OAT Online Practice Questions and Answers

PLASTICS

Plastics have long been considered one of the great conveniences of the modern era, but evidence is mounting to indicate that these conveniences have come at an incredible cost. The chief benefit of plastics is their durability, but this benefit turns out to be the same reason plastic has become a significant problem: It takes 200 to 400 years to decompose. All of this plastic has accumulated into a catastrophic mess and has also caused disease in humans.

Between Hawaii and Japan, a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas slowly swirls with the currents of the Pacific Ocean. This area has come to be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effects on the ecology of the ocean are unimaginable. According to United Nations researchers, a hundred thousand sea mammals and a million seabirds die each year. They are found with cigarette lighters, syringes, and other plastics that they mistake for food in their stomachs.

Evidence also indicates that the plastic receptacles that people store their food in poses health risks. For instance, phthalates have been shown to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, yet they are found in many plastic products including baby bottles and water bottles. They have also been linked to various forms of cancer. Additionally, a chemical called bisphenol A that is found in many plastics can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen, which can also affect the reproductive system.

As used in this passage, the word "chief" most nearly means:

A. Least likely

B. Main

C. Benefit

D. Leader of a Native American tribe

A spring is sitting in an equilibrium position. What would happen to the force of the spring if you pulled the spring to a length double of that of its equilibrium?

A. Force would half

B. Force would stay the same

C. Force would double

D. Force would quadruple

E. Not enough information is provided

A helicopter shines its light into the ocean at an incidence angle of 30°. What is the angle of reflection?

Assume index of refraction is n = 1.33 for water and n = 1 for air.

A. 0°

B. 15°

C. 30°

D. 60°

E. Cannot be determined.

A person walks 4 meters in a single direction. He or she then changes directions and walks an additional 9 meters. What is the total magnitude of the displacement of the person?

A. It is 13 meters.

B. It is always larger than 9 meters but less than 13 meters.

C. It is less than 13 meters and as small as 5 meters.

D. It is less than 5 meters.

At a central bus station, Bus A travels north at a rate of 20 mph and Bus B travels east at a rate of 30 mph. How far apart, approximately, are the buses after 3 hours?

A. 50 miles

B. 88 miles

C. 108 miles

D. 120 miles

E. 145 miles

Juliet gets 78, 84, 98, 94 on her first 4 genetics exam. What grade must she receive on her final and fifth exam, in order to attain a 'A' in the class?

A. 92

B. 93

C. 94

D. 95

E. 96

Lex's favorite cookie store sells the following cookies: Sugar: $2.00 Macaroons: $1.50 Chocolate chip: $2.50 Peanut butter: $2.00

If Lex buys 3 cookies, what is the least amount he could have spent?

A. $5.50

B. $5.00

C. $4.50

D. $4.00

Which of the following accurately states the products of the citric acid cycle?

A. 6 NADH, 2 FADH2, 2 ATP, 4 CO2

B. 12 NADH, 4 FADH2, 4 ATP, 8 CO2

C. 3 NADH, 1 FADH2, 1 ATP, 2CO2

D. 6 NADH, 4 FADH2, 4 ATP, 4 CO2

E. 6 NADH, 2 FADH2, 8 ATP, 4 CO2

Cyanide is a poison that binds to the active site of the enzyme cytochrome c and prevents its activity. Cyanide is a(n)

A. Prosthetic group

B. Cofactor

C. Reverse regulator

D. Coenzyme

E. Inhibitor

Which of the answer choices represents a group containing a metal, metalloid and nonmetal elements?

A. Calcium, Nickel, Carbon

B. Potassium, Neon, Hydrogen

C. Lithium, Hydrogen, Silicon

D. Hydrogen, Oxygen, Silicon

E. Cesium, Boron, Silicon