Nursing Elites

1. The Gram stain is a differential staining technique used to classify bacteria based on their cell wall composition. Gram-positive bacteria appear

• A. Pink
• B. Blue
• C. Red
• D. Purple

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The Gram stain is a differential staining technique that categorizes bacteria into two groups based on their cell wall composition: Gram-positive and Gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell walls, which retains the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining procedure. Consequently, Gram-positive bacteria appear purple under the microscope after staining. On the other hand, Gram-negative bacteria possess a thinner peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane that can be penetrated by the counterstain safranin, leading them to appear pink or red. Blue is not typically used to describe the color of bacteria in a Gram stain, making it an incorrect choice.

2. Which phenomenon describes the separation of light into its component colors when passing through a prism?

• A. Refraction
• B. Diffraction
• C. Dispersion
• D. Reflection

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Dispersion is the phenomenon that describes the separation of light into its component colors when passing through a prism. When white light enters a prism, it is refracted at different angles depending on its wavelength, causing the colors to spread out. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, not the separation of colors. Diffraction is the bending of light around obstacles, not the separation of colors. Reflection is the bouncing back of light rays from a surface, not the separation of colors. In the context of a prism, dispersion plays a key role in the creation of a spectrum of colors by separating the different wavelengths present in white light.

3. What is a rod-shaped structure that forms when a single DNA molecule and its associated proteins coil tightly before cell division?

• A. Centromere
• B. Chromatid
• C. Chromosome
• D. Gene

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A chromosome is a rod-shaped structure that forms when a single DNA molecule and its associated proteins coil tightly before cell division. It contains the genetic material and is essential for cell division and replication. The centromere is a specific region of a chromosome that plays a role in cell division. A chromatid is one half of a duplicated chromosome, and a gene is a unit of heredity responsible for specific traits. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Chromosome' as it represents the entire condensed DNA molecule during cell division.

4. Which of the following is NOT part of the circulatory system?

• A. Kidneys
• B. Heart
• C. Blood
• D. Blood vessels

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Kidneys. The kidneys are part of the urinary system, responsible for filtering waste and maintaining fluid balance in the body. In the circulatory system, the heart pumps blood, blood carries oxygen and nutrients, and blood vessels transport blood throughout the body. Choices B, C, and D are all components of the circulatory system, making the kidneys the correct choice as it belongs to the urinary system.

5. Where is oxygen exchanged between blood and tissues?

• A. capillaries
• B. veins
• C. ventricles
• D. arteries

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Oxygen is exchanged between blood and tissues primarily at the capillaries. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products occurs between the blood and the tissues. This exchange process is crucial for delivering oxygen to the body's cells and eliminating carbon dioxide waste. Veins carry blood back to the heart, arteries carry blood away from the heart, and ventricles are the lower chambers of the heart responsible for pumping blood. Therefore, capillaries are the correct answer for where oxygen is exchanged between blood and tissues.

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