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 structure connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx?
- AAuditory (Eustachian) tube
- BNasolacrimal duct
- CExternal acoustic meatus
- DCochlear duct
2.Human anatomyHard
Which coronary artery most often supplies the sinoatrial (SA) node?
- ACircumflex artery
- BRight coronary artery
- CLeft anterior descending artery
- DLeft main coronary artery
3.Human physiologyMedium
Which ion enters the cell to cause the depolarisation phase of a typical neuronal action potential?
- ACalcium (Ca²⁺)
- BSodium (Na⁺)
- CPotassium (K⁺)
- DChloride (Cl⁻)
4.Human physiologyHard
According to the length–tension relationship, why does a skeletal muscle fibre produce less force when overstretched?
- AActin and myosin overlap less, so fewer cross-bridges form
- BThe neuromuscular junction stops working
- CThe muscle runs out of ATP when stretched
- DCalcium is no longer released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum when stretched
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
What does "diploid" mean?
- AThe cell has no nucleus
- BThe cell has one set of chromosomes
- CThe cell can divide only once
- DThe cell has two sets of chromosomes
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
Sweating cools the body. Which property of water best explains this?
- AIt has a very low specific heat
- BIt is a nonpolar solvent
- CIt is less dense as ice than as a liquid
- DIt takes a lot of heat energy to evaporate
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which statement describes a saturated fat?
- AIt contains no carbon atoms
- BIt is always liquid at room temperature
- CIts fatty acid chains have many carbon–carbon double bonds
- DIts fatty acid chains have no carbon–carbon double bonds
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
What is the formula of calcium phosphate, made from Ca²⁺ and PO₄³⁻ ions?
- ACa₃(PO₄)₂
- BCa₃PO₄
- CCa₂(PO₄)₃
- DCaPO₄
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Auditory (Eustachian) tube
Why this is the answer
The auditory tube equalises air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. In children it is shorter and more horizontal, which favours middle ear infections.
A · Auditory (Eustachian) tube
2.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Right coronary artery
Why this is the answer
The SA nodal artery arises from the right coronary artery in roughly 60% of people and from the circumflex artery in the rest.
B · Right coronary artery
3.Human physiology
Answer: B · 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: A · Actin and myosin overlap less, so fewer cross-bridges form
Why this is the answer
Maximum force occurs at an optimal sarcomere length with best filament overlap. Overstretching reduces overlap; too short a length makes filaments collide.
A · Actin and myosin overlap less, so fewer cross-bridges form
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · The cell has two sets of chromosomes
Why this is the answer
Diploid cells (2n) have two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent. Haploid cells (n), the gametes, have one set.
D · The cell has two sets of chromosomes
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · It takes a lot of heat energy to evaporate
Why this is the answer
Water has a high heat of vaporisation, so evaporating sweat removes a large amount of heat from the skin. Its high specific heat also helps keep body temperature steady.
D · It takes a lot of heat energy to evaporate
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · Its fatty acid chains have no carbon–carbon double bonds
Why this is the answer
Saturated fatty acids have only C–C single bonds and the maximum number of hydrogens. Their straight chains pack closely, so saturated fats such as butter are usually solid at room temperature.
D · Its fatty acid chains have no carbon–carbon double bonds
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · Ca₃(PO₄)₂
Why this is the answer
Three Ca²⁺ give 6+ and two PO₄³⁻ give 6−, so the formula is Ca₃(PO₄)₂. Brackets show that the whole phosphate group is doubled. Calcium phosphate is the main mineral in bone.