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 vessels carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?
- APulmonary arteries
- BPulmonary veins
- CBronchial arteries
- DVenae cavae
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
- BCervical sympathetic chain
- CParasympathetic fibres of the vagus
- DOculomotor nerve
3.Human physiologyMedium
Which ion enters the cell to cause the depolarisation phase of a typical neuronal action potential?
- AChloride (Cl⁻)
- BCalcium (Ca²⁺)
- CSodium (Na⁺)
- DPotassium (K⁺)
4.Human physiologyHard
A patient hyperventilating during a panic attack has tingling fingers. What would the arterial blood gas most likely show?
- ALow pH and high PaCO₂
- BHigh pH and low PaCO₂
- CHigh pH and high bicarbonate
- DLow pH and low bicarbonate
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which statement describes active transport?
- AIt happens only in dead cells
- BIt uses energy to move substances against a concentration gradient
- CIt moves only water across the membrane
- DIt moves substances down their concentration gradient without using any energy
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
Why does the influenza vaccine need to be updated most years?
- AInfluenza is caused by a different bacterium each year
- BAntibodies cannot be made against viruses
- CThe vaccine damages the immune system after one year, so it must be repeated
- DThe virus keeps changing its surface proteins through mutation
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
Water climbs up a narrow glass tube. Which property mainly causes this?
- AWater's high boiling point
- BEvaporation of water from the tube
- CLow density of water
- DAdhesion of water to the glass
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
A solution has a hydroxide ion concentration of 1 × 10⁻³ mol/L. What is its pH at 25 °C?
- A11
- B7
- C14
- D3
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Pulmonary veins
Why this is the answer
Four pulmonary veins drain oxygenated blood into the left atrium. They are the main exception to the rule that veins carry deoxygenated blood.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: B · 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.
B · Cervical sympathetic chain
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Sodium (Na⁺)
Why this is the answer
Voltage-gated Na⁺ channels open and Na⁺ rushes in, depolarising the membrane. K⁺ outflow then repolarises it.
4.Human physiology
Answer: B · High pH and low PaCO₂
Why this is the answer
Hyperventilation blows off CO₂ and causes acute respiratory alkalosis. Alkalosis increases calcium binding to albumin, lowering ionised calcium and causing tingling.
B · High pH and low PaCO₂
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · It uses energy to move substances against a concentration gradient
Why this is the answer
Active transport uses ATP and carrier proteins (pumps) to move substances from low to high concentration. Diffusion and osmosis are passive.
B · It uses energy to move substances against a concentration gradient
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · The virus keeps changing its surface proteins through mutation
Why this is the answer
Influenza viruses mutate often, changing the antigens on their surface. Memory cells from earlier infections or vaccines may no longer recognise the new strain, so the vaccine is updated to match the strains expected to circulate.
D · The virus keeps changing its surface proteins through mutation
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · Adhesion of water to the glass
Why this is the answer
Water molecules are attracted to the polar glass surface (adhesion) and pull the column up, while cohesion holds the column together. This is capillary action.
D · Adhesion of water to the glass
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 11
Why this is the answer
pOH = −log(10⁻³) = 3, so pH = 14 − 3 = 11. Answering 3 confuses pOH with pH.
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