Anyone hoping to become a medical doctor will have to score well on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This all-important test is administered numerous times every year, though individuals are advised to take the exam during the year in which they will apply to medical school. The MCAT test is arguably the most difficult academic test out there, and doing well on it requires a high level of native intelligence, mastery of many different subject areas, and intensive preparation. There is a strong emphasis on scientific knowledge and principles on the test.
The MCAT has four components: a Writing Sample and three sections of multiple--choice questions on the Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and the Biological Sciences. The essays will not be on subjects directly related to the scientific areas; rather, they will be on assigned topics. Candidates will be given a written statement and asked to do three things--explain it, present and explore some exceptions to it, and then show how these two can be reconciled. Two of these assignments make up the Writing Sample. In the Verbal Reasoning section, candidates will have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions demonstrating their ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply written information. In the Physical Sciences section, candidates will have 70 minutes to answer 52 questions about physics and chemistry. Many people regard this as the most difficult part of the MCAT. The Biological Sciences portion consists of another 70 minutes to answer 52 questions on biology and organic chemistry. All questions in these three parts of the MCAT will be multiple choice.
Candidates who are apprehensive about their performance on the MCAT are allowed to void their score before leaving the facility. Individuals should keep in mind that they are only allowed three attempts at the MCAT test over the course of a year and voiding a score will use up one of them. Scaled scores range from 1 to 15 on the three multiple-choice parts, and from J (lowest) to T (highest) on the Writing Sample. Scores are available approximately one month after the test date. MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which does not endorse this program or our methodology.
MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which does not endorse this program or our methodology.
1. Two spring scales having negligible mass are connected together and used to weigh a 10 kg object, as shown below.
What will be the reading on the scales?
2. Transverse travelling waves propagate through a taut string of length 20 meters at a speed of 4 m/s. Standing waves are set up in this string which is fixed at both ends. What is the smallest frequency possible for the standing waves?
3. Which statement correctly describes the elastic limit of a metal rod?
4. PUGILIST : GLOVES :: JOCKEY :
5. QUILLS : PORCUPINE :: TUSKS :
6. Henry's most recent _____ is an oil painting he has wanted for years.
7. The _____ rumors nearly destroyed Alan's reputation.
The graph above shows the potential energy of molecules during a chemical reaction. Which of the following statements about the reaction is true?
9. A pea plant with purple flowers is crossed with a pea plant with white flowers. Half the progeny have purple flowers and half have white flowers. The allele for purple flowers is ____________ to the allele for white flowers.
10. In the absence of selective pressure, but in a small population, allele frequencies will likely change because of:
1. C: The weight of an object near Earth's surface is given by W = mg, where g = 9.8 m/s2. The Earth exerts a force on the 10 kg object equal 10 kg x 9.8 m/s2= 98 N. This weight pulls on the lower spring, stretching it until it reads 98 N. The lower spring then exerts a force of 98 N on the upper spring, causing it to read 98 N.
2. A: A standing wave remains stationary, and the fixed points at both ends are the wave's nodes. Nevertheless, a standing waves with nodes at both ends of the string can have several forms. It may have one anti-node (i.e., it will arc across), two anti-nodes (this looks like a sine wave), three anti-nodes (with 1.5 sine waves), etc. However, waves with just one anti-node will the longest wavelength and thus the smallest frequency. For a wave with one anti-node, the string will have only ONE-HALF of a wave, so 20 m represents a half-wavelength and the full wavelength is 40 m. Using the wave equation (v = λ f) gives the correct answer. f = v/λ = 4 m/s / 40 m = 0.1 Hz.
3. A: When an external force deforms a solid material, it will return to its initial position when the force is removed. This is called elasticity and is exhibited by springs. If too much force is applied and the elastic limit is exceeded, the rod won't return to its original shape any longer. As with springs, the deformation is directly proportional to the stress. The elastic limit occurs in rods subjected to a tensile force when the strain stops being directly proportional to the stress. The typical pattern when the force increases is that the strain increases linearly, then it doesn't increase as much, and then it breaks.
4. B: In this analogy of association, the second term in each pair names a piece of equipment used in the profession. A pugilist, or boxer, uses gloves when pursuing the sport, just as a jockey uses a saddle when pursuing the sport.
5. D: This analogy names prominent features of each animal. Quills are a prominent feature of a porcupine, just as tusks are a prominent feature of an elephant.
6. A: An inquisition is an interrogation, so you can immediately eliminate choice B, since it doesn't make any sense in the sentence. You might be tempted by choice C, creation, which goes with the idea of an oil painting, but the clue that "he has wanted [it] for years" helps you eliminate this choice. If he has wanted it for years, he would not have just recently created it. Choice D, syndication, makes no sense, as it means "an association of individuals or corporations." Choice A is the only choice that makes sense. An acquisition is something that one acquires, or manages to get.
7. D: If rumors nearly destroyed Alan's reputation, we should look for a word that hints at destruction. Propitious means "favorable," so it can be eliminated. Vociferous means "loud," so that doesn't make much sense. Superfluous means "extra," so it can be eliminated, too. That leaves pernicious, which means "causing great harm, destruction, or injury," as the obvious correct answer.
8. B: The activation energy, or peak, is lower in curve 2, which means that a catalyst was present. Enzymes work by lowering the activation energy of reactions.
9. E: Because we are not told whether the parent plants are homozygous or heterozygous, it is not possible to determine the dominance of one allele over another.
10. A: Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies. In a small population, some alleles may increase or decrease for no other reason than by chance.
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