EMT Basic Exam 4
1. In a healthy individual, the brain stem stimulates breathing on the basis of:
A. decreased oxygen levels.
B. increased carbon dioxide levels.
C. increased oxygen levels.
D. decreased carbon dioxide levels. Answer: B.increased carbon dioxide levels.
2. Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing?
A. 22 breaths/min with an irregular pattern of breathing and cyanosis
B. 24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin
C. 20 breaths/min with shallow movement of the chest wall and pallor
D. 30 breaths/min with supraclavicular retractions and clammy skin Answer: B.
24breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin
,3. Acute pulmonary edema would MOST likely develop as the result of:
A. severe hyperventilation.
B. right-sided heart failure.
C. toxic chemical inhalation.
D. an upper airway infection. Answer: C.toxic chemical inhalation.
4. A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He denies
any past medical history and takes no medications.During your assessment, you hear wheezing over all lung
fields.His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to giving him 100%
oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:
A. epinephrine.
B. albuterol.
,C. an antihistamine.
D. a beta-antagonist. Answer: A.epinephrine.
5. A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and pleuritic
chest pain following a forceful cough.Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped chest, unilaterally dimin-
ished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this patient's condition?
A. spontaneous pneumothorax
B. rupture of the diaphragm
C. exacerbation of his COPD
D. acute pulmonary embolism Answer: A.spontaneous pneumothorax
6. You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awak-ened by shortness of breath and sharp
chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery.Your
assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, andan oxygen saturation of 88%.This patient's
presentation is MOST consistentwith:
A. acute pulmonary edema.
B. spontaneous pneumothorax.
, C. acute pulmonary embolism.
D. right-sided heart failure. Answer: C.acute pulmonary embolism.
7. A60-year-oldmalepresentswithacuterespiratorydistress.Heisconsciousand alert, has pink and dry skin, and
has respirations of 24 breaths/min
with adequate depth.Which of the following treatment modalities is MOSTappropriate for this patient?
A. oxygen via a nasal cannula,vital signs,and prompt transport to the hospital
1. In a healthy individual, the brain stem stimulates breathing on the basis of:
A. decreased oxygen levels.
B. increased carbon dioxide levels.
C. increased oxygen levels.
D. decreased carbon dioxide levels. Answer: B.increased carbon dioxide levels.
2. Which of the following is MOST characteristic of adequate breathing?
A. 22 breaths/min with an irregular pattern of breathing and cyanosis
B. 24 breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin
C. 20 breaths/min with shallow movement of the chest wall and pallor
D. 30 breaths/min with supraclavicular retractions and clammy skin Answer: B.
24breaths/min with bilaterally equal breath sounds and pink skin
,3. Acute pulmonary edema would MOST likely develop as the result of:
A. severe hyperventilation.
B. right-sided heart failure.
C. toxic chemical inhalation.
D. an upper airway infection. Answer: C.toxic chemical inhalation.
4. A 30-year-old male presents with acute shortness of breath, widespread hives, and facial swelling. He denies
any past medical history and takes no medications.During your assessment, you hear wheezing over all lung
fields.His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 110 beats/min. In addition to giving him 100%
oxygen, the MOST important treatment for this patient is:
A. epinephrine.
B. albuterol.
,C. an antihistamine.
D. a beta-antagonist. Answer: A.epinephrine.
5. A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and pleuritic
chest pain following a forceful cough.Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped chest, unilaterally dimin-
ished breath sounds, and tachycardia. What is the MOST likely cause of this patient's condition?
A. spontaneous pneumothorax
B. rupture of the diaphragm
C. exacerbation of his COPD
D. acute pulmonary embolism Answer: A.spontaneous pneumothorax
6. You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awak-ened by shortness of breath and sharp
chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery.Your
assessment reveals dried blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, andan oxygen saturation of 88%.This patient's
presentation is MOST consistentwith:
A. acute pulmonary edema.
B. spontaneous pneumothorax.
, C. acute pulmonary embolism.
D. right-sided heart failure. Answer: C.acute pulmonary embolism.
7. A60-year-oldmalepresentswithacuterespiratorydistress.Heisconsciousand alert, has pink and dry skin, and
has respirations of 24 breaths/min
with adequate depth.Which of the following treatment modalities is MOSTappropriate for this patient?
A. oxygen via a nasal cannula,vital signs,and prompt transport to the hospital
