If youre preparing for theMedical College Admission Test(MCAT),you are going to want to consult the experts. These selections from Kaplans MCATQuestion of the Day seriescan help you sharpen your skills as you prepare to begin your potential journey into medical training.

The questions below come from three of the four MCAT sectionsbiological and biochemical foundations of living systems; chemical and physical foundations of biological systems; and psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior. A fourth section, critical analysis and reasoning skills (commonly referred to as CARS), is based largely on inference.

Medicine can be a career that is both challenging and highly rewarding but figuring out a medical schools prerequisites and navigating the application process can be a challenge unto itself. For studentspreparing for the medical school, theAMA premed glossary guidehas the answers to frequently asked questions,

For those already in medical school, the AMA selected Kaplan as apreferred providerto support you in reaching your goal of passing the USMLEor COMLEX-USA.AMA members can save 30% on access to additional study resources, such as KaplansQbankand High-yield courses.

Section: Biological and biochemical foundations of living systems

Question: Which of the following characteristics is NOT attributed to antibodies?

A. Antibodies bind to more than one distinct antigen.

B. Antibodies label antigens for targeting by other immune cells.

C. Antibodies can cause agglutination by interaction with antigen.

D. Antibodies have two heavy chains and two light chains.

The correct answer is A.

Kaplan explains why: Antibodies are specific to a single antigen. Each B-cell produces a single type of antibody with a constant region that is specific to the host and a variable region that is specific to an antigen.

Section: Chemical and physical foundations of biological systems

Question: Photons and other energy sources can excite electrons into higher energy levels, though these excitations are typically short-lived. X-ray imaging succeeds because different tissue types are differently able to absorb the energy of a photon in order to excite an electron. Suppose an electron falls from n = 4 to its ground state, n = 1. Which of the following effects is most likely?

A. A photon is absorbed.

B. A photon is emitted.

C. The electron moves into a p-orbital.

D. The electron moves into a d-orbital.

The correct answer is B.

Kaplan explains why: Because the electron is moving into the n = 1 shell, the only subshell available is the 1s subshell, which eliminates choices (C) and (D). There will be some energy change, however, as the electron must lose energy to return to the minimum-energy ground state. That will require emitting radiation in the form of a photon.

Section: Psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior

Question: A stroke patient comprehends speech but cannot move her mouth to form words. Which of the following brain areas is likely affected?

A. Brocas area

B. Wernickes Area

C. Arcuate fasciculus

D. Superior temporal gyrus

The correct answer is A.

Kaplan explains why: Brocas area governs the motor function of language. A stroke that affects Brocas area will leave receptive language intact, but word formation will be affected. A stroke affecting Wernickes 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 Wernickes area is located.

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November 2020: Kaplan MCAT stumpers put premeds to the test - American Medical Association