Nursing Elites

1. Which of these pairs represents an example of convergent evolution?

• A. Humans and chimpanzees
• B. Bats and birds
• C. Dolphins and sharks
• D. Snakes and earthworms

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Convergent evolution refers to the process by which different species independently evolve similar traits or characteristics due to similar environmental pressures. In the case of bats and birds, both have evolved wings for flight despite not sharing a recent common ancestor with wings. Bats are mammals, while birds are avians, yet they both have wings adapted for flight, which is a classic example of convergent evolution. A) Humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor and have not independently evolved similar traits. C) Dolphins and sharks are not closely related, and their similarities are due to adaptations to their aquatic environment rather than convergent evolution. D) Snakes and earthworms belong to different classes (reptiles and annelids, respectively) and do not share recent common ancestors, making their similarities not a result of convergent evolution.

2. When is work done by a force on an object?

• A. Only when the object moves in the direction of the force
• B. Only when the object moves against the force
• C. Only when the object moves vertically
• D. Only when the force is applied for a specific duration

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Work is done by a force on an object when the object moves in the direction of the force. This is because work is defined as the product of the force applied to an object and the distance over which the force is applied. When the object moves in the direction of the force, the force contributes to the displacement of the object, resulting in work being done. If the object moves perpendicular to the force, no work is done because the force does not contribute to the displacement. Moving against the force also results in work being done as the force is causing the displacement. The vertical movement of the object does not determine whether work is done; it is the alignment of the force with the object's displacement that matters. The duration of force application does not impact whether work is done; as long as the force causes the object to move in its direction, work is being done.

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

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

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Alveoli. The alveoli in the lungs are responsible for gas exchange. They have a thin membrane that allows for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air in the lungs and the blood in the capillaries surrounding them. This process is essential for respiration, providing oxygen to the body's tissues and removing carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. The trachea is a passageway that carries air to and from the lungs but is not directly involved in gas exchange. Bronchi are airway passages that further divide into smaller bronchioles leading to the alveoli but do not perform gas exchange themselves. The diaphragm is a muscle involved in the breathing process by aiding in inhalation and exhalation, but it is not the structure responsible for gas exchange in the respiratory system.

4. Which of the following is an example of a polymer?

• A. Methane
• B. Ethanol
• C. Polyethylene
• D. Acetic acid

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, Polyethylene. Polyethylene is a polymer composed of a large number of repeating ethylene units linked together, forming a long-chain molecule, characteristic of polymers. Methane, ethanol, and acetic acid are small organic molecules that do not demonstrate the repeating unit structure typical of polymers. Therefore, they are not examples of polymers.

5. Which of the following terms refers to the process of breaking large molecules into smaller molecules to provide energy?

• A. Metabolism
• B. Bioenergetics
• C. Anabolism
• D. Catabolism

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'D: Catabolism.' Catabolism specifically involves breaking down large molecules into smaller ones to release energy. It is the opposite of anabolism, which is the process of building larger molecules from smaller ones. 'Metabolism' (choice A) is a broader term that encompasses all chemical processes in an organism, including anabolism and catabolism. 'Bioenergetics' (choice B) refers to the flow and transformation of energy in a biological system, not specifically the breakdown of molecules for energy.

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