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 controls most of the muscles of facial expression?
- AFacial nerve (VII)
- BTrigeminal nerve (V)
- COculomotor nerve (III)
- DHypoglossal nerve (XII)
2.Human anatomyHard
Why is the proximal pole of the scaphoid at risk of avascular necrosis after a waist fracture?
- AIts only artery runs through the lunate
- BIts blood supply enters mainly from the distal end
- CIt has no blood supply at all
- DIt is drained by a single vein that clots easily
3.Human physiologyMedium
Which ion enters the cell to cause the depolarisation phase of a typical neuronal action potential?
- APotassium (K⁺)
- BChloride (Cl⁻)
- CSodium (Na⁺)
- DCalcium (Ca²⁺)
4.Human physiologyHard
Why does a person with lactase deficiency get diarrhoea and bloating after drinking milk?
- ALactose damages the villi directly
- BUndigested lactose draws water into the gut and is fermented by colonic bacteria
- CMilk protein triggers an allergic reaction
- DLactose is absorbed too quickly and raises blood glucose
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
The sodium-potassium pump moves ions across the cell membrane. What does one cycle of the pump do?
- AMoves 3 Na⁺ out and 2 K⁺ in, using ATP
- BMoves 2 Na⁺ out and 3 K⁺ in, using ATP
- CMoves Na⁺ in and K⁺ out, without using ATP
- DMoves 3 K⁺ out and 2 Na⁺ in, using ATP
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
The coding part of an mRNA is 900 bases long, including the start codon and the stop codon. How many amino acids are in the protein?
- A299
- B900
- C298
- D300
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which coefficients balance the equation __H₂ + __O₂ → __H₂O?
- A2, 1, 2
- B1, 2, 1
- C1, 1, 1
- D2, 2, 2
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Why does oil not dissolve in water?
- AOil reacts with water to form a solid
- BOil is nonpolar and water is polar, and "like dissolves like"
- CWater is too dense to mix with anything
- DOil molecules are charged ions
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Facial nerve (VII)
Why this is the answer
The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) supplies the muscles of facial expression. Damage causes facial palsy, as in Bell's palsy.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Its blood supply enters mainly from the distal end
Why this is the answer
Branches of the radial artery enter the scaphoid mainly distally and flow backwards. A fracture through the waist can cut off the proximal pole, causing avascular necrosis.
B · Its blood supply enters mainly from the distal end
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Sodium (Na⁺)
Why this is the answer
Voltage-gated Na⁺ channels open and Na⁺ rushes in, depolarising the membrane. K⁺ outflow then repolarises it.
4.Human physiology
Answer: B · 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.
B · Undigested lactose draws water into the gut and is fermented by colonic bacteria
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · Moves 3 Na⁺ out and 2 K⁺ in, using ATP
Why this is the answer
Each cycle uses one ATP to pump 3 sodium ions out and 2 potassium ions in, both against their gradients. This keeps Na⁺ high outside and K⁺ high inside, which nerve and muscle cells need.
A · Moves 3 Na⁺ out and 2 K⁺ in, using ATP
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 299
Why this is the answer
900 ÷ 3 = 300 codons. The start codon (AUG) codes for methionine, but the stop codon codes for no amino acid, so the protein has 299 amino acids.
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 2, 1, 2
Why this is the answer
2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O has 4 H and 2 O on each side. You may change coefficients, never the subscripts in the formulas.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · Oil is nonpolar and water is polar, and "like dissolves like"
Why this is the answer
Polar water molecules attract each other more strongly than they attract nonpolar oil molecules, so the oil is pushed out into a separate layer.
B · Oil is nonpolar and water is polar, and "like dissolves like"
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