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 type of epithelium lines most of the trachea?
- AStratified squamous epithelium
- BPseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
- CTransitional epithelium
- DSimple cuboidal epithelium
2.Human anatomyHard
Early appendicitis is often felt as vague pain around the umbilicus. Why?
- AThe phrenic nerve carries the pain to the umbilicus
- BIts visceral nerves enter the cord at T10, like the umbilical skin
- CInflammation spreads first to the abdominal wall at the navel region
- DThe appendix lies directly behind the umbilicus
3.Human physiologyMedium
Where does the final activation step of vitamin D (1-alpha hydroxylation) take place?
- ASmall intestine
- BSkin
- CKidney
- DLiver
4.Human physiologyHard
A patient's arterial blood gas shows pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 7.8 kPa (59 mmHg) and normal bicarbonate. What is the most likely disturbance?
- AAcute respiratory acidosis
- BCompensated metabolic alkalosis
- CRespiratory alkalosis
- DMetabolic acidosis
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
In a pedigree, a trait appears in every generation, and every affected child has at least one affected parent. Which inheritance pattern is most likely?
- AX-linked recessive
- BA new mutation in each generation
- CAutosomal recessive
- DAutosomal dominant
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A pesticide that is not broken down is sprayed on crops. Later, hawks at the top of the food chain have much higher levels of it than the insects. Why?
- AThe pesticide is broken down faster in insects than in plants
- BHawks eat the crops directly, so they take in the most pesticide of all
- CHawks make the pesticide in their own bodies
- DEach predator eats many prey, so the pesticide builds up at each level
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
How many grams are in 2.5 kg?
- A2500 g
- B250 g
- C25 g
- D0.0025 g
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
A piece of copper is placed in zinc sulfate solution. Zinc is more reactive than copper. What happens?
- AZinc metal coats the copper and the solution turns blue
- BHydrogen gas is produced
- CNo reaction occurs
- DCopper replaces zinc, forming copper sulfate
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
Why this is the answer
Respiratory epithelium is pseudostratified ciliated columnar with goblet cells. Mucus traps particles and cilia move it up towards the pharynx.
B · Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
2.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Its visceral nerves enter the cord at T10, like the umbilical skin
Why this is the answer
Visceral pain from midgut structures is referred to the T10 dermatome around the umbilicus. When the parietal peritoneum becomes inflamed, pain localises to the right iliac fossa.
B · Its visceral nerves enter the cord at T10, like the umbilical skin
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Kidney
Why this is the answer
Vitamin D is made in the skin or eaten, hydroxylated in the liver, and then activated to calcitriol in the kidney. Kidney failure therefore causes vitamin D deficiency.
4.Human physiology
Answer: A · Acute respiratory acidosis
Why this is the answer
Low pH with high CO₂ points to a respiratory acidosis. Bicarbonate has not risen yet, so the kidneys have not compensated: it is acute.
A · Acute respiratory acidosis
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · Autosomal dominant
Why this is the answer
A dominant trait needs only one allele to show, so it usually appears in every generation and affected people have an affected parent. Recessive traits can appear in children of two unaffected carriers.
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · Each predator eats many prey, so the pesticide builds up at each level
Why this is the answer
A stable pesticide is stored in the body rather than excreted. Each organism at a higher level eats many organisms from the level below, so the concentration rises along the food chain. This is how DDT harmed birds of prey.
D · Each predator eats many prey, so the pesticide builds up at each level
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 2500 g
Why this is the answer
Multiply by 1000 to go from kilograms to grams: 2.5 × 1000 = 2500 g. Going to a smaller unit always gives a bigger number.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · No reaction occurs
Why this is the answer
In single replacement, a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one. Copper is less reactive than zinc, so it cannot displace zinc, and nothing happens. Zinc in copper sulfate would react.
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