Free Practice Questions for NLN NEX Exam

The correct answer must be directly supported by the information in the passage. The passage clearly explains that sleep helps the brain process and store information, which is essential for memory consolidation. It also states that lack of sleep negatively affects cognitive abilities such as judgment and reaction time. Therefore, the conclusion that memory formation is affected by sleep is well supported. Option A is incorrect because the passage emphasizes mental and cognitive effects, not just physical health. Option C is directly contradicted by the passage’s mention of impaired functioning due to lack of sleep. Option D exaggerates the information; while sleep affects academic performance, the passage does not claim it is the sole factor. On the NEX exam, supported-conclusion questions require selecting an answer that is neither too extreme nor unsupported by the passage.

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“Decline” can mean either to refuse or to decrease. Option C captures both meanings. The other options are opposites or unrelated. Understanding multiple meanings of common words is important for the NEX verbal section.

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The passage clearly states that reducing smoking rates lowers the incidence of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. These are chronic diseases, making option C the correct answer. The other options are either not mentioned or incorrect. On the NEX exam, cause-and-effect reading questions require identifying outcomes that are directly linked to actions described in the passage. Choosing the most clearly stated effect is essential.

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The passage lists several benefits of exercise, including improved cardiovascular health, stress management, improved mood, and reduced chronic disease risk. Option B is explicitly mentioned, making it the correct answer. The other options introduce benefits not discussed in the passage. On the NEX exam, detail-based questions require careful reading to identify information that is directly stated rather than inferred. Choosing only what is explicitly mentioned is key.

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Monitor means to watch, observe, or check regularly. Option A best matches this meaning. Monitoring is a common healthcare term.

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This question asks for themain idea, which is the central message of the passage. The passage discusses several roles of water in the body, including temperature regulation, nutrient transport, and waste removal. It also highlights the effects of dehydration and the importance of monitoring fluid intake, particularly in older adults. All these details support one central idea: hydration is vital for maintaining overall health and proper body function. Option C correctly summarizes this main point. Option A is incorrect because the passage actually suggests older adults are at increased risk of dehydration. Option B contradicts the passage, which emphasizes water’s importance. Option D is incorrect because the passage notes that thirst may decrease with age and is not the only indicator. On the NEX exam, main-idea questions often require recognizing repeated themes across the passage rather than focusing on one detail.

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Water is a polar molecule because it has an unequal distribution of electrical charge, with a slightly negative oxygen atom and slightly positive hydrogen atoms. This polarity causes water molecules to attract one another through hydrogen bonding. Option C demonstrates this property because water molecules stick together (cohesion) and do not mix with nonpolar substances like oil. Oil molecules lack polarity and cannot form hydrogen bonds with water, so the two substances separate into layers. The other options describe physical movement, gravity, or resistance, none of which are direct results of polarity. The NEX Science exam frequently tests molecular properties such as polarity by connecting them to real-world examples like oil and water separation. Recognizing hydrogen bonding and cohesion as outcomes of water’s polarity is essential for answering these questions correctly.

The alarm stage is the initial reaction to a stressor and is characterized by emotional outbursts, increased heart rate, and release of stress hormones such as adrenaline. The employee’s immediate anger and physical reaction reflect this stage. The resistance stage involves adaptation, and exhaustion occurs after prolonged stress. “Failure” is not a recognized stage of the stress response. The NEX Science exam frequently tests physiological and psychological responses to stress, making alarm the correct answer.

Negative feedback occurs when a change in a physiological variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change, helping maintain homeostasis. When blood glucose levels rise, the pancreas releases insulin, which promotes glucose uptake by cells and lowers blood glucose back to normal levels. This is a classic example of negative feedback. Option B is incorrect because thyroxine increases metabolism, not decreases it. Options A and D do not clearly demonstrate a direct feedback loop restoring balance. The NEX Science exam often highlights glucose regulation as a key example of negative feedback because it clearly illustrates cause-and-effect relationships within endocrine control systems.

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This question requires interpreting data from a table, a common skill tested on the NEX Science exam. Looking specifically at the column for toddlers, the amino acid with the highest listed requirement (measured in milligrams per kilogram of body mass per day) is leucine. Although lysine, valine, and phenylalanine with tyrosine are also required in significant amounts, leucine has the highest numerical value for toddlers. Leucine is an essential amino acid that plays a critical role in growth, tissue repair, and muscle protein synthesis, which are especially important during early childhood when rapid growth occurs. Because toddlers are in a phase of accelerated development, higher amounts of certain amino acids are required compared to adults. The key to answering this question correctly is careful comparison of the numerical values within the toddler column, not overall trends across all age groups.

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