CALE Question Bank | Comprehensive Questions and
Detailed Verified Solutions | Graded A+ | 2026 Latest
Update
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF TCM & DIAGNOSIS (Questions 1-
50)
Question 1:
A patient presents with a red face, headache, and is mumbling to herself. What is the
MOST appropriate diagnosis?
A) Phlegm misting the Heart (mind)
B) Liver Fire rising
C) Phlegm Fire disturbing the Heart
D) Kidney Yin deficiency with Empty Fire
,*Rationale: * Phlegm Fire disturbing the Heart presents with mental disturbances,
incoherent speech, red face, and agitation. Phlegm misting the Heart typically presents
with dullness and somnolence rather than agitation. Liver Fire rising causes headache and
red face but not typically mumbling.
Question 2:
A patient presents with tinnitus that sounds like a high-pitched singing cicada. What is
the MOST likely diagnosis?
A) Kidney deficiency
B) Liver Yang rising
C) Gallbladder obstruction
D) San Jiao obstruction
*Rationale: * Tinnitus with high-pitched sounds is characteristic of Liver Yang rising.
Kidney deficiency tinnitus is typically low-pitched. Gallbladder and San Jiao patterns are
more associated with fullness or pressure in the ears.
Question 3:
What is the diagnosis for a patient with Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms AND leg
edema?
A) Spleen Qi deficiency
B) Spleen Qi sinking
C) Spleen Yang deficiency
D) Kidney Yang deficiency
,*Rationale: * Spleen Yang deficiency includes both Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms
(fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools) and signs of Yang deficiency including coldness and
edema. Spleen Qi sinking would present with prolapse or downward symptoms. Kidney
Yang deficiency affects the lower back and knees primarily.
Question 4:
A patient has cold hands and legs, is irritable, with a red tongue and rapid pulse. What
formula should be given?
A) Si Ni Tang
B) Si Ni San
C) Gui Pi Tang
D) Suan Zao Ren Tang
*Rationale: * Si Ni San (Frigid Extremities Powder) treats Liver Qi stagnation with heat
signs, presenting with cold extremities, irritability, and a red tongue with rapid pulse. Si Ni
Tang treats true Yang collapse with severe cold signs and no heat symptoms.
Question 5:
A patient presents with cough, asthma, and a feeling of distention in the chest and
hypochondrium. What is the diagnosis?
A) Spleen Qi deficiency
B) Spleen Qi sinking
C) Spleen unable to control blood
D) Spleen Yang deficiency
, *Rationale: * Spleen Qi deficiency can lead to phlegm production that obstructs the
Lungs, causing cough, asthma, and chest distention. This is known as "Spleen deficiency
generating phlegm" or "phlegm-damp obstructing the Lungs".
Question 6:
What is the incubation period for Hepatitis C?
A) 15-50 days
B) 15-60 days
C) 20-90 days or 14-180 days
D) 50-180 days or 45-160 days
*Rationale: * The incubation period for Hepatitis C is typically 2-12 weeks (14-180 days),
with an average of 6-7 weeks.
Question 7:
A family goes out for dinner, and the next day they are all sick. What is the MOST likely
cause?
A) Bacteria
B) Virus
C) Parasite
D) Food toxin
*Rationale: * A viral etiology is most common for foodborne illness outbreaks that affect
multiple individuals within a short timeframe. Bacterial food poisoning typically has a
longer incubation period. Parasitic infections have even longer incubation periods.
Detailed Verified Solutions | Graded A+ | 2026 Latest
Update
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF TCM & DIAGNOSIS (Questions 1-
50)
Question 1:
A patient presents with a red face, headache, and is mumbling to herself. What is the
MOST appropriate diagnosis?
A) Phlegm misting the Heart (mind)
B) Liver Fire rising
C) Phlegm Fire disturbing the Heart
D) Kidney Yin deficiency with Empty Fire
,*Rationale: * Phlegm Fire disturbing the Heart presents with mental disturbances,
incoherent speech, red face, and agitation. Phlegm misting the Heart typically presents
with dullness and somnolence rather than agitation. Liver Fire rising causes headache and
red face but not typically mumbling.
Question 2:
A patient presents with tinnitus that sounds like a high-pitched singing cicada. What is
the MOST likely diagnosis?
A) Kidney deficiency
B) Liver Yang rising
C) Gallbladder obstruction
D) San Jiao obstruction
*Rationale: * Tinnitus with high-pitched sounds is characteristic of Liver Yang rising.
Kidney deficiency tinnitus is typically low-pitched. Gallbladder and San Jiao patterns are
more associated with fullness or pressure in the ears.
Question 3:
What is the diagnosis for a patient with Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms AND leg
edema?
A) Spleen Qi deficiency
B) Spleen Qi sinking
C) Spleen Yang deficiency
D) Kidney Yang deficiency
,*Rationale: * Spleen Yang deficiency includes both Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms
(fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools) and signs of Yang deficiency including coldness and
edema. Spleen Qi sinking would present with prolapse or downward symptoms. Kidney
Yang deficiency affects the lower back and knees primarily.
Question 4:
A patient has cold hands and legs, is irritable, with a red tongue and rapid pulse. What
formula should be given?
A) Si Ni Tang
B) Si Ni San
C) Gui Pi Tang
D) Suan Zao Ren Tang
*Rationale: * Si Ni San (Frigid Extremities Powder) treats Liver Qi stagnation with heat
signs, presenting with cold extremities, irritability, and a red tongue with rapid pulse. Si Ni
Tang treats true Yang collapse with severe cold signs and no heat symptoms.
Question 5:
A patient presents with cough, asthma, and a feeling of distention in the chest and
hypochondrium. What is the diagnosis?
A) Spleen Qi deficiency
B) Spleen Qi sinking
C) Spleen unable to control blood
D) Spleen Yang deficiency
, *Rationale: * Spleen Qi deficiency can lead to phlegm production that obstructs the
Lungs, causing cough, asthma, and chest distention. This is known as "Spleen deficiency
generating phlegm" or "phlegm-damp obstructing the Lungs".
Question 6:
What is the incubation period for Hepatitis C?
A) 15-50 days
B) 15-60 days
C) 20-90 days or 14-180 days
D) 50-180 days or 45-160 days
*Rationale: * The incubation period for Hepatitis C is typically 2-12 weeks (14-180 days),
with an average of 6-7 weeks.
Question 7:
A family goes out for dinner, and the next day they are all sick. What is the MOST likely
cause?
A) Bacteria
B) Virus
C) Parasite
D) Food toxin
*Rationale: * A viral etiology is most common for foodborne illness outbreaks that affect
multiple individuals within a short timeframe. Bacterial food poisoning typically has a
longer incubation period. Parasitic infections have even longer incubation periods.
