STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Scientific and Mathematical Reasoning Questions and Answers

Question 1

A scientist is testing the effect of a new nutrient supplement on plant growth.
She prepares three identical pots with the same soil and seeds.
Pot A receives no supplement.
Pot B receives the recommended dose of the supplement.
Pot C receives double the recommended dose.
All pots are kept in the same location with identical light and water exposure.
Which of the following is the primary purpose of Pot A in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

To serve as a control group to provide a baseline for comparison.

Answer

To determine the maximum amount of supplement the plant can tolerate.

Answer

To test if the seeds are viable and will grow without any intervention.

Answer

To act as a backup in case the other plants do not grow.

Question 2

A car's fuel efficiency is 8 litres per 100 kilometres. The fuel tank has a capacity of 50 litres. If the driver starts with a full tank and drives 450 kilometres, how many litres of fuel will be remaining in the tank?

Accepted Answer

14 litres

Answer

24 litres

Answer

36 litres

Answer

20 litres

Question 3

The following table shows the results of a survey asking 200 people about their preferred mode of transport in two different cities.

| Transport Mode | City X (Respondents) | City Y (Respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 60 | 35 |
| Public Transit | 25 | 45 |
| Bicycle | 15 | 20 |

What percentage of the total respondents from City Y preferred Public Transit?

Accepted Answer

45%

Answer

22.5%

Answer

100%

Answer

35%

Question 4

A sequence of patterns is created using dots. Pattern 1 has 3 dots, Pattern 2 has 5 dots, and Pattern 3 has 7 dots. If this trend continues, which formula can be used to determine the number of dots (d) in any given pattern number (n)?

Accepted Answer

d = 2n + 1

Answer

d = n + 2

Answer

d = 3n

Answer

d = n^2 + 2

Question 5

A gear system consists of two connected cogs. Cog A has 12 teeth and Cog B has 36 teeth. For every complete revolution of Cog B, how many revolutions does Cog A make?

Accepted Answer

3

Answer

1/3

Answer

1

Answer

4

Question 6

A medical researcher states: 'Our study found a positive correlation between daily coffee consumption and reported levels of alertness. Therefore, drinking coffee causes an increase in alertness.' Which of the following statements represents the most significant logical flaw in the researcher's conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Correlation does not necessarily imply causation; other factors could be involved.

Answer

The study did not specify the type of coffee used.

Answer

The study should have been conducted over a longer period.

Answer

Alertness is a subjective measure and cannot be accurately reported.