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 nerve supplies the diaphragm?
- AAccessory nerve
- BPhrenic nerve
- CVagus nerve
- DIntercostal nerves
2.Human anatomyHard
A large central disc prolapse at L4–L5 causes saddle anaesthesia, urinary retention and bilateral leg weakness. Which structure is compressed?
- ASciatic nerve in the buttock
- BThoracic spinal cord
- CFemoral nerve
- DCauda equina
3.Human physiologyMedium
Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by:
- AEjection fraction
- BStroke volume
- CBlood pressure
- DPeripheral resistance
4.Human physiologyHard
Hodgkin and Huxley's classic studies of the ionic basis of the action potential used which preparation?
- ACultured human cortical neurons
- BThe cat spinal cord
- CThe squid giant axon
- DThe frog sciatic nerve–muscle preparation
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Why does PCR use a DNA polymerase taken from bacteria that live in hot springs?
- AIt makes the DNA strands stick together
- BIt copies RNA as well as DNA
- CIt works only in the dark, like the bacteria it comes from
- DIt survives the high temperatures used to separate the strands
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
After wolves are removed from a park, the deer population rises sharply and young trees are overgrazed. What does this show?
- AOrganisms in a food web depend on each other
- BWolves compete with trees for sunlight
- CRemoving a predator has no effect on plants
- DDeer are producers in the food web
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
When a nucleus emits an alpha particle, how do its mass number and atomic number change?
- AMass number falls by 2 and atomic number falls by 4
- BNeither changes
- CMass number falls by 4 and atomic number falls by 2
- DMass number stays the same and atomic number rises by 1
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Water is split as 2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂. What volume of O₂ at STP (0 °C and 1 atm) forms from 2 mol of water?
- A22.4 L
- B67.2 L
- C44.8 L
- D11.2 L
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Phrenic nerve
Why this is the answer
The phrenic nerve (roots C3–C5) is the motor supply to the diaphragm. High cervical cord injury above C3 therefore stops spontaneous breathing.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: D · Cauda equina
Why this is the answer
Below L1–L2 the canal holds the cauda equina. Central compression of these lumbar and sacral roots causes cauda equina syndrome, a surgical emergency.
3.Human physiology
Answer: B · Stroke volume
Why this is the answer
CO = HR × SV. At rest about 70 beats/min × 70 mL ≈ 5 L/min.
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: D · It survives the high temperatures used to separate the strands
Why this is the answer
Each PCR cycle heats the mixture to separate the DNA strands. Most enzymes would denature, but polymerase from heat-loving bacteria (such as Taq polymerase) stays active through many cycles.
D · It survives the high temperatures used to separate the strands
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · Organisms in a food web depend on each other
Why this is the answer
Without predators, deer numbers grow and they eat more plants. A change at one level affects others, which shows the interdependence of organisms in a food web.
A · Organisms in a food web depend on each other
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · Mass number falls by 4 and atomic number falls by 2
Why this is the answer
Losing 2 protons and 2 neutrons lowers the mass number by 4 and the atomic number by 2, so a new element forms two places earlier in the periodic table.
C · Mass number falls by 4 and atomic number falls by 2
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 22.4 L
Why this is the answer
2 mol H₂O gives 1 mol O₂ (ratio 2 : 1). At STP, 1 mol of gas occupies 22.4 L. The 2 mol of H₂ formed would fill 44.8 L.
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