Medicine Semester 2 Sample questions

MCQs
For each of questions 1-20 select the ONE MOST SUITABLE response from the options
provided.
1. Compared to a non-smoking asbestos worker, an asbestos worker who smokes is 90
times more likely to have
A. lung cancer
B. mesothelioma
C. pneumoconiosis
D. pulmonary fibrosis
E. silicosis
Answer: _____
2. The psychosocial model of stress indicates that stress
A. can be interpreted as the objective response to excessive stimuli
B. is a specific response of the body to a specific demand
C. is caused by over-exposure to life events
D. is unaffected by daily life
E. occurs when perceived demands outweigh personal resources
Answer: _____
3. Aspirin
A. at low doses decreases platelet thromboxane A2 concentrations
B. is a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
C. is a suitable analgesic therapy for patients with asthma
D. is an analgesic that acts on opioid receptors in inflamed tissues
E. specifically inhibits COX2, a cyclo-oxygenase enzyme isoform
Answer: _____
4. A heart with 'left cardiac dominance has the posterior interventricular artery arising
from the
A. basilar artery
B. circumflex artery
C. deep auricular artery
D. marginal artery
E. superior thoracic artery
Answer: _____

5. Passive diffusion of most drugs across cell membranes is

A. dependent on active transport using energy
B. dependent on facilitation by proteins in the membranes
C. inversely proportional to the concentration gradient of the drugs across the
membranes
D. inversely proportional to the surface area of the membrane
E. proportional to the lipid solubility of the drug
Answer: _____

6. An angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor

A. can be used to treat a non-productive cough
B causes arterioles to constrict
C. inhibits ACE in the walls of blood vessels
D. increases production of angiotensin II
E. promotes the actions of rennin
Answer: _____

7. Propagation of the action potential through the heart is fastest in the

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

atrioventricular node
atrial muscle
purkinje fibres
sinoatrial mode
ventricular muscle

Answer: _____
8. The stages of change model (Prochaska & DiClemente) applied to smoking cessation
emphasises that
A. education about smoking can move people between stages.
B. repeated cycling through the stages occurs before permanent cessation is
achieved.
C. smokers need convincing of the value of making lifestyle changes.
D. teaching self-control of actions is crucial.
E. will-power to stop smoking is important in quitting.
Answer: _____

9. To examine whether there is evidence of a difference in systolic blood pressure in a

group of patients before and after a medical consultation the statistical test that should
usually be used is the
A. chi square test
B. Fisher's exact test
C. paired t test
D. unpaired t test
E. Wilcoxon test
Answer: _____
10. The affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen is decreased by
A. a decreased PCO 2
B. a low pH
C. an increased PCO 2
D. low temperature
E. the absence of 2, 3-diphosphoglycate (2, 3DPG)
Answer: _____
11. The most common reason given by donors for blood donation is
A. awareness of the need for blood.
B. humanitarianism and social responsibility.
C. moral obligation.
D. peer pressure.
E. reminders from recruiters.
Answer: _____
12. Bronchial asthma is likely to be relieved by agonists at
A. -adrenoceptors
B. bradykinin receptors
C. histamine receptors
D. leukotriene receptors
E. muscarinic acetylcholine cholinoceptors
Answer: _____
13. Glucocorticoid drugs
A. act via nuclear hormone receptors
B. are analogues of oestradiol
C. have an onset of action of seconds to minutes after administration
D. have to be given by injection
E. increase the formation of leukotrienes and prostaglandins
Answer: _____

14. Blood donors are typically

A. female.
B. recruited by other donors.
C. unemployed.
D. well-educated.
E. young adults.
Answer: _____

15. A person has been stabbed in the right side of the chest. Tension pneumothorax may
result in
A. decreased resonance after percussion
B. engorged leg veins
C. increased sensation of pain due to damaged lung tissue
D. leftward shift of the heart and great vessels
E. slowed respiratory rate
Answer: _____
16. The primary goal of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder is to
A. develop avoidance strategies for cues that trigger traumatic memories.
B. link the patients trauma response back to childhood.
C. prevent the patient from re-experiencing the trauma.
D. realise how the person should have responded to the trauma.
E. undergo some sustained emotional processing of the traumatic memories.
Answer: _____

17. The heart valve that only has only 2 cusps is the
A. aortic semilunar valve
B. mitral valve
C. pulmonary semilunar valve
D. tricuspid valve
E. valve of the inferior vena cava
Answer: _____

18. Erythromycin interferes with bacterial cell growth by

A. binding to bacterial membrane phospholipids and altering permeability to K+

and Na

B. binding to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and preventing protein
synthesis
C. blocking the activity of DNA gyrase
D. disrupting their plasma membranes
E. inhibiting the formation of peptidoglycans of bacterial cell walls
Answer: _____
19. On arrival in A&E the diagnosis of tension pneumothorax is best made using
A. chest x-ray
B. clinical examination
C. magnetic resonance imaging scan of the thorax
D. pulmonary angiography
E. spirometry
Answer: _____
20. The detrimental effects of obesity, in terms of cardiovascular disease, are best
predicted by
A. a gain of more than 5kg.
B. a sedentary lifestyle.
C. body mass index (BMI).
D. central obesity.
E. weight gain after age 30.
Answer: _____

Group MCQs
Questions 21 - 25 are arranged into 2 groups. For each question select the ONE MOST
SUITABLE response from those provided.
Group 1 (questions 21-23)

An attempt to aspirate air from a suspected right-sided pneumothorax is shown above.

21. The mark X is over the
A. fourth intercostal space.
B. pericardial space.
C. second intercostal space.
D. sixth intercostal space.
E. supraclavicular notch.
Answer: _____
22. The vertical line marked by X is the
A. anterior axillary line.
B. mid-clavicular line.
C. midline.
D. posterior axillary line.
E. sternal edge.
Answer: _____
23. The needle is inserted just above the rib to
A. avoid intercostal muscles.
B. avoid the intercostal nerves and vessels.
C. avoid the internal thoracic artery.
D. avoid the vagus nerve.
E. ensure that the needle tip gains access to the pleural cavity.
Answer: _____

Group 2 (questions 24-25)

It is planned to transfuse blood into each of the recipients (1-4) whose blood groups are
indicated in the diagram.
24. When the donated erythrocytes are transfused into recipient 1, they will
A. agglutinate.
B. clot.
C. crenellate.
D. enter the normal circulation.
E. shrink.
Answer: _____
25. When the donated erythrocytes are transfused into recipient 2, they will
A. agglutinate.
B. clot.
C. crenellate.
D. enter the normal circulation.
E. shrink.
Answer: _____
Extended Matching Questions
Questions 26 - 40 are arranged into 3 groups. For each statement in a group, select the
ONE MOST SUITABLE response from the options provided. Each option may be used
once, more than once or not at all.

Group 1 (questions 26-30)

Match the following statements with the appropriate condition.
26. A blockage of a branch of a pulmonary artery causing interruption of blood flow
to a part of the lung
Answer: _____
27. A condition resulting from the inadequate production of surfactant causing the
failure of alveoli to open properly on inspiration
Answer: _____
28. A condition which, if acquired in the community, is commonly caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Answer: _____
29. The partial collapse of a lung caused by the entry of air into the pleural cavity
Answer: _____
30. A restrictive ventilatory disorder
Answer: _____
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.

Anoxia
Asthma
Bronchiectasis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
Emphysema
Pneumonia
Pnemothorax
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary fibrosis
Respiratory distress syndrome

Group 2 (questions 31-35)

For the following drugs that lower blood pressure, identify the most typical unwanted
effect.
31. Amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker)
Answer: _____
32. Bendroflumethiazide (a thiazide diuretic)
Answer: _____
33. Glyceryl trinitrate (a nitrate)
Answer: _____

34. Propanolol (an antagonist at beta-adrenoceptors)

Answer: _____
35. Ramipril (an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor)
Answer: _____
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.

Altered liver function

Ankle oedema
Fatigue and bradycardia
Dry cough
Hypocalcaemia
Hypokalaemia
Hyperkalaemia
Renal failure
Throbbing headache and skin flushing
Visual disturbances

Group 3 (questions 36-40)

Match each of the following statements about heart anatomy to the appropriate structure.
36. Formed mainly by the right atrium and right ventricle.
Answer: _____
37. Formed mainly by the left atrium.
Answer: _____
38. Extends from the 2nd to 6th costal cartilage 3cm to the right of the midline.
Answer: _____
39. Located at the 5th intercostal space in the left midclavicular line.
Answer: _____
40. Lies superior to the central tendon of the diaphragm.
Answer: _____
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.

Anterior surface of heart

Aortic arch
Apex of heart
Base of heart
Inferior border of heart
Inferior surface of heart
Left border of heart
Right border of heart
Superior vena cava
Tricuspid valve

Answers - Medicine Semester 2 Sample questions

1. A
2. E
3. A
4. B
5. E
6. C
7. C
8. B
9. C
10. C
11. B
12. A
13. A
14. B
15. D
16. E
17. B
18. B
19. B
20. D
21. C
22. B
23. B
24. D
25. A
26. H
27. J
28. F
29. G
30. I
31. B
32. F
33. I
34. C
35. D
36. A
37. D
38. H
39. C
40. F