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
The sympathetic nervous system leaves the central nervous system from which spinal segments?
- AThoracic and upper lumbar (T1–L2)
- BSacral only (S2–S4)
- CCervical only
- DCranial and sacral
2.Human anatomyHard
After a difficult delivery with traction on the neck, a baby's arm hangs by the side, internally rotated with the forearm pronated ("waiter's tip"). Which part of the brachial plexus is injured?
- APosterior cord
- BLower trunk (C8–T1)
- CUpper trunk (C5–C6)
- DMedial cord
3.Human physiologyMedium
Which is a classic example of positive feedback in the body?
- ASweating when body temperature rises
- BInsulin release after a meal
- COxytocin release during labour
- DADH release when plasma osmolality rises
4.Human physiologyHard
Why does a person with lactase deficiency get diarrhoea and bloating after drinking milk?
- AUndigested lactose draws water into the gut and is fermented by colonic bacteria
- BMilk protein triggers an allergic reaction
- CLactose is absorbed too quickly and raises blood glucose
- DLactose damages the villi directly
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
In a food chain, which organisms are the producers?
- APredators at the top of the chain
- BFungi that break down dead material
- CPlants and algae that make food by photosynthesis
- DAnimals that eat only plants, such as rabbits and deer
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
In snapdragons, flower colour shows incomplete dominance: RR is red, RW is pink and WW is white. Two pink plants are crossed. What phenotype ratio is expected?
- A3 red : 1 white
- B1 red : 1 white
- CAll pink, like the parents
- D1 red : 2 pink : 1 white
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
What happens to the temperature of ice water while the ice is melting?
- AIt falls below 0 °C
- BIt stays at 0 °C until all the ice has melted
- CIt rises to 100 °C straight away
- DIt rises steadily the whole time
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
A student tests whether water temperature affects how fast sugar dissolves. Which set of factors should be kept the same in every trial?
- ANothing, because changing several factors at once gives more useful data
- BThe water temperature and the dissolving time
- COnly the colour of the cup
- DThe mass of sugar, the type of sugar, the volume of water and the amount of stirring
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Thoracic and upper lumbar (T1–L2)
Why this is the answer
Sympathetic preganglionic neurons lie in the lateral horn from T1 to L2. The parasympathetic system has a craniosacral outflow.
A · Thoracic and upper lumbar (T1–L2)
2.Human anatomy
Answer: C · Upper trunk (C5–C6)
Why this is the answer
Erb's palsy follows stretching of the upper trunk (C5–C6), paralysing deltoid, the external rotators and biceps. Lower trunk injury (Klumpke's) affects the small hand muscles instead.
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Oxytocin release during labour
Why this is the answer
Stretch of the cervix releases oxytocin, which strengthens contractions and causes more stretch. The loop ends with delivery. The other examples are negative feedback.
C · Oxytocin release during labour
4.Human physiology
Answer: A · Undigested lactose draws water into the gut and is fermented by colonic bacteria
Why this is the answer
Unabsorbed lactose acts osmotically, pulling water into the lumen. Colonic bacteria ferment it, producing gas and short-chain fatty acids.
A · Undigested lactose draws water into the gut and is fermented by colonic bacteria
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · Plants and algae that make food by photosynthesis
Why this is the answer
Producers (autotrophs) make their own food using light energy. Herbivores are primary consumers, predators are higher consumers and fungi and bacteria are decomposers.
C · Plants and algae that make food by photosynthesis
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · 1 red : 2 pink : 1 white
Why this is the answer
RW × RW gives 1 RR : 2 RW : 1 WW. Because heterozygotes are pink, the phenotype ratio is the same as the genotype ratio: 1 red : 2 pink : 1 white.
D · 1 red : 2 pink : 1 white
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · It stays at 0 °C until all the ice has melted
Why this is the answer
During a phase change the added heat (latent heat) breaks the bonds between particles instead of raising the temperature, so it stays at the melting point.
B · It stays at 0 °C until all the ice has melted
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · The mass of sugar, the type of sugar, the volume of water and the amount of stirring
Why this is the answer
For a fair test, every factor except the independent variable (temperature) must be controlled. Otherwise a change in dissolving time could be caused by something else, such as more stirring or finer sugar.
D · The mass of sugar, the type of sugar, the volume of water and the amount of stirring
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