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 controls most of the muscles of facial expression?
- AFacial nerve (VII)
- BTrigeminal nerve (V)
- CHypoglossal nerve (XII)
- DOculomotor nerve (III)
2.Human anatomyHard
A tumour at the apex of the lung causes drooping of the eyelid, a small pupil and loss of sweating on the same side of the face. Which pathway is disrupted?
- AFacial nerve
- BParasympathetic fibres of the vagus
- COculomotor nerve
- DCervical sympathetic chain
3.Human physiologyMedium
Where is the heart's natural pacemaker?
- ASinoatrial node
- BPurkinje fibres
- CBundle of His
- DAtrioventricular node
4.Human physiologyHard
In Graves' disease, what thyroid function results are expected and why?
- AHigh T4 and high TSH, because the anterior pituitary gland is overactive
- BLow T4 and high TSH, because antibodies destroy the gland
- CLow T4 and low TSH, because the hypothalamus fails
- DHigh T4 and low TSH, because antibodies stimulate the TSH receptor
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which of these is part of the body's innate (non-specific) defence?
- AThe skin and stomach acid
- BMemory B cells from an earlier infection
- CT cells that recognise one virus
- DAntibodies made after vaccination
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
In a trial, 20% of patients improve on a new drug and 18% improve on a placebo. What is the best conclusion?
- AThe drug adds little benefit beyond the placebo
- BThe placebo was harmful to the patients
- CThe drug works well, because 20% of patients improved
- DThe drug is ten times better than the placebo
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which property is typical of ionic compounds such as NaCl?
- AConducting electricity as dry solids
- BLow melting points and being gases at room temperature
- CBeing soft and easily bent like metals
- DHigh melting points; they conduct when dissolved
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
100 mL of 1 M NaCl is mixed with 100 mL of 3 M NaCl. What is the concentration of the mixture?
- A2 M
- B4 M
- C1.5 M
- D3 M
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Facial nerve (VII)
Why this is the answer
The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) supplies the muscles of facial expression. Damage causes facial palsy, as in Bell's palsy.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: D · Cervical sympathetic chain
Why this is the answer
This is Horner's syndrome: ptosis, miosis and anhidrosis from interruption of sympathetic fibres, here by an apical (Pancoast) tumour pressing on the sympathetic chain.
D · Cervical sympathetic chain
3.Human physiology
Answer: A · Sinoatrial node
Why this is the answer
The SA node depolarises spontaneously at the fastest rate and sets the heart rhythm. The AV node delays the impulse before it spreads to the ventricles.
4.Human physiology
Answer: D · High T4 and low TSH, because antibodies stimulate the TSH receptor
Why this is the answer
TSH-receptor antibodies stimulate the thyroid independently of TSH. The resulting high T4 and T3 suppress pituitary TSH by negative feedback.
D · High T4 and low TSH, because antibodies stimulate the TSH receptor
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · The skin and stomach acid
Why this is the answer
Innate defences include physical and chemical barriers such as skin, mucus and stomach acid, plus phagocytes and inflammation. Antibodies, memory cells and specific T cells belong to adaptive immunity.
A · The skin and stomach acid
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · The drug adds little benefit beyond the placebo
Why this is the answer
The effect of the drug is the difference between the groups, here only 2 percentage points. Statistical testing would be needed to tell whether such a small difference is more than chance.
A · The drug adds little benefit beyond the placebo
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · High melting points; they conduct when dissolved
Why this is the answer
Strong attractions in the ionic lattice give high melting points. Solid NaCl does not conduct, but dissolved or melted it does, because the ions can move.
D · High melting points; they conduct when dissolved
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 2 M
Why this is the answer
Moles = (0.1 L × 1 M) + (0.1 L × 3 M) = 0.1 + 0.3 = 0.4 mol. Total volume = 0.2 L. Concentration = 0.4 ÷ 0.2 = 2 M.
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