INTERNATIONL MATHENATICS AND SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS (IMSO) 2008

Science Contest in Taiwan , Qualifying Examinations
Name:1 1 School: 11 1 1 Grade: 11 ID number: 11 111111

Section A Each question is followed by four answers. Choose the correct answer.

1. What is the principle reason that the air pressure at the top of a mountain is smaller than it is at
the bottom?
A. the air is cooler at the top of a mountain.
B. the weight of all of the air above the top of a mountain is smaller.
C. the percentage of oxygen in the air at the top of a mountain is lower.
D. the air molecules are closer together at the top of a mountain.

2. A key is placed in a hot oven and warmed to 1000C. As a result

A. the hole in the key becomes smaller.
B. the key is bent into an arc.
C. the key becomes longer.
D. All of the above.

3. Choose the correct statement.

A. The perceived loudness of a sound depends somewhat on its frequency.
B. The frequency of each music note is 10 hertz greater than that of the next lower note.
C. The decibel is the standard unit of measure of tone quality.
D. None of above.

4. Choose the incorrect statement.

A. Melamine（C3H6N6）, is found in the milk powder made in China mainland.
B. Melamine is a kind of polymer.
C. Melamine is used to make plastic dinner plates.
D. None of above.

5. The main principle reason of the high resolution functions of the STM (scanning tunneling
microscope) is the wave properties of electrons. Choose the correct statement.
A. The wavelength of electrons depends on their mass.
B. Any particles have the wave properties like electrons.
C. Opposite, an electromagnetic wave can not has any particle properties.
D. None of above.

6. The primary mirror in a astronomical telescope must be a

A. half-silvered mirror.
B. convex mirror.
C. concave mirror
D. plane mirror.

7. An automobile headlight and a dashboard light are used under the same voltage, but the
automobile headlight consumes more power because
A. its resistance is lower.
B. the current is larger.
C. it uses energy faster.
D. All of above.

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8. The drawings below show a turtle embryo and a chicken
embryo. Which of the following statements is supported by the
similarities between these embryos?
A. The turtle is more advanced than the chicken.
B. The chicken has more offspring than the turtle.
C. The turtle and the chicken are similar as adults.
D. The chicken and the turtle share a common ancestor.

9. The complete removal of decomposers from an ecosystem will

have the greatest effect on which of the following?
A. the spread of disease
B. the availability of water
C. the recycling of nutrients
D. the distribution of organisms

10. Which of the following statements best explains why the tilt of Earth on its axis causes summer
to be warmer than winter in the Northern Hemisphere?
A. The warm ocean currents flow from the tropics to the Northern Hemisphere in the summer.
B. The rays of the Sun strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly in the summer.
C. The greenhouse effect increases in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer.
D. The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun in the summer

11. The terms gas exchange, diaphragm, and inhale are most closely associated with which system
in the human body?
A. circulatory
B. digestive
C. excretory
D. respiratory

12. The following diagram shows a caterpillar, mold, and a fern. What do these organisms have in
common?

A. They are made of cells.

B. They produce their own food.
C. They decompose other organisms.
D. They are disease-causing organisms.

13.Which of the following Earth layers has the greatest density?

A. crust
B. mantle
C. inner core
D. outer core

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14. Which of these plants flower during the summer?

A. long night
B. short-day
C. intermediate-day
D. long-day

15. Which of the following is a principle of natural selection?

A. Members of a species are genetically identical.
B. Variations are acquired during an individual's lifetime and so are not passed to offspring.
C. Most organisms are infertile or produce nonviable offspring.
D. Helpful variations allow individuals to survive and reproduce better than members who lack
these variations.

16. Base on following graph；what does this graph suggest?

cross axle ：Type of Organism
vertical axle：Number of amino acids differences compared to human cytochroome C

A. Size of organisms can show evolutionary similarities.

B. Butterflies and humans are closely related.
C. Amino acids can show evolutionary similarities.
D. Monkeys and fish have similar biochemcial features.
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17. According to this table, what group has suffered the largest percentage loss to extinction?

Estimated Number of Extinctions Since 1600

Group Mainland Island Ocean Total Approximate Percent
Number of of Group
Species Extinct
Mammals 30 51 4 85 4000 2.1
Birds 21 92 0 113 9000 1.3
Reptiles 1 20 0 21 6300 0.3
Amphibians 2 0 0 2 4200 0.05
Fish 22 1 0 23 19,100 0.1
Invertebrates 49 48 1 98 1,000,000＋ 0.01
Flowering 245 139 0 384 250,000 0.2
Plants

A. birds
B. plants
C. mammals
D. invertebrates

18. How is this structure（Casparian strip） important to plants?

A. allows absorption of water

B. prevents water from entering leaves
C. prevents minerals from absorbing
D. blocks nutrients

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19. Imagine that these are cells. Which cell(s) would most efficiently supply nutrients through its
membrane?

A. smallest
B. largest
C. medium size
D. both smallest and largest

20. What does the bottom image in the diagram represent?

A. host cell engulfing viruses

B. new viruses bursting out of a host cell
C. several viruses attacking a host cell
D. viral hereditary material entering a host cell

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Section B Answer the following questions in the spaces provided. (40 marks)

1. The fluid pressure causes a force on each surface of an immersed object. The pressure on the
lower surface is greater than the pressure on the upper surface. Consequently, the upward force
on the bottom is greater than the downward force on the top. The net upward force is the
force.

2. When exactly 1 cup of sugar is dissolved in exactly 1 cup of water, is it exactly 2 cup of solution
results? Explain it. The answer is

3. The lowest temperature is called .

4. As a result of photosynthesis, green plants use the energy of sunlight to convert into ?

5. (1)The chart below lists the organisms that Tamara sorted into two groups based on one physical
characteristic.

What physical characteristics did Tamara most likely use

to sort the organisms into the two groups?
(Hint: number of legs; size of the body; shape of the feet;
type of body covering)

(2) Look at the food web below.

Which organism will immediately decrease in population if the grasshopper is taken out? .

6. Mark collected soil and put it into a glass jar. He added some water, covered it and left it on the
table for a few weeks. He noticed that green substance has grown on the wall of the jar. He then
wrote, “The soil may contain some algae.” Then he placed the green substance under a
microscope. He found some microorganisms with chloroplasts. Finally, he compared the shape of
the organism with a picture in the book. He found out that some of the organisms are called
Chlorella.
Use the following keywords to answer the questions.

generalization
method
calculation
hypothesis
conclusion
observation

Questions:
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a..“The soil may contain some algae.” This statement is best described as .
b.. Then he placed the green substance under a microscope. He found some microorganisms with
chloroplasts. This activity is called .
c. He found out that some of the organisms are called Chlorella. This statement is best described
as .

7. A map with contour lines is shown below. Which of the following is the best
estimate of the difference in elevation between Black Bear Camp and Eagle Peak?

8. In what two ways does vascular tissue help seed plants to live on land?
First way：
Second way：

9. List the levels of organization in the human body, Starting with the smallest unit.
a. b.

c. d.

10. Match the part of the flower with their funcation.

Function Flower Parts

1. Male reproductive parts a. petals
2. Protect the developing flower b. sepals
3. Female reproductive parts c. stamens
4. Colorful structures that attact insects d. pistils
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Section C
I. Height of Taipei 101 tower
Taipei 101 has been Taiwan’s new landmark and the tallest building on Earth. Most people are
interesting in its height. Please design at list three experiments by different methods to measure
the height of Taipei 101 tower.
Write procedures are designed for these experiments, and explain.
Write materials are needed used for these experiments.

II. Abbreviations of shape-memory plastics

Shape-memory plastics discovered as the name suggests, shape-memory plastics are able to
remember their original form after they have been distorted. We can make some beautiful
ornaments such as necklaces by using the shape-memory plastics materials. Draw some pictures
on a shape-memory plastic sheet, then heat it by a hot-wind-machine or an oven. Finally, the
plastic sheet is abbreviated into a small size and becomes a cute ornament with beautiful
drawings. Please design the experiments to measure these size abbreviations by the following
materials.
a ruler,
a hot-wind-machine,
some Shape-memory plastic sheets in A4 size,
drawing pens,
common paper sheets in A4 size,
a knife,
a clipper.
Write the procedures designed for these experiments, and explain.

III.
Individual organisms can be sorted into different kingdoms based on their characteristics. Pictures
of ten organisms and a table listing four kingdoms are shown above.
Write the name of each pictured organism under the correct kingdom in the table.

Paramecium Mushroom Archaea Fern Amoeba

Spider Moss Bacteria Sea star Aspergillus

Four Kingdoms of Living Organisms

Animalia Plantae Fungi Protista None of Four
Kingdoms

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IV. Objectives：
In this experiment , you will discover how some familiar mammals are classified.
Problem
How does a taxonomic key help you classify living thing？

Skills Focus
Observing, inferring, classifying

Materials
Pencil paper

Procedure：
1. Observe the five organisms labeled A through E. All of these organisms belong to the class
know as mammals, a group that includes you and many of the animals that are most familiar to
you. Each of these mammals belongs to a different order of mammals.

2. Examine the paired statements in the taxonomic key for mammals（Table 1）. Begin at Step 1
to identify the order to which the mammal in photograph A belongs. Because the animal in
photograph A does not have five digits or hands with flexible thumbs, go to step 2. Keep
following the key until you identify the order of mammal.

3. Use the key to identify the order to which the mammals in Photograph B through E belong.

Question:

1. For each organism in the photograph, name the order of mammals to which it belong？
2. Why is it important that the pair of statements at step 1 be opposites？
3. Could you use this taxonomic key to classify animals that are not mammals？Explain.
4. Could you use this key to classify different types of carnivores, such as foxes, skunks, and
walruses？Explain.

Observing：

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 D

Table 1：
Taxonomic Key for Mammals
Step 1 1a. Have five digits on all limbs, and Primates
hands with flexible thumbs
1b. Do not have five digits on all limbs, Go to Step 2
and hands with flexible thumbs

Step2 2a. Have limbs with claws or nails, not Go to Step 3

hooves
2b. Have limbs with hooves, not claws or Go to Step 4
nails
Step3 3a. Have long muscular trunks Proboscidea
3b. Have sharp teeth for biting and Carnivora
tearing flesh
Step4 4a. Have limbs with an even number of Artiodactyla
hooved toes
4b. Have limbs with an odd number of Perissodactyla
hooved toes

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