, NURS 4331 EXAM 2
Nursing of Children and Adolescents
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) 100-
Question Practice Examination
2026/2027 Edition
Preschool Growth, Development & Safety
1. A 4-year-old wants to help prepare a snack. Which activity best supports Erikson's
developmentaltask?
A) Ask the child to complete a complex recipe alone
B) Feed the child to avoid mess
C) Discourage participation in meal preparation
D) Allow the child to spread soft cheese on crackers with supervision
Correct Answer: D) Allow the child to spread soft cheese on crackers with supervision
Rationale: Preschoolers are in initiative versus guilt. Safe, simple participation supports autonomy, initiative, and
motor development.
2. Which type of play is typical for preschool-age children?
A) Parallel play only
B) No imaginative play
C) Associative and increasingly cooperative play
D) Solitary play only
Correct Answer: C) Associative and increasingly cooperative play
Rationale: Preschoolers increasingly interact, share materials, and engage in imaginative group play, though full
cooperation continues to mature.
3. Which language skill is expected in many 4-year-olds?
A) Only single-word speech
B) Inability to tell simple stories
C) Speech understandable to strangers most of the time
D) No use of pronouns
Correct Answer: C) Speech understandable to strangers most of the time
Rationale: Vocabulary and sentence complexity increase rapidly in preschool years, and speech becomes largely
intelligible.
4. Which behavior is most characteristic of magical thinking?
A) Believing thoughts or wishes can cause events
B) Using formal logic
C) Understanding abstract probability
D) Recognizing all illness as biologic
NURS 4331 Exam 2 | Nursing of Children and Adolescents | Original Practice Exam Page 1
, Correct Answer: A) Believing thoughts or wishes can cause events
Rationale: Preschoolers often use magical thinking and may believe their actions or thoughts caused illness or
events.
5. A hospitalized preschooler says, 'I got sick because I was bad.' What is the best nursing response?
A) Explain simply that illness is not a punishment
B) Tell the child illness happens only by chance
C) Avoid discussing the belief
D) Agree to reinforce good behavior
Correct Answer: A) Explain simply that illness is not a punishment
Rationale: Preschoolers may link illness with wrongdoing because of magical thinking. Simple reassurance reduces
guilt.
6. Which injury-prevention teaching is most appropriate for a preschooler learning to ride a bicycle?
A) Use a properly fitted helmet every time
B) Ride only at night
C) Allow street riding without supervision
D) Use an adult seat belt without a booster
Correct Answer: A) Use a properly fitted helmet every time
Rationale: Helmet use and close supervision are essential because preschoolers have limited judgment and
coordination.
7. Which car-restraint principle is appropriate for a preschooler who has outgrown a forward-
facingharness but is too small for an adult belt?
A) Allow front-seat travel
B) Use no restraint for short trips
C) Use a belt-positioning booster seat
D) Use the adult lap belt alone
Correct Answer: C) Use a belt-positioning booster seat
Rationale: Booster seats position vehicle belts correctly until the child is large enough for a standard seat belt.
8. A 4-year-old asks repeated 'why' questions. How should the nurse interpret this?
A) It is manipulative behavior
B) It indicates language delay
C) It proves attention-deficit disorder
D) It reflects normal curiosity and cognitive development
Correct Answer: D) It reflects normal curiosity and cognitive development
Rationale: Preschoolers are highly curious and use questions to build concepts about the world.
9. Which gross-motor ability is expected in many preschoolers?
A) No stair climbing
B) Unable to run
NURS 4331 Exam 2 | Nursing of Children and Adolescents | Original Practice Exam Page 2
Nursing of Children and Adolescents
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) 100-
Question Practice Examination
2026/2027 Edition
Preschool Growth, Development & Safety
1. A 4-year-old wants to help prepare a snack. Which activity best supports Erikson's
developmentaltask?
A) Ask the child to complete a complex recipe alone
B) Feed the child to avoid mess
C) Discourage participation in meal preparation
D) Allow the child to spread soft cheese on crackers with supervision
Correct Answer: D) Allow the child to spread soft cheese on crackers with supervision
Rationale: Preschoolers are in initiative versus guilt. Safe, simple participation supports autonomy, initiative, and
motor development.
2. Which type of play is typical for preschool-age children?
A) Parallel play only
B) No imaginative play
C) Associative and increasingly cooperative play
D) Solitary play only
Correct Answer: C) Associative and increasingly cooperative play
Rationale: Preschoolers increasingly interact, share materials, and engage in imaginative group play, though full
cooperation continues to mature.
3. Which language skill is expected in many 4-year-olds?
A) Only single-word speech
B) Inability to tell simple stories
C) Speech understandable to strangers most of the time
D) No use of pronouns
Correct Answer: C) Speech understandable to strangers most of the time
Rationale: Vocabulary and sentence complexity increase rapidly in preschool years, and speech becomes largely
intelligible.
4. Which behavior is most characteristic of magical thinking?
A) Believing thoughts or wishes can cause events
B) Using formal logic
C) Understanding abstract probability
D) Recognizing all illness as biologic
NURS 4331 Exam 2 | Nursing of Children and Adolescents | Original Practice Exam Page 1
, Correct Answer: A) Believing thoughts or wishes can cause events
Rationale: Preschoolers often use magical thinking and may believe their actions or thoughts caused illness or
events.
5. A hospitalized preschooler says, 'I got sick because I was bad.' What is the best nursing response?
A) Explain simply that illness is not a punishment
B) Tell the child illness happens only by chance
C) Avoid discussing the belief
D) Agree to reinforce good behavior
Correct Answer: A) Explain simply that illness is not a punishment
Rationale: Preschoolers may link illness with wrongdoing because of magical thinking. Simple reassurance reduces
guilt.
6. Which injury-prevention teaching is most appropriate for a preschooler learning to ride a bicycle?
A) Use a properly fitted helmet every time
B) Ride only at night
C) Allow street riding without supervision
D) Use an adult seat belt without a booster
Correct Answer: A) Use a properly fitted helmet every time
Rationale: Helmet use and close supervision are essential because preschoolers have limited judgment and
coordination.
7. Which car-restraint principle is appropriate for a preschooler who has outgrown a forward-
facingharness but is too small for an adult belt?
A) Allow front-seat travel
B) Use no restraint for short trips
C) Use a belt-positioning booster seat
D) Use the adult lap belt alone
Correct Answer: C) Use a belt-positioning booster seat
Rationale: Booster seats position vehicle belts correctly until the child is large enough for a standard seat belt.
8. A 4-year-old asks repeated 'why' questions. How should the nurse interpret this?
A) It is manipulative behavior
B) It indicates language delay
C) It proves attention-deficit disorder
D) It reflects normal curiosity and cognitive development
Correct Answer: D) It reflects normal curiosity and cognitive development
Rationale: Preschoolers are highly curious and use questions to build concepts about the world.
9. Which gross-motor ability is expected in many preschoolers?
A) No stair climbing
B) Unable to run
NURS 4331 Exam 2 | Nursing of Children and Adolescents | Original Practice Exam Page 2
