1Formulas and methods
Biology for nursing entrance exams
Method
- Name the topic of the question: cell parts, transport, division, DNA and protein synthesis, inheritance, biomolecules, microorganisms or experimental design.
- Recall the key rule: A–T and G–C, diffusion from high to low, water moves towards more solute, mitosis keeps and meiosis halves the chromosome number.
- For crosses, write the parents’ genotypes, list the gametes and fill a Punnett square before counting.
- For experiments, label the independent, dependent and controlled variables, and ask whether the evidence supports or only suggests the conclusion.
- Check each option against the question asked, not just whether it is a true statement.
Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Method
- Identify what is given and asked: particles, a formula, a state change, a concentration, a pH or a mass.
- Use the periodic table: the atomic number gives protons, the group gives valence electrons and the usual ion charge.
- Balance equations with coefficients only, element by element, oxygen and hydrogen last.
- For amounts, go mass → moles → mole ratio → moles → mass, and for solutions use M = mol/L and C₁V₁ = C₂V₂.
- Remember that pH is logarithmic: one unit is a factor of 10.
2Practice problems
1.Human anatomyMedium
Which structure connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx?
- AExternal acoustic meatus
- BAuditory (Eustachian) tube
- CNasolacrimal duct
- DCochlear duct
2.Human anatomyHard
Injury to the common fibular (peroneal) nerve at the neck of the fibula typically causes:
- ALoss of sensation on the sole of the foot
- BWeak hip abduction
- CInability to flex the knee
- DFoot drop
3.Human physiologyMedium
The hormone secretin is released when acid enters the duodenum. What is its main effect?
- AInsulin release from the endocrine pancreas
- BContraction of the gallbladder
- CAcid secretion from the stomach
- DBicarbonate secretion from the pancreas
4.Human physiologyHard
Hodgkin and Huxley's classic studies of the ionic basis of the action potential used which preparation?
- AThe frog sciatic nerve–muscle preparation
- BThe cat spinal cord
- CThe squid giant axon
- DCultured human cortical neurons
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
What happens in the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis?
- AGlucose is broken down to release energy
- BWater is split to release oxygen
- CCO₂ is built into sugar using ATP and NADPH
- DLight is absorbed by chlorophyll
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A mother with blood type A (genotype Iᴬi) and a father with type B (Iᴮi) have children. Which blood types are possible?
- AOnly A and B
- BOnly AB
- CA, B, AB and O
- DOnly A, B and AB
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
Sulfur has 16 electrons. In which period of the periodic table is it?
- APeriod 2
- BPeriod 6
- CPeriod 16
- DPeriod 3
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Which substance has the lowest boiling point?
- AWater
- BIron
- CSodium chloride
- DHelium
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Auditory (Eustachian) tube
Why this is the answer
The auditory tube equalises air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. In children it is shorter and more horizontal, which favours middle ear infections.
B · Auditory (Eustachian) tube
2.Human anatomy
Answer: D · Foot drop
Why this is the answer
The common fibular nerve supplies the dorsiflexors and evertors. Damage at the fibular neck causes foot drop and a high-stepping gait. The sole is supplied by the tibial nerve.
3.Human physiology
Answer: D · Bicarbonate secretion from the pancreas
Why this is the answer
Secretin stimulates pancreatic duct cells to secrete bicarbonate-rich fluid, which neutralises acidic chyme so intestinal enzymes can work.
D · Bicarbonate secretion from the pancreas
4.Human physiology
Answer: C · The squid giant axon
Why this is the answer
The squid giant axon is up to about 1 mm wide, so voltage-clamp electrodes could be inserted. This showed that sodium inflow and potassium outflow produce the action potential.
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · CO₂ is built into sugar using ATP and NADPH
Why this is the answer
The Calvin cycle uses ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to fix carbon dioxide into sugar. It does not use light directly, but it depends on the products of the light reactions.
C · CO₂ is built into sugar using ATP and NADPH
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · A, B, AB and O
Why this is the answer
The crosses give IᴬIᴮ (AB), Iᴬi (A), Iᴮi (B) and ii (O), each with probability 1/4. Both parents carry the recessive i allele, so O is possible.
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · Period 3
Why this is the answer
Sulfur's arrangement is 2, 8, 6. It has three occupied shells, so it is in period 3. The 6 outer electrons place it in group 16.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · Helium
Why this is the answer
Helium atoms are tiny and attract each other only by very weak dispersion forces, so helium boils near −269 °C. Water has hydrogen bonds, while NaCl and iron have strong ionic and metallic bonds.