NLN NEX Science Exam Prep: Complete Actual
Practice Questions with 100% Verified Correct
Answers & Detailed Rationales - (Nursing
Entrance Exam 2026)
Question 1
1 kilogram (kg) of solid X at 10°C and 1 kg of solid Y at 10°C each absorb 5 joules of heat
energy. The final temperatures of X and Y are 15°C and 20°C, respectively. Compared to
X, Y must have:
A. A lower specific heat
B. Conductive heat
C. Heat of fusion
D. Heat of vaporization
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Y experienced a greater temperature change (10°C) than X (5°C) with the
same amount of heat absorbed. Specific heat is inversely proportional to temperature
change, so Y has a lower specific heat.
Question 2
A drop of dilute ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) is placed on one side of a slide
containing a large number of swimming paramecium. Under this condition, which of
these behaviors of the paramecia will be observed?
A. They will eventually all swim toward the ammonium hydroxide
B. They will show no net change in behavior to the ammonium hydroxide
C. They will all be instantly killed by the ammonium hydroxide
D. They will eventually all swim away from the ammonium hydroxide
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Paramecia exhibit negative chemotaxis, moving away from harmful
chemicals such as ammonium hydroxide.
Question 3
A method for determining the blood alcohol content of a subject is to:
A. Do a Mantoux test
B. Do a Dick test
pg. 1
,C. Use a Breathalyzer
D. Inspect the size of the pupils
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A Breathalyzer measures blood alcohol content by analyzing the alcohol
concentration in exhaled breath.
Question 4
A physician measures the pulse and blood pressure (BP) of all patients on a routine
basis. Which of these measurements show the normal BP values for a resting adult
patient?
A. 125/95 mm Hg
B. 120/80 mm Hg
C. 100/80 mm Hg
D. 72/120 mm Hg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal resting blood pressure for an adult is approximately 120/80 mm
Hg.
Question 5
A woman suddenly chokes on a piece of food and clutches frantically at her throat. An
immediate remedy is to:
A. Have her bend forward and tell her to cough
B. Insert a finger or a blunt object toward the back of the mouth
C. Apply quick, hard pressures successively to her abdomen, just beneath her diaphragm
D. Phone "emergency" for help
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) is the recommended
immediate first aid for choking.
Question 6
An unknown gas is more dense than air, does not support combustion, and turns a
limewater solution cloudy. This gas is most probably:
A. Ammonia
B. Methane
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Hydrogen
pg. 2
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Carbon dioxide is denser than air, does not support combustion, and turns
limewater cloudy due to calcium carbonate formation.
Question 7
If the medulla of the brain in a human was damaged, which of these conditions would
most likely result?
A. Difficulty in breathing
B. Inability to remember
C. Inability to speak
D. Blurred vision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The medulla oblongata controls vital functions including breathing.
Damage would result in difficulty breathing.
Question 8
In diagnostic testing, the electroencephalogram permits the physician to:
A. Examine the impulses of the specialized muscle cells of the heart
B. Examine the impulses of the nerve cells within the brain
C. Measure the pressure within the eye
D. Measure the amount of air upon exhalation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An electroencephalogram (EEG) records the electrical activity of the brain.
Question 9
In ecological succession, the first living thing to colonize a hitherto barren area is called
a:
A. Producer
B. Primary consumer
C. Pioneer organism
D. Carnivore
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pioneer organisms are the first species to colonize barren or disturbed
areas in ecological succession.
pg. 3
, Question 10
In varieties of matter, the term heterogeneous may be applied to:
A. Mixtures, but not elements or compounds
B. Elements, but not compounds
C. Compounds, but not elements
D. Compounds and elements, but not mixtures
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Heterogeneous refers to mixtures with non-uniform composition; elements
and compounds are homogeneous.
Question 11
Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition of the:
A. Gum tissue that surrounds the neck of each tooth
B. Pulp that contains nerve cells and blood vessels of the tooth
C. Dentin that surrounds the soft part of a tooth
D. Enamel that provides a hard surface for chewing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Periodontitis is inflammation of the periodontal tissues (gums)
surrounding the teeth.
Question 12
The atoms of an element with seven valence electrons are most probably classified as:
A. Metals
B. Nonmetals
C. Metalloids
D. Noble gases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elements with seven valence electrons are halogens, which are nonmetals
(e.g., chlorine, fluorine).
Question 13
The bending of a wave around an obstacle is known as:
A. Diffraction
B. Deflection
C. Refraction
D. Reflection
pg. 4
Practice Questions with 100% Verified Correct
Answers & Detailed Rationales - (Nursing
Entrance Exam 2026)
Question 1
1 kilogram (kg) of solid X at 10°C and 1 kg of solid Y at 10°C each absorb 5 joules of heat
energy. The final temperatures of X and Y are 15°C and 20°C, respectively. Compared to
X, Y must have:
A. A lower specific heat
B. Conductive heat
C. Heat of fusion
D. Heat of vaporization
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Y experienced a greater temperature change (10°C) than X (5°C) with the
same amount of heat absorbed. Specific heat is inversely proportional to temperature
change, so Y has a lower specific heat.
Question 2
A drop of dilute ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) is placed on one side of a slide
containing a large number of swimming paramecium. Under this condition, which of
these behaviors of the paramecia will be observed?
A. They will eventually all swim toward the ammonium hydroxide
B. They will show no net change in behavior to the ammonium hydroxide
C. They will all be instantly killed by the ammonium hydroxide
D. They will eventually all swim away from the ammonium hydroxide
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Paramecia exhibit negative chemotaxis, moving away from harmful
chemicals such as ammonium hydroxide.
Question 3
A method for determining the blood alcohol content of a subject is to:
A. Do a Mantoux test
B. Do a Dick test
pg. 1
,C. Use a Breathalyzer
D. Inspect the size of the pupils
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A Breathalyzer measures blood alcohol content by analyzing the alcohol
concentration in exhaled breath.
Question 4
A physician measures the pulse and blood pressure (BP) of all patients on a routine
basis. Which of these measurements show the normal BP values for a resting adult
patient?
A. 125/95 mm Hg
B. 120/80 mm Hg
C. 100/80 mm Hg
D. 72/120 mm Hg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal resting blood pressure for an adult is approximately 120/80 mm
Hg.
Question 5
A woman suddenly chokes on a piece of food and clutches frantically at her throat. An
immediate remedy is to:
A. Have her bend forward and tell her to cough
B. Insert a finger or a blunt object toward the back of the mouth
C. Apply quick, hard pressures successively to her abdomen, just beneath her diaphragm
D. Phone "emergency" for help
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) is the recommended
immediate first aid for choking.
Question 6
An unknown gas is more dense than air, does not support combustion, and turns a
limewater solution cloudy. This gas is most probably:
A. Ammonia
B. Methane
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Hydrogen
pg. 2
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Carbon dioxide is denser than air, does not support combustion, and turns
limewater cloudy due to calcium carbonate formation.
Question 7
If the medulla of the brain in a human was damaged, which of these conditions would
most likely result?
A. Difficulty in breathing
B. Inability to remember
C. Inability to speak
D. Blurred vision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The medulla oblongata controls vital functions including breathing.
Damage would result in difficulty breathing.
Question 8
In diagnostic testing, the electroencephalogram permits the physician to:
A. Examine the impulses of the specialized muscle cells of the heart
B. Examine the impulses of the nerve cells within the brain
C. Measure the pressure within the eye
D. Measure the amount of air upon exhalation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An electroencephalogram (EEG) records the electrical activity of the brain.
Question 9
In ecological succession, the first living thing to colonize a hitherto barren area is called
a:
A. Producer
B. Primary consumer
C. Pioneer organism
D. Carnivore
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pioneer organisms are the first species to colonize barren or disturbed
areas in ecological succession.
pg. 3
, Question 10
In varieties of matter, the term heterogeneous may be applied to:
A. Mixtures, but not elements or compounds
B. Elements, but not compounds
C. Compounds, but not elements
D. Compounds and elements, but not mixtures
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Heterogeneous refers to mixtures with non-uniform composition; elements
and compounds are homogeneous.
Question 11
Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition of the:
A. Gum tissue that surrounds the neck of each tooth
B. Pulp that contains nerve cells and blood vessels of the tooth
C. Dentin that surrounds the soft part of a tooth
D. Enamel that provides a hard surface for chewing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Periodontitis is inflammation of the periodontal tissues (gums)
surrounding the teeth.
Question 12
The atoms of an element with seven valence electrons are most probably classified as:
A. Metals
B. Nonmetals
C. Metalloids
D. Noble gases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elements with seven valence electrons are halogens, which are nonmetals
(e.g., chlorine, fluorine).
Question 13
The bending of a wave around an obstacle is known as:
A. Diffraction
B. Deflection
C. Refraction
D. Reflection
pg. 4
