During the aging process, not all hormone levels decrease; some actually increase. Which of the following is a hormone that may increase as a person ages?

A. Cortisol

B. Insulin

C. Luteinizing

D. Thyroid

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Answer Explanation:

The aging process affects hormone activity in one of three ways: their secretion can decrease, remain unchanged, or increase.

Hormones that decrease secretion include the following:

  • Estrogen (in women)
  • Testosterone (in men)
  • Growth hormone
  • Melatonin

In women, the decline in estrogen levels leads to menopause. In men, testosterone levels usually decrease gradually. Decreased levels of growth hormone may lead to decreased muscle mass and strength. Decreased melatonin levels may play an important role in the loss of normal sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythms) with aging.

Hormones that usually remain unchanged or slightly decrease include the following:

  • Cortisol
  • Insulin
  • Thyroid hormones

Hormones that may increase secretions levels include the following:

Parathyroid hormone

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Norepinephrine
  • Epinephrine, in the very old

Therefore, the Correct Answer is C.

More Questions on TEAS 7 Science Practice Test 2

Question 1:

If a person smells something sweet, what form of information is this initially perceived as in the nervous system?

A. Cognitive

B. Integrative

C. Motor

D. Sensory

The Correct Answer is D.

A sensory nerve is a nerve that carries sensory signals from the external environment to the brain to the central nervous system. It is also an afferent nerve, long dendrites of sensory neurons, which sends sensory information towards the central nervous system (CNS). This information is what is sensed, using the five senses from external environment, sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

Motor nerves have only efferent fibers, long axons of motor neurons, that carry impulses away from the CNS to the effectors, which are typically tissues and muscles of the body.

Interneurons are nerve cells that act as a bridge between motor and sensory neurons in the CNS. These neurons help form neural circuits, which helps neurons communicate with each other.


Question 2:

What is the final structure through which urine must travel to empty out of the body?

A. Bladder

B. Kidney

C. Ureter

D. Urethra

The Correct Answer is D.

The primary organ of the urinary system is the kidney. Blood from the heart flows through the kidneys via the renal artery. As blood drains from the kidney, it exits through a series of veins, the most prominent of which is the renal vein. When urine is produced, it does not drain through the tubes through which blood flows. Rather, urine flows through two ureters before emptying into the urinary bladder.

The following steps outline how the urinary system works:

  • Kidney filters and excretes wastes from blood, producing urine.
  • Urine flows down the ureters.
  • Urine empties into the bladder and is temporarily stored.
  • Bladder, when filled, empties urine out of the body via the urethra.


Question 3:

Which sequence describes the hierarchy level of biological organization?

A. Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species

B. Genus, class, kingdom, species, order, phylum, and family

C. Genus, class, kingdom, species, order, phylum, and family

D. Species, kingdom, genus, class, family, phylum, and order

The Correct Answer is A.

Taxonomy is the process of classifying, describing, and naming organisms. There are seven levels in the Linnaean taxonomic system, starting with the broadest level, kingdom, and ending with the species level. For example, in the image the genus level contains two types of bears, but the species level shows one type. Additionally, organisms in each level are found in the level above it. For example, organisms in the order level are part of the class level. This classification system is based on physical similarities across living things. It does not account for molecular or genetic similarities.


Question 4: A person is diagnosed as having acidosis, a condition in which the blood pH is below 7.45. What does the doctor most likely conclude?

A. Too much carbon dioxide is found in the blood.

B. Highly oxygenated blood circulates through the body

C. A blockage prevents blood from leaving the pulmonary artery

D. The nasal cavity has a difficult time clearing particles from the air.

The Correct Answer is A. Acidosis is when the body fluids contain too much acid, or low pH. The kidneys and lungs are unable to keep the body’s pH in balance. Acidosis is the result when there is too much loss of bicarbonate from the blood known as metabolic acidosis, or due to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood due to poor lung function, known as respiratory acidosis. It is the opposite of alkalosis, which is a condition in which there is too much base in the body fluids.

Question 5:

When would a cell most likely contain the most nucleotides?

A. S

B. G1

C. M

D. G2

The Correct Answer is B.

A cell copies its DNA during the S phase, and nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA. Thus, the step preceding the S phase, the G1 phase, is the phase of the cell cycle when the cell would contain the most nucleotides.

For a cell to divide into more cells, it must grow, copy its DNA, and produce new daughter cells. The cell cycle regulates cellular division. This process can either prevent a cell from dividing or trigger it to start dividing.

The cell cycle is an organized process divided into two phases: interphase and the M (mitotic) phase. During interphase, the cell grows and copies its DNA. After the cell reaches the M phase, division of the two new cells can occur. The G1, S, and G2 phases make up interphase.

  • G1: The first gap phase, during which the cell prepares to copy its DNA
  • S: The synthesis phase, during which DNA is copied
  • G2 : The second gap phase, during which the cell prepares for cell division

It may appear that little is happening in the cell during the gap phases. Most of the activity occurs at the level of enzymes and macromolecules. The cell produces things like nucleotides for synthesizing new DNA strands, enzymes for copying the DNA, and tubulin proteins for building the mitotic spindle. During the S phase, the DNA in the cell doubles, but few other signs are obvious under the microscope. All the dramatic events that can be seen under a microscope occur during the M phase: the chromosomes move, and the cell splits into two new cells with identical nuclei.


Question 6:

What body system is the skeletal system most closely associated with when hematopoiesis happens?

A. Urinary system

B. Digestive system

C. Muscular system

D. Cardiovascular system

The Correct Answer is D.

The cardiovascular system is closely associated with hematopoiesis because it includes the heart and blood vessels, which are responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. Hematopoiesis, the process of blood cell formation, primarily occurs in the bone marrow, which is part of the skeletal system. However, the cardiovascular system plays a crucial role in transporting these blood cells to various parts of the body once they are produced in the bone marrow.

So, while the skeletal system provides the site for hematopoiesis, the cardiovascular system is responsible for distributing the blood cells, making it the most closely associated system in this context.


Question 7:

While hiking, a person is startled after encountering a bear. Her palms get sweaty and her heart starts racing. Which part of her nervous system was directly stimulated?

A. Central

B. Parasympathetic

C. Somatic

D. Sympathetic

The Correct Answer is D.

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for activities that are nonvoluntary and under unconscious control. This system controls glands and the smooth muscles of internal organs, heart rate, breathing, and digestion. The autonomic nervous system is further divided into the following:

  • Sympathetic nervous system: The sympathetic nervous system focuses on emergency situations by preparing the body for fight or flight. (Sympathetic = Stress)
  • Parasympathetic nervous system: The parasympathetic nervous system controls involuntary processes unrelated to emergencies. This system deals with “rest or digest” activities. (Parasympathetic = Peace)

The somatic nervous system primarily controls voluntary activities such as walking and riding a bicycle. Thus, this system sends information to the CNS and motor nerve fibers that are attached to skeletal muscle.


Question 8:

A spoonful of sugar is added to a hot cup of tea. All the sugar dissolves. How can the resulting solution be described?

A. Saturated and homogeneous

B. Saturated and heterogeneous

C. Unsaturated and homogeneous

D. Unsaturated and heterogeneous

The Correct Answer is C.

Because more solute could be added and dissolve, the solution has not yet reached its limit and is considered unsaturated. Because all the solute dissolves, the particles in the mixture are evenly distributed as a homogenous mixture. 

  • mixture is when elements and compounds are physically, but not chemically, combined.
  • homogeneous mixture is when substances mix evenly and it is impossible to see individual components. A heterogeneous mixture is when the substances mix unevenly and it is possible to see individual components.
  • solution is a type of homogeneous mixture that is formed when a solute dissolves in a solvent.
  • The concentration of a solution is the amount of a substance in a given amount of solution. An unsaturated solution has the ability to dissolve more solute and a saturated solution has already reached the limit of solute it can dissolve.

Question 9:

Which example is part of the scientific method?

A. A student reads about a new way to harness energy from the sun.

B. A researcher studies the effects of car exhaust on how people breathe.

C. A researcher analyzes how many plants respond well to a new fertilizer

D. A student discovers how insulin plays a role in the development of diabetes

The Correct Answer is C.

One step of the scientific method is to analyze information or data collected from the experiment to conclude whether the hypothesis is supported.

Recall that these make up the scientific method, described below:

  • Problem: The question created because of an observation. Example: Does the size of a plastic object affect how fast it naturally degrades in a lake?
  • Research: Reliable information available about what is observed. Example: Learn how plastics are made and understand the properties of a lake.
  • Hypothesis: A predicted solution to the question or problem. Example: If the plastic material is small, then it will degrade faster than a large particle.
  • Experiment: A series of tests used to evaluate the hypothesis. Experiments consist of an independent variable that the researcher modifies and a dependent variable that changes due to the independent variable. They also include a control group used as a standard to make comparisons. 
    • Example: Collect plastic particles both onshore and offshore of the lake over time. Determine the size of the particles and describe the lake conditions during this time period.
  • Observe: Analyze data collected during an experiment to observe patterns. 
    • Example: Analyze the differences between the numbers of particles collected in terms of size.
  • Conclusion: State whether the hypothesis is rejected or accepted and summarize all results.
  • Communicate: Report findings so others can replicate and verify the results.

Question 10:

What is the correct order of the stages of the cell cycle?

A. G1,S,G2,M

B. G2,S,G1,M

C. M,S,G2,G1

D. S,M,G1,G1

The Correct Answer is A.

The cell cycle is an organized process divided into two phases: interphase and the M (mitotic) phase. During interphase, the cell grows and copies its DNA. After the cell reaches the M phase, division of the two new cells can occur. The G1, S, and G2 phases make up interphase.

  • G1: The first gap phase, during which the cell prepares to copy its DNA
  • S: The synthesis phase, during which DNA is copied
  • G2 : The second gap phase, during which the cell prepares for cell division

It may appear that little is happening in the cell during the gap phases. Most of the activity occurs at the level of enzymes and macromolecules. The cell produces things like nucleotides for synthesizing new DNA strands, enzymes for copying the DNA, and tubulin proteins for building the mitotic spindle. During the S phase, the DNA in the cell doubles, but few other signs are obvious under the microscope. All the dramatic events that can be seen under a microscope occur during the M phase: the chromosomes move, and the cell splits into two new cells with identical nuclei.