Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE NATIONAL RESTRICTED ACCESS
SINGLE-CYCLE DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY AND IN DENTISTRY
AND DENTAL PROSTHODONTICS

Academic Year 2023/2024

Readin2 skills and knowledee acquired durin2 studies

1. Preliminary global average temperatures taken so far in June are nearly 1C (1.8F) above levels
previously recorded for the same month, going back to 1979. While the month is not yet complete
andmay not set a new June record, climate scientists say it follows a pattem ofstmngthening global
heating that could see this year named the hottest ever recorded, topping 2016.
The long-term warming conditions caused by the buming of fossil fuels will likely receive a further
pulse ofheat via El Nino, a naturally reoccurring phenomenon where sections of the Pacific Ocean
heat up, typically causing temperatums to spike across the world.
According to the text, which one of the following is true?
A) The June temperature this year is consistent with an observed trend.
B) This year, June will be the hottest month on record since 1979.
C) Temperatures in June are not related to the El Nino phenomenon.
D) June 1979 was the hottest month to date.
E) The El Nino phenomenon limits the effects of burning fossil fuels.

2. Which of the following pairs of character/book is wrong?

A) Elizabeth Bennet - Little Women
8) Leopold Bloom - Ulysses
C) Edmond Dantes - The Count ofMonte Cristo
D) Gregor Samsa - The Metamorphosis
E) Florentino Ariza - Love in the Time of Cholera

3. The work known as De Bello Gallico is

A) Julius Caesar's account of the Gallic war.
B) a painting by Eugene Delacroix.
C) a sculpture by Auguste Rodin.
D) an opera by Richard Wagner.
E) a collection of poems on the Gallic war by Horace.

4. In a parliamentary system of government, the President of the Republic is

A) Head of State but not Head of Government.
B) neither Head of State nor Head of Government.
C) Head of Government and Head of the High Council of the Judiciary.
D) Head of Government but not Head of State.
E) Head of State and Head of the High Council of the Judiciary.
 Logical reasoning and problem-solving
5. You have 1 pair of new-born rabbits (one male and one female) that can breed when they
reach maturity. You also have 3 pairs of mature rabbits (3 males and 3 females) that can
start breeding immediately. They follow these rules:
• Each mature pair of rabbits produces one new pair of offspring
(one male and one female) at the end of each month
• Each offspring pair takes one month to mature
How many rabbits do you have at the end of the 3rd month?
A) 36
8) 14
C) 18
D) 28
E) 42

6. The half-life of a radioactive element is the time needed for half of the material to decay.
You have a certain quantity of a mineral containing two radioactive elements X and Y,
whose half-lives are 2 and 3 years, respectively. Also, no physical process can produce
elements X or Y.
If today the ratio X:Y (mass/mass) is 8:1, what will it be after 6 years?
A} 4:1
8) 1:1
C) 2:1
D) 16:1
E) 32/1

7. You want to buy a sandwich from your favourite store but are on a strict diet, so the
sandwich must satisfy these requirements:
• protein content: at least 20 g
• fat content: less than 10 g energy: at least 1,300 kJ
These are the tvoes of sandwich available:
Type Ene rgy (kJ) Proteins (g) Fats (g) Salt equiv (g) Price(€)

Tuna 1579 18 14 1.4 7.20

Beef 1320 22 9 1.5 6.90

Chicken 1337 23 5 1.1 6.80

Vegetables 1198 9 15 1.2 6.50

Salmon 1620 22 12 2.1 7.10

Ham 1164 19 8 1.9 6.60

Turkey 1210 20 4 1.7 6.70

What is the minimum that you can spend for your sandwich?
A) 6.80 €
8) 6.70 €
C) 6.90 €
D) 6.60 €
E) 7.10 €

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 Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
8. Copernicus is the European Earth Observation Programme which was established in 1998 to
monitor the many ecosystems ofour planet If uses a constellation of 6 'Sentinel' satellites as well
as dozens of third-pa,ty satellites to protect us from natural and manmade disasters. It collects and
makes available accurate environmental data to address climate change, pollution, and
deforestation, aiding evidence-based decision-making. Copernicus fuels scientific research and
plays a pivotal role in tracing disease outbreaks, tracking marine pollution, determining the quality of
air and water, studying ocean levels and evaluating the meHing of the arctic polar ice cap. The
Copernicus European Observation Programme provides enormous social, environmental and
scientific benefits, and it should continue to be funded.
Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?
A) The economic benefits derived from the Copernicus programme outweigh its costs.
B) Some of Copernicus' benefits can be provided by other means.
C) The Copernicus project requires international cooperation to be effective.
D) There are a number of similar proj ects run by other international agencies.
E) Social and scientific advances are of equal importance.

9. There is a commonly held belief, known as the 'Matthew effecf, that students who start with poor
academic attainment early in school make less progress over time than their higher-achieving
peers. But recent research has shed new light on this topic. A study examined pattems ofgrowth in
literacy and numeracy among more than 15{l000 young people in Australia. Researchers tested
pupils regularly between year 3 and year 9. They found that students who began with high
achievement in reading and numeracy tests in year 3 were not making the amount ofprogress to
year 9 of which they were capable. On the other hand, students starting with below average test
scores made more progress from year 3 to year 9 than students starting above average. This
compensatory growth pattem was seen in both reading and numeracy but was especially significant
in reading.
Which one of the following can be drawn as a conclusion from the above passage?
A) Early promise does not guarantee high achievement in the long-term.
B) Numerical skills are harder to improve than language skills.
C) Rates of improvement from a low base will always be more rapid than progress
from a higher base.
D) The 'Matthew effect' is the result of low expectations by teachers.
E) It is easier to teach brighter students than those who are below average.

Biology
10. Glucose can feed into the biochemical pathways noted in the options below. Each pathway
generates a net yield of ATP molecules per molecule of glucose feeding into the pathway.
Rank the reactions listed below in order of the total number of net ATP molecules
produced, ranked from largest to smallest?
1. Ethyl alcohol fermentation of four molecules of glucose
2. Lactic acid fermentation of six molecules of glucose
3. The electron transport chain stage of cellular respiration following
the metabolism of a single molecule of glucose through the glycolytic
and citric acid cycle stages.
4. Glycolysis of seven glucose molecules
A) 3-4-2-1
B) 4-2-1-3
C) 3-4-1-2
D) 4-2-3-1
E) 2-1-4-3

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11. Duchenne muscular dystrophy {DMD) is a genetic condition marked by the gradual
deterioration of muscle tissue. Recent studies have revealed that DMD arises from specific
changes in a vital protein called dystrophin, responsible for maintaining the integrity of
muscle cells. The gene responsible for producing this protein follows an inheritance pattern
known as X-linked recessive.
Which of the following statements is wrong according to the above?
A) Women are more likely to suffer from DMD than men.
8) DMD is a sex-linked inherited dise·ase.
C) The rate at which the mutated allele spreads is influenced by the rate at which the
associated X chromosome spreads within the population.
D) To develop the condition, a woman must inherit two recessive alleles of this gene.
E) To develop the condition, a man must inherit one of the recessive alleles of this
gene.

12. In the table below, you can find the minimum, maximum and optimum pH values that are
require
. d f orenzvmes X Y Z W , and Q to function.
' ' '

El·
pH value

M1nrmum Optimum II Maximum

X 6.4 7.1 II 8.2
y 3.9 5.3 7.2
z 4.0 6.2 8.5
w 8.0 9.1 12.1
Q 1.3 5.4 9.5
Which of the pairs of enzymes listed below cannot function together in the same
environment?
A) Y and W
8) Wand Q
C) X and Y
D) Y and Z
E) X and Z

13. Which of the following is absent from the genome of a virus that utilizes DNA as its primary
molecule?
A) Uracil
8) Deoxyribose
C) Adenine
D) Guanine
E) Thymine

14. In which of the following events do hormones secreted by the adrenal gland and pancreas
play a role together?
1. Balancing the amount of calcium in the bone and blood.
2. Accelerating sodium absorption in the renal tubules.
3. Balancing the glucose level in the blood.
A) 3 only
8) 1
C) 1 and 2
D) 1, 2, and 3
E) 2 and 3

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 Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
15. Which of the following examples represent conditions regulated by homeostasis in the
body?
1. Blood glucose concentration
2. Body temperature
3. Water levels
4. Body weight
A) 1, 2 and 3
B) 1 only
C) 1 and 2
D) 1 and 4
E) 4 only

16. Which of the following structures in a plant cell are surrounded by a double membrane?
A} Plastid, Mitochondria, Nucleus
B) Golgi Apparatus, Ribosome, Mitochondria
C) Plastid, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Vacuole
D) Nucleus, Plastid, Golgi Apparatus
E) Mitochondria, Vacuole, Golgi Apparatus

17. Listed below are three different families with genotypes related to colour blindness which is
an X-linked recessive disorder.
I Family II Motherll Father I
DIXR
Xr I~
D~EJ
D~EJ
Among the families, which ones can have a colour-blind daughter?
A) 3
B) 1
C) 2
D) 1 and 2
E) 2 and 3

18. Which of the following conditions is necessary for a mutation to play a role in the process
of evolution?
A) Occurrence in germ cells
B) Having a dominant mutation
C) Occurrence in body cells
D) Having a recessive mutation
E) Formation by the effect of X-rays

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19. Redox reactions play a vital role in many cellular processes. Which of the following
statements and examples best describes redox reactions in living things?
A) Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons, where the molecule that gains
electrons is reduced , and the molecule that loses electrons is oxidized.
8) Redox reactions involve the destruction of molecules, where the molecule that
gains fragments is reduced, and the molecule that loses fragments is oxidized.
C) Redox reactions involve the formation of covalent bonds, where the molecule that
gains bonds is reduced, and the molecule that loses bonds is oxidized .
D) Redox reactions involve the absorption of energy, where the molecule that gains
energy is reduced, and the molecule that loses energy is oxidized.
E) Redox reactions involve the absorption of light, where the molecule that gains light
is reduced, and the molecule that loses light is oxidized.

20. Study the following table which shows the genotypes of individuals in a population for a
specI"fiIc genetic
· trait.
· The trait is determined by a single gene with two alleles, A and a.
Individual Genotype

1 AA
2 Aa

3 Aa

4 aa

5 AA
II
Based on the given data, what is the frequency of the A allele in this population?
A) 0.6
8) 0.2
C) 0.4
D) 0.8
E) 1.0

21. Which of the following anatomical structures is responsible for regulating the circadian
rhythm?
A) Pineal gland
8) Thalamus
C) Corpus callosum
D) Amygdala
E) Hippocampus

22. Photosynthesis is a vital process in which plants and some other organisms convert light
energy into chemical energy. Which of the following represents the balanced equation for
the overall reaction of photosynthesis?
A) 6C02 + 6H20 + energy - C6H1206 + 602
8) C6H1206 + 6C02 - t 6C02 + 6H20 + energy
C) 6C02 + 6H20 - C6H1206 + 6C02 + energy
D) C6H1206 + 6C02 + energy - t 6C02 + 6H20
E) C6H1206 + 6C02 + energy - 12C02 + 6H20

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 Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
23. What is the correct order of the following events that occur immediately after acetylcholine
binds to postsynaptic receptors of a muscle fibre, causing the muscle to contract?
1. ea2+ ions diffuse into the sarcoplasm.
2. The muscle fibre membrane is depolarised.
3. The myosin binding site on the actin filament is uncovered.
A) 2 - 1 - 3
B) 2 - 3 - 1
C) 1 - 2 - 3
D) 1 - 3 - 2
E) 3 - 2 - 1

24. What percentage of the three base codons that can be made using the standard genetic
code are stop codons?
A} 4.7%
B) 7.8%
C) 9.4%
D) 14.1%
E) 18.8%

25. Which of the following statements accurately describes prokaryotic DNA?

A) Prokaryotic DNA consists of circular chromosomes located within the cytoplasm.
B) Prokaryotic DNA is linear, with multiple chromosomes contained within a nuclear
membrane.
C) Prokaryotic DNA is highly condensed and organized into chromatin fibers.
D) Prokaryotic DNA is associated with histone proteins and undergoes meiotic cell
division during replication.
E) Prokaryotic DNA contains intrans and exons within its coding regions.

26. A fragment of double-stranded DNA molecule contains 12 phosphates and 2 adenines.

Given this information, what is the total number of purine bases, deoxyribose sugars and
hydrogen bonds respectively, present in the described DNA molecule?
A) 6, 12, 16
B) 12, 24, 28
C) 4, 12, 12
D) 6, 16, 12
E) 6, 12, 20

27. Which of the following statements accurately describes the surface area-to-volume ratio
and cell growth?
A) The surface area-to-volume ratio decreases as the cell grows larger.
B) The surface area-to-volume ratio remains constant during cell growth.
C) The surface area-to-volume ratio increases as the cell grows larger.
D) The surface area-to-volume ratio varies randomly during cell growth.
E) The surface area-to-volume ratio is unrelated to cell growth.

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28. Which of the following statements regarding the Golgi apparatus is correct?
A) The Golgi apparatus processes and packages proteins to be exported from the cell.
B) The Golgi apparatus processes lipid molecules as they enter the cell.
C) Before exiting the cell, the proteins packaged in the Golgi apparatus are transported
to the nucleus for translation verification.
D) Lysosomes digest the vesicles released from the Golgi apparatus so the proteins
can be released from the cell.
E) There is no Golgi apparatus in neuronal cells.

29. In which reactions of glycolysis are isomerase enzymes involved?

A) When glucose-6-phosphate is changed to fructose-6-phosphate.
B) During the phosphorylation of both glucose and fructose-1-phosphate.
C) In the steps in which dehydrogenase enzymes are involved.
D) When four enzyme-catalysed reactions convert each triose phosphate molecule to
a molecule of pyruvate.
E) To convert fructose 1-6-diphosphate to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and dihydroxy-
acetone phosphate.

30. Given the polynucleotide sequence AUGCCGC, can you tell which is the 5' end?
A) No, unless you know the position of the phosphate group, you cannot differentiate
the 3' end from the 5' end.
B) No, you cannot tell without the sequence of the complementary strand.
C) Yes, the 5' end begins with the start codon AUG.
D) There is no difference between the 5' and 3' ends of a single strand of DNA.
E) Counting the number of hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases provides
sufficient information to determine the 5' end.

31. Which statement or set of statements about oxidative phosphorylation is correct?

1. Complex I of the electron transport chain transfers electrons
from FADH2 to coenzyme Q .
2. ATP synthase utilises the energy of the proton gradient to
catalyze the conversion of ADP to ATP.
3. Oxygen serves as an electron acceptor in complex Ill.
4. Complex IV receives electrons from NADH.
A) 2
B) 1 and 2
C) 3
D) 2, 3 and 4
E) 4

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 Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
32. The 19th century monk Gregor Johann Mendel conducted simple hybridisation
experiments and established a series of laws of inheritance. Which of the points listed
below accurately reflect Mendel's laws?
1. Alternative forms of genetic characteristics can be
inherited from parents.
2. Specific heritable factors or traits are inherited
independently of other heritable factors.
3. Gametes are created by random segregation.
4. If one allele is dominant over another allele, the
phenotype reflects the dominant allele.
5. Individuals with heritable traits more suited to the
environment will have an increased chance of survival.
A) 1, 2, 3 and 4
B) 1, 2 and 3
C) All the statements are correct
D) 4 and 5
E) 1 and 5

Chemistry
33. A simple ion of element A can be represented:
2x+2A2+
X

How many electrons are present in this ion?

A) x-2
8) X
C) x+2
D) 2x
E) 2x+4

34. A sample of n moles of an ideal gas is contained in a closed system of fixed volume V m 3
at pressure P Pa and temperature 27.0 °c.
If the gas is heated to 327.0 °C, what will be the pressure, in Pa, at this new temperature?
Assume absolute zero is at -273.0 °C
A) 2P
B) p
2
C) p
D) 327 p
27
E) 27 p
327

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35. A pH meter is used to test 0.1 mol L - 1 aqueous solutions of the following compounds:
1. CH3COOH
2. NaCl
3. H2S04
4. Ba(OH)2
5. HNO3
Which of the following correctly lists these solutions in order of increasing pH?
A) 3, 5, 1, 2, 4
B) 3, 4, 1, 5, 2
C) 4 , 2, 1, 5, 3
D) 2, 1, 4, 5, 3
E) 5, 3, 1, 2, 4

36. Which of the following compounds are structural isomers of hexanoic acid?

0 OH
l //'-..I -
~o~
1.
CX 2.
OH
HO -...._,,,,

3.
OH

A) 1, 2 and 3
B) 1 only
C) 3 only
D) 1 and 2 only
E) 2 and 3 only

37. Consider the reaction:

H2 SO4 +HNO3 ➔ HSO4 +H2NOi
Which of the following terms describes the role of HNO 3 in this reaction?
A) A base
B) An acid
C) An oxidising agent
D) A reducing agent
E) A catalyst

38. Which one of the following is a gaseous compound (at room temperature and pressure)
that exists as linear molecules and reacts with water to form an acidic solution?
A) Carbon dioxide
B) Silicon dioxide
C) Nitrogen dioxide
D) Sulfur dioxide
E) Sulfur trioxide

39. Which of the following statements about 1Kg of water is correct?

A) Ice has a greater volume than liquid water as the particles are further apart
B) Liquid water has a greater volume than ice as the particles are further apart
C) Liquid water has a greater volume than ice as the particles have more kinetic
energy
D) Liquid water and ice have the same volume, which explains why ice partially floats
in water
E) Ice has a greater volume than liquid water as the particles have more kinetic energy

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 Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
40. At a given temperature, the J<c value of a gaseous exothermic reaction is equal to 7 x 10-5
2
dm6 mor •
Which one of the following statements is correct?
A) At a lower temperature the value of Kc will increase
B) The position of equilibrium lies over to the right-hand side
C) There are more moles on the right-hand side of the equilibrium equation
D) An increase in pressure will increase the time taken to reach equilibrium
E) Addition of a suitable catalyst will increase the equilibrium yield obtained

41. The structure of paracetamol is shown below:

N
y
H

H
Which one of the following functional groups is present in paracetamol?
A) Amide
B) Amine
C) Carboxylic acid
D) Aldehyde
E) Ketone

42. The formulae of the five most abundant substances in air are shown:
N2 02 Ar CO2 H20
How many of these five substances are elements and how many of these five substances
are made of molecules?
A) Elements = 3, molecules = 4
B) Elements= 1, molecules= 4
C) Elements = 1, molecules = 2
D) Elements= 3, molecules= 2
E) Elements = 5, molecules = 4

43. Which of these elements has the highest first ionisation energy?
A) Neon (Z = 10)
B) Lithium (Z = 3)
C) Sodium (Z = 11)
D) Argon (Z = 18)
E) Potassium (Z = 19)

44. Which of these molecules has an overall dipole moment?

A) PF3
B) BeF2
C) CF4
D) PFs
E) SF6

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45. This reaction is used in the extraction of titanium from its ore.
Ti02 + 2Cl2 + 2C -+ TiCl4 + 2CO
Which substances is/are the reducing agent(s) in this reaction?
A) C
B) Ti02
C) Cl2
D) C and Cl2
E) none of these substances - it is not a redox reaction

46. Iron is made by reduction of iron oxide using carbon monoxide.

Fe203 + 3CO -+ 2Fe + 3C02
50 g of iron is made in a reaction from 80 g of iron oxide.
What is the percentage yield of iron in this reaction? (Mr Fe203 = 160, Ar Fe= 56)
50
A) x 100
56
50
B) X 100
80
25
C) x 100
80
D) 50/ 56 x 100
80/160
E) 25/112 x 100
80/160

47. Which of these is a weak, diprotic acid?

0 0
11 II
A) H- 0- C- C- 0- H

o-s-o
II /H
H/ II
B) o
0

C) H-
II
C- 0- H

0 0

D)
II II
H-C-C-H

H H

H- 0-
I CI-
C- 0- H

E)
I HI
H

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 Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
Physics and Mathematics
48. Consider this function, defined for every x >1 (where "In" indicates the natural logarithm}:
r
f(x) = 2In(x) - 2In(x - 1) . Which of these•is an expression for its inverse function 1 (y}?
eY/2
A) eY/2 _1' y > O
eYf2
B) eYf2 - 1' y >1
1

49. Find the set of real solutions of this inequat ion:

2x-6x+ 5>0
A) ~
B) 0
C) (- 00 , 1) U (2, +oo)
D) (1 , 2)
E) {1, 2}

50. The ratio of sugar to flour in a mixture is 1 :5. After 1kg of sugar and 2kg of flour are added
to the mixture, the ratio has changed to 2:5.
A further 1kg of sugar and 2kg of flour are added to the mixture.
What is the new ratio of sugar to flour?
A) 11 :25
B) 3:5
C) 3:7
D) 4:7
E) 14:25

51. Two standard six-sided dice numbered 1 to 6 are rolled. What is the probability that the
product of the two numbers obtained is the square of a prime?
A) 5/36
B) 3/36
C) 4/36
D) 6/36
E) 7/36

52. How many solutions are there in the range 0° s x s 360° to the equation
. 4(X+90°)
sm - - - = - 1 ?.
10 16
A) 1
B) 2
C) 4
D) 20
E) 40

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53. What is the complete set of values of x for which 100-99x s 98-97 x and
96 + 95x > 94 + 93x ?
A) x~ 1
B) X > - 1
C) X> 1
D) x:::; -1 or x > 1
E) -1 < x ::s; 1

54. What is the minimum distance of the circle given by the equation
x 2 - 1Ox+ y 2 + 12y + 57 = O from the coordinate axes?
A) 3
B) 1
C) 2
D) 4
E) 5

16x + ax
55. The expression •- - x-+-- x- simplifies to which of the following?
4 2
A) 2x
B) 2
C) (✓
2[
D) Ex
E) 22x

56. A point mass A with mass m moves at a constant speed v on a horizontal frictionless plane
and collides with another point mass B with mass 2m that is at rest. The collision is elastic.
After the collision, point mass A is moving with a speed VA and point mass B with a speed
Ve.
What are VA and Ve, in terms of v?
1 2
A ) VA=3v; Vs = 3V

2 1
B) VA =3 v; Vs = 3V
1 1
C) VA = v; v 6 = v
2 3
1 1
D) VA = 3v; Vs =2 V
1 1
E) VA =2 v; Vs =2 V

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 Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca

Q
57. An ideal gas is trapped in a metal cylinder by a free-moving piston and is at equilibrium in a
room at 25°C.
The piston is pulled slowly to the right so that the volume of the trapped gas increases
isothermally. The piston is now fixed in position.
The metal cylinder is then placed in a location where thermal energy is transferred from the
trapped gas until the pressure of the gas is halved.
To the nearest degree Celsius, what is the final temperature of the gas?
A) -124°C
B) -149°C
C) 25°C
D) 50°C
E) 13°C

58. A metal jug of negligible thermal capacity contains a mass M of water at a temperature T 1•
A dry block of ice (specific latent heat of fusion = Lt) of mass m at O °C is dropped into the
water (specific heat capacity= c) and begins to melt. At thermal equilibrium, there is no ice
in the jug and the temperature of all the water is T 2-
There is no thermal energy transfer between the atmosphere and the water or between the
atmosphere and the ice.
Which expression is used to calculate m?
A) Mc(~ - Tz)
Lr + cTz
B) Mc(~ - 7;)
Lr
C)
Lr+ c?;
D) Mc~
Lr
E) Mc{~ - 7;)

59. A vehicle travels east for 6km, then south for 8km without stopping. If the trip takes 15
minutes, what is the magnitude of the average velocity in km/h?
A) 40
B) 20
C) 8
D) 14
E) 56

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60. Two perfectly insulating spheres charged respectively with 01 and 02 and with a respective
radius of R1 and R2 are placed in contact.
What will the charge on the sphere of radius R1 now be?
A) q
B) q
qR1 +Q2R2
C)
R1 +R2

D) qRf+OiRi.
Rf+ Ri.
E) 0

********** FINE DELLE DOMANDE **********

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