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 cranial nerve supplies the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles?
- AHypoglossal nerve (XII)
- BFacial nerve (VII)
- CAccessory nerve (XI)
- DVagus nerve (X)
2.Human anatomyHard
An indirect inguinal hernia enters the inguinal canal at which point?
- AThrough the deep inguinal ring, lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels
- BThrough the superficial ring only, without entering the canal
- CThrough the posterior wall of the canal, medial to the inferior epigastric vessels
- DBelow the inguinal ligament, through the femoral canal
3.Human physiologyMedium
Low plasma albumin, as in severe liver disease, causes oedema mainly because:
- AThe capillaries become impermeable
- BLymphatic drainage increases
- CPlasma oncotic pressure falls
- DCapillary hydrostatic pressure falls
4.Human physiologyHard
Why can a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning have a normal PaO₂ but severe tissue hypoxia?
- ACO blocks diffusion across the alveolar wall
- BCO occupies haemoglobin binding sites, so oxygen content falls
- CCO lowers the barometric pressure in the alveoli
- DCO stops oxygen from dissolving in plasma
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
What is the job of the checkpoints in the cell cycle?
- ATo copy the DNA a second time before mitosis
- BTo join the two daughter cells back together
- CTo speed up division whenever the cell is short of nutrients or space
- DTo stop the cycle if the DNA is damaged or the cell is not ready
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A patient breathes very slowly, so carbon dioxide builds up in the blood. What happens to the blood pH, and why?
- AIt stays the same, because CO₂ does not dissolve in blood
- BIt rises, because CO₂ is a base
- CIt rises, because CO₂ removes hydrogen ions
- DIt falls, because CO₂ forms carbonic acid in the blood
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
What is a polymer?
- AA mixture of several different elements
- BA small molecule containing only two atoms of one element
- CA large molecule built from many repeating smaller units called monomers
- DAn ion with more than one charge
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Which list puts 0.1 M solutions of HCl, acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and NaCl in order of increasing pH?
- ANaCl < CH₃COOH < HCl
- BCH₃COOH < HCl < NaCl
- CHCl < CH₃COOH < NaCl
- DHCl < NaCl < CH₃COOH
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: C · Accessory nerve (XI)
Why this is the answer
The accessory nerve (XI) supplies sternocleidomastoid and trapezius. Damage weakens head turning and shoulder shrugging.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Through the deep inguinal ring, lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels
Why this is the answer
An indirect hernia passes through the deep ring, lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels, and runs along the canal. A direct hernia pushes through the posterior wall medial to them.
A · Through the deep inguinal ring, lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Plasma oncotic pressure falls
Why this is the answer
Albumin generates most of the plasma oncotic pressure that pulls fluid back into capillaries. When it falls, more fluid stays in the tissues.
C · Plasma oncotic pressure falls
4.Human physiology
Answer: B · CO occupies haemoglobin binding sites, so oxygen content falls
Why this is the answer
CO binds haemoglobin far more strongly than oxygen and shifts the curve left. Dissolved O₂ (PaO₂) is normal, but total oxygen content and release to tissues drop sharply.
B · CO occupies haemoglobin binding sites, so oxygen content falls
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · To stop the cycle if the DNA is damaged or the cell is not ready
Why this is the answer
Checkpoints check things such as DNA damage and correct spindle attachment. If there is a problem, the cycle pauses for repair or the cell undergoes apoptosis. Faulty checkpoints can lead to cancer.
D · To stop the cycle if the DNA is damaged or the cell is not ready
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · It falls, because CO₂ forms carbonic acid in the blood
Why this is the answer
CO₂ combines with water to form carbonic acid, which releases hydrogen ions. More CO₂ therefore lowers the pH and makes the blood more acidic (respiratory acidosis).
D · It falls, because CO₂ forms carbonic acid in the blood
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · A large molecule built from many repeating smaller units called monomers
Why this is the answer
Polymers are long chains of linked monomers. Starch is a polymer of glucose, proteins are polymers of amino acids and poly(ethene) is a polymer of ethene.
C · A large molecule built from many repeating smaller units called monomers
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · HCl < CH₃COOH < NaCl
Why this is the answer
At equal concentrations, the strong acid HCl releases the most H⁺ (lowest pH), weak acetic acid releases fewer, and NaCl is a neutral salt with a pH near 7.
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