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
In which structure do sperm mature and get stored after leaving the testis?
- AProstate gland
- BSeminal vesicle
- CSeminiferous tubules
- DEpididymis
2.Human anatomyHard
Injury to the common fibular (peroneal) nerve at the neck of the fibula typically causes:
- AInability to flex the knee
- BWeak hip abduction
- CLoss of sensation on the sole of the foot
- DFoot drop
3.Human physiologyMedium
According to Poiseuille's law, if the radius of an arteriole halves, its resistance to flow:
- AHalves
- BIncreases 4-fold
- CDoubles
- DIncreases about 16-fold
4.Human physiologyHard
Why is severe hyperkalaemia dangerous for the heart?
- AIt speeds up the SA node until tachycardia causes fainting
- BIt blocks the binding of calcium to troponin
- CIt depolarises cardiac cells, inactivating sodium channels and causing arrhythmias
- DIt hyperpolarises cardiac cells, so they can never fire
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Where does translation take place?
- AAt the ribosomes
- BIn the lysosomes
- CInside the nucleus
- DIn the cell wall
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
PCR starts with one double-stranded DNA molecule, and the number of copies doubles each cycle. How many copies are there after 10 cycles?
- A1024
- B512
- C20
- D100
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
In the balanced equation __Mg + __HCl → __MgCl₂ + __H₂, what is the coefficient of HCl?
- A4
- B1
- C2
- D3
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
In terms of bonds, why is a reaction exothermic?
- AForming bonds always absorbs energy
- BNo bonds are broken in exothermic reactions
- CMore energy is absorbed breaking old bonds than is released forming new ones
- DMore energy is released forming new bonds than is absorbed breaking old ones
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: D · Epididymis
Why this is the answer
Sperm are made in the seminiferous tubules and then mature and are stored in the epididymis before passing into the ductus deferens.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: D · 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: D · Increases about 16-fold
Why this is the answer
Resistance is proportional to 1/r⁴, so halving the radius raises resistance by 2⁴ = 16. This is why small changes in arteriole diameter control blood flow so strongly.
D · Increases about 16-fold
4.Human physiology
Answer: C · It depolarises cardiac cells, inactivating sodium channels and causing arrhythmias
Why this is the answer
High extracellular potassium makes the resting potential less negative. Many fast sodium channels then become inactivated, slowing conduction and risking fatal arrhythmias.
C · It depolarises cardiac cells, inactivating sodium channels and causing arrhythmias
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · At the ribosomes
Why this is the answer
Ribosomes read mRNA codons and join the amino acids carried by transfer RNA into a protein.
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 1024
Why this is the answer
The number of copies is 2ⁿ after n cycles, so 2¹⁰ = 1024. After about 30 cycles, a single molecule gives over a billion copies.
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · 2
Why this is the answer
MgCl₂ has 2 Cl, so 2HCl is needed, which also gives 2 H for H₂: Mg + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · More energy is released forming new bonds than is absorbed breaking old ones
Why this is the answer
Breaking bonds is always endothermic and forming bonds is always exothermic. If the bonds formed release more energy than the bonds broken required, the overall reaction releases energy.
D · More energy is released forming new bonds than is absorbed breaking old ones
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