NSMQ 2024 past questions with answers

Answer

Droplet infection

1. 1.Recall the main routes of disease transmission: direct contact, indirect contact, droplet infection, airborne spread, and vectors.
2. 2.Recognize that influenza presents with coughing and sneezing, producing respiratory droplets laden with virus.
3. 3.Eliminate vector-borne and airborne droplet nuclei (<5 µm) as primary routes for influenza.
4. 4.Conclude that influenza spreads primarily through droplet infection.

Answer

Siderite

1. 1.Recall that carbonate minerals contain the CO3²– group.
2. 2.List the chemical formulas of common iron ores.
3. 3.Identify that only FeCO3 contains the carbonate ion.
4. 4.Conclude that the ore is siderite.

Answer

179

1. 1.List the odd numbers after 173: 175, 177, 179, ...
2. 2.Eliminate 175 and 177 since 175 = 5 × 35 and 177 = 3 × 59. Check 179 by testing divisibility by primes ≤ √179 (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13).
3. 3.Since 179 is not divisible by any of these primes, it is prime and is the next prime after 173.

Answer

1.6 g

1. 1.Calculate the mass of oxygen in one mole of S₂O₈ as 8 × 16 = 128 g
2. 2.Calculate the molar mass of S₂O₈ as (2 × 32) + (8 × 16) = 192 g/mol
3. 3.Find the mass fraction of oxygen: 128/192 = 2/3
4. 4.Multiply this fraction by the sample mass: (2/3) × 2.4 g = 1.6 g

Answer

Somatic = mitosis; Gametic = meiosis

1. 1.Somatic (body) cells divide to replace tissues and produce genetically identical daughter cells; this process is mitosis.
2. 2.Gametic (sex) cells are produced by a reduction division that halves the chromosome number and generates genetic variation; this process is meiosis.
3. 3.Mitosis yields $2$ diploid daughter cells identical to the parent; meiosis yields $4$ haploid, non‑identical gametes.
4. 4.Therefore: Somatic = mitosis; Gametic = meiosis.

Answer

$\frac{1}{2}$

1. 1.Define the random variable X as the number of heads in n = 3 tosses of a fair coin, so X ~ Binomial(n=3, p=1/2).
2. 2.Use the binomial formula P(X=k)=C(3,k)(1/2)^k(1/2)^3−k.
3. 3.Compute P(X=0)=C(3,0)(1/2)³=1·1/8=1/8 and P(X=2)=C(3,2)(1/2)³=3·1/8=3/8.
4. 4.Sum the probabilities for even k: P(even heads)=P(0)+P(2)=1/8+3/8=4/8=1/2.

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True

At zero applied electric field the charged oil drop experiences no electrostatic force, leaving only its weight, the buoyant force from displaced air, and viscous drag.

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True

By applying the standard factorization for the sum of cubes, x³ + y³ exactly matches (x + y)(x² - xy + y²), confirming the identity.

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Pollen grain