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 structure connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx?
- ANasolacrimal duct
- BExternal acoustic meatus
- CAuditory (Eustachian) tube
- DCochlear duct
2.Human anatomyHard
Injury to the common fibular (peroneal) nerve at the neck of the fibula typically causes:
- AInability to flex the knee
- BFoot drop
- CLoss of sensation on the sole of the foot
- DWeak hip abduction
3.Human physiologyMedium
What is the main stimulus for breathing in a healthy person?
- AA fall in blood pH caused by lactate only
- BA rise in arterial CO₂
- CA fall in arterial O₂
- DA rise in blood glucose
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 aldosterone
- BLack of ADH release (cranial diabetes insipidus)
- CExcess ADH release (SIADH)
- DUncontrolled diabetes mellitus
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Why are stains such as iodine or methylene blue added to cells on a microscope slide?
- ATo make structures easier to see
- BTo make the cells divide
- CTo keep the cells alive for longer
- DTo make the cells larger
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A patient is given a large volume of hypotonic IV fluid too quickly. What is the most likely effect on the patient's cells?
- AWater moves into the cells, and they swell
- BWater moves out of the cells, and they shrink
- CSalt moves into the cells, and they burst
- DNothing changes, because cells are not affected by IV fluid
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
How does a catalyst speed up a reaction?
- AIt raises the temperature of the reactants so they move faster
- BIt adds extra reactant to the mixture
- CIt provides a different pathway with a lower activation energy
- DIt makes the reaction more exothermic
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Which approach best reduces a health worker's exposure to ionising radiation?
- ALimit the time near the source, increase the distance and use shielding
- BWork faster without any shielding
- CRely only on wearing gloves
- DStand closer to the source so the job is finished sooner and exposure is shorter
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: C · Auditory (Eustachian) tube
Why this is the answer
The auditory tube equalises air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. In children it is shorter and more horizontal, which favours middle ear infections.
C · Auditory (Eustachian) tube
2.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Foot drop
Why this is the answer
The common fibular nerve supplies the dorsiflexors and evertors. Damage at the fibular neck causes foot drop and a high-stepping gait. The sole is supplied by the tibial nerve.
3.Human physiology
Answer: B · A rise in arterial CO₂
Why this is the answer
Central chemoreceptors respond to CO₂ (through the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid). Low O₂ adds strongly to the drive only when PaO₂ falls well below normal, for example at high altitude.
B · A rise in arterial CO₂
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: A · To make structures easier to see
Why this is the answer
Most cell parts are colourless, so stains are used to add contrast. Iodine stains starch and nuclei in plant cells, and methylene blue stains the nuclei of animal cells.
A · To make structures easier to see
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · Water moves into the cells, and they swell
Why this is the answer
When the fluid around cells becomes hypotonic, water moves into the cells by osmosis and they swell. In the brain this can be dangerous, which is why hypotonic fluids are given with care.
A · Water moves into the cells, and they swell
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · It provides a different pathway with a lower activation energy
Why this is the answer
A catalyst offers an alternative route with a lower activation energy, so more collisions succeed. It does not change the energy of reactants or products and is not used up.
C · It provides a different pathway with a lower activation energy
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · Limit the time near the source, increase the distance and use shielding
Why this is the answer
The three principles of radiation protection are time (minimise it), distance (maximise it, since intensity falls rapidly with distance) and shielding (such as lead aprons). Gloves alone do not stop penetrating radiation.
A · Limit the time near the source, increase the distance and use shielding
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