NLN NEX EXAM AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026
TEST BANK | NLN NURSING ENTRANCE EXAM PREP –
COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM ( QUESTIONS) WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS + RATIONALE FOR EVERY
OPTION
SECTION 1: BIOLOGY (Questions 1–25)
1. Which organelle is the primary site of ATP production during aerobic cellular respiration?
A. Ribosome – Rationale: ribosomes build proteins; they do not generate ATP.
B. Golgi apparatus – Rationale: modifies, packages, and ships proteins; no energy production.
C. Mitochondrion – Rationale: correct; its inner membrane holds the electron transport chain that
makes ATP.
D. Lysosome – Rationale: digests cellular waste with enzymes; not energy production.
Correct ANSWER - C
2. The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from high to low concentration is
called:
A. Active transport – Rationale: requires ATP and moves substances against the gradient.
B. Facilitated diffusion – Rationale: passive carrier transport, but the specific term for water is osmosis.
C. Endocytosis – Rationale: engulfing material with vesicles; requires energy.
D. Osmosis – Rationale: correct; osmosis is the diffusion of water specifically.
Correct ANSWER - D
3. Meiosis results in how many genetically unique haploid cells?
A. Two diploid cells – Rationale: describes a mitosis-like outcome; meiosis yields four cells.
B. Two haploid cells – Rationale: meiosis involves two divisions, producing four cells.
C. Four diploid cells – Rationale: meiosis halves the chromosome number to haploid.
D. Four haploid cells – Rationale: correct; crossing over and independent assortment create variety.
Correct ANSWER - D
4. In DNA, adenine always pairs with:
,A. Guanine – Rationale: guanine pairs with cytosine.
B. Cytosine – Rationale: cytosine pairs with guanine.
C. Thymine – Rationale: correct; A–T pair joined by two hydrogen bonds.
D. Uracil – Rationale: uracil replaces thymine only in RNA.
Correct ANSWER - C
5. Which molecule carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosome?
A. Messenger RNA – Rationale: correct; mRNA carries codons for translation.
B. Transfer RNA – Rationale: tRNA delivers amino acids to the ribosome.
C. Ribosomal RNA – Rationale: rRNA is a structural part of ribosomes.
D. DNA polymerase – Rationale: an enzyme for replication, not a code carrier.
Correct ANSWER - A
6. The blood type known as the universal donor is:
A. AB – Rationale: AB is the universal recipient, not donor.
B. A – Rationale: type A has anti-B antibodies; not universal.
C. B – Rationale: type B has anti-A antibodies; not universal.
D. O – Rationale: correct; O cells lack A/B antigens, so they can be given to anyone.
Correct ANSWER - D
7. In a cross of Tt × Tt (T = tall, dominant), what percentage of offspring will be short?
A. 0% – Rationale: the recessive trait can still appear.
B. 25% – Rationale: correct; the tt genotype appears in 1 of 4 offspring.
C. 50% – Rationale: 50% is the heterozygous (Tt) proportion.
D. 75% – Rationale: 75% is the tall phenotype proportion.
Correct ANSWER - B
8. Which biome is characterized by permafrost and an absence of trees?
A. Taiga – Rationale: cold coniferous forest, but not permafrost-dominated.
B. Deciduous forest – Rationale: temperate climate with broadleaf trees.
C. Tundra – Rationale: correct; permanently frozen subsoil and treeless vegetation.
D. Grassland – Rationale: dominated by grasses; no permafrost.
Correct ANSWER - C
,9. Only about 10% of energy passes to the next trophic level; most of the rest is:
A. Stored as fat – Rationale: some is stored, but the major loss is heat.
B. Passed only to decomposers – Rationale: part goes there, but heat is the main loss.
C. Lost as heat – Rationale: correct; metabolism releases heat per the second law of thermodynamics.
D. Converted to light – Rationale: energy is not lost as light in food chains.
Correct ANSWER - C
10. Which organisms convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use?
A. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Rationale: correct; e.g., Rhizobium in legume root nodules.
B. Fungi – Rationale: decomposers; they do not fix nitrogen gas.
C. Algae – Rationale: photosynthetic; not nitrogen fixers for plants.
D. Insects – Rationale: no role in nitrogen fixation.
Correct ANSWER - A
11. Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by:
A. Raising activation energy – Rationale: that would slow the reaction.
B. Increasing temperature – Rationale: enzymes do not heat the cell.
C. Lowering activation energy – Rationale: correct; they provide an easier pathway and are not
consumed.
D. Being consumed in the reaction – Rationale: enzymes remain unchanged and reusable.
Correct ANSWER - C
12. Which of the following is a monosaccharide?
A. Sucrose – Rationale: a disaccharide (glucose + fructose).
B. Lactose – Rationale: a disaccharide (glucose + galactose).
C. Glucose – Rationale: correct; a single sugar unit.
D. Starch – Rationale: a polysaccharide storage form.
Correct ANSWER - C
13. Amino acids are joined into proteins by which type of bond?
A. Hydrogen bond – Rationale: weak bond that shapes structure but does not link the chain.
B. Peptide bond – Rationale: correct; formed by dehydration synthesis between amino acids.
C. Ionic bond – Rationale: not the backbone linkage of proteins.
, D. Ester bond – Rationale: links fatty acids in lipids.
Correct ANSWER - B
14. Which of the following is NOT a function of proteins?
A. Catalyzing reactions – Rationale: enzymes are proteins.
B. Transporting molecules – Rationale: e.g., hemoglobin carries oxygen.
C. Long-term energy storage – Rationale: correct; that is the role of lipids (fats).
D. Providing structural support – Rationale: e.g., collagen and keratin.
Correct ANSWER - C
15. A solution with a pH of 3 is:
A. Strongly acidic – Rationale: correct; low pH means high hydrogen ion concentration.
B. Strongly basic – Rationale: bases have pH above 7.
C. Neutral – Rationale: neutral is pH 7.
D. Isotonic – Rationale: tonicity is unrelated to pH.
Correct ANSWER - A
16. Natural selection as the mechanism of evolution was proposed by:
A. Mendel – Rationale: founded genetics and inheritance studies.
B. Pasteur – Rationale: germ theory and pasteurization.
C. Darwin – Rationale: correct; published On the Origin of Species.
D. Linnaeus – Rationale: developed classification taxonomy.
Correct ANSWER - C
17. Which statement about viruses is TRUE?
A. They reproduce independently – Rationale: they lack their own machinery.
B. They contain both DNA and RNA – Rationale: a virus has one or the other, not both.
C. They require a host cell to replicate – Rationale: correct; they are obligate intracellular parasites.
D. They are treated with antibiotics – Rationale: antibiotics target bacteria, not viruses.
Correct ANSWER - C
18. The maintenance of a stable internal environment, such as body temperature, is called:
A. Metabolism – Rationale: the sum of all chemical reactions.
B. Reproduction – Rationale: producing offspring.
TEST BANK | NLN NURSING ENTRANCE EXAM PREP –
COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM ( QUESTIONS) WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS + RATIONALE FOR EVERY
OPTION
SECTION 1: BIOLOGY (Questions 1–25)
1. Which organelle is the primary site of ATP production during aerobic cellular respiration?
A. Ribosome – Rationale: ribosomes build proteins; they do not generate ATP.
B. Golgi apparatus – Rationale: modifies, packages, and ships proteins; no energy production.
C. Mitochondrion – Rationale: correct; its inner membrane holds the electron transport chain that
makes ATP.
D. Lysosome – Rationale: digests cellular waste with enzymes; not energy production.
Correct ANSWER - C
2. The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from high to low concentration is
called:
A. Active transport – Rationale: requires ATP and moves substances against the gradient.
B. Facilitated diffusion – Rationale: passive carrier transport, but the specific term for water is osmosis.
C. Endocytosis – Rationale: engulfing material with vesicles; requires energy.
D. Osmosis – Rationale: correct; osmosis is the diffusion of water specifically.
Correct ANSWER - D
3. Meiosis results in how many genetically unique haploid cells?
A. Two diploid cells – Rationale: describes a mitosis-like outcome; meiosis yields four cells.
B. Two haploid cells – Rationale: meiosis involves two divisions, producing four cells.
C. Four diploid cells – Rationale: meiosis halves the chromosome number to haploid.
D. Four haploid cells – Rationale: correct; crossing over and independent assortment create variety.
Correct ANSWER - D
4. In DNA, adenine always pairs with:
,A. Guanine – Rationale: guanine pairs with cytosine.
B. Cytosine – Rationale: cytosine pairs with guanine.
C. Thymine – Rationale: correct; A–T pair joined by two hydrogen bonds.
D. Uracil – Rationale: uracil replaces thymine only in RNA.
Correct ANSWER - C
5. Which molecule carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosome?
A. Messenger RNA – Rationale: correct; mRNA carries codons for translation.
B. Transfer RNA – Rationale: tRNA delivers amino acids to the ribosome.
C. Ribosomal RNA – Rationale: rRNA is a structural part of ribosomes.
D. DNA polymerase – Rationale: an enzyme for replication, not a code carrier.
Correct ANSWER - A
6. The blood type known as the universal donor is:
A. AB – Rationale: AB is the universal recipient, not donor.
B. A – Rationale: type A has anti-B antibodies; not universal.
C. B – Rationale: type B has anti-A antibodies; not universal.
D. O – Rationale: correct; O cells lack A/B antigens, so they can be given to anyone.
Correct ANSWER - D
7. In a cross of Tt × Tt (T = tall, dominant), what percentage of offspring will be short?
A. 0% – Rationale: the recessive trait can still appear.
B. 25% – Rationale: correct; the tt genotype appears in 1 of 4 offspring.
C. 50% – Rationale: 50% is the heterozygous (Tt) proportion.
D. 75% – Rationale: 75% is the tall phenotype proportion.
Correct ANSWER - B
8. Which biome is characterized by permafrost and an absence of trees?
A. Taiga – Rationale: cold coniferous forest, but not permafrost-dominated.
B. Deciduous forest – Rationale: temperate climate with broadleaf trees.
C. Tundra – Rationale: correct; permanently frozen subsoil and treeless vegetation.
D. Grassland – Rationale: dominated by grasses; no permafrost.
Correct ANSWER - C
,9. Only about 10% of energy passes to the next trophic level; most of the rest is:
A. Stored as fat – Rationale: some is stored, but the major loss is heat.
B. Passed only to decomposers – Rationale: part goes there, but heat is the main loss.
C. Lost as heat – Rationale: correct; metabolism releases heat per the second law of thermodynamics.
D. Converted to light – Rationale: energy is not lost as light in food chains.
Correct ANSWER - C
10. Which organisms convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use?
A. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Rationale: correct; e.g., Rhizobium in legume root nodules.
B. Fungi – Rationale: decomposers; they do not fix nitrogen gas.
C. Algae – Rationale: photosynthetic; not nitrogen fixers for plants.
D. Insects – Rationale: no role in nitrogen fixation.
Correct ANSWER - A
11. Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by:
A. Raising activation energy – Rationale: that would slow the reaction.
B. Increasing temperature – Rationale: enzymes do not heat the cell.
C. Lowering activation energy – Rationale: correct; they provide an easier pathway and are not
consumed.
D. Being consumed in the reaction – Rationale: enzymes remain unchanged and reusable.
Correct ANSWER - C
12. Which of the following is a monosaccharide?
A. Sucrose – Rationale: a disaccharide (glucose + fructose).
B. Lactose – Rationale: a disaccharide (glucose + galactose).
C. Glucose – Rationale: correct; a single sugar unit.
D. Starch – Rationale: a polysaccharide storage form.
Correct ANSWER - C
13. Amino acids are joined into proteins by which type of bond?
A. Hydrogen bond – Rationale: weak bond that shapes structure but does not link the chain.
B. Peptide bond – Rationale: correct; formed by dehydration synthesis between amino acids.
C. Ionic bond – Rationale: not the backbone linkage of proteins.
, D. Ester bond – Rationale: links fatty acids in lipids.
Correct ANSWER - B
14. Which of the following is NOT a function of proteins?
A. Catalyzing reactions – Rationale: enzymes are proteins.
B. Transporting molecules – Rationale: e.g., hemoglobin carries oxygen.
C. Long-term energy storage – Rationale: correct; that is the role of lipids (fats).
D. Providing structural support – Rationale: e.g., collagen and keratin.
Correct ANSWER - C
15. A solution with a pH of 3 is:
A. Strongly acidic – Rationale: correct; low pH means high hydrogen ion concentration.
B. Strongly basic – Rationale: bases have pH above 7.
C. Neutral – Rationale: neutral is pH 7.
D. Isotonic – Rationale: tonicity is unrelated to pH.
Correct ANSWER - A
16. Natural selection as the mechanism of evolution was proposed by:
A. Mendel – Rationale: founded genetics and inheritance studies.
B. Pasteur – Rationale: germ theory and pasteurization.
C. Darwin – Rationale: correct; published On the Origin of Species.
D. Linnaeus – Rationale: developed classification taxonomy.
Correct ANSWER - C
17. Which statement about viruses is TRUE?
A. They reproduce independently – Rationale: they lack their own machinery.
B. They contain both DNA and RNA – Rationale: a virus has one or the other, not both.
C. They require a host cell to replicate – Rationale: correct; they are obligate intracellular parasites.
D. They are treated with antibiotics – Rationale: antibiotics target bacteria, not viruses.
Correct ANSWER - C
18. The maintenance of a stable internal environment, such as body temperature, is called:
A. Metabolism – Rationale: the sum of all chemical reactions.
B. Reproduction – Rationale: producing offspring.
