NURS 180 Pharmacology Week 1 Quiz: 2026- WCU
1. Which branch of pharmacology studies what the body does to the drug?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacogenetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacokinetics
Answer: D
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, including
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
2. The time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to be reduced by
50% is called:
A. Onset of action
B. Half-life
C. Duration of action
D. Peak level
Answer: B
Rationale: The half-life of a drug is the time required for the amount of drug in the body to
decrease by 50%.
,3. Drugs that are classified as Schedule II controlled substances are
characterized by:
A. High potential for abuse but have accepted medical use
B. Low potential for abuse and limited physical dependence
C. No accepted medical use
D. Over-the-counter availability without a prescription
Answer: A
Rationale: Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe
psychological or physical dependence, but they have currently accepted medical uses.
4. Which name of a drug is considered the official name and is typically listed in
the United States Pharmacopeia?
A. Chemical name
B. Trade name
C. Generic name
D. Brand name
Answer: C
Rationale: The generic name is the official nonproprietary name assigned by the United
States Adopted Names Council.
5. The process by which a drug is chemically converted in the body into an
inactive or active metabolite is:
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Answer: A
Rationale: Metabolism (or biotransformation) is the chemical alteration of a drug,
primarily occurring in the liver.
, 6. Which route of administration provides 100% bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Intramuscular
C. Subcutaneous
D. Intravenous
Answer: D
Rationale: Intravenous administration bypasses the absorption process and the first-pass
effect, making the entire dose bioavailable.
7. What is the primary site of drug excretion from the body?
A. Liver
B. Lungs
C. Intestines
D. Kidneys
Answer: D
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs responsible for drug excretion via urine.
8. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximum biological response
is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Inhibitor
D. Agonist
Answer: D
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that mimics the action of endogenous molecules by binding
to and activating receptors.
1. Which branch of pharmacology studies what the body does to the drug?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacogenetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacokinetics
Answer: D
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, including
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
2. The time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to be reduced by
50% is called:
A. Onset of action
B. Half-life
C. Duration of action
D. Peak level
Answer: B
Rationale: The half-life of a drug is the time required for the amount of drug in the body to
decrease by 50%.
,3. Drugs that are classified as Schedule II controlled substances are
characterized by:
A. High potential for abuse but have accepted medical use
B. Low potential for abuse and limited physical dependence
C. No accepted medical use
D. Over-the-counter availability without a prescription
Answer: A
Rationale: Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe
psychological or physical dependence, but they have currently accepted medical uses.
4. Which name of a drug is considered the official name and is typically listed in
the United States Pharmacopeia?
A. Chemical name
B. Trade name
C. Generic name
D. Brand name
Answer: C
Rationale: The generic name is the official nonproprietary name assigned by the United
States Adopted Names Council.
5. The process by which a drug is chemically converted in the body into an
inactive or active metabolite is:
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Answer: A
Rationale: Metabolism (or biotransformation) is the chemical alteration of a drug,
primarily occurring in the liver.
, 6. Which route of administration provides 100% bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Intramuscular
C. Subcutaneous
D. Intravenous
Answer: D
Rationale: Intravenous administration bypasses the absorption process and the first-pass
effect, making the entire dose bioavailable.
7. What is the primary site of drug excretion from the body?
A. Liver
B. Lungs
C. Intestines
D. Kidneys
Answer: D
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs responsible for drug excretion via urine.
8. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximum biological response
is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Inhibitor
D. Agonist
Answer: D
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that mimics the action of endogenous molecules by binding
to and activating receptors.
