Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following structures prevents food from entering the windpipe?

• A. Pharynx
• B. Esophagus
• C. Larynx
• D. Epiglottis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The epiglottis is the structure that prevents food from entering the windpipe by covering the trachea during swallowing. When food is swallowed, the epiglottis folds over the opening of the trachea to ensure that food goes down the esophagus and not into the airway. The pharynx is a shared pathway for both food and air, leading to the esophagus and larynx respectively. The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The larynx is responsible for producing sound and protecting the airway during swallowing, but the epiglottis is specifically designed to prevent food from entering the windpipe.

2. Which of the following glands is responsible for regulating the body's metabolism?

• A. Pituitary gland
• B. Thyroid gland
• C. Adrenal gland
• D. Pineal gland

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating the body's metabolism by producing hormones like thyroxine. These hormones play a key role in controlling the body's metabolic rate and energy production. Choice A, the pituitary gland, is often referred to as the 'master gland' but is not primarily responsible for regulating metabolism. Choice C, the adrenal gland, is involved in producing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which are crucial for the body's stress response but not primarily for metabolism. Choice D, the pineal gland, is responsible for producing melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles and not directly related to metabolic regulation.

3. What property of a wave determines its speed in a given medium?

• A. Amplitude
• B. Wavelength
• C. Frequency
• D. Medium's properties

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The speed of a wave in a given medium is determined by the properties of that medium, such as its density and elasticity. While amplitude, wavelength, and frequency are important characteristics of a wave, they do not directly impact its speed in a specific medium. Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of particles in a wave, wavelength is the distance between two successive points in a wave that are in phase, and frequency is the number of complete oscillations a wave makes in a given time. However, these properties do not dictate the speed of a wave in a particular medium. Therefore, the correct answer is the medium's properties.

4. What is the role of RNA interference in silencing genes?

• A. Increases protein production
• B. Promotes gene mutation
• C. Inhibits the expression of specific genes
• D. Repairs damaged DNA

Correct answer: C

Rationale: RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process that involves the silencing of gene expression by inhibiting the translation of mRNA or by degrading mRNA molecules. This mechanism plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and can be used to selectively silence specific genes. By interfering with the expression of specific genes, RNAi can downregulate protein production from those genes. Therefore, option C, 'Inhibits the expression of specific genes,' is the correct role of RNA interference in silencing genes. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because RNA interference does not increase protein production, promote gene mutation, or repair damaged DNA; its primary function is to inhibit gene expression by degrading or interfering with mRNA.

5. Which of the following nucleobases does not exist in RNA?

• A. Uracil
• B. Thymine
• C. Cytosine
• D. Guanine

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B: Thymine'. Thymine is a nucleobase found in DNA but is replaced by uracil in RNA. RNA contains Uracil, Cytosine, and Guanine as its nucleobases. Cytosine and Guanine are present in both DNA and RNA, while Thymine is exclusive to DNA and Uracil is specific to RNA.

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