CBIS SAMPLE TEST – SECTION ONE (CHAPTER 1
& 4)
Questions 1–200 with Rationales
This comprehensive study guide is designed to help you prepare for
the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) examination, administered by
the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS). The
certification is widely recognized and respected for professionals who assist
persons with brain injury to restore, maintain, and promote optimal health .
Exam Overview:
• Number of Questions: 70 multiple-choice questions
• Time Allowed: Two hours
• Passing Score: 80% or higher
• Content Areas: Incidence/epidemiology, continuum of services, brain
anatomy, functional impact, treatment approaches,
children/adolescents, health/medical management, family issues,
legal/ethical issues
SECTION 1: CHAPTER 1 – OVERVIEW OF BRAIN INJURY
Question 1
What is the formal definition of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A. An injury to the brain caused by a lack of oxygen
B. An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology,
caused by an external force
,C. An injury to the brain caused by a tumor or infection
D. A condition resulting from an internal insult like a stroke
Answer: B. An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain
pathology, caused by an external force.
Rationale: A TBI is specifically caused by an external physical force. A lack of
oxygen, stroke, or tumors are classified as non-traumatic or acquired brain
injuries (ABI) . An external force can be a blow, jolt, or penetrating injury.
Question 2
How is an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) defined?
A. An injury that is hereditary and present at birth
B. An injury that only results from vehicular accidents
C. An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or
induced by birth trauma
D. An injury caused exclusively by external force
Answer: C. An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital,
degenerative, or induced by birth trauma.
Rationale: ABI is an umbrella term that encompasses all brain injuries
occurring after birth, including both traumatic causes (external force) and
non-traumatic causes such as stroke, tumor, infection, hypoxia/anoxia, and
ischemia .
Question 3
What is a non-traumatic brain injury?
,A. An injury caused by a blow to the head
B. Damage to the brain caused by internal factors, such as oxygen or
nutrient deprivation, exposure to toxins, pressure from a tumor, or other
neurological disorders
C. An injury caused by a penetrating object
D. An injury caused by vehicular accidents
Answer: B. Damage to the brain caused by internal factors, such as
oxygen or nutrient deprivation, exposure to toxins, pressure from a
tumor, or other neurological disorders.
Rationale: Non-traumatic brain injuries are caused by internal factors rather
than external force. Examples include stroke, anoxia/hypoxia, brain tumors,
infections, and neurotoxic poisoning .
Question 4
Which of the following is a traumatic impact injury?
A. Stroke
B. Hypoxia
C. Closed head injury from a fall
D. Brain tumor
Answer: C. Closed head injury from a fall.
Rationale: Traumatic impact injuries result from contact—when the head is
struck by or against an object. Falls, assaults, sports injuries, and motor
vehicle crashes are all causes of traumatic impact injuries . Stroke, hypoxia,
and tumors are non-traumatic causes.
, Question 5
What is a closed head injury?
A. Injury to the head with a breach of the skull or meninges
B. Injury to the brain resulting in brain lacerations, contusions, or
intracerebral hemorrhage without skull breach
C. Injury caused by a penetrating foreign object
D. Injury caused by a tumor
Answer: B. Injury to the brain resulting in brain lacerations, contusions,
or intracerebral hemorrhage without skull breach.
Rationale: A closed head injury occurs when the skull is not breached. The
brain can still suffer significant damage from the brain striking the inside of
the skull. Open injuries involve a breach of the skull or meninges .
Question 6
What is a penetrating brain injury?
A. Any injury that involves the penetration of a foreign object through the
dura mater
B. Any injury from a fall
C. Any injury from a motor vehicle crash
D. Any injury caused by acceleration-deceleration forces
Answer: A. Any injury that involves the penetration of a foreign object
through the dura mater.
Rationale: Penetrating brain injuries occur when a foreign object, munitions,
fragment, bone chip, etc., penetrates through the dura mater. This is distinct
from closed head injuries .
& 4)
Questions 1–200 with Rationales
This comprehensive study guide is designed to help you prepare for
the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) examination, administered by
the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS). The
certification is widely recognized and respected for professionals who assist
persons with brain injury to restore, maintain, and promote optimal health .
Exam Overview:
• Number of Questions: 70 multiple-choice questions
• Time Allowed: Two hours
• Passing Score: 80% or higher
• Content Areas: Incidence/epidemiology, continuum of services, brain
anatomy, functional impact, treatment approaches,
children/adolescents, health/medical management, family issues,
legal/ethical issues
SECTION 1: CHAPTER 1 – OVERVIEW OF BRAIN INJURY
Question 1
What is the formal definition of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A. An injury to the brain caused by a lack of oxygen
B. An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology,
caused by an external force
,C. An injury to the brain caused by a tumor or infection
D. A condition resulting from an internal insult like a stroke
Answer: B. An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain
pathology, caused by an external force.
Rationale: A TBI is specifically caused by an external physical force. A lack of
oxygen, stroke, or tumors are classified as non-traumatic or acquired brain
injuries (ABI) . An external force can be a blow, jolt, or penetrating injury.
Question 2
How is an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) defined?
A. An injury that is hereditary and present at birth
B. An injury that only results from vehicular accidents
C. An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or
induced by birth trauma
D. An injury caused exclusively by external force
Answer: C. An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital,
degenerative, or induced by birth trauma.
Rationale: ABI is an umbrella term that encompasses all brain injuries
occurring after birth, including both traumatic causes (external force) and
non-traumatic causes such as stroke, tumor, infection, hypoxia/anoxia, and
ischemia .
Question 3
What is a non-traumatic brain injury?
,A. An injury caused by a blow to the head
B. Damage to the brain caused by internal factors, such as oxygen or
nutrient deprivation, exposure to toxins, pressure from a tumor, or other
neurological disorders
C. An injury caused by a penetrating object
D. An injury caused by vehicular accidents
Answer: B. Damage to the brain caused by internal factors, such as
oxygen or nutrient deprivation, exposure to toxins, pressure from a
tumor, or other neurological disorders.
Rationale: Non-traumatic brain injuries are caused by internal factors rather
than external force. Examples include stroke, anoxia/hypoxia, brain tumors,
infections, and neurotoxic poisoning .
Question 4
Which of the following is a traumatic impact injury?
A. Stroke
B. Hypoxia
C. Closed head injury from a fall
D. Brain tumor
Answer: C. Closed head injury from a fall.
Rationale: Traumatic impact injuries result from contact—when the head is
struck by or against an object. Falls, assaults, sports injuries, and motor
vehicle crashes are all causes of traumatic impact injuries . Stroke, hypoxia,
and tumors are non-traumatic causes.
, Question 5
What is a closed head injury?
A. Injury to the head with a breach of the skull or meninges
B. Injury to the brain resulting in brain lacerations, contusions, or
intracerebral hemorrhage without skull breach
C. Injury caused by a penetrating foreign object
D. Injury caused by a tumor
Answer: B. Injury to the brain resulting in brain lacerations, contusions,
or intracerebral hemorrhage without skull breach.
Rationale: A closed head injury occurs when the skull is not breached. The
brain can still suffer significant damage from the brain striking the inside of
the skull. Open injuries involve a breach of the skull or meninges .
Question 6
What is a penetrating brain injury?
A. Any injury that involves the penetration of a foreign object through the
dura mater
B. Any injury from a fall
C. Any injury from a motor vehicle crash
D. Any injury caused by acceleration-deceleration forces
Answer: A. Any injury that involves the penetration of a foreign object
through the dura mater.
Rationale: Penetrating brain injuries occur when a foreign object, munitions,
fragment, bone chip, etc., penetrates through the dura mater. This is distinct
from closed head injuries .
