Nursing Elites

1. Which structure allows for the selective passage of materials into and out of the cell?

• A. DNA
• B. Protein
• C. Carbohydrate
• D. Phospholipid bilayer

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The phospholipid bilayer is a crucial component of the cell membrane, surrounding the cell and regulating the passage of materials into and out of the cell. Its structure enables it to be selectively permeable, controlling which substances can pass through. DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates are essential molecules in the cell but do not directly govern the passage of materials like the phospholipid bilayer does. Therefore, the correct answer is the phospholipid bilayer.

2. Bile, stored in the gallbladder, aids in the digestion of which nutrient?

• A. Carbohydrates
• B. Proteins
• C. Fats
• D. Vitamins

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Bile, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, aids in the digestion of fats. Bile emulsifies fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets to increase the efficiency of fat digestion by enzymes like lipase. This process enhances the absorption of fats in the small intestine, facilitating the body's utilization of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Carbohydrates are primarily broken down by enzymes like amylase, proteins by pepsin and other proteases, and vitamins have varying digestion and absorption processes, which do not involve bile. Therefore, the correct answer is fats as they are directly influenced by bile in the digestion process.

3. Which part of the neuron insulates and speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses along the axon?

• A. Dendrite
• B. Myelin sheath
• C. Synapse
• D. Cell body

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The myelin sheath is a fatty layer that surrounds the axon of a neuron, providing insulation and speeding up the transmission of nerve impulses. This insulation helps prevent the loss of electrical signals as they travel along the axon, allowing for faster and more efficient communication within the nervous system. Dendrites are branching extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons, the synapse is the junction between two neurons where communication occurs, and the cell body contains the nucleus and organelles of the neuron, but none of these structures provide insulation for the transmission of nerve impulses along the axon.

4. Which type of joint allows for rotational movement around a single axis?

• A. Ball-and-socket joint
• B. Pivot joint
• C. Hinge joint
• D. Saddle joint

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is a Pivot joint. A pivot joint, like the joint in the neck, enables rotational movement around a single axis. This type of joint is crucial for allowing the head to turn from side to side. Choice A, Ball-and-socket joint, allows for movement in multiple axes due to its spherical structure, not limited to single-axis rotation. Choice C, Hinge joint, allows movement in one plane like a door hinge, but not rotational movement around a single axis. Choice D, Saddle joint, allows movement in multiple directions but is not specifically designed for rotational movement around a single axis.

5. After the Industrial Revolution, the population of peppered moths in England shifted towards more dark moths. This is an example of:

• A. Artificial selection (selective breeding by humans for desired traits)
• B. Natural selection acting on pre-existing variation
• C. Punctuated equilibrium (rapid bursts of evolution)
• D. Lamarckism (inheritance of acquired characteristics)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The shift in the peppered moth population towards more dark moths in England after the Industrial Revolution exemplifies natural selection acting on pre-existing variation. Initially, light-colored moths were well-camouflaged against lichen-covered tree trunks, but with industrial pollution darkening the tree trunks, dark-colored moths gained a survival advantage. This change reflects how the environment favored dark moths over light ones, illustrating natural selection. The process illustrates how organisms with traits advantageous in a changing environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the prevalence of those traits in the population over time. The choices of artificial selection (A), punctuated equilibrium (C), and Lamarckism (D) are not applicable in this scenario. Artificial selection involves intentional breeding by humans, punctuated equilibrium refers to rapid bursts of evolution followed by periods of stability, and Lamarckism suggests the inheritance of acquired characteristics, none of which align with the observed shift in moth populations based on environmental changes.

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