Kaplan Daily MCAT questions Flashcards
Primary groups differ from secondary groups in that:
Primary groups differ from secondary groups in that:
Which of the following neurotransmitters is associated with both schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease?
GABA
Serotonin
Dopamine
Enkephalins
Schizophrenia is associated with high levels of dopamine, or high sensitivity to dopamine. Parkinson’s disease is associated with destruction of the dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia.
Each individual in a group of teenagers is asked to estimate the height of a tree. One individual estimates the height to be 25 feet, but after discussing with the group is convinced that the height is likely closer to 40 feet. Which type of conformity is seen here?
Obedience
Identification
Internalization
Compliance
Internalization refers to the type of conformity in which an individual changes her outward opinion to match the group and also personally agrees with those ideas.
A stroke patient comprehends speech but cannot move her mouth to form words. Which of the following brain areas is likely affected?
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s Area
Arcuate fasciculus
Superior temporal gyru
Broca’s area governs the motor function of language. A stroke that affects Broca’s area will leave receptive language intact, but word formation will be affected. A stroke affecting Wernicke’s area, choice (B), will make it so the individual is unable to comprehend speech. A stroke affecting the arcuate fasciculus, choice (C), will result in an inability to repeat words heard but spontaneous language production is intact. The superior temporal gyrus, choice (D), is where Wernicke’s area is located.
Becoming a college graduate requires hard work and diligence in academics. As such, being a college graduate could be considered a(n):
ascribed status.
achieved status.
master status.
pigeonholed status.
B is the correct answer.
An achieved status is one that is acquired through personal efforts. This is in contrast to an ascribed status, choice (A), in which the status is involuntarily given based on race, ethnicity, gender, family background, and so on. A master status, choice (C), is one that influences all aspects of an individual’s life. While being a college graduate is an important aspect of day-to-day life, it does not usually pervade every part of our lives.
Simultaneous processing of conscious emotions and physiological activation is the defining feature of which theory of emotion?
Schachter–Singer theory
James–Lange theory
Incentive theory
Cannon–Bard theory
D is the correct answer.
The Cannon–Bard theory of emotion is based on the premise that conscious feelings and physiological components of emotion are experienced at exactly the same time. In this theory, this combination then leads to action. This is commonly confused with the Schachter–Singer theory, choice (A), in which nervous system arousal occurs and then is labeled based on the context provided by the environment.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) can be diagnosed by having two or more blood pressure readings higher than 140/90 on two different occasions, separated by a week. Suppose that the criteria were changed to include anyone with a reading higher than 130/80 on at least one occasion. How would this change the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension in the population?
The prevalence would increase.
The prevalence would decrease.
The prevalence would remain the same.
There is not enough information to determine the change in prevalence.
A is the correct answer.
If the threshold for hypertension (high blood pressure) were lowered, more individuals would be fit the criteria for the disease. If the number of individuals with the disease increases and the population stays the same overall, there will be an increased prevalence of the disease.
What stage of protein synthesis does NOT require energy?
Initiation
Elongation
Termination
All stages of protein synthesis require energy
D is the correct answer.
All three stages of protein synthesis (initiation, elongation, and termination) require large amounts of energy.
The formation of α-d-glucopyranose from β-d-glucopyranose is called:
glycosidation.
mutarotation.
enantiomerization.
racemization.
B is the correct answer.
Mutarotation is the interconversion between anomers of a compound. Enantiomerization and racemization, choices (C) and (D), mean the same thing as each other: the formation of a mirror-image or optically inverted form of a compound. Glycosidation, choice (A), is the addition of a sugar to another compound.
Which of the following correctly indicates the response of CD8+ T-cells when activated?
Secretion of cytotoxic chemicals
Causing isotype switching
Presentation of antigens
Activation of B-cells
A is the correct answer.
CD8+ T-cells are largely responsible for the cytotoxic immune response. By releasing toxic chemicals into virally infected cells, CD8+ T-cells are able to kill these cells in an effort to contain viral infections. Isotype switching refers to changes in the isotype of antibody produced, which is not caused by CD8+ cells, eliminating choice (B). Antigens are presented by macrophages, dendritic cells, certain epithelial cells, and some B-cells, eliminating choice (C). B-cells are not activated by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, eliminating choice (D
Which of the following trends regarding healthcare disparities has NOT been documented?
Females are more likely to be insured than males.
Primary care use is more likely among males than females.
Low-income individuals have more difficulty accessing care than high-income individuals.
LGBT individuals have more barriers to healthcare than heterosexuals.
B is the correct answer.
In comparison to females, males visit primary care doctors less frequently. All of the other trends listed here have been documented.
A double-stranded RNA genome isolated from a virus was found to contain 15% uracil. What percentage of guanine should exist in this virus’s genome?
15%
35%
70%
85%
B is the correct answer.
The percentage of uracil must equal that of adenine due to base-pairing. This accounts for 30% of the genome. The remaining 70% must be split evenly between guanine and cytosine, so they each account for 35% of the genome.
Some people with anxiety disorders respond to stress by hyperventilating. It is recommended that these people breathe into a paper bag and then re-breathe this air. Why is this treatment appropriate?
Hyperventilation causes an increase in blood carbon dioxide, and breathing the air in the bag helps to readjust blood levels of carbon dioxide.
Hyperventilation causes a decrease in blood carbon dioxide, and breathing the air in the bag helps to readjust blood levels of carbon dioxide.
Hyperventilation causes an increase in blood oxygen, and breathing the air in the bag helps to readjust blood levels of oxygen.
Hyperventilation causes a decrease in blood oxygen, and breathing the air in the bag helps to readjust blood levels of oxygen.
B is the correct answer.
When people hyperventilate, their respiratory rate increases. When the respiratory rate increases, more carbon dioxide is blown off. This causes a shift to the left in the bicarbonate buffer equation, and the blood becomes more alkaline. Breathing into the bag allows some of this carbon dioxide to be returned to the bloodstream in order to maintain the proper pH.
The body’s pH is tightly regulated because specific enzymes function best within a narrow pH range. What is the approximate pH of a 1.2 × 10–5 M aqueous solution of NaOH?
- 92
- 5
- 08
- 45
C is the correct answer.
NaOH is a strong base; as such, there will be 1.2 × 10–5 M OH– in solution. Based on this information alone, the pOH must be between 4 and 5, and the pH must be between 9 and 10. Using the shortcut, pOH ≈ 5 – 0.12 = 4.88. pH = 14 – pOH = 9.12 (actual = 9.08).
Which of the following is NOT a difference that would allow one to distinguish a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell?
Ribosomal subunit weight
Presence of a nucleus
Presence of a membrane on the outside surface of the cell
Presence of membrane-bound organelles
C is the correct answer.
The main differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes include: prokaryotes do not have a nucleus, while eukaryotes do, eliminating choice (B); prokaryotes have ribosomal subunits of 30S and 50S, while eukaryotes have ribosomal subunits of 40S and 60S, eliminating choice (A); and prokaryotes do not have membrane-bound organelles, whereas eukaryotes do, eliminating choice (D). The presence of a membrane on the outer surface of the cell could not distinguish a prokaryotic cell from a eukaryotic one because both gram-negative bacteria and animal cells share this feature. Thus, choice (C) is the correct answer.
