1. Kidney stones are formed when:

A. Excess water is not reabsorbed
B. Minerals crystallize in the urine
C. Electrolytes become too concentrated
D. All of the above

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: "Minerals crystallize in the urine." Kidney stones are formed when minerals in the urine combine and crystallize, forming solid masses. This process can occur due to various factors, such as high levels of calcium, oxalate, or uric acid in the urine. Options A and C are not directly related to the formation of kidney stones. Option D is incorrect because not all the statements are true; only minerals crystallizing in the urine lead to kidney stone formation.

2. Which hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, plays a crucial role in the body's response to stress, including the regulation of salt and water balance?

A. Aldosterone
B. Epinephrine
C. Cortisol
D. Insulin

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Aldosterone. Aldosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that plays a crucial role in the body's response to stress by regulating salt and water balance. It acts on the kidneys to increase the reabsorption of sodium and water, helping to maintain blood pressure and electrolyte balance during times of stress. Epinephrine and cortisol are also stress hormones produced by the adrenal glands, but they have different functions. Epinephrine is involved in the fight-or-flight response, while cortisol helps regulate metabolism and immune function. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, is involved in glucose metabolism and not directly related to the body's stress response. Therefore, aldosterone is the most appropriate hormone in this context.

3. A medication order is for 250 micrograms of a drug to be administered subcutaneously. The available syringe measures in milliliters. How many milliliters should the nurse draw up?

A. 0.00025 milliliters
B. 0.0025 milliliters
C. 0.025 milliliters
D. 0.25 milliliters

Correct answer: B

Rationale: First convert micrograms to milliliters, knowing 1000 micrograms equal 1 milliliter. Divide the desired dosage (250 micrograms) by the conversion factor (1000 micrograms/milliliter) to find the volume needed: 250 micrograms / 1000 micrograms/milliliter = 0.00025 milliliters. However, drawing such a small volume might be inaccurate, so round to the nearest practical measurement, which is 0.0025 milliliters.

4. The number of protons in an atom is determined by its:

A. Atomic mass
B. Electron configuration
C. Chemical properties
D. Atomic number

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Atomic number is a fundamental property of an element and is independent of its mass, electron configuration, or chemical behavior.

5. A large geographic area characterized by similar climate, plants, and animals is called a:

A. Population
B. Community
C. Biome
D. Ecosystem

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: A) Population refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area. B) Community refers to all the populations of different species living and interacting in a particular area. C) Biome is a large geographic area characterized by similar climate, plants, and animals. Biomes are defined by factors such as temperature, precipitation, and vegetation types. D) Ecosystem refers to a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. An ecosystem can be part of a biome.

6. What is the difference between polygenic inheritance and pleiotropy?

A. Polygenic inheritance involves multiple genes influencing one trait, while pleiotropy involves one gene affecting multiple traits.
B. Polygenic inheritance is found in simple Mendelian traits, while pleiotropy is found in complex traits.
C. Polygenic inheritance is always quantitative, while pleiotropy can be qualitative or quantitative.
D. Both involve multiple genes and multiple traits, but the specific mechanisms differ

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: - Polygenic inheritance refers to the situation where a trait is influenced by multiple genes, each contributing a small effect to the phenotype. These traits often show continuous variation and are not easily categorized into discrete categories. - Pleiotropy, on the other hand, occurs when a single gene influences multiple, seemingly unrelated traits. This means that a mutation in one gene can lead to multiple phenotypic effects across different traits or characteristics. - Therefore, the key difference between polygenic inheritance and pleiotropy lies in the number of genes involved in influencing a trait (multiple genes in polygenic inheritance vs. one gene in pleiotropy) and the direction of influence (one trait affected by multiple genes in polygenic inheritance vs. multiple traits affected by one gene in pleiotropy).