Workspace Science Test 35
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OFFICIAL ACT Form E25 · April 2022

Science

35 questions ~9 min recommended
00:00
Score
=== Passage I ===
The sweetness of a food containing a polyol is related to the polyol’s solubility (maximum percent by mass of the polyol that can dissolve in water kept at a constant temperature). Table 2 shows, for each of the 4 polyols, the relative sweetness and the solubility in water at 4 temperatures.

=== Passage II ===
When a 13-lined ground squirrel (a mammal) hibernates, it does not eat, and it alternates between periods of torpor (characterized by a reduced rate of metabolism, low body temperature, and little movement) and active bouts (characterized by a normal rate of metabolism, normal body temperature, and normal movement). Figure 1 shows the body temperature of a 13-lined ground squirrel during 12 consecutive months, including several months of hibernation.

=== Passage III ===
A study examined the production and consumption of methane (CH4) by soil bacteria in 4 areas of a particular forest: an area of healthy black spruce trees, an area of burned black spruce trees, an area of healthy jack pine trees, and an area of burned jack pine trees.

=== Passage IV Experiment 2 ===
Acetates are compounds with the chemical formula CH3CO2R, where R is an unreactive chain of carbon and hydrogen atoms. In the presence of a catalyst, acetates can undergo hydrolysis (reaction with H2O) to produce both acetic acid (CH3COOH) and an alcohol (ROH):

=== ... ===
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1. Which of the polyols listed in Table 2 is least soluble in water at 40°C?

2. Based on Table 1, if the temperature of the erythritol solution had been recorded at 7 sec, it would most likely have been closest to which of the following?

3. Tagatose is a polyol that has a solubility of 58% by mass in water at 20°C. Based on Table 2, the relative sweetness of tagatose is most similar to the relative sweetness of:

4. Based on Tables 1 and 2, the polyol in the solution that had the smallest temperature change over the 6 sec period has a relative sweetness of:

5. Based on Table 2, it is NOT possible to dissolve enough xylitol in water to form a solution of 60% xylitol by mass if the water is kept at which of the following temperatures?

6. The dissolving of a polyol in water requires energy. Based on Table 1, the dissolving of which polyol over the 6 sec period required the most energy?

7. According to Figure 1, when the 13-lined ground squirrel was NOT hibernating, its average body temperature was approximately:

8. According to Figure 1, of the following months, during which one did the 13-lined ground squirrel spend the most time in periods of torpor?

9. Which of the following statements about hibernation and total blood cholesterol is best supported by Figure 2?

10. Do 13-lined ground squirrels more likely consume O2 at a greater rate during periods of torpor or during active bouts?

11. Based on Figure 1, approximately what percent of the 12 months did the 13-lined ground squirrel spend in hibernation?

12. Consider the blood samples having an average total cholesterol of 420 mg/dL, as shown in Figure 2. Based on Figure 1, were those blood samples collected when the 13-lined ground squirrels were hibernating?

13. According to the results of the study, in either area of jack pine trees, CH4 was consumed at the greatest rate over the month that ended on:

14. Over which 2 months was there a net production of CH4 in both areas of black spruce trees?

15. Consider the results for the 2 areas of black spruce trees. Over the months that both areas had a net production of CH4, which area had the greater average rate of production; and over the months that both areas had a net consumption of CH4, which area had the greater average rate of consumption?

16. In the area of healthy jack pine trees, from June 15 to July 15, was there a net production of CH4 or a net consumption of CH4, and what was the average rate?

17. Consider the unit of measurement in Figure 2 for the average rate of CH4 production or consumption. What quantity is represented by 'mg,' and what quantity is represented by 'm2'?

18. Temperature affects the production and consumption of CH4 by bacteria. What part or component of the experimental apparatus was directly responsible for minimizing the daily temperature increase in the soil that was covered by a cylinder?

19. Let x represent the CH4 content of the gas inside a cylinder on May 15, and let y represent the CH4 content of the gas inside the cylinder on June 15. Based on Figure 2, in the area of burned jack pine trees, was x>y or was x<y?

20. According to the results of Experiment 1, from acetate to acetate, as the number of C atoms in the R group increased, the value of k:

21. Trials 14−16 were different from Trial 9 with respect to what experimental factor?

22. Which of the following pieces of laboratory equipment was most likely used in Step 1 of the experimental?

23. Which of the following groups was most likely intended to serve as a control for the effect of Protein F on tadpole activity?

24. Suppose Experiment 2 had been continued for another 30 min. How many Group 7 tadpoles would most likely have been observed to be swimming at 180 min?

25. Experiments 1 and 2 differed in which of the following ways?

26. In Experiment 1, after a group was exposed to Protein F for 2 hr, how was the group more likely removed from the water containing Protein F and placed into its new environment—with a fine wire mesh basket or with a watertight plastic cup?

27. Consider the statement ‘When the tadpoles were in the presence of Protein F, the activity of the tadpoles that were more hungry increased faster than did the activity of the tadpoles that were less hungry.’ Do the results of Experiment 2 support this statement?

28. The molecules of the substance secreted by the tadpoles are composed of what type of subunit?

29. Consider the statement ‘The activity of the tadpoles that had been exposed to 300 pM of Protein F increased faster than did the activity of the tadpoles that had been exposed to 100 pM of Protein F.’ Do the results of Experiment 1 support this statement?

30. When light enters the glass, which of the properties of light listed below increase(s) in value?

31. Based on Student 3’s predictions, when light enters glass from the vacuum, can light’s frequency change without its energy changing?

32. Which students imply that light’s frequency before entering the glass is different from its frequency after leaving the glass?

33. If each of Students 1 and 2 were to provide a value for the energy of light reentering the vacuum, would Student 1’s value be greater than, less than, or equal to Student 2’s value?

34. Why does Student 2 maintain that if light enters the glass and wavelength increases, the size of the increase must be limited?

35. Which of the students, if any, implies that the collisions between light and atoms of the glass cause no change in light’s energy?