HSC Core Subjects 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Mathematics Extension 1, the binomial theorem expands (a + b)ⁿ. What is the coefficient of the third term when n = 4?
- 4
- 6 (Correct answer)
- 8
- 12
Correct answer: 6
The third term of (a+b)⁴ uses C(4,2) = 6 as its binomial coefficient.
Question 2: Which of the following best defines 'homeostasis' in Biology?
- The process of cell division
- The maintenance of a stable internal environment despite external changes (Correct answer)
- The conversion of glucose into ATP
- The replication of DNA before mitosis
Correct answer: The maintenance of a stable internal environment despite external changes
Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to regulate internal conditions such as temperature and pH within a narrow range.
Question 3: In English, the term 'intertextuality' refers to:
- Comparing two texts from different cultures
- The way a text references, echoes, or is shaped by other texts (Correct answer)
- Writing an essay that includes multiple quotations
- Analyzing a text within its historical context
Correct answer: The way a text references, echoes, or is shaped by other texts
Intertextuality describes how texts inherently contain references or relationships to other texts.
Question 4: In Chemistry, Le Chatelier's Principle states that a system at equilibrium will:
- Always shift toward producing more products
- Remain unchanged when a stress is applied
- Shift to counteract any applied stress and restore equilibrium (Correct answer)
- Increase its temperature when pressure is reduced
Correct answer: Shift to counteract any applied stress and restore equilibrium
Le Chatelier's Principle predicts that a system will oppose any change imposed on it to re-establish equilibrium.
Question 5: Which economic concept refers to the additional output produced by employing one more unit of a factor of production?
- Total revenue
- Marginal product (Correct answer)
- Fixed cost
- Opportunity cost
Correct answer: Marginal product
Marginal product measures the change in total output resulting from adding one more unit of an input, like labor.
Question 6: In Physics, which property of a wave determines its pitch when heard as sound?
- Amplitude
- Wavelength
- Frequency (Correct answer)
- Speed
Correct answer: Frequency
The pitch of a sound is determined by its frequency — higher frequency produces a higher-pitched sound.
Question 7: A historian arguing that economic factors were the primary cause of World War I is presenting which type of argument?
- Social constructivist
- Monocausal (Correct answer)
- Multicausal
- Revisionist
Correct answer: Monocausal
A monocausal argument attributes a historical event to a single primary cause, in this case economic factors.
HSC Core Subjects 3
In Mathematics Extension 1, the binomial theorem expands (a + b)ⁿ.
What is the coefficient of the third term when n = 4?