NLN PAX Exam Questions

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61.

If the root word “arch” means chief, first, or rule, what does the word “monarchy” mean?

  • Rule by one person

  • Rule by the mother

  • Chief worker

  • Chief angel

Correct answer: Rule by one person

The word “monarchy” means rule by one person. The question informs you that the root word “arch” means rule. The prefix “mono” means one; therefore, “monarchy” means ruled by one.

“Matriarchy” means rule by mother. “Architect” means chief worker. “Archangel” means chief angel.

62.

Arrange the following fractions in descending order:

1/3, 2/5, 4/11, 3/7

  • 3/7, 2/5, 4/11, 1/3

  • 4/11, 3/7, 2/5, 1/3

  • 1/3, 2/5, 3/7, 4/11

  • 4/11, 2/5, 3/7, 1/3

Correct answer: 3/7, 2/5, 4/11, 1/3

To arrange the fractions, compare their values by first multiplying them by 100%.

  • 1/3 × 100% = 33.33%
  • 2/5 × 100% = 40%
  • 4/11 × 100% = 36.36%
  • 3/7 × 100% = 42.86%

Arrange the percentages from largest to smallest (descending order).

42.86%, 40%, 36.36%, 33.33%

Convert back to fractions.

3/7, 2/5, 4/11, 1/3

63.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Which of the following age groups is most likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's?

  • 70-75

  • 40-45

  • 45-50

  • 50-55

Correct answer: 70-75

The second paragraph informs the reader that Alzheimer's disease most commonly affects those who are 65 or older. Thus, the age group that would most likely be diagnosed with Alzheimer's is 70-75.

64.

What is the value of a when |a + 6| = 3?

  • -3, -9

  • 3, 9

  • 3, -9

  • -3, 9

Correct answer: -3, -9

The absolute value of a number may be thought of as its distance from zero. Therefore, the value of any number within the bars of absolute value can have either a negative or positive solution. If we remove the bars from the equation, we have two possible solutions, a + 6 = 3 and a + 6 = -3.

Let's solve each equation. 

a + 6 = 3

a = 3 - 6

a = -3

Let's solve the second equation.

a + 6 = -3

a = -3 - 6

a = -9

Therefore, the two possible answers are -3 and -9.

65.

Which term best describes the concept below:

If an object is released above the Earth's surface, it will display two types of motion: horizontal and vertical.

  • Projectile motion

  • Acceleration

  • Frictional motion

  • Scalar motion

Correct answer: Projectile motion

Projectile motion incorporates both the horizontal and vertical components of motion simultaneously. When an object is released above the Earth's surface, the vertical motion will be impacted by the acceleration of gravity while the horizontal motion will not.

Frictional motion is a force that always opposes motion. Sliding is an example of frictional motion. Scalar motion is the projectively unchanging cross-ratio, with precise facets of space and time.

66.

Which of the following element properties has a complete valence shell?

  • Noble gases

  • Halogens

  • Lanthanides

  • Actinides

Correct answer: Noble gases

Noble gases have a complete valence shell, which makes them relatively nonreactive.

Halogens have seven valence electrons and are highly reactive. Both lanthanides and actinides are very reactive; therefore, they would not have a complete valence shell.

67.

Long bones are best described by which of the following?

  • Bones that support weight and facilitate movement which are longer than they are wide

  • Bones that protect internal organs such as the brain, heart, and pelvic organs

  • Bones that provide stability and some movement and are about as long as they are wide

  • Bones that are commonly found embedded in tendons

Correct answer: Bones that support weight and facilitate movement which are longer than they are wide

There are five types of bones in the skeleton: flat, long, short, irregular, and sesamoid.

  • Flat: Flat bones primarily protect internal organs. Examples are the scapula, ribs, and sternum. There are flat bones in the skull (occipital, parietal, frontal, nasal, lacrimal, and vomer), the thoracic cage (sternum and ribs), and the pelvis (ilium, ischium, and pubis). Their function is to protect internal organs such as the brain, heart, and pelvic organs.
  • Long: Long bones support weight and facilitate movement. They are longer than they are wide. Long bones include the femur (the longest bone in the body) as well as relatively small bones in the fingers. They function to support the body's weight and facilitate movement. Long bones are mostly located in the appendicular skeleton and include bones in the lower limbs (the tibia, fibula, femur, metatarsals, and phalanges) and bones in the upper limbs (the humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals, and phalanges).
  • Short: Located in the wrist and ankle joints, short bones provide stability and some movement and are about as long as they are wide. The carpals in the wrist (scaphoid, lunate, triquetral, hamate, pisiform, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium) and the tarsals in the ankles (calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuboid, lateral cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, and medial cuneiform) are examples of short bones.
  • Irregular: Irregular bones vary in shape and structure and therefore do not fit into any other category (flat, short, long, or sesamoid). They often have a fairly complex shape, which helps protect internal organs. For example, the vertebrae, irregular bones of the vertebral column, protect the spinal cord. The irregular bones of the pelvis (pubis, ilium, and ischium) protect organs in the pelvic cavity.
  • Sesamoid: Sesamoid bones are embedded in tendons. These small, round bones are commonly found in the tendons of the hands, knees, and feet. Sesamoid bones function to protect tendons from stress and wear. The patella (kneecap) is an example of a sesamoid bone.

68.

In which of the following phases of matter do the molecules exert a strong attraction to one another as they move slowly relative to one another?

  • Solid

  • Plasma

  • Gas

  • Liquid

Correct answer: Solid

Solid is the phase of matter in which molecules exert a strong attraction to one another as they move slowly relative to one another.

Plasma is the phase of matter that is made up of electrons and positive ions. Liquid is the phase of matter in which molecules exert moderate attractions to one another as they move at moderate speeds. Gas is the phase of matter in which molecules exert little or no attraction to one another because they move at high speeds.

69.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic are two types of which of the following?

  • Cells

  • Proteins

  • Steroids

  • Nucleic acids

Correct answer: Cells

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic are two types of cells. Cells that do not have a defined nucleus or do not contain membrane-bound organelles are known as prokaryotic cells. Cells that have a defined nucleus and a series of membrane-bound organelles are known as eukaryotic cells.

70.

The energy resulting from the motion of an object is the object’s kinetic energy. What is kinetic energy expressed in?

  • Joules

  • Amperes

  • Ohms

  • Newtons

Correct answer: Joules

Kinetic energy is expressed in joules. A joule is a N-m or a kg-m2/sec2.

Friction is expressed in newtons. Electrical current is measured in amperes. The resistance in Ohm’s law is expressed in ohms.

71.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

What can be logically inferred from this passage?

  • Claire works at night time

  • Claire enjoys spending time with her family

  • Claire's patients are generally children

  • Claire's boss is named Stephen

Correct answer: Claire works at night time

A logical conclusion is a decision made based on the logic presented. Because Claire's shifts require her to sleep during the daytime, we can logically conclude that Claire works at night.

The other choices can't be substantiated based on this brief passage.

72.

Which of the following words is spelled correctly?

  • Admitted

  • Admited

  • Admitded

  • Admitid

Correct answer: Admitted

When adding a suffix (-ed) to a root word that ends in a single consonant, double the consonant if a single vowel directly precedes the consonant and the consonant ends with an accented syllable or one-syllable word. In this case, admit ends with a single consonant (t) and a single vowel precedes this consonant (i). Therefore, you would double the consonant to get the proper spelling of admitted.

To summarize, this rule is applied when four things are true:

  1. Does the word end in a single consonant?
  2. Does the word have only one directly preceding vowel?
  3. Does the suffix you are going to add begin with a vowel?
  4. Is the last syllable accented?

In some cases, there isn't a definitive spelling for a word when it comes to this double the consonant rule. Examples include traveling/travelling, canceled/cancelled, profitable, worshiped.

73.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

The Punnett square shows that both parents carry the dominant gene for a cleft chin (C); however, it is possible for their offspring to be born without a cleft chin.

What percentage of the offspring is predicted to not have a cleft chin?

  • 25%

  • 50%

  • 75%

  • 100%

Correct answer: 25% 

A cleft chin will occur if one allele of the pair is dominant (C); therefore, the genotypes CC and Cc will produce an offspring with a cleft chin.

The only genotype that will produce offspring without a cleft chin is cc. From the Punnett square provided, you will notice that there is only one cc genotype; thus, only 25% of the offspring are predicted not to have cleft chins.

74.

A mobile classroom is a rectangular block that is 100 feet by 20 feet in length and width respectively. If a student walks around the block once, how many yards does the student cover?

  • 80 yards

  • 40 yards

  • 120 yards

  • 60 yards

Correct answer: 80 yards

The total distance traveled around the block is the perimeter, which is 2(length) + 2(width).

2L + 2P = 2(100) + 2(20) = 200 + 40 = 240 feet

Set up a proportion to convert feet to yards.

1 yard = 3 feet

x yards = 240 feet

1/3 = x/240

240 = 3x

x = 80 yards

75.

Which of the following statements would be considered a fact?

  • The hospital was ranked third in a 2012 national health care survey.

  • The hospital is considered one of the best in the nation.

  • The hospital's caring staff treats everyone with love and respect.

  • The hospital's private ambulance fleet has a terrific response time.

Correct answer: The hospital was ranked third in a 2012 national health care survey.

Facts should be measurable and substantial. In this example, we can measure the hospital's rank and can substantiate this claim by referencing the national survey.

The other statements are opinions because they cannot be measured, or they use abstract or subjective language such as "love" or "like".

76.

Of the following sentences, which is punctuated correctly?

  • Lori attended every class; however, she failed to take notes, resulting in low exam scores.

  • Yesterday the student was hit by a car; while walking to class.

  • Rebecca, however frequently cooks in her kitchen.

  • Erin doesn't eat meat: resulting in low iron.

Correct answer: Lori attended every class; however, she failed to take notes, resulting in low exam scores.

This sentence correctly utilizes both commas and a semicolon to combine two related sentences.

"Yesterday the student was hit by a car; while walking to class." This sentence would be correct without the semicolon.

"Rebecca, however frequently cooks in her kitchen." This sentence fails to place a second comma after the word however. The sentence should read "Rebecca, however, frequently cooks in her kitchen.

"Erin doesn't eat meat: resulting in low iron." This sentence incorrectly uses a colon, as the sentence immediately following does not contain a list or corresponding explanation.

77.

Water's high specific heat value allows it to do which of the following?

  • Resist shifts in temperature

  • Maintain a strong cohesive bond

  • Float on a substance's liquid form

  • Act as a versatile solvent

Correct answer: Resist shifts in temperature

Water's specific heat value allows it to resist shifts in temperature. Due to the high specific heat value of water, oceans and large bodies of water help stabilize the climate.

Hydrogen bonding increases water's cohesive properties and allows water, in its solid form (ice), to float on a substance's liquid form. Water's polarity allows it to act as a versatile solvent.

78.

What characteristic of water allows for hydrogen bonding between molecules?

  • Its polar nature

  • Its covalent bonds

  • Its cohesive properties

  • Its high specific heat

Correct answer: Its polar nature

Although all the other characteristics regarding water are true, water’s polar nature is what allows for hydrogen bonding between molecules.

79.

Nick has 2 3/4 pounds of wheat flour while his friend has 4 1/5 pounds of wheat flour. How many pounds of flour do they have altogether?

  • 6 19/20 pounds

  • 7 1/20 pounds

  • 6 9/20 pounds

  • 6 1/25 pounds

Correct answer: 6 19/20 pounds

First, change the fractions to improper fractions by multiplying the denominator by the base number and adding it to the numerator.

2 3/4 = 4 × 2 + 3 = 11/4

4 1/5 = 5 × 4 + 1 = 21/5

Next, find a common denominator by multiplying the two denominators.

4 × 5 = 20

Now convert each fraction so that both have denominators of 20.

11/4 × (5/5) = 55/20

21/5 × (4/4) = 84/20

Add the fractions together.

55/20 + 84/20 = 139/20

To convert to a proper fraction, divide 139 by 20.

139/20 = 6 19/20 pounds

80.

What are villi?

  • Tiny projections in the small intestine that allow for the increased absorption of nutrients

  • Papules that secrete digestive enzymes

  • Water-absorbing fingerlets in the large intestine

  • Projections in the small intestine that secrete digestive enzymes

Correct answer: Tiny projections in the small intestine that allow for the increased absorption of nutrients

Villi are very small projections in the small intestine that serve to increase the overall surface area of the small intestine, allowing it to absorb more nutrients.