NMAT PART II - Reviewer

Tanjiro, a 23-year-old demon slayer, presented to a rural emergency room with complaints of shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and tingling sensations in his fingers after completing a three-day ascent to the summit of Mount Apo as part of the stone hashira training, which reaches approximately 2,954 meters above sea level. On the final day of his training, he began experiencing difficulty breathing during mild activity. Upon evaluation in the emergency room, Tanjiro’s vital signs revealed a mild drop in oxygen saturation at 88% on room air. An arterial blood gas analysis showed a pH of 7.47, indicating alkalosis; a PaCO₂ of 30 mmHg, suggestive of hyperventilation; a PaO₂ of 60 mmHg, consistent with mild hypoxemia; and a normal lactate level. His body temperature was 36.5°C, and both his hemoglobin level (15.5 g/dL) and chest X-ray were within normal limits. Which of the following best explains why Tanjiro despite having only mildly reduced arterial oxygen saturation, exhibited signs of tissue hypoxia after his high-altitude ascent?

• The low ambient oxygen at high altitude caused a rightward shift of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve, leading to inadequate hemoglobin oxygen loading in the lungs.

• Hyperventilation-induced respiratory alkalosis shifted the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the left, impairing oxygen unloading at the tissue level.

• Decreased levels of hemoglobin due to altitude sickness reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, resulting in insufficient oxygen transport.

• The increase in 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) at high altitude shifted the dissociation curve to the left, enhancing oxygen loading and tissue delivery

A nine-year-old boy, admired by his classmates for being effortlessly cool like Sakamoto, often munches on chocolate candies while showing off his stylish moves during playtime. Even though he remains highly active throughout the day, his caregivers notice that he tends to have a reduced appetite at mealtimes. What is the main reason why continuously eating chocolate while playing might reduce the child’s appetite?

• The sugar triggers cortisol release, leading to increased production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources

• Elevated blood sugar levels from the candy activate the brain’s satiety control center

• The sugar prompts the pancreas to release glucagon, which increases the breakdown of stored glycogen.

• The sugar in candies makes the stomach feel full, reducing hunger

The phylogenetic tree in the image illustrates the evolutionary relationships between Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Whichof the following implications can be inferred from the image?

• Bacteria are the most evolved domain, with a higher diversity than Archaea and Eukarya.

• Eukarya evolved independently from both Bacteria and Archaea without any shared ancestry.

• All three domains (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya) evolved at the same time without divergence.

• Archaea and Eukarya share a more recent common ancestor compared to their relationship with Bacteria.

Nami, a 30-year-old navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates, notices that her body is not in rhythm and her menstrual cycles have become irregular. When Chopper, the crew doctor, examines her. The tests show low FSH and LH but high prolactin levels. Upon a series of physical and laboratory tests, Chopper diagnoses her with a pituitary prolactinoma, a benign tumor that affects hormone secretion. Which of the following best explains how Nami’s condition affects her ovarian and uterine function?

• Increased prolactin suppresses GnRH secretion, reducing FSH and LH release, leading to anovulation and endometrial atrophy.

• Elevated prolactin stimulates excessive estrogen secretion, causing persistent endometrial hyperplasia leading to pituitary prolactinoma

• High prolactin levels directly stimulate follicular development but prevent luteal phase function explaining here irregular menstrual cycle.

• Prolactinoma enhances progesterone secretion, resulting in prolonged luteal phases and irregular menstruation

Asevere wildfire engulfs a pine forest located in a mountainous region during the peak of the dry season. The fire spreads rapidly, burning down trees, shrubs, and ground vegetation. Wildlife is forced to migrate or perish, leaving behind a landscape of ash and charred remains. Despite the destruction, the topsoil is not completely eroded; in fact, it has become enriched with minerals from the burned organic matter. In the weeks after the wildfire, the area appears barren, but small resilient organisms soon begin to colonize the scorched land. These early colonizers pave the way for other plant and animal species to return, gradually restoring the ecosystem to become a climax community. Which group of organisms is most likely to be the first to colonize and grow in the burned forest ecosystem after the wildfire?

• Lichens

• Tall hardwood trees

• Grasses

• Migrating birds

Answer explanation

Secondary succession occurs after fire/destruction of habitat.

first to colonize is grasses

Yuji, a 45-year-old sorcerer, has been diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance affecting his metabolism. Despite his strength and stamina in battle, he begins experiencing unexplained weight changes, fatigue, and difficulty maintaining energy levels. Laboratory tests confirm the imbalance in thyroid hormones that affect the thyroid hormones’ target cells in his body. What factors influence the activation of Yuji’s target cells are TRUE?

I. The level of hormones in the blood

II. Stimulation of second messenger production

III. The number of hormone receptors on the target cell

IV. The affinity between the hormone and its receptor

• I, II, and III

• II, III, and IV

• I, III, and IV

• I, II, IV

Which of the following statements is correct based on the table given below:

• X is referring to Archaea, while Y is referring to Bacteria

• Y is referring to Archaea, while Z is referring to Eukarya

• X is referring to Eukarya, while Y is referring to Bacteria

• Y is referring to Bacteria, while Z is referring to Eukarya

Sakura, a 30 year old kunoichi, recently recovered from a viral illness that mainly attacked her respiratory system. However, she noticed that throughout her sickness, her skin remained unaffected and showed no signs of viral infection. Curious, she asks the village medic-nin why viruses don't seem to grow or spread on the surface of the skin. If the medic-nin were to explain, which of the following would be most likely the answer?

• The skin's surface temperature creates an unfavorable environment for viral growth

• The top layer of the skin is made up only of dead cells

• Oil secreted by the skin's glands blocks oxygen from reaching viruses

• Fine hairs on the skin act as a natural protective shield

Chargaff's rules are fundamental to understanding DNA structure. According to these rules, in any molecule, the amount of adenine (A) equals the amount of thymine (T), and the amount of cytosine (C) equals the amount of guanine (G). This base-pairing rule forms the basis for the double-helix structure of DNA, as described by Watson and Crick. If a DNA molecule contains 30% adenine (A), what percentage of the molecule is guanine (G)?

• 20%

• 30%

• 40%

• 60%

Answer explanation

During a routine botany lab session, a biology student observes the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) as part of her assigned activity. When she touches the plant's leaves, they fold in wards almost immediately. What causes the leaves of Mimosa pudica to move when touched?

• Muscle-like contractions at the base of the stem

• The displacement of xylem and phloem

• Changes in turgor pressure in the cells at the base of the stem

• The effects of hormones like gibberellin and auxin