Journey Across the Life Span, 6th
Edition (Polan & Taylor) — Full 100-
Question Practice Exam
Instructions: Each question has one best answer. The correct answer and rationale follow.
Questions are organized by chapter to mirror the textbook structure.
Chapter 1: Healthy Lifestyles
1. In early civilizations, illness was most often attributed to:
A. Microorganisms
B. Contaminated food and water
C. Natural and supernatural forces
D. Environmental pollution
Answer: C
Rationale: Before scientific discovery, illness was commonly believed to be punishment
from gods or caused by supernatural forces. Bacteriology and germ theory came much
later .
2. The scientific understanding of disease processes truly began in the 19th century
with the development of:
A. Vaccination
B. Bacteriology
C. Virology
D. Antisepsis
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacteriology provided evidence that microorganisms cause disease,
revolutionizing medicine and public health .
3. Which infectious disease has resurfaced as a global health threat despite medical
advancements?
A. Polio
B. Tuberculosis
C. Mononucleosis
D. Influenza A (H1N1)
,Answer: B
Rationale: Tuberculosis remains a reemerging infection worldwide, particularly in drug-
resistant forms .
4. Health promotion is best described as:
A. Goal oriented
B. Natural
C. Unplanned
D. Special
Answer: A
Rationale: Health promotion is a planned, goal-oriented process that enables people to
increase control over and improve their health .
5. Mrs. Jackson brings her 6-month-old infant to the clinic for immunization. This
action demonstrates which level of disease prevention?
A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Tertiary
D. Rehabilitative
Answer: A
Rationale: Immunizations are primary prevention — they prevent disease before it occurs .
6. A future national goal for health care is the:
A. Reduction of services
B. Decrease in managed care
C. Increase in Medicaid contribution
D. Elimination of disparities in health care
Answer: D
Rationale: Eliminating health disparities is a major national goal aimed at achieving health
equity for all populations .
7. The level of health prevention that concentrates on retraining and educating to
maximize remaining capacities is:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Disability prevention
, Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention minimizes the effects of long-term disease or disability.
Rehabilitation helps clients reach their highest level of functioning .
8. National health insurance for persons 65 years and older is known as:
A. Medicaid
B. Medicare
C. Socialized medicine
D. Palliative care
Answer: B
Rationale: Medicare provides health insurance coverage to seniors aged 65 and older .
9. The organization that coordinates global health care issues, such as outbreaks of
infection, is:
A. Healthy People 2020
B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
C. World Health Organization
D. AARP
Answer: C
Rationale: The World Health Organization addresses health issues worldwide, including
emerging and reemerging infections .
10. The most important goal the nurse must meet today in the delivery of health care
is:
A. Fostering the client's recovery from illness
B. Promoting and maintaining health
C. Performing technical skills efficiently
D. Documenting care accurately
Answer: B
Rationale: In modern health care, the emphasis has shifted from illness treatment to
health promotion and maintenance .
Chapter 2: Communication
11. Which of the following is a block to therapeutic communication?
A. Offering self
B. Giving false reassurance
Edition (Polan & Taylor) — Full 100-
Question Practice Exam
Instructions: Each question has one best answer. The correct answer and rationale follow.
Questions are organized by chapter to mirror the textbook structure.
Chapter 1: Healthy Lifestyles
1. In early civilizations, illness was most often attributed to:
A. Microorganisms
B. Contaminated food and water
C. Natural and supernatural forces
D. Environmental pollution
Answer: C
Rationale: Before scientific discovery, illness was commonly believed to be punishment
from gods or caused by supernatural forces. Bacteriology and germ theory came much
later .
2. The scientific understanding of disease processes truly began in the 19th century
with the development of:
A. Vaccination
B. Bacteriology
C. Virology
D. Antisepsis
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacteriology provided evidence that microorganisms cause disease,
revolutionizing medicine and public health .
3. Which infectious disease has resurfaced as a global health threat despite medical
advancements?
A. Polio
B. Tuberculosis
C. Mononucleosis
D. Influenza A (H1N1)
,Answer: B
Rationale: Tuberculosis remains a reemerging infection worldwide, particularly in drug-
resistant forms .
4. Health promotion is best described as:
A. Goal oriented
B. Natural
C. Unplanned
D. Special
Answer: A
Rationale: Health promotion is a planned, goal-oriented process that enables people to
increase control over and improve their health .
5. Mrs. Jackson brings her 6-month-old infant to the clinic for immunization. This
action demonstrates which level of disease prevention?
A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Tertiary
D. Rehabilitative
Answer: A
Rationale: Immunizations are primary prevention — they prevent disease before it occurs .
6. A future national goal for health care is the:
A. Reduction of services
B. Decrease in managed care
C. Increase in Medicaid contribution
D. Elimination of disparities in health care
Answer: D
Rationale: Eliminating health disparities is a major national goal aimed at achieving health
equity for all populations .
7. The level of health prevention that concentrates on retraining and educating to
maximize remaining capacities is:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Disability prevention
, Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention minimizes the effects of long-term disease or disability.
Rehabilitation helps clients reach their highest level of functioning .
8. National health insurance for persons 65 years and older is known as:
A. Medicaid
B. Medicare
C. Socialized medicine
D. Palliative care
Answer: B
Rationale: Medicare provides health insurance coverage to seniors aged 65 and older .
9. The organization that coordinates global health care issues, such as outbreaks of
infection, is:
A. Healthy People 2020
B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
C. World Health Organization
D. AARP
Answer: C
Rationale: The World Health Organization addresses health issues worldwide, including
emerging and reemerging infections .
10. The most important goal the nurse must meet today in the delivery of health care
is:
A. Fostering the client's recovery from illness
B. Promoting and maintaining health
C. Performing technical skills efficiently
D. Documenting care accurately
Answer: B
Rationale: In modern health care, the emphasis has shifted from illness treatment to
health promotion and maintenance .
Chapter 2: Communication
11. Which of the following is a block to therapeutic communication?
A. Offering self
B. Giving false reassurance
