MSW Comprehensive Exam Review 2024
Graded A
In working with clients from a racial or ethnic group different from their own, what are
social workers advised to do? - ANSWER-Avoid generalizations.
Kinship bonds and corresponding extended family forms are cultural dimensions that
are important to consider in family practice with diverse families. Which of the following
aspects of practice may be most affected by how these dimensions are defined? -
ANSWER-Confidentiality.
Defining family boundaries.
(Both a and b.)
A social worker is conducting an initial assessment with a client. What is the best way
for the social worker to inquire about the client's sexual orientation? - ANSWER-"What
is your sexual orientation?"
Eduardo is a 60 year old Latino man who identifies as gay and is disabled due to a
work-related accident. These aspects of his identity illustrate which of the following
terms? - ANSWER-Intersectionality.
Jason is an African American man who has just recently gained employment with an
advertising company. One of Jason's coworkers is resentful of Jason because he thinks
Jason was hired because of Affirmative Action and not because he is qualified for the
position. This same coworker also assumes that Jason is not as smart as their
colleagues because of his minority status. What term best describes the attitude of the
coworker? - ANSWER-Prejudice.
Most group leaders/group therapists will have group members from diverse cultural
backgrounds. What is not a good way for group leaders to become culturally
competent? - ANSWER-Promote universal values.
A social worker conducts a home visit to a 45 year old Latino client whose young son
was killed in a recent automobile accident. The social worker observes that a large altar
has been made. It contains many candles and pictures of the boy and other deceased
relatives. The client sobs throughout the interview and tells the social worker that the
boy has been communicating to the client each evening through angels. In order to
most effectively work with the client, what should the social worker do FIRST? -
ANSWER-Explore the mourning rituals of the client's family.
A social worker at a community mental health center is working with a 21 year old client
who has been experiencing rejection from family and friends following the admission by
the client that she is a lesbian. During the third session the client begins to cry and says,
"Maybe my mom is right. She says all I need to do is find the right man." After reflecting
, the client's unhappy feelings, what should the social worker do NEXT? - ANSWER-Use
universalization to provide reassurance to the client about the behavior of others in
these circumstances.
Mia H. and Johnny B. interviewed for the same job. Mia has more education and
experience than Johnny, and is the better qualified candidate for the position. However,
the hiring official did not offer the job to Mia because he believes women are inferior to
men and do not belong in the work force. Based on this information, Mia experienced
which of the following? - ANSWER-Discrimination.
(Discrimination involves acting on prejudice, which the hiring official has done in this
case. He is discriminating against Mia H. on the basis of prejudice regarding her
gender/discriminating based on his sexism.)
Cultural humility includes all but which of the following ? - ANSWER-Focus on
immigrants and minorities.
What term best describes unearned advantages that accrue to members of certain
social groups because of membership in those groups, and at the cost of corresponding
marginalized groups? - ANSWER-Privilege.
What theory/theories of poverty suggest that poverty is primarily based on the
shortcomings of those who are poor rather than lack of equal opportunities and access
to resources? - ANSWER-Individual.
Statistics indicate that women, particularly those who are members of minority groups
and are serving as single heads of households, are more likely to report earnings that
keep them below the poverty line. They are paid less on average compared to their
male counterparts for doing the same jobs, and they have less access to jobs that offer
a living wage. These statements provide an example of which of the following? -
ANSWER-Discrimination against vulnerable populations that is documented through
statistical measures of their economic well-being.
A social worker is a member of a team of professional planners hired by an inner-city
revitalization agency. The team's assignment is to improve living conditions in a
deteriorated neighborhood that was once a thriving community. The area is now
characterized by high crime rates and drug traffic. Those living in the neighborhood are
intimidated and fearful. In adhering to the concept of social justice, what should the
social worker do in a meeting with the residents? - ANSWER-Encourage the residents
to voice their concerns and identify priorities for change.
A local community action group has discovered that families from low-income
neighborhoods are systematically being denied loans based on the fact that they live in
a low-income neighborhood. What is the illegal banking practice being used to
discriminate against these families? - ANSWER-Redlining.
Graded A
In working with clients from a racial or ethnic group different from their own, what are
social workers advised to do? - ANSWER-Avoid generalizations.
Kinship bonds and corresponding extended family forms are cultural dimensions that
are important to consider in family practice with diverse families. Which of the following
aspects of practice may be most affected by how these dimensions are defined? -
ANSWER-Confidentiality.
Defining family boundaries.
(Both a and b.)
A social worker is conducting an initial assessment with a client. What is the best way
for the social worker to inquire about the client's sexual orientation? - ANSWER-"What
is your sexual orientation?"
Eduardo is a 60 year old Latino man who identifies as gay and is disabled due to a
work-related accident. These aspects of his identity illustrate which of the following
terms? - ANSWER-Intersectionality.
Jason is an African American man who has just recently gained employment with an
advertising company. One of Jason's coworkers is resentful of Jason because he thinks
Jason was hired because of Affirmative Action and not because he is qualified for the
position. This same coworker also assumes that Jason is not as smart as their
colleagues because of his minority status. What term best describes the attitude of the
coworker? - ANSWER-Prejudice.
Most group leaders/group therapists will have group members from diverse cultural
backgrounds. What is not a good way for group leaders to become culturally
competent? - ANSWER-Promote universal values.
A social worker conducts a home visit to a 45 year old Latino client whose young son
was killed in a recent automobile accident. The social worker observes that a large altar
has been made. It contains many candles and pictures of the boy and other deceased
relatives. The client sobs throughout the interview and tells the social worker that the
boy has been communicating to the client each evening through angels. In order to
most effectively work with the client, what should the social worker do FIRST? -
ANSWER-Explore the mourning rituals of the client's family.
A social worker at a community mental health center is working with a 21 year old client
who has been experiencing rejection from family and friends following the admission by
the client that she is a lesbian. During the third session the client begins to cry and says,
"Maybe my mom is right. She says all I need to do is find the right man." After reflecting
, the client's unhappy feelings, what should the social worker do NEXT? - ANSWER-Use
universalization to provide reassurance to the client about the behavior of others in
these circumstances.
Mia H. and Johnny B. interviewed for the same job. Mia has more education and
experience than Johnny, and is the better qualified candidate for the position. However,
the hiring official did not offer the job to Mia because he believes women are inferior to
men and do not belong in the work force. Based on this information, Mia experienced
which of the following? - ANSWER-Discrimination.
(Discrimination involves acting on prejudice, which the hiring official has done in this
case. He is discriminating against Mia H. on the basis of prejudice regarding her
gender/discriminating based on his sexism.)
Cultural humility includes all but which of the following ? - ANSWER-Focus on
immigrants and minorities.
What term best describes unearned advantages that accrue to members of certain
social groups because of membership in those groups, and at the cost of corresponding
marginalized groups? - ANSWER-Privilege.
What theory/theories of poverty suggest that poverty is primarily based on the
shortcomings of those who are poor rather than lack of equal opportunities and access
to resources? - ANSWER-Individual.
Statistics indicate that women, particularly those who are members of minority groups
and are serving as single heads of households, are more likely to report earnings that
keep them below the poverty line. They are paid less on average compared to their
male counterparts for doing the same jobs, and they have less access to jobs that offer
a living wage. These statements provide an example of which of the following? -
ANSWER-Discrimination against vulnerable populations that is documented through
statistical measures of their economic well-being.
A social worker is a member of a team of professional planners hired by an inner-city
revitalization agency. The team's assignment is to improve living conditions in a
deteriorated neighborhood that was once a thriving community. The area is now
characterized by high crime rates and drug traffic. Those living in the neighborhood are
intimidated and fearful. In adhering to the concept of social justice, what should the
social worker do in a meeting with the residents? - ANSWER-Encourage the residents
to voice their concerns and identify priorities for change.
A local community action group has discovered that families from low-income
neighborhoods are systematically being denied loans based on the fact that they live in
a low-income neighborhood. What is the illegal banking practice being used to
discriminate against these families? - ANSWER-Redlining.
