National Maths and Science Quiz 2011 Contest 22

ROUND ONE

Q. What physical principle governs the confinement of light in an optical fibre? (P)
A. Total internal reflection

Q. If a step-index optical fibre is made with two glasses with slightly different refractive index, how
are the glasses arranged? (P)
A. The higher index glass forms the core and is surrounded by the lower index glass

Q. How many carbons are in the molecule benzyl chloride? (C)

A. 7 Carbons

Q. How many carbons are in the molecule naphthalene? (C)

A. 10 Carbons

Preamble: Solve the equation (M)

Q.
A. [ ]

Q.
A. [ ]

Q. The inner membrane of the mitochondrion is folded into a regular series of partitions known as?
(B)
A. Cristae

Q. Parenchyma cells that develop irregular extensions of the inner wall that increases the surface area
of the membrane are known as? (B)
A. Transfer cells

Q. Which of these functions can be performed with a device constructed with one or more p-n
junctions: conversion of electricity to light, conversion of light to electricity, measurement of
temperature, and moderation of fast neutrons? (P)
A. Conversion of electricity to light, conversion of light to electricity, measurement of temperature

Q. In which of these devices can a p-n junction be found: solar cell, thermionic diode, laser diode, and
Geiger-Muller tube? (P)
A. Solar cell and laser diode

Q. What is the common name given to the polymers of nucleotides? (C)

A. Nucleic acid

Q. Starch is made up of two components, amylose and amylopectin. Which is water soluble and
which is not? One attempt. (C)
A. Amylose – water soluble and Amylopectin – water insoluble

Q. In the arithmetic sequence 2, 5, 8, 11… what is the common difference? (M)

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National Maths and Science Quiz 2011 Contest 22

A. 3 [ ]

Q. In the geometric sequence 3, 6, 12, 24 … what is the common ratio? (M)

A. 2 [ ]

Q. Name the pathogen that causes Anthrax. (B)

A. Bacillilus anthracis

Q. Name the pathogen that causes Typhoid. (B)

A. Salmonella typhi

Q. How would you connect OR and NOT gates to make an AND gate? (P)
A. Connect a NOT gate output to each input of an OR gate and its output to a NOT gate input.

Q. How would you connect AND and NOT gates to make an OR gate? (P)
A. Connect a NOT gate output to each input of an AND gate and its output to a NOT gate input.

Q. If chlorine water converts bromides into bromine, which of the following couples has higher
oxidation potential? Br-/Br2 or Cl-/Cl2. (C)
A. Br-/Br2 has higher oxidation potential [ ]

Q. Which of the couples Br-/Br2 and I-/I2 is likely to have higher reduction potential? (C)
A. Br-/Br2 because Br2 will convert all I- into I2

Q. Find the sum of the first 100 even natural numbers. (M)
A. 10,100

[ ]

Q. Find the sum of the first 100 odd natural numbers. (M)
A. 10,000

[ ]

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National Maths and Science Quiz 2011 Contest 22

Q. What are xerophytes? (B)

A. Plants that live in dry conditions

Q. What name is given to a filament of the vegetative body of a fungus? (B)

A. Hypha

Q. What gate is obtained by connecting the inputs of an OR gate together? (P)

A. Buffer (output equals input)

Q. What gate is obtained by connecting the inputs of a NAND gate together? (P)
A. NOT gate

Q. Ca2+ ions cannot be precipitated with H2S gas, neither in acidic nor basic medium. What does this
imply about CaS? (C)
A. CaS is soluble in water

Q. Which anion is associated with the brown ring in quantitative analysis of anions? (C)
A. Trioxonitrate V ion or NO3-

Preamble: Complete the sentence (M)

Q. An obtuse angle has degree measure in the range …

A. 90° to 180°

Q. A reflex angle has degree measure in the range …

A. 180° to 360°

Q. Name the process by which messenger RNA copy is made of a portion of DNA. (B)
A. Transcription

Q. What name is given to the specific location of a particular gene on a homologous chromosome?
(B)
A. Gene locus

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National Maths and Science Quiz 2011 Contest 22

ROUND TWO (Problem of the Day) (B)

Most seeds normally pass through a period when germination cannot take place, even if external
conditions are favourable. This is termed dormancy. Explain the advantages of dormancy.

Solution

Advantages of Seed Dormancy

 Allows seeds to be stored for long periods

 Allows more time for dispersal of seeds to distant places
 Survival of plant embryos during long adverse growing conditions (winter, summer,
harmattan)
 Germination is timed at the beginning of a long growing period improving seedling success
 Dormancy varies or promotes variation – one year’s seeds do not germinate the same year –
improves species survival
 It is advantageous to have as all the seeds of crop plants germinating at the same suitable time

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National Maths and Science Quiz 2011 Contest 22

ROUND THREE (True or False)

Q. All viruses are parasites. (B)

A. True

Q. Viruses can replicate only at the expense of their host. (B)

A. True

Q. The cork cambium is a lateral meristem. (B)

A. True

Q. Possession of extremely deep roots is an adaptation of some plants in wet places. (B)
A. False

Q. Complement of the union of two sets is the intersection of their complements. (M)
A. True (de Morgan’s laws)

Q. A ratio can be expressed as a fraction . (M)

A. True

Q. The numbers 1 and -3 are roots of the equation . (M)

A. False [Product of roots is ]

Q. The number -5 is a solution of the inequality . (M)

A. False [ ]

Q. When molecules of ideal gas collide, the total kinetic energy remains constant. (C)
A. True [collisions are elastic]

Q. The rates of diffusion of two gases across a membrane are inversely proportional to their molar
masses. (C)

A. False [inversely proportional to square root of molar mass ]

Q. β-decay of a radioactive substance leads to a change of element. (C)

A. True [X-e proton no. increases]

Q. The half-life of a molecule depends on the type of decay it undergoes. (C)

A. False

Q. When light is incident from air unto glass at an angle less than 90°, it is totally reflected. (P)
A. False

Q. When light is incident in glass on a plane interface between glass and air, the transmitted light
propagates along the glass air boundary if the angle of incidence equals the critical angle. (P)
A. True

Q. Differences in the sound produced by different musical instruments arise from differences in their
harmonic content. (P)
A. True

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National Maths and Science Quiz 2011 Contest 22

Q. A more violently plucked string produces more harmonics than a gently plucked one. (P)
A. True

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National Maths and Science Quiz 2011 Contest 22

ROUND FOUR (Riddles)

Q. I have associations in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. In Mathematics I am an answer to a

problem. In Chemistry I am a solution of no specific description. In Biology, I am part of a plant
normally hidden from view. More specifically, I am a solution of an equation. Who am I? (B)
A. Root

Q. I am an electrical phenomenon. I convert electricity into heat but I am not the same phenomenon
that produces heat in an electric resistance heater. Whenever I produce a high temperature, I also
produce a cold temperature. I can also produce electricity from a temperature difference. Who am I?
(P)
A. Thermoelectric effect

Q. I am an indispensable tool of most biologists. I trace my origins to a family of Dutch spectacle

makers, in the year 1590. While experimenting with several lenses in a tube, they discovered that
nearby objects appeared greatly enlarged. I have made visible the fascinating details of worlds within
worlds. I enable the human eye, by means of combinations of lenses, to observe enlarged images of
tiny objects. Who am I? (P)
A. (Light) Microscope

Q. As an element I am found both free and in the combined state in nature. My fourth allotrope is a
synthetic one. I can be white or black or glassy depending on which allotropic form you find. With
hydrogen alone I form thousands of compounds. I have as many as 7 isotopes, some of which are
radioisotopes. One of the radioisotopes has an equilibrium concentration in all living things. It is
therefore widely used to date archaeological specimen. Who am I? (C)
A. Carbon (C)