QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Question 1
A patient presents with chest pain described as pressure that radiates
to the left arm and jaw, worsening with exertion and relieved by rest.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Gastroesophageal reflux disease
C) Angina pectoris
D) Musculoskeletal chest pain
E) Pericarditis
Correct Answer: C) Angina pectoris
Rationale: Angina pectoris is characterized by chest pressure or
discomfort that radiates to the left arm and jaw, is precipitated by
exertion, and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. This classic presentation
reflects myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease .
Question 2
During percussion of the posterior thorax, the provider notes a
hyperresonant sound. What condition does this finding most likely
indicate?
A) Lobar pneumonia
B) Pleural effusion
,C) Pneumothorax
D) Lung tumor
E) Atelectasis
Correct Answer: C) Pneumothorax
Rationale: Hyperresonance on percussion indicates increased air in the
pleural space, which is characteristic of pneumothorax. Normal lung
tissue produces resonance, while dullness suggests consolidation or
fluid .
Question 3
A 65-year-old patient reports difficulty reading small print that has
gradually worsened over the past few years. What is the medical term
for this age-related change?
A) Myopia
B) Hyperopia
C) Presbyopia
D) Cataract
E) Glaucoma
Correct Answer: C) Presbyopia
Rationale: Presbyopia is the age-related loss of near vision due to
decreased lens elasticity, typically beginning in the early to mid-40s.
This hardening of the lens reduces the eye's ability to focus on close
objects .
,Question 4
A patient reports shortness of breath, cough worsened at night, and
audible wheezing upon expiration. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Chronic bronchitis
B) Pneumonia
C) Asthma
D) Congestive heart failure
E) Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: C) Asthma
Rationale: The classic triad of asthma includes cough (often nocturnal),
dyspnea, and expiratory wheezing. Wheezing results from lower airway
narrowing and bronchoconstriction characteristic of an asthma
exacerbation.
Question 5
A patient presents with sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye. What
is the most concerning diagnosis to consider?
A) Presbyopia
B) Retinal detachment
C) Cataract
D) Conjunctivitis
E) Glaucoma
Correct Answer: B) Retinal detachment
Rationale: Sudden, painless unilateral vision loss is a red flag symptom
that requires immediate evaluation. Retinal detachment is a vision-
, threatening emergency that can present with sudden vision loss, often
preceded by floaters or flashes .
Question 6
Which lymph nodes are located behind the sternocleidomastoid
muscle?
A) Anterior cervical nodes
B) Submandibular nodes
C) Posterior cervical nodes
D) Preauricular nodes
E) Supraclavicular nodes
Correct Answer: C) Posterior cervical nodes
Rationale: The posterior cervical lymph nodes are located along the
posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. These nodes are
commonly enlarged in viral infections such as mononucleosis .
Question 7
A patient presents with double vision that resolves when either eye is
covered. Which cranial nerve is most likely affected?
A) CN I (Olfactory)
B) CN II (Optic)
C) CN III (Oculomotor)
D) CN V (Trigeminal)
E) CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear)
Correct Answer: C) CN III (Oculomotor)