AAMC FL4
Text: Measurements made in the entire visible spectrum showed that absorbance occurred only at wavelength 625 ± 5.0 nm according to the data in Table 1.
What is the approximate energy of a photon in the absorbed radiation that yielded the data in Table 1?
(Note: Use 1 eV = 1.6 × 10– 19 J and hc = 19.8 × 10– 26 J•m.)
Be sure to pay attention to the units and the conversions
The solution is B.
Suppose a blood sample tested above the range (6.0 mg/dL) of the standards used in the experiment. What modification will provide a more precise reading by data interpolation as opposed to extrapolation using the same standards?
The solution is D.
Which of the following reasons best explains why it is possible to separate a 1:1 mixture of 1-chlorobutane and 1-butanol by fractional distillation?
The solution is D.
Two vectors of magnitudes |A| = 8 units and |B| = 5 units make an angle that can vary from 0° to 180°. The magnitude of the resultant vector A + B CANNOT have the value of:

The solution is A.
What is the formula between frequency and time intervals?
f = 1/t (ms)
What is the frequency of the pulses that deliver laser radiation to the cornea?
The solution is B.
The index of refraction does _______ due to either a pulsed laser or a continuous laser, because it is an intrinsic property of the tissue material.
not change
All “real” molecules and atoms will exhibit __________. It is not possible to exhibit dipole–dipole forces only.
London dispersion forces
What is the formula for Kb and Ka?

Kw = Ka times Kb
The NF-κB signaling pathway is a rapid response mechanism for cells that are under stress.
By activating genes that promote inflammation and immune responses, NF-κB helps the cell and surrounding tissues cope with infections, injury, or other stressors. However, its dysregulation (e.g., constant activation) can contribute to chronic diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory disorders.
The NF-κB signaling pathway is anti-apoptotic and is initiated by degradation and release of the inhibitor binding protein IκB.
Based on the reaction scheme in Figure 1, what is the mechanism of substrate binding to RT?
The solution is B.
Text: The inhibitor binding pocket contains the side chains of Val106 and Phe227, which make the strongest interactions with compounds 1–3.
Based on the passage, what is the primary type of interaction that RT makes with Compound 2?
The solution is D.
What is the formula for absorbance?
A = εbc
c - concentration
b - path length
ε - molar solubility
The UV–VIS spectrophotometer used by the researchers contained a detector that had low sensitivity and was unable to measure high absorbance samples. Which approach to the experiment makes the most sense with this limitation in mind?
The solution is A.
_____________ causes the initially plane-parallel wave-fronts of light to change direction and partially enter the shadow region behind the thread due to its narrowness. The overlapping of different wave-fronts on the screen causes the pattern of dark and bright fringes on the screen according to the phase difference between the wave-fronts that interfere there.
Diffraction
The ionic form of which metal atom is NOT likely to be found in the pocket of a catalytically active DNA polymerase?
The solution is D.
Text:
Suppose a capacitor in a portable defibrillator needs to store 400 J at 5000 V. Suppose further that half that energy is actually passed through a patient’s chest in a time of 1.0 ms.
Roughly to what height would a 5 kg stone need to be raised in order to have the same stored energy as the energy stored in the defibrillator’s capacitor?
The solution is B.
One company sells a defibrillator for home use that uses a 9-volt DC battery. The battery is rated at 4.2 A•hr (amp•hour). Roughly how much charge can the battery deliver?
The solution is C.
Suppose a defibrillator successfully returns a baby’s heart to normal beating. Suppose further that 20 g of blood enters the heart at 25 cm/s and leaves 0.10 s later at 35 cm/s. What is the estimated average force on the 20 g of blood as it moves through the baby’s heart?
The solution is A.
Passage 10 (Questions 53-56)
When a person experiences cardiac arrest, that person’s heart undergoes what is called ventricular fibrillation. In such an event, various parts of the heart do not beat in a coordinated way, and the heart becomes unable to pump blood. Medical professionals often treat a cardiac arrest patient by administering an electric shock across the chest during which a current is passed through the heart in a relatively short amount of time (a few milliseconds). Such a shock can cause the heart to become temporarily paralyzed. The goal is that the paralyzed heart will then start beating in a normal way. Occasionally, medical professionals must administer an electric shock to a patient more than once.
The device medical professionals use to administer electric shocks to a patient is called a defibrillator. Portable defibrillators are found in ambulances and are used by emergency medical personnel on patients who could not get to the hospital. A portable defibrillator works by storing electric energy in a capacitor. Electrodes, sometimes called “paddles,” are placed on a patient’s chest, and current can be passed from one electrode to the other once a switch is flipped by a medical professional. The defibrillator must be constructed to allow multiple uses with a minimal time delay (less than a minute) between applications. Suppose a capacitor in a portable defibrillator needs to store 400 J at 5000 V. Suppose further that half that energy is actually passed through a patient’s chest in a time of 1.0 ms.
The electric field inside each of the conductors that forms the capacitor in the defibrillator is zero. Which of the following reasons best explains why this is true?
The solution is B.
Cytochromes are proteins that are involved in redox reactions. Specifically, cytochrome P450 acts as a monooxygenase, catalyzing an oxidation reaction.
Cytochrome P450 acts as monooxygenases, where an oxygen atom is inserted into a substrate (the drug of interest), thereby resulting in the oxidation of the substrate.
A defining characteristic of proteins that act as transcription factors
contain a DNA binding domain.
Where does fatty oxidation take place?
mitochondria
As blood passes through actively contracting skeletal muscle tissue, the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen in the muscle tissue:
The solution is C.
HENRY"s LAW
A researcher measures the concentration of CO2(aq) in a solution at equilibrium. Which additional quantity must be measured in order to calculate the Henry’s Law constant k H for the gas?
The solution is C.
Text:
The A component, also known as the S1 subunit, is an ADP ribosyl transferase. S1 is associated with the B component, which contains the S2, S3, S4, and S5 subunits complexed in a 1:1:2:1 molar ratio (Figure 1). After the B component binds to cell surfaces, the S1 subunit is inserted into the cytoplasm, thereby inhibiting the heterotrimeric Gi (inhibitory G) protein, a protein that normally inhibits adenylate cyclase.
Based on the passage, which subunit of PTx is LEAST suitable for generation of vaccine against B. pertussis?
The solution is A.
What are the sizes for prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes?
70 S -50 and 30
80S - 40 and 60
Which experiment can be used to investigate the transcriptional regulation of the Cdkn1a protein?
The solution is A.
Khan Academy Lessons
What are pro-inflammatory cytokines?
Pro-inflammatory cytokines are molecules that help the immune system respond to infection or injury by promoting inflammation. They attract immune cells to the affected area, increase blood vessel permeability, and may cause fever to fight off pathogens. However, too many pro-inflammatory cytokines can lead to chronic inflammation and contribute to diseases.
*can promote apoptosis
A peptide consisting of nine amino acids was partially hydrolysed. Three different tripeptides were isolated. None of the tripeptides share a common amino acid. Based on the data, what is the total number of possible structures possible for the full-length peptide?
The solution is C.
Which of the following statements best applies to the inactive X chromosome in mammalian females?
The solution is C.
The negative control used in Experiment 1 was most likely:

The solution is B.
Which of the following events does the release of CCK likely trigger?
The solution is B.

On the day of the experiment, the subjects drank about 1 L of water on average and excreted about 400 mL of urine. The most likely explanation for the difference between water intake and urine excretion is that:
The solution is D.
The osmolarity of urine in these subjects was 958 milliosmoles/L, compared with an average blood osmolarity of 284 milliosmoles/L. The higher osmolarity of urine suggests that:
The solution is B.
Which of the following responses could maintain cardiac output under dehydration conditions that reduce blood volume?
The solution is C.
Reverse transcriptase converts _______________
RNA into DNA.
According to Figure 1, as the embryo begins gastrulation, the number of cells is between:
The solution is D.
The presence of which type of intercellular connections between endothelial cells of brain capillaries results in the blood–brain barrier?
The solution is D.
If the third codon in the coding region of the Rdl GABA receptor cDNA is replaced with an amber codon (for example, TAG) and the modified Rdl GABA receptor cDNA is expressed in frog oocytes, functional full-length receptors will:
TAG is part of the coding or sense strand (" If the third codon in the coding region ") --> mRNA is the same as the sense strand except you replace T with U --> TAG becomes UAG which is one of the three stop codons (UAA, UGA, UAG)
The solution is C.
What is cDNA?
In summary: when the reverse transcriptase synthesizes the cDNA, it reads the mRNA and creates a complementary DNA strand, with U (from RNA) replaced by T (in DNA). This is why cDNA is a DNA copy of the mRNA sequence, with the only difference being the base substitution: U → T.
Endosomes are formed to transport a substance ______________
from the outside of the cell, not inside the cell.
Endosomes are formed when the cell takes in material from outside (through a process called endocytosis), and they play a key role in sorting and directing these materials either to
Which procedure would be the best negative control for endogenous GABA-receptor function in frog oocytes?
The solution is A.
In Drosophila, white eyes are recessive to red eyes, and yellow bodies are recessive to dark bodies; both genes are on the X chromosome. The genotype of a red-eyed, dark-bodied female (XX) could be determined by mating it with a male (XY) that has which of the following phenotypes?
The solution is D.
What is involved in a test cross?
A test cross is a genetic experiment used to determine the genotype of an individual that exhibits a dominant trait. The basic idea is to cross the individual in question (whose genotype is unknown) with an individual that is homozygous recessive for the trait.
Here’s what happens in a test cross:
What is discriminating stimuli?
Discriminating stimuli refer to environmental cues or signals that help an individual or organism differentiate between different situations or responses. In behavioral psychology, they are signals that indicate whether a specific behavior will be reinforced or punished.
The traditional behaviorist approach does _______________.
not regard mental processes as real.
It holds that only actual outcomes of a behavior determine whether that behavior will be repeated.
Which statement best explains how the concept of external motivation (used by SDT) is different from extrinsic motivation?
Compared to external motivation, extrinsic motivation:
The solution is A.
Which statement best applies Rogers’s concept of incongruence to SDT’s suggestion for how healthcare professionals can promote autonomous motivation?
The solution is D.
What is Roger's concept of incongruence?
Roger's concept of incongruence refers to a mismatch or conflict between a person's self-image (how they see themselves) and their ideal self (how they would like to be). This gap can lead to feelings of discomfort, anxiety, or frustration because the person feels that their true self doesn't align with who they want to be.
Example in simple terms:
Imagine a person who sees themselves as someone who is confident and social (self-image), but deep down they feel shy and insecure in social situations (ideal self). This mismatch creates incongruence. The person might struggle with feelings of dissatisfaction because their actual behavior doesn't match their ideal sense of who they are.
In summary, incongruence happens when there's a disconnect between how we see ourselves and how we want to be, which can lead to emotional distress.
What is base rate fallacy?
What is public verifiabiltiy?
What is the function of the lens?
What is the glass escalator concept?
The sociological concept of the “glass escalator” suggests that men who pursue occupations that have high proportions of women (such as teaching or nursing) will quickly ascend the career ladder with promotions.
Which concern about the study reflects problems as a result of the response rate?
The solution is B.
How would the pattern of attributions found in the study most likely be predicted to change during times of intense group conflict between managers and assistants?
The solution is B.
People have a self-serving bias, wherein ________________________________
people tend to attribute their own successes to internal factors and attribute their own failures to external factors.
A consultant is hired by an organization to break down barriers between managers and assistants by conducting a series of team-building activities over a period of time. If the team-building activities are successful, how would they most likely influence the attributions made by the organization’s employees?
The solution is B.
Labeling theory is closely associated to _______
stimgma
A researcher applying the sociological perspective of labeling theory to the passage is likely to suggest that social skills training will have the greatest impact on:
The solution is A.
Attraction and commitment to a group is likely to be greatest when group members:
The solution is C.
When asked whether a person who is afraid of spiders would be diagnosed as having a psychological disorder, a psychologist replies, “It depends on whether or not this fear interferes with the person’s life.” The psychologist appears to rely most heavily on which criterion of abnormality?
The solution is B.
In an evaluation study for a diabetes intervention program, the subjects in the sample had a median age of 45 and a mean age of 55. Which statement accounts for the difference between the median age and the mean age?
The solution is C.
Which research design would allow a researcher to determine whether the study’s finding about heterosexual marriage and alcohol consumption also holds for same-sex marriage?
The solution is D.
When participants respond to questions about their childhood health history, they are retrieving autobiographical information, which is an important type of ____
episodic memory.
The findings of Study 1 suggest that the assessment of alcohol use involved which indicator?
The solution is B.
Text: In addition, childhood psychological disorders predicted marital instability and were associated with the Big Five personality traits during adulthood.
Based on the findings of Study 2, which characteristic in adulthood is LEAST likely associated with childhood psychological disorders?
The solution is D.
Text: Statistical analyses revealed that retrospective reports of depressive symptoms or alcohol dependence were associated with lower income during adulthood.
Based on the results of Study 1, which symptom in childhood is most likely to be a risk factor for lower SES in adulthood?
The solution is D.
What is the naming explosing?
Refers to a rapid increase in a young child's vocabulary, typically occurring between 18 and 24 months of age. During this period, toddlers begin to learn and use a large number of words very quickly, often labeling objects, people, and actions in their environment.
Before the naming explosion, toddlers may have a smaller vocabulary, usually consisting of a few words or sounds. But once the naming explosion begins, they may start picking up new words every day, and their vocabulary can grow from a handful to several hundred words in a relatively short time.
What is overextension?
“Overextension” is the term for applying a term for one class of objects to other objects that bear only a superficial resemblance (for example, “doggie” for a cow).
What is categorical perception?
Categorical perception refers to the way we perceive stimuli (such as sounds, colors, or objects) as belonging to distinct categories, even when there might be subtle differences between them. Essentially, we tend to group things into "categories" rather than noticing the small differences between them.
What is bootstrapping?
Refers to the initial stage(s) of grammatical (i.e., syntactic) development.
What is elaborative encoding?
Elaborative encoding is a memory technique where new information is linked to existing knowledge in a meaningful way. By making these connections, the information becomes more memorable and easier to recall. It’s a process that helps transform simple, shallow information into deeper, more meaningful memories.
For example, you could think of the famous character "Alice" from Alice in Wonderland. You might also picture her with a curious look on her face, like the character, which creates a vivid image and a meaningful link to the name.
What is systematic desensitization?
Systematic desensitization is a type of behavioral therapy used to help people reduce or eliminate their fear or anxiety toward a specific object or situation. It involves gradually exposing the person to the feared stimulus in a controlled and gradual way, while helping them remain relaxed. The goal is to replace the fear response with a relaxation response.
If someone has a fear of flying:
Which statement does NOT describe a monocular depth cue?
The solution is D.
Globalization is more likely to increase awareness of each disorder, ___________
due to the spread of knowledge and treatment modalities across the world.
Efforts to raise public awareness about dementia in LMICs are most likely to take the form of which community-based program?
The solution is A.
The focus on structural factors, such as poverty or race/ethnicity, is most consistent with ________, which focuses on the social determinants of health and disease.
social epidemiology
Text: However, excessive alcohol use is also associated with preventable injuries, which are more likely to result from binge drinking than alcohol dependence.
The distinction between binge drinking and alcohol dependence in the passage is best described as attributing preventable injuries to which effect of alcohol use?
The solution is B.
Disinhibition refers to the reduction or removal of a person's usual inhibitions or self-control, leading to behavior that is more impulsive, uninhibited, or socially inappropriate. It can occur in various contexts, such as in social behavior, emotions, or even in cognitive functions.
The passage suggests that family caregivers of patients with dementia are likely to experience:
The solution is C.
A researcher proposes an alternative to the hypothesis in the passage that mammography rates are partly due to social capital. An alternative hypothesis that draws on the concept of institutional discrimination is most likely to make which prediction?
The solution is D.
A researcher applying the concept of assimilation to immigrant health would propose which hypothesis?
An immigrant group’s life expectancy will:
The solution is B.
_____________ posits that individuals develop a sense of self, or identity, through the interactions and relationships that they have with others. The theory suggests that social relationships are fundamental for individuals to develop a sense of who they are.
Symbolic interactionism
Proprioceptors are a type of sensor that helps an individual to __________ and/or its position. These receptors are found within the ______________
determine the location of a body part
vestibular system, muscles, and/or tendons.
Chemoreceptors are found in the ______________
carotid bodies and the aortic arch.
Osmoreceptors are usually located in the_______________
hypothalamus and they usually detect the change in osmotic pressures