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Tipler, 1991)

BONUS

16. PHYS; Multiple Choice: A wooden board 2 meters long, 30 centimeters wide, and 4 centimeters thick floats in water with 1 centimeter of its thickness above the surface. The mass of the board is:

w. .18 kilograms.

x. 1.8 kilograms.

y. 18 kilograms.

z. 180 kilograms.

ANSWER: Y -- 18 KILOGRAMS.

TOSS-UP

17. CHEM; Multiple Choice: How are the noble gases obtained?

w. Noble gas compounds are electrolyzed and the gas collected at the anode.

x. These gases are found dissolved in deep-well brine solutions; the gases are recovered by reducing the pressure above the brine solution.

y. These gases are obtained from the distillation of liquid air.

z. All of the above.

ANSWER: Y -- THESE GASES ARE OBTAINED FROM THE DISTILLATION OF LIQUID AIR.

(General Chemistry, Whitten, Gailey, Davis, 1992)

BONUS

17. CHEM; Multiple Choice: Which one of the following elements does not exist?

w. Ta.

x. Tb.

y. Tc.

z. Td.

ANSWER: Z -- Td.

TOSS-UP

18. ERSC; Multiple Choice: Compositions of magmas are characterized according to their silica content. There are three types. These are:

w. Batholith (pron: bath'-a-lith), pluton (pron: plu'-ton), sill.

x. Mafic (pron: maf'-ic), intermediate, felsic.

y. High, medium, low.

z. None of the above.

ANSWER: X -- MAFIC, INTERMEDIATE, FELSIC.

BONUS

18. ERSC; Multiple Choice: Several textures of intrusive rocks are related to the cooling history of the magma or lava. What texture is formed from rapid cooling?

w. Phaneritic (pron: fan'-e-rit'-ic) - texture is course grained.

x. Porphyritic (pron: por'-fi'-rit'-ic) - texture has markedly different sizes of minerals.

y. Aphanitic (pron: af'-a-nit'-ic) - texture of minerals is too small to be seen without magnification.

z. None of the above.

ANSWER: Y -- APHANITIC - TEXTURE OF MINERALS IS TOO SMALL TO BE SEEN WITHOUT MAGNIFICATION.

TOSS-UP

19. GENR; Short Answer: What measure of length, mainly used for sea depths, was originally the breadth of the outstretched arms?

ANSWER: FATHOM.

BONUS

19. GENR; Short Answer: What are chanterelles (pron: shant-u-rels), king boletes (pron: bo-leets'), slippery jacks, and morels (pron: muh-rels')?

ANSWER: MUSHROOMS.

TOSS-UP

20. PHYS; Multiple Choice: The percentage of mechanical energy that can theoretically be turned into heat energy according to the first law of thermodynamics is:

w. 100 percent.

x. 90 percent.

y. 75 percent.

z. 50 percent.

ANSWER: W -- 100 PERCENT.

(Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Tipler, 1991)

BONUS

20. PHYS; Multiple Choice: A perfectly spherical bubble of air is suspended in a tank of water. A beam of light consisting of parallel rays passes through the bubble. As the light emerges from the opposite side of the bubble, the light rays:

w. Diverge.

x. Converge.

y. Are unaffected.

z. Are absorbed.

ANSWER: W -- DIVERGE.

TOSS-UP

21. BIOL; Multiple Choice: Water's ability to regulate environmental temperatures within a small range conducive to life is partially due to its:

w. Function as a universal solvent.

x. High heat capacity.

y. Nonpolarity.

z. Viscosity.

ANSWER: X -- HIGH HEAT CAPACITY.

BONUS

21. BIOL; Short Answer: What stimulates glycogenesis in the body?

ANSWER: INSULIN.

TOSS-UP

22. CHEM; Multiple Choice: Hypohalites (pron: hypo-hay'-lites) are commonly used as:

w. Standard acids.

x. Halogenating agents.

y. Reducing agents.

z. Bleaching agents.

ANSWER: Z -- BLEACHING AGENTS.

(General Chemistry, Whitten, Gailey, Davis, 1992)

BONUS

22. CHEM; Short Answer: Name three elements that were named after Greek or Roman gods.

ANSWER: MERCURY, URANIUM, NEPTUNIUM, PLUTO.

TOSS-UP

23. PHYS; Multiple Choice: The first law of thermodynamics is most closely related to:

w. The definition of absolute zero.

x. The definition of an ideal gas.

y. The conservation of energy.

z. Thermal expansion.

ANSWER: Y -- THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY.

(Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Tipler, 1991)

BONUS

23. PHYS; Multiple Choice: A piano tuner notices a standing Lissajous (pron: Liss-a-jew) pattern on his oscilloscope. The tone being projected is:

w. Out of harmony.

x. Sharp.

y. Resonating.

z. Flat.

ANSWER: Y -- RESONATING.

TOSS-UP

24. MATH; Short Answer: The natural logarithm of A is 2. The natural logarithm of B is 3. What is the natural logarithm of the quantity A times B?

ANSWER: 5.

BONUS

24. MATH; Short Answer: What is the total number of internal diagonals in a hexagon?

ANSWER: 9.

TOSS-UP

25. BIOL; Short Answer: What common poisonous gas kills humans by strongly binding to hemoglobin in the bloodstream?

ANSWER: CARBON MONOXIDE.

BONUS

25. BIOL; Multiple Choice: An evolutionary trend of adaptive radiation is:

w. Absence of many new kinds of organisms produced.

x. Convergence of separate evolutionary lines.

y. Divergence of many new species into different habitats.

z. Extinction of most members in a species.

ANSWER: Y -- DIVERGENCE OF MANY NEW SPECIES INTO DIFFERENT HABITATS.

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