Medical Interpreter Final Exam
Questions with Complete Solutions
Which of the following are appropriate roles for the medical interpreter?
Provide the listener with cultural information to facilitate understanding
Adjust the register when necessary to make sure the patient and provider have
understood each other
Repeat a message spoken in one language in another language without adjusting the
register
All of the above - Answer-All of the above
Question 2
pts
Which of the following is NOT a part of an interpreter's role?
Informing the patient about his rights within the system.
Providing a doctor with cultural information relevant to something a patient said.
Helping the patient to decide which treatment option is best.
Checking to see if a patient understood something the physician said. - Answer-Helping
the patient to decide which treatment option is best.
Question 3
pts
You have interpreted several times for a young man in primary care who had been
treated for a sexually transmitted disease and problems with alcohol and drug abuse.
One day you are at your brother's home and you are shocked to discover that this same
young man is dating your niece. What should you do?
Warn your brother about the young man's problems.
,Say nothing to your brother about this young man's health problems and do not interpret
for this young man in the future.
Warn the young man that if he doesn't stay away from your niece, you'll tell her father
about his health problems. d. Leave a note for your niece warning her about this young
man's problems, but don't let her know it's from you.
Leave a note for your niece warning her of this young man's problems, but do not let her
know it is from you. - Answer-Say nothing to your brother about this young man's health
problems and do not interpret for this young man in the future.
Question 4
pts
The patient is applying for financial assistance and has just told the Account
Representative that she has no husband and that she is raising five children. You have
interpreted for her before and believe that she is not telling the truth: that her husband
lives with her and that they only have three children. What should you do?
Just interpret what the patient says.
Tell the Account Representative that the patient is not telling the truth.
Wait until the patient leaves; then tell the Account Representative that the patient is not
telling the truth
Warn the patient that you know she is not telling the truth and urge her to tell the -
Answer-Just interpret what the patient says.
Question 5
pts
You have been interpreting for a patient in nephrology who is on the list for a kidney
transplant. After the appointment, the doctor asks whether you think the patient will be
able to manage all the medications involved in post-transplant care. What should you
do?
Say yes, otherwise the doctor may take the patient off the transplant list.
Tell the doctor that you have to think about it some more.
, Explain to the doctor that you cannot speak on behalf of the patient but you are happy
to return to the room and interpret the question to the patient.
Tell the doctor what you honestly think. - Answer-Explain to the doctor that you cannot
speak on behalf of the patient but you are happy to return to the room and interpret the
question to the patient.
Question 6
pts
What should you do if you realize that you have made a mistake in interpreting the
patient's symptoms to the doctor?
Wait till the end of the session and then tell the doctor you made a mistake.
Just keep going; it would cause confusion in the conversation if you go back.
Let patient and provider know you made a mistake as soon as you realize it, and tell
them the correction.
Add the correct information to the interpretation without intervening. - Answer-Let
patient and provider know you made a mistake as soon as you realize it, and tell them
the correction.
Question 7
pts
The patient in this case is a 15-year-old girl who speaks both English and Somali. She
is seeing a neurologist about her seizures. The parents of the patient have come with
her, and they speak only Somali. What mode or modes of interpreting will the interpreter
need to use?
Consecutive and Simultaneous
Simultaneous and Sight Translation
Summarization and Consecutive
Consecutive - Answer-Consecutive and Simultaneous
Question 8
pts
Questions with Complete Solutions
Which of the following are appropriate roles for the medical interpreter?
Provide the listener with cultural information to facilitate understanding
Adjust the register when necessary to make sure the patient and provider have
understood each other
Repeat a message spoken in one language in another language without adjusting the
register
All of the above - Answer-All of the above
Question 2
pts
Which of the following is NOT a part of an interpreter's role?
Informing the patient about his rights within the system.
Providing a doctor with cultural information relevant to something a patient said.
Helping the patient to decide which treatment option is best.
Checking to see if a patient understood something the physician said. - Answer-Helping
the patient to decide which treatment option is best.
Question 3
pts
You have interpreted several times for a young man in primary care who had been
treated for a sexually transmitted disease and problems with alcohol and drug abuse.
One day you are at your brother's home and you are shocked to discover that this same
young man is dating your niece. What should you do?
Warn your brother about the young man's problems.
,Say nothing to your brother about this young man's health problems and do not interpret
for this young man in the future.
Warn the young man that if he doesn't stay away from your niece, you'll tell her father
about his health problems. d. Leave a note for your niece warning her about this young
man's problems, but don't let her know it's from you.
Leave a note for your niece warning her of this young man's problems, but do not let her
know it is from you. - Answer-Say nothing to your brother about this young man's health
problems and do not interpret for this young man in the future.
Question 4
pts
The patient is applying for financial assistance and has just told the Account
Representative that she has no husband and that she is raising five children. You have
interpreted for her before and believe that she is not telling the truth: that her husband
lives with her and that they only have three children. What should you do?
Just interpret what the patient says.
Tell the Account Representative that the patient is not telling the truth.
Wait until the patient leaves; then tell the Account Representative that the patient is not
telling the truth
Warn the patient that you know she is not telling the truth and urge her to tell the -
Answer-Just interpret what the patient says.
Question 5
pts
You have been interpreting for a patient in nephrology who is on the list for a kidney
transplant. After the appointment, the doctor asks whether you think the patient will be
able to manage all the medications involved in post-transplant care. What should you
do?
Say yes, otherwise the doctor may take the patient off the transplant list.
Tell the doctor that you have to think about it some more.
, Explain to the doctor that you cannot speak on behalf of the patient but you are happy
to return to the room and interpret the question to the patient.
Tell the doctor what you honestly think. - Answer-Explain to the doctor that you cannot
speak on behalf of the patient but you are happy to return to the room and interpret the
question to the patient.
Question 6
pts
What should you do if you realize that you have made a mistake in interpreting the
patient's symptoms to the doctor?
Wait till the end of the session and then tell the doctor you made a mistake.
Just keep going; it would cause confusion in the conversation if you go back.
Let patient and provider know you made a mistake as soon as you realize it, and tell
them the correction.
Add the correct information to the interpretation without intervening. - Answer-Let
patient and provider know you made a mistake as soon as you realize it, and tell them
the correction.
Question 7
pts
The patient in this case is a 15-year-old girl who speaks both English and Somali. She
is seeing a neurologist about her seizures. The parents of the patient have come with
her, and they speak only Somali. What mode or modes of interpreting will the interpreter
need to use?
Consecutive and Simultaneous
Simultaneous and Sight Translation
Summarization and Consecutive
Consecutive - Answer-Consecutive and Simultaneous
Question 8
pts
