Nursing Elites

1. When testing how quickly a rat dies based on the amount of poison it eats, which of the following is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable?

• A. How quickly the rat dies is the independent variable; the amount of poison is the dependent variable.
• B. The amount of poison is the independent variable; how quickly the rat dies is the dependent variable.
• C. Whether the rat eats the poison is the independent variable; how quickly the rat dies is the dependent variable.
• D. The cage the rat is kept in is the independent variable; the amount of poison is the dependent variable.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. In this experiment, the independent variable is the amount of poison because it is what is being manipulated by the researcher. The dependent variable is how quickly the rat dies, as it is the outcome that is being measured based on the different amounts of poison administered. Choice A is incorrect because the independent variable should be what is being manipulated or changed, which is the amount of poison in this case. Choice C is incorrect because whether the rat eats the poison is not being varied or controlled by the researcher. Choice D is incorrect because the cage the rat is kept in is not relevant to the relationship being studied between the amount of poison and the rat's survival time.

2. What is the most basic unit of structure in living things?

• A. Cell
• B. Organelle
• C. Oxygen
• D. Pigment

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The cell is indeed the most basic unit of life, forming the foundation of all living organisms. Cells are the building blocks of all living things, containing organelles that perform specific functions. While oxygen is essential for life, it is not a structural unit. Similarly, pigment is a component found within cells but is not the fundamental unit of structure. Therefore, the correct answer is 'A: Cell.'

3. Which of the following structures is responsible for gas exchange in the lungs?

• A. Bronchi
• B. Alveoli
• C. Trachea
• D. Diaphragm

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. Oxygen from inhaled air diffuses into the blood vessels surrounding the alveoli, while carbon dioxide from the blood is released into the alveoli to be exhaled. The bronchi are air passages that carry air into the lungs but do not participate in gas exchange. The trachea is the windpipe that connects the larynx to the bronchi and serves as an airway for breathing. The diaphragm is a muscle that aids in the breathing process by contracting and relaxing to change the volume of the chest cavity.

4. In meiosis, how many divisions occur, and how many daughter cells are produced?

• A. One division, two daughter cells
• B. Two divisions, four daughter cells
• C. Four divisions, eight daughter cells
• D. Eight divisions, sixteen daughter cells

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In meiosis, there are two divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes separate, resulting in two daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. In meiosis II, sister chromatids separate, resulting in a total of four daughter cells, each with a haploid set of chromosomes. Therefore, meiosis involves two divisions and produces four daughter cells. Choice A is incorrect because meiosis involves two divisions, not one. Choice C and D are incorrect as meiosis does not go through four or eight divisions, resulting in eight or sixteen daughter cells.

5. What are organisms that break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the environment called?

• A. Producers
• B. Decomposers
• C. Consumers
• D. Parasites

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Decomposers are essential organisms in the ecosystem as they break down dead organisms and organic matter, such as bacteria, fungi, and some insects. By decomposing complex organic materials into simpler forms, they release nutrients back into the environment for other organisms to utilize. Producers (option A) are organisms that generate their own food through photosynthesis; consumers (option C) are organisms that feed on other organisms for energy, and parasites (option D) are organisms that live on or in another organism, benefiting at the host's expense rather than breaking down dead organisms for nutrient recycling.

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