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 cranial nerve controls most of the muscles of facial expression?
- AFacial nerve (VII)
- BTrigeminal nerve (V)
- COculomotor nerve (III)
- DHypoglossal nerve (XII)
2.Human anatomyHard
In the femoral triangle, what is the order of the main structures from lateral to medial?
- AFemoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein
- BFemoral nerve, femoral vein, femoral artery
- CFemoral artery, femoral nerve, femoral vein
- DFemoral vein, femoral artery, femoral nerve
3.Human physiologyMedium
Since action potentials are all-or-none, how does a neuron signal a stronger stimulus?
- ABy firing action potentials more often
- BBy changing the neurotransmitter it releases
- CBy making each action potential larger
- DBy making each action potential longer
4.Human physiologyHard
Why does ketoacidosis typically develop in untreated type 1 diabetes but rarely in type 2?
- AKetones are only made in children
- BType 2 patients cannot make ketones at all
- CEven low insulin levels suppress lipolysis and ketogenesis
- DType 1 patients have more glucagon receptors
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which sequence is complementary to the DNA strand A-T-G-C-C-A?
- AA-T-G-C-C-A
- BU-A-C-G-G-U
- CG-C-A-T-T-G
- DT-A-C-G-G-T
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
A protein is 150 amino acids long. Not counting the stop codon, how many mRNA bases code for it?
- A150
- B300
- C450
- D50
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
What is the molar mass of water (H = 1 g/mol, O = 16 g/mol)?
- A18 g/mol
- B10 g/mol
- C17 g/mol
- D32 g/mol
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
How many millilitres of 0.2 M NaOH are needed to neutralise 25 mL of 0.1 M HCl?
- A25 mL
- B5 mL
- C12.5 mL
- D50 mL
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Facial nerve (VII)
Why this is the answer
The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) supplies the muscles of facial expression. Damage causes facial palsy, as in Bell's palsy.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: A · Femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein
Why this is the answer
From lateral to medial: nerve, artery, vein, then empty space and lymphatics (NAVEL). This is why the femoral artery pulse lies between the nerve and vein.
A · Femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein
3.Human physiology
Answer: A · By firing action potentials more often
Why this is the answer
Stimulus strength is coded by the frequency of action potentials and by how many neurons are recruited, not by their amplitude.
A · By firing action potentials more often
4.Human physiology
Answer: C · Even low insulin levels suppress lipolysis and ketogenesis
Why this is the answer
Insulin strongly inhibits lipolysis and hepatic ketone production. In type 1 there is almost no insulin, so fatty acids flood the liver and ketones build up.
C · Even low insulin levels suppress lipolysis and ketogenesis
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · T-A-C-G-G-T
Why this is the answer
Each base is replaced by its partner: A→T, T→A, G→C, C→G. Using U would make an RNA copy, not a DNA strand.
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · 450
Why this is the answer
Each amino acid is coded by a three-base codon: 150 × 3 = 450 bases. The stop codon would add three more.
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · 18 g/mol
Why this is the answer
2 × 1 + 16 = 18 g/mol. Forgetting the second hydrogen gives 17.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · 12.5 mL
Why this is the answer
Moles HCl = 0.025 L × 0.1 M = 0.0025 mol, so 0.0025 mol NaOH is needed. Volume = 0.0025 ÷ 0.2 = 0.0125 L = 12.5 mL.