Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2026 – Comprehensive Prep

The correct answer identifies the basic tastes that can be detected on the tongue: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. These fundamental tastes correspond to specific taste receptors located on the taste buds, which are predominately found on the tongue.

Sweetness is primarily associated with sugars and certain other molecules, while sourness is typically detected through the presence of organic acids. Saltiness is due to sodium ions and is crucial for maintaining electrolyte balance in the body. Bitterness, on the other hand, serves as a warning mechanism, as many toxic substances are bitter. The presence of these four tastes is universally acknowledged in sensory perception.

Other options include elements such as savory and spicy, which don't align with the traditional categories of basic taste. Savory, or umami, has recently been recognized as a fifth basic taste but is not included in the traditional four. Spiciness, instead, refers to a sensation of heat primarily produced by compounds like capsaicin found in chili peppers, which does not activate taste buds in the same way that the basic tastes do.

Thus, the set of tastes listed in the correct answer encompasses the widely accepted basic tastes that humans can identify through the sensory receptors on their tongues.