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Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care Exam 2026-2027
BANK QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
EXAM QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM HERE (100%
CORRECT ANSWERS A+ GRADED
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is being
assessed. Which of the following findings is most consistent with
pursed-lip breathing?
A. It decreases expiratory airway pressure.
B. It prevents premature airway closure.
C. It increases the work of breathing.
D. It is an involuntary response to hyperoxia.
Answer: B. Pursed-lip breathing creates a slight back pressure in the
airways during exhalation, which helps to stent open small airways that
are prone to collapse. This prevents premature airway closure and air
trapping, common in COPD patients.
2. A respiratory therapist is palpating the chest of a patient with a
suspected pneumothorax. Which tactile sensation is most indicative of
subcutaneous emphysema?
A. A grating sensation over inflamed pleura
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B. A crackling sensation under the skin
C. Increased transmitted voice vibrations
D. A sudden lack of chest wall movement
Answer: B. Subcutaneous emphysema occurs when air leaks into the
tissues under the skin. Palpation reveals a distinctive crackling or
popping sensation, often described as feeling like tissue paper being
crumpled, known as crepitus.
3. During auscultation of a patient's posterior chest, the therapist hears
loud, high-pitched, hollow sounds over the lung fields. These findings
are most consistent with which breath sound?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchovesicular
C. Tracheal
D. Bronchial
Answer: D. Bronchial breath sounds are loud, high-pitched, and hollow
with a distinct pause between inspiration and expiration. The
expiratory phase is longer than the inspiratory phase. When heard over
peripheral lung fields, they indicate consolidation, as sound is
transmitted more directly from the large airways.
4. Which of the following chest wall configurations is characterized by a
forward protrusion of the sternum and a depressed rib cage on both
sides?
A. Pectus excavatum
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B. Pectus carinatum
C. Kyphoscoliosis
D. Barrel chest
Answer: B. Pectus carinatum, often called pigeon chest, involves a
protrusion of the sternum and costal cartilages anteriorly, with the ribs
sloping downwards and inwards. This is a congenital abnormality that
can restrict thoracic volume in severe cases.
5. A patient reports difficulty breathing while lying flat, which is relieved
by sitting upright. This symptom is best documented as:
A. Platypnea
B. Trepopnea
C. Orthopnea
D. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Answer: C. Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when the patient is
recumbent and is usually relieved by sitting or standing. It is a classic
symptom of congestive heart failure, as the supine position increases
venous return to a failing left ventricle, causing pulmonary congestion.
6. During a neurological assessment for a patient with a head injury, the
therapist gently flexes the patient's neck and observes involuntary
flexion of the hips and knees. This finding is known as:
A. Kernig's sign
B. Brudzinski's sign
C. Babinski reflex
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D. Doll's eye reflex
Answer: B. Brudzinski's sign is positive when passive flexion of the neck
causes involuntary flexion of the hips and knees. It is a sign of
meningeal irritation, often indicating meningitis or subarachnoid
hemorrhage.
7. When assessing a patient with suspected left ventricular failure, the
therapist auscultates the heart. An S3 gallop in this patient most likely
indicates:
A. Aortic valve stenosis
B. Normal physiology in older adults
C. Ventricular volume overload
D. Atrial hypertrophy
Answer: C. An S3 gallop, or ventricular gallop, occurs in early diastole
during rapid ventricular filling. In adults, it suggests volume overload
and decreased ventricular compliance, as seen in congestive heart
failure. It is the sound of blood rushing into a stiff, overloaded ventricle.
8. A patient has a respiratory rate of 32 breaths per minute with a tidal
volume of 250 mL. What is the most accurate clinical description of this
breathing pattern?
A. Hyperpnea
B. Hypopnea
C. Tachypnea with shallow breathing
D. Bradypnea with hyperpnea
Wilkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care Exam 2026-2027
BANK QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
EXAM QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM HERE (100%
CORRECT ANSWERS A+ GRADED
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is being
assessed. Which of the following findings is most consistent with
pursed-lip breathing?
A. It decreases expiratory airway pressure.
B. It prevents premature airway closure.
C. It increases the work of breathing.
D. It is an involuntary response to hyperoxia.
Answer: B. Pursed-lip breathing creates a slight back pressure in the
airways during exhalation, which helps to stent open small airways that
are prone to collapse. This prevents premature airway closure and air
trapping, common in COPD patients.
2. A respiratory therapist is palpating the chest of a patient with a
suspected pneumothorax. Which tactile sensation is most indicative of
subcutaneous emphysema?
A. A grating sensation over inflamed pleura
,2|Page
B. A crackling sensation under the skin
C. Increased transmitted voice vibrations
D. A sudden lack of chest wall movement
Answer: B. Subcutaneous emphysema occurs when air leaks into the
tissues under the skin. Palpation reveals a distinctive crackling or
popping sensation, often described as feeling like tissue paper being
crumpled, known as crepitus.
3. During auscultation of a patient's posterior chest, the therapist hears
loud, high-pitched, hollow sounds over the lung fields. These findings
are most consistent with which breath sound?
A. Vesicular
B. Bronchovesicular
C. Tracheal
D. Bronchial
Answer: D. Bronchial breath sounds are loud, high-pitched, and hollow
with a distinct pause between inspiration and expiration. The
expiratory phase is longer than the inspiratory phase. When heard over
peripheral lung fields, they indicate consolidation, as sound is
transmitted more directly from the large airways.
4. Which of the following chest wall configurations is characterized by a
forward protrusion of the sternum and a depressed rib cage on both
sides?
A. Pectus excavatum
,3|Page
B. Pectus carinatum
C. Kyphoscoliosis
D. Barrel chest
Answer: B. Pectus carinatum, often called pigeon chest, involves a
protrusion of the sternum and costal cartilages anteriorly, with the ribs
sloping downwards and inwards. This is a congenital abnormality that
can restrict thoracic volume in severe cases.
5. A patient reports difficulty breathing while lying flat, which is relieved
by sitting upright. This symptom is best documented as:
A. Platypnea
B. Trepopnea
C. Orthopnea
D. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Answer: C. Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when the patient is
recumbent and is usually relieved by sitting or standing. It is a classic
symptom of congestive heart failure, as the supine position increases
venous return to a failing left ventricle, causing pulmonary congestion.
6. During a neurological assessment for a patient with a head injury, the
therapist gently flexes the patient's neck and observes involuntary
flexion of the hips and knees. This finding is known as:
A. Kernig's sign
B. Brudzinski's sign
C. Babinski reflex
, 4|Page
D. Doll's eye reflex
Answer: B. Brudzinski's sign is positive when passive flexion of the neck
causes involuntary flexion of the hips and knees. It is a sign of
meningeal irritation, often indicating meningitis or subarachnoid
hemorrhage.
7. When assessing a patient with suspected left ventricular failure, the
therapist auscultates the heart. An S3 gallop in this patient most likely
indicates:
A. Aortic valve stenosis
B. Normal physiology in older adults
C. Ventricular volume overload
D. Atrial hypertrophy
Answer: C. An S3 gallop, or ventricular gallop, occurs in early diastole
during rapid ventricular filling. In adults, it suggests volume overload
and decreased ventricular compliance, as seen in congestive heart
failure. It is the sound of blood rushing into a stiff, overloaded ventricle.
8. A patient has a respiratory rate of 32 breaths per minute with a tidal
volume of 250 mL. What is the most accurate clinical description of this
breathing pattern?
A. Hyperpnea
B. Hypopnea
C. Tachypnea with shallow breathing
D. Bradypnea with hyperpnea
