Nursing Elites

1. What is the basic unit of heredity?

• A. Chromosome
• B. Cell
• C. Gene
• D. Organ

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A gene is the basic unit of heredity that carries the instructions for making proteins, which determine an organism's traits. Genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes within the cell. While chromosomes contain many genes, a gene itself is the fundamental unit of heredity responsible for passing on genetic information from one generation to the next. Cells are the basic structural and functional units of living organisms, but genes specifically carry genetic information. Organs are composed of tissues and serve specific functions within an organism, but they are not the basic unit of heredity.

2. What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope, and how does it relate to its decay rate?

• A. The time it takes for half of the initial sample to decay.
• B. The time it takes for all of the sample to decay.
• C. The rate at which new isotopes are created.
• D. The energy released during decay.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for half of the initial sample to decay. After one half-life, half of the radioactive atoms have decayed. The decay rate, however, refers to the rate at which radioactive atoms decay, which is not directly related to the half-life. Choice B is incorrect because it does not correctly define the half-life. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to the creation of new isotopes, not the decay process. Choice D is incorrect as it describes the energy released during decay, which is not the same as the concept of half-life.

3. Which of the following chambers of the heart receives blood returning from the lungs during pulmonary circulation?

• A. left atrium
• B. right atrium
• C. left ventricle
• D. right ventricle

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, the left atrium. During pulmonary circulation, oxygenated blood returns from the lungs to the heart and enters the left atrium through the pulmonary veins. The left atrium then contracts, pushing this oxygen-rich blood into the left ventricle. The left ventricle subsequently pumps this oxygenated blood out to the rest of the body through the aorta. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, the left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium, and the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation, respectively.

4. What is the main function of estuaries?

• A. Filtering pollutants from water
• B. Providing habitat for marine life
• C. Storing carbon dioxide
• D. Generating wind power

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Estuaries are coastal areas where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean. They serve as important habitats for a variety of marine life, including fish, birds, and other wildlife. Estuaries provide shelter, breeding grounds, and food sources for many species, making them crucial for the overall health of marine ecosystems. While estuaries can help filter pollutants to some extent, their primary function is to support and sustain diverse populations of plants and animals. Storing carbon dioxide and generating wind power are not main functions of estuaries.

5. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is:

• A. Must be equal to the number of protons.
• B. Must be less than the number of protons.
• C. Must be greater than the number of neutrons.
• D. Can vary depending on the atom's temperature.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a neutral atom, the number of electrons must be equal to the number of protons to maintain electrical neutrality. Electrons carry a negative charge while protons carry a positive charge. By having an equal number of electrons and protons, the positive and negative charges balance each other out, resulting in an electrically neutral atom. Choice B is incorrect because in a neutral atom, the number of electrons and protons must be equal. Choice C is incorrect as it compares electrons to neutrons, which are not directly related in determining an atom's charge. Choice D is incorrect as the number of electrons in a neutral atom is not dependent on the atom's temperature but rather on the atom's balance of positive and negative charges.

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