ASMO Science Olympiad 2018 — Level 3 (Years 7, 8 & 9)

Question 1

The process in which molecules are transported across the plasma membrane against the concentration gradient is known as:

1. Osmosis
2. Simple diffusion
3. Endocytosis
4. Exocytosis
5. Facilitated diffusion

Question 2

When a cell’s DNA has become damaged beyond repair, the cell undergoes which of the following processes?

1. Endocytosis
2. Exocytosis
3. Photosynthesis
4. Apoptosis
5. Glycolysis

Question 3

During which stage of the cell cycle would you expect to have the lowest amount of cellular growth and synthesis taking place?

1. The M phase
2. The G2 phase
3. The S phase
4. The G1 phase

Question 4

Which of the following elements MUST exist in an organic compound?

1. Nitrogen
2. Hydrogen
3. Chlorine
4. Carbon
5. Oxygen

Question 5

Which of the following is the most abundant rare gas in the earth atmosphere?

1. He
2. Ne
3. Ar
4. Kr
5. Xe

Question 6

Which of the following is the most malleable metal?

1. Silver
2. Gold
3. Platinum
4. Iron
5. Copper

Question 7

Which of the following is the hardest form of carbon?

1. Coke
2. Graphite
3. Diamond
4. Charcoal
5. None of above

Question 8

Which of the following contains the most neutrons?

1. Oxygen-15
2. Nitrogen-14
3. Carbon-14
4. Boron-12
5. Carbon-12

Question 9

The high reactivity of fluorine is due to

1. Its high electronegativity
2. The small size of fluorine atom
3. Availability of d-orbitals
4. Strong F-F bonding
5. None of above

Question 10

Which of the following prefix corresponds to 10⁻¹⁵?

1. NANO
2. FEMTO
3. PICO
4. PETA
5. ATTO

Question 11

“Every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

Which Newton’s law of motion does the above statement describe?

1. Newton’s first law of motion
2. Newton's second law of motion
3. Newton's third law of motion
4. Newton’s law of gravitation
5. None of above

Question 12

Which of the following is referring to static friction?

1. Ground fiction of ice-skating
2. Air friction of airplane
3. Water resistance of a boat
4. Ground friction on moving car’s wheel
5. None of above

Question 13

What event would activate a G protein?

1. Phosphorylation of GTP to GDP
2. Replacement of GDP with GTP
3. Hydrolysis of GTP to GDP
4. Hydrolysis of GDP to GTP
5. Phosphorylation of GDP to GTP

Question 14

Scientists can clarify various bacterial species into two groups based on cell wall composition by using _____?

1. Gel electrophoresis
2. Centrifugation
3. Western blotting
4. Gram staining
5. DNA extraction

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT an assumption required for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

1. No mutations
2. Random mating
3. No selection is occurring
4. No migration
5. Population size must fluctuate

Question 16

Where does the electron transport chain occur in prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells respectively?

1. The chloroplasts; the cellular membrane
2. The cellular membrane; the mitochondria
3. The chloroplasts; the mitochondria
4. The mitochondria; the cellular membrane
5. The cellular membrane; the chloroplasts

Question 17

List the following bond types in order of increasing strength: non-polar covalent bonds, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, polar covalent bonds.

1. Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, non-polar covalent bonds, polar covalent bonds.
2. Hydrogen bonds, non-polar covalent bonds, polar covalent bonds, ionic bonds.
3. Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, polar covalent bonds, non-polar covalent bonds.
4. Ionic bonds, polar covalent bonds, non-polar covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds.
5. Non-polar covalent bonds, polar covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds.

Question 18

If an electron falls from the energy level of n =5 to the ground state of n = 1, what is most likely to occur?

1. A photon is absorbed.
2. The electron changes its spin direction.
3. A photon is emitted.
4. The electron gains velocity.
5. A neutron is transformed into a proton

Question 19

A boy throws a rubber ball downwards with the initial velocity of v. The rubber ball bounces on the floor and reach the highest point 1m above its initial position. Assuming no energy loss, what is the magnitude of the initial velocity, v?

1. √(2gh)
2. 2√g
3. √(g/2)
4. g/√2
5. Insufficient information.

Question 20

Figure below shows the position of a life guard from a drowning victim. If the life guard can run faster than swim, which of the route allows him to get to the victim in the shortest time?

Answer: ______