Nursing Elites

1. Decomposers in an ecosystem play a vital role by:

• A. Photosynthesizing and producing organic matter
• B. Breaking down dead organisms and returning nutrients to the environment
• C. Preying on herbivores and controlling their populations
• D. Fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and making it available to plants

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Decomposers are organisms that break down dead organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances. By doing so, they help to recycle nutrients back into the environment, making them available for other organisms to use. This process is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, as it ensures that nutrients are not lost but instead are continuously cycled through the ecosystem. Photosynthesis (option A) is the process by which plants and some other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, and it is not a role of decomposers. Preying on herbivores (option C) is a role typically carried out by predators, not decomposers. Fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere (option D) is a process carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, not decomposers.

2. Which of the following types of immunity is provided by the secretion of antibodies by B-cells?

• A. Cell-mediated
• B. Humoral
• C. Innate immunity
• D. Phagocytic

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Humoral. Humoral immunity involves B-cells secreting antibodies to fight pathogens. In this type of immunity, antibodies circulate in the blood and other body fluids to neutralize pathogens and prevent infections. Cell-mediated immunity, on the other hand, involves the activation of T-cells to directly attack infected or abnormal cells, not the secretion of antibodies. Innate immunity refers to the nonspecific defense mechanisms the body has in place from birth, such as physical barriers and inflammatory responses. Phagocytic immunity is not a recognized type of immunity; phagocytosis is a mechanism used by cells like macrophages to engulf and digest pathogens, but it is not a specific form of immunity like humoral or cell-mediated immunity.

3. What do large intestines absorb?

• A. Water, sodium, and potassium ions
• B. Proteins and carbohydrates
• C. Water, vitamin K, and bile salts
• D. Vitamins A, D, E, K

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The large intestine absorbs water, vitamin K, bile salts, sodium, and chloride ions. It helps in maintaining the body's water and electrolyte balance, and also plays a role in absorbing certain vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin K. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins A, D, E, and K are primarily absorbed in the small intestine, not the large intestine.

4. Which blood vessels are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body?

• A. Veins
• B. Arteries
• C. Capillaries
• D. Venules

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Arteries are the blood vessels responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Their thick, muscular walls allow them to withstand high pressure and efficiently transport blood to various tissues and organs throughout the body. Veins (choice A) carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, capillaries (choice C) facilitate the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the blood and tissues, and venules (choice D) are small blood vessels that collect blood from the capillaries and gradually converge into veins.

5. What is the term for the process of converting a liquid into a gas at a temperature below its boiling point?

• A. Vaporization
• B. Evaporation
• C. Condensation
• D. Sublimation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Evaporation is the correct term for the process of converting a liquid into a gas at a temperature below its boiling point. During evaporation, molecules of the liquid gain enough energy to escape into the gas phase, primarily occurring at the liquid's surface. Vaporization is a broader term that encompasses the conversion of a substance from a liquid or solid state to a gas, not specifically at temperatures below the boiling point. Condensation is the reverse process of evaporation, involving the conversion of a gas into a liquid. Sublimation, on the other hand, refers to the direct transition of a substance from the solid phase to the gas phase without passing through the liquid phase.

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