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 muscle is the main extensor of the elbow?
- ABrachialis
- BBiceps brachii
- CTriceps brachii
- DCoracobrachialis
2.Human anatomyHard
After a difficult delivery with traction on the neck, a baby's arm hangs by the side, internally rotated with the forearm pronated ("waiter's tip"). Which part of the brachial plexus is injured?
- AMedial cord
- BPosterior cord
- CLower trunk (C8–T1)
- DUpper trunk (C5–C6)
3.Human physiologyMedium
What does the QRS complex on an ECG represent?
- AAtrial repolarisation
- BAtrial depolarisation
- CVentricular depolarisation
- DVentricular repolarisation
4.Human physiologyHard
In a patient with primary hypothyroidism, you would expect:
- ALow TSH and low free T4
- BLow TSH and high free T4
- CHigh TSH and high free T4
- DHigh TSH and low free T4
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Why do red blood cells have a flattened, biconcave disc shape?
- AIt gives a large surface area for gas exchange
- BIt lets them hold a larger nucleus and more DNA
- CIt makes them stick to vessel walls
- DIt helps them divide faster
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A person's body temperature starts to fall in a cold room. Which responses help bring it back up?
- ASlower heart rate and less muscle activity
- BShivering and narrowing of blood vessels in the skin
- CFaster breathing and more urine production
- DSweating and widening of blood vessels in the skin
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
When a gas is heated in a rigid, sealed container, what happens to its pressure?
- AIt decreases
- BIt drops to zero
- CIt increases
- DIt stays the same
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
A catalyst is added to an exothermic reaction. How does the energy diagram change?
- AThe products end up at a lower energy, so more heat is released
- BThe reaction becomes endothermic
- CThe peak is lower, but the energy of reactants and products stays the same
- DThe reactants start at a higher energy
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: C · Triceps brachii
Why this is the answer
Triceps brachii inserts on the olecranon of the ulna and extends the elbow. Biceps and brachialis are elbow flexors.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: D · Upper trunk (C5–C6)
Why this is the answer
Erb's palsy follows stretching of the upper trunk (C5–C6), paralysing deltoid, the external rotators and biceps. Lower trunk injury (Klumpke's) affects the small hand muscles instead.
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Ventricular depolarisation
Why this is the answer
The P wave is atrial depolarisation, the QRS complex ventricular depolarisation and the T wave ventricular repolarisation. Atrial repolarisation is hidden in the QRS.
C · Ventricular depolarisation
4.Human physiology
Answer: D · High TSH and low free T4
Why this is the answer
When the thyroid fails, low T4 removes negative feedback and the pituitary raises TSH. Low TSH with low T4 would point to secondary (pituitary) hypothyroidism.
D · High TSH and low free T4
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · It gives a large surface area for gas exchange
Why this is the answer
The biconcave shape increases surface area relative to volume and keeps the distance for diffusion short. It also makes the cells flexible enough to squeeze through narrow capillaries.
A · It gives a large surface area for gas exchange
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · Shivering and narrowing of blood vessels in the skin
Why this is the answer
Shivering produces heat by rapid muscle contractions, and vasoconstriction in the skin reduces heat loss. Sweating and vasodilation are used when the body is too warm.
B · Shivering and narrowing of blood vessels in the skin
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · It increases
Why this is the answer
At constant volume, pressure is proportional to absolute temperature (Gay-Lussac's law), so heating raises the pressure.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · The peak is lower, but the energy of reactants and products stays the same
Why this is the answer
The catalyst lowers the activation energy (the peak), but the reactant and product energies are unchanged, so ΔH is the same. It speeds up the reaction without changing how much energy it releases.
C · The peak is lower, but the energy of reactants and products stays the same
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