MSW Comprehensive Exam Review – Master of Social Work Study Guide (Full Program
Revision and Exam Preparation Material)
Avoid generalizations. - correct answer ✔✔In working with clients from a racial or ethnic group
different from their own, what are social workers advised to do?
Confidentiality.
Defining family boundaries.
(Both a and b.) - correct answer ✔✔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?
"What is your sexual orientation?" - correct answer ✔✔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?
Intersectionality. - correct answer ✔✔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?
Prejudice. - correct answer ✔✔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?
Promote universal values. - correct answer ✔✔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?
, Explore the mourning rituals of the client's family. - correct answer ✔✔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?
Use universalization to provide reassurance to the client about the behavior of others in these
circumstances. - correct answer ✔✔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?
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.) - correct answer ✔✔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?
Focus on immigrants and minorities. - correct answer ✔✔Cultural humility includes all but
which of the following ?
Privilege. - correct answer ✔✔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?
Revision and Exam Preparation Material)
Avoid generalizations. - correct answer ✔✔In working with clients from a racial or ethnic group
different from their own, what are social workers advised to do?
Confidentiality.
Defining family boundaries.
(Both a and b.) - correct answer ✔✔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?
"What is your sexual orientation?" - correct answer ✔✔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?
Intersectionality. - correct answer ✔✔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?
Prejudice. - correct answer ✔✔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?
Promote universal values. - correct answer ✔✔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?
, Explore the mourning rituals of the client's family. - correct answer ✔✔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?
Use universalization to provide reassurance to the client about the behavior of others in these
circumstances. - correct answer ✔✔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?
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.) - correct answer ✔✔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?
Focus on immigrants and minorities. - correct answer ✔✔Cultural humility includes all but
which of the following ?
Privilege. - correct answer ✔✔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?
