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
Where does the spinal cord normally end in an adult?
- AAt the coccyx
- BAt about the level of vertebrae L1–L2
- CAt the level of the sacrum
- DAt about the level of T10
2.Human anatomyHard
During a lumbar puncture, which ligament is the last one pierced before the needle enters the epidural space?
- APosterior longitudinal ligament
- BLigamentum flavum
- CSupraspinous ligament
- DInterspinous ligament
3.Human physiologyMedium
What is the main effect of vagus nerve stimulation on the heart?
- AIt increases ventricular contractility strongly
- BIt slows the heart rate
- CIt increases the heart rate
- DIt constricts the coronary arteries
4.Human physiologyHard
Which transporter in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle is key to building the medullary concentration gradient?
- AAquaporin-2 water channels
- BThe epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)
- CThe Na⁺–K⁺–2Cl⁻ cotransporter (NKCC2)
- DThe sodium–glucose cotransporter (SGLT2)
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
An organism is multicellular, makes its own food by photosynthesis and has cell walls of cellulose. Which kingdom does it belong to?
- ABacteria
- BPlants
- CAnimals
- DFungi
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A new infectious agent passes through filters that trap bacteria, does not grow on nutrient agar and multiplies only inside living cells. What is it most likely to be?
- AA protozoan
- BA virus
- CA bacterium
- DA fungus
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
A red blood cell is placed in pure water (a hypotonic solution). What happens?
- ASalt enters the cell, which shrinks
- BWater leaves the cell, which shrinks and wrinkles
- CWater enters the cell, which swells and may burst
- DNothing happens to the cell
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Balance __Fe + __O₂ → __Fe₂O₃ with the smallest whole numbers. What are the coefficients?
- A4, 3, 4
- B2, 1, 1
- C2, 3, 1
- D4, 3, 2
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · At about the level of vertebrae L1–L2
Why this is the answer
In adults the cord ends at the conus medullaris near L1–L2. Below that lies the cauda equina, which is why lumbar punctures are done at L3–L4 or L4–L5.
B · At about the level of vertebrae L1–L2
2.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Ligamentum flavum
Why this is the answer
The needle passes skin, supraspinous and interspinous ligaments, then ligamentum flavum into the epidural space, then dura and arachnoid into the subarachnoid space.
3.Human physiology
Answer: B · It slows the heart rate
Why this is the answer
The vagus releases acetylcholine on muscarinic receptors in the SA and AV nodes, slowing pacemaker firing and AV conduction.
B · It slows the heart rate
4.Human physiology
Answer: C · The Na⁺–K⁺–2Cl⁻ cotransporter (NKCC2)
Why this is the answer
NKCC2 moves Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ out of the tubule into the interstitium without water, building the medullary gradient. Loop diuretics such as furosemide block it.
C · The Na⁺–K⁺–2Cl⁻ cotransporter (NKCC2)
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · Plants
Why this is the answer
Multicellular organisms that photosynthesise and have cellulose walls are plants. Fungi absorb food and have chitin walls, animals have no walls and bacteria are prokaryotes.
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · A virus
Why this is the answer
Viruses are much smaller than bacteria, so they pass through bacterial filters. They cannot grow on non-living media because they need a host cell's machinery to reproduce.
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · Water enters the cell, which swells and may burst
Why this is the answer
The cell contents have more solute than pure water, so water moves into the cell by osmosis. The cell swells and may burst, which is called haemolysis.
C · Water enters the cell, which swells and may burst
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · 4, 3, 2
Why this is the answer
4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃ gives 4 Fe and 6 O on each side. 2, 3, 1 has 6 O on the left but only 3 on the right.
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