Chapter 1. History of Pharmacology
Multiple Choice
1. The Greek word pharmakon means
A. medicine.
B. poison.
C. remedy.
D. medicine, poison, and remedy.
ANS: D
Rationale: Pharmakon refers to the curing of illness, thus meaning medicine and remedy, as
well as to poison, because early medicines were toxic enough to kill a patient or enemy.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Basic
KEY: History
MISC: ABHES goal — Define and use entire basic structure of medical words and be able to
accurately identify in the correct context | CAAHEP goal IV.3 — Use medical terminology
2. The Dutch word droog means
A. drop.
B. drug.
C. dry.
D. dirge.
ANS: C
Rationale: Droog, which means dry, is the origin of the word drug, such as in the use of dry
herbs as medications.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Intermediate
KEY: History
MISC: ABHES goal — Define and use entire basic structure of medical words and be able to
accurately identify in the correct context | CAAHEP goal IV.3 — Use medical terminology
3. Most ancient societies treated illness based on
A. visions received by medicine men.
B. trial and error.
C. religion.
Copyright © 2018 by F. A. Davis Company
, D. animal sacrifice.
ANS: B
Rationale: Ancient societies had little knowledge of how the human body worked; therefore,
treating illness was often based on trial and error.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Intermediate
KEY: History
MISC: ABHES goal — Analyze the effect of hereditary, cultural, and environmental influences
4. Early records show that pharmacological treatments consisted of
A. plants.
B. minerals.
C. animal products.
D. plants, minerals, and animal products.
ANS: D
Rationale: Early records show that plants, minerals, and animal products were the only sources
available; therefore, they were the only things used.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Basic
KEY: History
5. What did the Chinese document The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic discuss for the first
time?
A. Yin and yang
B. Acupuncture
C. Meditation
D. Yin and yang and acupuncture
ANS: D
Rationale: This was a very early document discussing yin and yang and acupuncture.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Intermediate
KEY: History
6. The first Chinese manual on pharmacology included 365 medicines and was written in the
A. 1st century CE.
B. 2nd century CE.
C. 3rd century CE.
Copyright © 2018 by F. A. Davis Company
Multiple Choice
1. The Greek word pharmakon means
A. medicine.
B. poison.
C. remedy.
D. medicine, poison, and remedy.
ANS: D
Rationale: Pharmakon refers to the curing of illness, thus meaning medicine and remedy, as
well as to poison, because early medicines were toxic enough to kill a patient or enemy.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Basic
KEY: History
MISC: ABHES goal — Define and use entire basic structure of medical words and be able to
accurately identify in the correct context | CAAHEP goal IV.3 — Use medical terminology
2. The Dutch word droog means
A. drop.
B. drug.
C. dry.
D. dirge.
ANS: C
Rationale: Droog, which means dry, is the origin of the word drug, such as in the use of dry
herbs as medications.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Intermediate
KEY: History
MISC: ABHES goal — Define and use entire basic structure of medical words and be able to
accurately identify in the correct context | CAAHEP goal IV.3 — Use medical terminology
3. Most ancient societies treated illness based on
A. visions received by medicine men.
B. trial and error.
C. religion.
Copyright © 2018 by F. A. Davis Company
, D. animal sacrifice.
ANS: B
Rationale: Ancient societies had little knowledge of how the human body worked; therefore,
treating illness was often based on trial and error.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Intermediate
KEY: History
MISC: ABHES goal — Analyze the effect of hereditary, cultural, and environmental influences
4. Early records show that pharmacological treatments consisted of
A. plants.
B. minerals.
C. animal products.
D. plants, minerals, and animal products.
ANS: D
Rationale: Early records show that plants, minerals, and animal products were the only sources
available; therefore, they were the only things used.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Basic
KEY: History
5. What did the Chinese document The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic discuss for the first
time?
A. Yin and yang
B. Acupuncture
C. Meditation
D. Yin and yang and acupuncture
ANS: D
Rationale: This was a very early document discussing yin and yang and acupuncture.
TOP: Unit 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
DIF: Intermediate
KEY: History
6. The first Chinese manual on pharmacology included 365 medicines and was written in the
A. 1st century CE.
B. 2nd century CE.
C. 3rd century CE.
Copyright © 2018 by F. A. Davis Company
