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 supplies the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles?
- AVagus nerve (X)
- BAccessory nerve (XI)
- CFacial nerve (VII)
- DHypoglossal nerve (XII)
2.Human anatomyHard
A typical posterolateral disc herniation between L4 and L5 most often compresses which nerve root?
- AL3
- BL4
- CL5
- DS1
3.Human physiologyMedium
Why can cardiac muscle not be tetanised like skeletal muscle?
- AIt is controlled only by hormones
- BIts long refractory period lasts almost as long as the contraction
- CIt has no calcium in the sarcoplasmic reticulum
- DIt is not striated
4.Human physiologyHard
In long-standing aortic stenosis, how does the left ventricle adapt?
- AAtrophy of the muscle due to less work
- BNo change because the valve is not part of the ventricle
- CConcentric hypertrophy with a thicker wall
- DThinning of the wall with dilation
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
- AA pandemic spreads across many countries or continents
- BA pandemic affects only one town
- CAn epidemic affects the whole world at once
- DAn epidemic is caused only by bacteria
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A child's DNA profile has bands A, B, C and D. The mother has bands A and C. Man 1 has bands B and D, man 2 has A and E, and man 3 has C and F. Which man could be the biological father?
- ANone of them
- BMan 1
- CMan 2
- DMan 3
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
How many grams are in 2.5 kg?
- A25 g
- B250 g
- C2500 g
- D0.0025 g
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
How many atoms in total are in 0.5 mol of water, H₂O?
- A9.03 × 10²³
- B1.81 × 10²⁴
- C3.01 × 10²³
- D6.02 × 10²³
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Accessory nerve (XI)
Why this is the answer
The accessory nerve (XI) supplies sternocleidomastoid and trapezius. Damage weakens head turning and shoulder shrugging.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: C · L5
Why this is the answer
A posterolateral L4–L5 herniation usually catches the traversing L5 root, causing weakness of big toe extension and numbness on the top of the foot.
3.Human physiology
Answer: B · 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.
B · Its long refractory period lasts almost as long as the contraction
4.Human physiology
Answer: C · Concentric hypertrophy with a thicker wall
Why this is the answer
Pressure overload makes the ventricular wall thicken (concentric hypertrophy) to keep wall stress normal. Volume overload, as in regurgitation, causes dilation instead.
C · Concentric hypertrophy with a thicker wall
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · A pandemic spreads across many countries or continents
Why this is the answer
An epidemic is a sharp rise in cases in a particular region or population. A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over a very wide area, across several countries or continents.
A · A pandemic spreads across many countries or continents
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · Man 1
Why this is the answer
Bands A and C can come from the mother, so B and D must come from the father. Only man 1 has both B and D. Real tests use many more DNA regions than this simple example.
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · 2500 g
Why this is the answer
Multiply by 1000 to go from kilograms to grams: 2.5 × 1000 = 2500 g. Going to a smaller unit always gives a bigger number.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 9.03 × 10²³
Why this is the answer
0.5 mol × 6.02 × 10²³ = 3.01 × 10²³ molecules. Each has 3 atoms, so 3 × 3.01 × 10²³ = 9.03 × 10²³ atoms.