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 two regions of the adult spine normally show a lordosis (curve concave towards the back)?
- AThoracic and lumbar
- BThoracic and sacral
- CCervical and thoracic
- DCervical and lumbar
2.Human anatomyHard
Where does the thoracic duct usually empty its lymph into the blood?
- AJunction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins
- BInferior vena cava at the level of the kidneys
- CJunction of the right subclavian and right internal jugular veins
- DRight atrium directly
3.Human physiologyMedium
Why can cardiac muscle not be tetanised like skeletal muscle?
- AIt has no calcium in the sarcoplasmic reticulum
- BIt is not striated
- CIts long refractory period lasts almost as long as the contraction
- DIt is controlled only by hormones
4.Human physiologyHard
Why does fetal haemoglobin have a higher affinity for oxygen than adult haemoglobin?
- AFetal blood has a higher pH
- BIt contains more iron per haem
- CIt binds 2,3-BPG less strongly
- DIt has five subunits instead of four
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Red-green colour blindness is X-linked recessive. A colour-blind woman (XᵇXᵇ) has children with a man with normal colour vision (XᴮY). What fraction of their sons is expected to be colour-blind?
- ANone
- BOne quarter
- CAll
- DOne half
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A leaf with green and white areas is kept in light and then tested with iodine. Only the green areas turn blue-black. What does this show?
- ALight is not needed for photosynthesis
- BWhite areas store more starch than green areas
- CChlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis
- DIodine destroys chlorophyll in the leaf
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which element is the most electronegative?
- ASodium
- BIron
- CFluorine
- DHelium
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and fructose (C₆H₁₂O₆) join by a condensation reaction to form sucrose. What is the formula of sucrose?
- AC₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
- BC₁₂H₂₄O₁₂
- CC₁₂H₂₀O₁₀
- DC₆H₁₂O₆
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: D · Cervical and lumbar
Why this is the answer
The cervical and lumbar regions are lordotic (secondary curves). The thoracic and sacral regions are kyphotic (primary curves).
2.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins
Why this is the answer
The thoracic duct drains lymph from both legs, the abdomen and the left side of the upper body into the left venous angle. The right lymphatic duct drains the rest into the right venous angle.
A · Junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Its long refractory period lasts almost as long as the contraction
Why this is the answer
The plateau of the cardiac action potential gives a long refractory period, so the muscle relaxes before it can be excited again. This allows the heart to refill.
C · Its long refractory period lasts almost as long as the contraction
4.Human physiology
Answer: C · It binds 2,3-BPG less strongly
Why this is the answer
The gamma chains of HbF bind 2,3-BPG poorly, so the curve is shifted left. This lets fetal blood take oxygen from maternal blood in the placenta.
C · It binds 2,3-BPG less strongly
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · All
Why this is the answer
Every son gets the father's Y and one of the mother's X chromosomes, which are both Xᵇ, so all sons are expected to be colour-blind (XᵇY). Every daughter gets the father's Xᴮ, so the daughters are carriers with normal colour vision.
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · Chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis
Why this is the answer
Iodine turns blue-black in the presence of starch, a product of photosynthesis. Starch formed only in the green parts, which contain chlorophyll, so chlorophyll is required.
C · Chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · Fluorine
Why this is the answer
Fluorine attracts shared electrons more strongly than any other element (electronegativity 4.0 on the Pauling scale).
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
Why this is the answer
Together the two sugars contain C₁₂H₂₄O₁₂. Condensation releases one H₂O, leaving C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁, table sugar.
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