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 pulse is felt just behind the medial malleolus of the ankle?
- AFibular artery
- BPosterior tibial artery
- CPopliteal artery
- DDorsalis pedis artery
2.Human anatomyHard
A large central disc prolapse at L4–L5 causes saddle anaesthesia, urinary retention and bilateral leg weakness. Which structure is compressed?
- AThoracic spinal cord
- BCauda equina
- CFemoral nerve
- DSciatic nerve in the buttock
3.Human physiologyMedium
Which hormone increases water reabsorption in the collecting ducts of the kidney?
- AAldosterone
- BAntidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- CAtrial natriuretic peptide
- DParathyroid hormone
4.Human physiologyHard
After a head injury, a patient passes large volumes of very dilute urine and plasma sodium rises. What is the most likely cause?
- AExcess ADH release (SIADH)
- BLack of ADH release (cranial diabetes insipidus)
- CUncontrolled diabetes mellitus
- DExcess aldosterone
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
In gel electrophoresis, why does DNA move towards the positive electrode?
- ADNA is pulled by gravity through the gel
- BDNA has a negative charge from its phosphate groups
- CDNA has no charge and moves at random
- DDNA has a positive charge from the nitrogen bases it contains
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A study finds that coffee drinkers have more lung cancer. Later it is found that coffee drinkers in the study also smoked more. What is smoking in this study?
- AThe control group
- BA placebo
- CA confounding variable
- DThe dependent variable
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
What is the molar mass of calcium carbonate, CaCO₃ (Ca = 40, C = 12, O = 16 g/mol)?
- A68 g/mol
- B100 g/mol
- C116 g/mol
- D84 g/mol
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
An element has the electron arrangement 2, 8, 8, 2. Where is it on the periodic table?
- AGroup 8, period 2
- BGroup 4, period 2
- CGroup 2, period 4
- DGroup 2, period 2
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Posterior tibial artery
Why this is the answer
The posterior tibial artery passes behind the medial malleolus into the sole. The dorsalis pedis pulse is felt on the top of the foot.
B · Posterior tibial artery
2.Human anatomy
Answer: B · 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 · Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Why this is the answer
ADH (vasopressin) from the posterior pituitary inserts aquaporin-2 channels, making the collecting duct permeable to water and concentrating the urine.
B · Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
4.Human physiology
Answer: B · Lack of ADH release (cranial diabetes insipidus)
Why this is the answer
Without ADH the collecting ducts stay impermeable to water, so dilute urine is produced and the patient loses free water, raising plasma sodium.
B · Lack of ADH release (cranial diabetes insipidus)
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · DNA has a negative charge from its phosphate groups
Why this is the answer
The phosphate groups in the DNA backbone are negatively charged, so DNA moves towards the positive electrode. Small fragments move through the gel more easily than large ones.
B · DNA has a negative charge from its phosphate groups
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · A confounding variable
Why this is the answer
A confounding variable is related to both the factor being studied and the outcome, so it can create a false link. Here smoking, not coffee, may explain the higher cancer rate.
C · A confounding variable
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · 100 g/mol
Why this is the answer
40 + 12 + (3 × 16) = 40 + 12 + 48 = 100 g/mol. Counting only one oxygen gives 68 g/mol.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · Group 2, period 4
Why this is the answer
Four occupied shells means period 4, and 2 outer electrons means group 2. This element has 20 electrons, so it is calcium.
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