MTA NURSING EXAM PREP 2026 Week 1-5
Comprehensive Practice Test Bank 120
Questions & Answers with Detailed Explanations
EXAM INFORMATION
Source: MTA Nursing Exam Prep 2026: Week 1-5 Questions & Answers
Format: 120 exam-style questions covering medical terminology, abbreviations, and clinical
scenarios
Curriculum: Updated for 2026/2027 standards
Question Types: Multiple choice, clinical scenarios, medical terminology identification,
abbreviation recognition
Answer Format: Correct answer indicated with detailed rationale
WEEK 1: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOUNDATIONS
Questions 1–24
QUESTION 1
The prefix "hyper-" means:
A) Below normal
B) Above normal or excessive
C) Slow
D) Fast
Answer: B) Above normal or excessive
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" indicates above normal, excessive, or high. Examples include
hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). The opposite prefix is
"hypo-" meaning below normal.
,QUESTION 2
The suffix "-itis" indicates:
A) Tumor
B) Inflammation
C) Disease
D) Enlargement
Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" means inflammation. Common examples include appendicitis
(inflammation of the appendix), dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), and arthritis (inflammation
of joints).
QUESTION 3
The term "cardiology" refers to the study of:
A) The brain
B) The heart
C) The lungs
D) The kidneys
Answer: B) The heart
Rationale: Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with the heart and its disorders. The
root "cardi/o" means heart, and "-logy" means study of.
QUESTION 4
What does the abbreviation "BP" stand for?
A) Blood pressure
B) Brain pulse
C) Bronchial passage
D) Breathing pattern
Answer: A) Blood pressure
Rationale: BP is the standard medical abbreviation for blood pressure, one of the four primary
vital signs. Normal adult BP is typically around 120/80 mmHg.
,QUESTION 5
The root "derm" refers to:
A) Bone
B) Skin
C) Nerve
D) Muscle
Answer: B) Skin
Rationale: The root "derm" or "dermat/o" refers to the skin. Examples include dermatology (the
study of the skin) and dermatitis (inflammation of the skin).
QUESTION 6
The term "tachycardia" means:
A) Slow heart rate
B) Fast heart rate
C) Irregular heart rate
D) Normal heart rate
Answer: B) Fast heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia is a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute in adults. The prefix
"tachy-" means fast, and the root "cardi" refers to the heart.
QUESTION 7
The abbreviation "NPO" means:
A) Nothing by mouth
B) Normal pulse oximetry
C) No pain observed
D) New patient order
Answer: A) Nothing by mouth
Rationale: NPO is derived from the Latin "nil per os" and means nothing by mouth. This is
commonly ordered before surgical procedures or certain diagnostic tests.
, QUESTION 8
The suffix "-ectomy" indicates:
A) Surgical removal
B) Incision
C) Repair
D) Visualization
Answer: A) Surgical removal
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal or excision. Examples include
appendectomy (removal of the appendix) and cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder).
QUESTION 9
The root "hepat" refers to:
A) Heart
B) Liver
C) Kidney
D) Stomach
Answer: B) Liver
Rationale: The root "hepat/o" refers to the liver. Examples include hepatitis (inflammation of the
liver) and hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver).
QUESTION 10
The term "dyspnea" means:
A) Difficulty breathing
B) Rapid breathing
C) Slow breathing
D) Absence of breathing
Answer: A) Difficulty breathing
Comprehensive Practice Test Bank 120
Questions & Answers with Detailed Explanations
EXAM INFORMATION
Source: MTA Nursing Exam Prep 2026: Week 1-5 Questions & Answers
Format: 120 exam-style questions covering medical terminology, abbreviations, and clinical
scenarios
Curriculum: Updated for 2026/2027 standards
Question Types: Multiple choice, clinical scenarios, medical terminology identification,
abbreviation recognition
Answer Format: Correct answer indicated with detailed rationale
WEEK 1: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOUNDATIONS
Questions 1–24
QUESTION 1
The prefix "hyper-" means:
A) Below normal
B) Above normal or excessive
C) Slow
D) Fast
Answer: B) Above normal or excessive
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" indicates above normal, excessive, or high. Examples include
hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). The opposite prefix is
"hypo-" meaning below normal.
,QUESTION 2
The suffix "-itis" indicates:
A) Tumor
B) Inflammation
C) Disease
D) Enlargement
Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" means inflammation. Common examples include appendicitis
(inflammation of the appendix), dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), and arthritis (inflammation
of joints).
QUESTION 3
The term "cardiology" refers to the study of:
A) The brain
B) The heart
C) The lungs
D) The kidneys
Answer: B) The heart
Rationale: Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with the heart and its disorders. The
root "cardi/o" means heart, and "-logy" means study of.
QUESTION 4
What does the abbreviation "BP" stand for?
A) Blood pressure
B) Brain pulse
C) Bronchial passage
D) Breathing pattern
Answer: A) Blood pressure
Rationale: BP is the standard medical abbreviation for blood pressure, one of the four primary
vital signs. Normal adult BP is typically around 120/80 mmHg.
,QUESTION 5
The root "derm" refers to:
A) Bone
B) Skin
C) Nerve
D) Muscle
Answer: B) Skin
Rationale: The root "derm" or "dermat/o" refers to the skin. Examples include dermatology (the
study of the skin) and dermatitis (inflammation of the skin).
QUESTION 6
The term "tachycardia" means:
A) Slow heart rate
B) Fast heart rate
C) Irregular heart rate
D) Normal heart rate
Answer: B) Fast heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia is a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute in adults. The prefix
"tachy-" means fast, and the root "cardi" refers to the heart.
QUESTION 7
The abbreviation "NPO" means:
A) Nothing by mouth
B) Normal pulse oximetry
C) No pain observed
D) New patient order
Answer: A) Nothing by mouth
Rationale: NPO is derived from the Latin "nil per os" and means nothing by mouth. This is
commonly ordered before surgical procedures or certain diagnostic tests.
, QUESTION 8
The suffix "-ectomy" indicates:
A) Surgical removal
B) Incision
C) Repair
D) Visualization
Answer: A) Surgical removal
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal or excision. Examples include
appendectomy (removal of the appendix) and cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder).
QUESTION 9
The root "hepat" refers to:
A) Heart
B) Liver
C) Kidney
D) Stomach
Answer: B) Liver
Rationale: The root "hepat/o" refers to the liver. Examples include hepatitis (inflammation of the
liver) and hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver).
QUESTION 10
The term "dyspnea" means:
A) Difficulty breathing
B) Rapid breathing
C) Slow breathing
D) Absence of breathing
Answer: A) Difficulty breathing
