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1. Western blotting is a molecular technique to detect and analyze proteins by

utilizing the ability of the antibody to detect a specific epitope on the protein of
interest, from the membrane containing size-separated mixture of proteins by
gel electrophoresis. The image shows blots detecting proteins X and Y from
samples A and B. Which could not be inferred from the blots?

a. Sample A was loaded more in the gel than Sample B, prior to antibody
detection in the membrane.
b. Sample B was extracted from cells treated with a drug to cause a lower
expression level of Protein A.
c. Protein X expression level varies among samples.
d. Protein Y is not affected by the treatment.
e. Protein Y is a housekeeping protein.

2. The following sequences show a partial segment of a DNA, wherein the first
sequence encodes for the wild-type hypothetical protein, while the second
sequence contains a mutation. What could be inferred with the protein encoded
by the mutated DNA?

#1 5’- CTTCCAATTGGGTTCAGCTGC-3’

#2 5’- CTTCCAATTGGGTTTAGCTGC-3’

a. Protein from mutated DNA has one different amino acid.

b. Protein from mutated DNA has a shorter amino acid sequence.
c. Protein from mutated DNA has a completely different amino acid
sequence.
d. Protein from mutated DNA has reversed amino acid sequence.
e. Protein from mutated DNA has no changes in the amino acid sequence.
3. Which statement does not hold true regarding the evolution of the vertebrate
brain, as illustrated in the image below?

Source: https://www.macmillanhighered.com

a. Lamprey brain is not as capable of complex thoughts or actions as bony

fish.
b. Mammalian brain is considered the precursor of the vertebrate brain.
c. Cerebral hemispheres increased in size at the course of evolution.
d. The medulla oblongata is one of the oldest parts of the brain.
e. None of the above.

4. One of the vaccines developed against SARS-CoV-2 is an mRNA vaccine

encoding the spike protein of the virus, and is surrounded by a lipid coat. How
would the mRNA vaccine respond upon introduction to the body?
a. The mRNA will be directly recognized by the immune cells and will elicit
an immune response.
b. The mRNA will be taken up the immune cells and be broken up to elicit
an immune response.
c. The mRNA will be taken up by cells which will be targeted by other
immune cells to elicit an immune response.
d. The mRNA will be taken up by cells and translated to the viral spike
protein, which will then be used to elicit an immune response.
e. The mRNA will be taken up by the cells, reverse-transcribed and fused to
human DNA, which will then be transcribed and translated to the viral
spike protein. The protein will then be used to elicit an immune response.
5. The G614 mutation in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 emerged and expanded
in Europe in early 2020, replacing the D614 variant in frequency among infected
individuals. What is not true regarding these variants?

Reference: Korber et al. Tracking Changes in SARS-CoV-2 Spike. Cell, 2020, 182(4), 812-27.

a. The D614 variant has lost the ability to transmit between humans.
b. The D614 variant has lesser evolutionary advantage than the G614
variant.
c. The D614 variant is older than the G614 variant.
d. The G614 variant results in higher viral production.
e. The G614 variant results in higher viral infectivity

6. The proteins X and Y in the cells (shown in red) are viewed under a confocal
microscope by indirect immunofluorescence, with the chromatin labeled in blue.
Which statement is false regarding the images?
Protein X Protein Y

a. Protein X is localized in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

b. Protein X may interact with the nuclear pore complex.
c. Protein Y is localized outside the cell.
d. Protein Y does not function in mRNA transcription.
e. Protein X and Y may interact with each other.
7. The chemical bonds that tie atoms together in a molecule were visualized for the
first time in 2009 by researchers from IBM based in Switzerland. The figure
below shows (A) the chemical structure of pentacene (Carbon atoms as black
balls, Hydrogen atoms as white). Using a combination of advanced microscopy
techniques (B, C) the researchers clearly showed electron density between
atoms. Give the chemical formula of pentacene.

Reference: Gross, et al. The Chemical Structure of a Molecule Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy. Science, 2009, 1110-1114.

a. C22H14 d. C20H10
b. C30H20 e. C24H10
c. C14H22

8. The following atoms/ions have the same electronic configuration. Which among
them is the smallest?
a. O2- d. K+
b. Cl- e. Ca2+
c. Ar

9. It is important to understand the rusting of iron as it is used in many building

materials; the produced rust is not as sturdy as the former. The overall rusting
process may occur with the following equation that produces iron (III) oxide:

4 Fe(s) + 3 O2(g) ⟶ 2 Fe2O3(s)

Which of the following is true about the reaction?

a. Iron is reduced upon rusting

b. Oxygen gas is oxidized in the reaction
c. Each atom of Fe in the reaction loses 3 electrons
d. Each atom of oxygen gains 6 electrons in the reaction
e. Oxygen gas is the oxidizing agent in the reaction and is therefore
oxidized
10. Using X-ray crystallographic data obtained by Franklin, Watson and Crick
determined the structure of DNA in 1953. In this structure, the four base pairs
are arranged in a double helix structure. The two pairs of adenine-thymine and
guanine-cytosine are held together by strong hydrogen-bonding interactions.
The structures of adenine and thymine are shown below. Which of the following
figures correctly show the hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine?

adenine thymine

a.
c.

b.

d.

e.
11. In a study* published in Nature in 2020, researchers from Spain developed a
sensor that illustrates neutrinoless double β-decay indirectly by detecting Ba2+
ions. Ba2+ ions are produced when β-decay happens, so its presence is indicative
of the latter. The presence of Ba2+ is indicated by a blue color, negative result is
shown by green, as in the figure below.

In developing this sensor, the researchers are wary that other ions might
interfere with the result. That is, ions other than Ba2+ might also result in a blue
color on the sensor. Of the following ions, which one might interact with the
sensor in a similar way as Ba2+ that would turn the sensor blue? (Reference: Rivilla, et al.
Fluorescent bicolour sensor for low-background neutrinoless double β decay experiments. Nature, 2020,
48-54.)

a. K+ d. Co2+
b. Sr2+ e. Cu2+
c. Fe2+

12. To determine the amount of calcium in a sample of chalk (CaCO3), 0.60 g sample
is dissolved in hydrochloric acid to produce CaCl2, water (H2O), and carbon
dioxide (CO2). After the reaction, 0.55 g of CaCl2 salt was recovered. Give the
%CaCO3 (by mass) in the given sample.

Molar mass: CaCO3 100g/mol, CaCl2 (110 g/mol), CO2 44 g/mol

a. 71 % c. 77 % e. 83 %
b. 74 % d. 80%

13. The advent of quantum mechanics led to a new and more precise description of
atoms, and thus, of matter. Which of the following is NOT true?
a. According to the Pauli Exclusion Principle, each individual electron in the
same atom should have unique quantum states.
b. In atomic orbitals, the principal quantum number determines the
maximum value of orbital quantum number, while the orbital quantum
 number determines the possible values of the z-component of the angular
momentum.
c. The wave function itself has no physical interpretation, but it contains all
information that can be derived about the particle at a given instant.
d. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that measuring the position
and momentum of a particle at the same time is impossible.
e. None of the above

14. In her desperation to finally meet Taki, Mitsuha took the Shinkansen, or bullet
train, from Itomori to Tokyo. The Shinkansen is an engineering accomplishment
for its speed, efficiency and safety. An average Shinkansen has a maximum
speed of 270 km/hr with an acceleration of 0.72 m/s2. How long would it travel if
the Shinkansen accelerates constantly from a full stop to its full speed?
a. 37 km d. 8 km
b. 2 km e. 10 km
c. 4 km

15. A scientist working in Antarctica wanted to measure the speed of sound at

freezing temperatures (-50 C). To do this, she measured the speed of sound in
dry air at different temperatures. She came up with the following measurements:
Temperature (oC) Speed of sound (m/s)
0 330
20 344
40 355
60 370
80 378

From these data, predict the speed of sound (in m/s) in dry air at -50 oC.

a. 310 d. 295
b. 305 e. 290
c. 300

16. Consider a system of three particles in which the total energy (E) is determined
by the sum of the energy states occupied by the particles. Which of the
following has the highest entropy?
 a.
d.

b.
e.

c.

17. Put forward a hundred years ago, general relativity continues to resist recent
tests posed against it. All of the following confirm predictions of general
relativity except one. Which one is it?
a. Detection of gravitational waves emitted from merging of two black
holes
b. Gravitational lensing of distant light sources
c. Large-scale clustering of galaxies
d. Capturing a photograph of bright orbiting objects around a blackhole
e. Observation of the cosmic microwave background radiation
18. Photochromic lenses are made of materials that change color upon absorption
of light. With another wavelength, these lenses return to their original color.
These materials found their most widespread applications as glasses that turn to
dark sunglasses when one is exposed to UV light outside, and turn transparent
once one is indoors:

Source: Prado, R., Zayat, M., Levy, M. Photochromic organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2011, 40, 672-687.

A pair of glasses with area 15 cm2 needed to be exposed to 365 nm light for
25 seconds using a 10 mW laser. Determine the number of photons that fell
on the glasses.

a. 4.6 x 1017
b. 4.6 x 1026
c. 1.8 x 1026
d. 1.8 x 1017
e. Data is insufficient to answer the problem

19. In earth’s history, this era is known as the Age of Fish.

a. Paleoproterozoic
b. Paleozoic
c. Mesozoic
d. Cenozoic
e. Mesoarchean

20. This Zinc sulfide mineral is the primary ore of zinc.

a. Pyrite
b. Antimonide
c. Galena
d. Sphalerite
e. Stibnite
21. If you are 40 kilometers above the ground, within what atmospheric layer are you
in?
a. Troposphere
b. Stratosphere
c. Mesosphere
d. Exosphere
e. Thermosphere

22. This iceberg broke from its ice shelf in 2017 and for a time became the biggest in
the world, covering around 6,000 sq. km., until it slowly melted away.
a. B9
b. A68
c. A76
d. D28
e. A74

23. What is the world’s longest mountain chain that has a span of more than 40,000
miles around the globe?
a. Rocky Mountains
b. Atlas
c. Andes
d. Himalayas
e. Mid-Ocean Ridge

24. This type of cave is formed when groundwater seeps into passages in rocks that
leads to the formation of Karst.
a. Sea cave
b. Lava cave
c. Sandstone cave
d. Solution cave
e. Talus cave

25. Which observation did not prove Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity?
a. the bending of starlight
b. the discrepancy between actual and predicted position of Mercury based
on Newtonian astronomy
c. solar flares
d. all the galaxies are moving away from each other as first observed by
Edwin Hubble
e. all of the above
26. The ‘God-particle’ is also called ______
a. Lepton d. Miggs Muon
b. Higgs Boson e. Higgs Hadron
c. Positron

27. How many galaxies are there in the universe?

a. two hundred thousand to two million galaxies
b. two million to two billion galaxies
c. two billion to two hundred billion galaxies
d. two hundred billion to two trillion galaxies
e. two trillion to two quadrillion galaxies

28. Galactic archaeology is ______

a. the study of fossils and remnants of living things that can be found on the
planets in other star systems in the Milky Way and other galaxies
b. the study of rocks and other artifacts of intelligent creatures that can be
found on the planets of other star systems in the Milky Way and other
galaxies
c. digging through the chemicals contained in young and old stars currently
alive to picture how a galaxy has grown or the use of elements in stars
alive today to probe a galaxy’s history
d. digging through the chemicals contained in the rocks of planets in other
star systems in the Milky Way and other galaxies
e. all of the above

29. Which one of the following is a stellar fossil?

a. Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor (CEMP) star
b. Carbon-Poor Metal-Enhanced (CPME) star
c. Carbon-Poor Metal-Poor (CPMP) star
d. Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Enhanced (CEME) star
e. Ancient star

30. Why is the night sky so dark?

a. Because of the distance of the invisible background so immense that no
ray from it has yet been able to reach us at all
b. Because of the large clouds of cosmic dust particles in outer space
c. Because the universe is an infinite space
d. Because the universe has a finite age, 13.7 billion years, otherwise there
would be too many stars
e. None of the above

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