Chapter 01: Introduction to Radiation Protection
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Some consequences of ionization in human cells include:
1. creation of unstable atoms.
2. production of free electrons.
3. creation of reactive free radicals capable of producing substances poisonous to the cell.
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 2
2. Which of the following is a special form of radiation that is capable of creating electrically
charged particles by removing orbital electrons from the atom of the material with which it
interacts?
a. Ionizing radiation
b. Nonionizing radiation
c. Subatomic radiation
d. Ultrasonic radiation
ANS: A REF: 2
3. Patients who have an understanding of the medical benefits of an imaging procedure because
they received factual information about the study before having the examination are more
likely to:
a. assume a small risk of biologic damage but not overcome any radiation phobia
they may have.
b. cancel their scheduled procedure because they are not willing to assume a small
risk of biologic damage.
c. overcome any radiation phobia but not assume a small risk of possible biologic
damage.
d. overcome any radiation phobia and be willing to assume a small risk of possible
biologic damage.
ANS: D REF: 8
4. The millisievert (mSv) is equal to:
a. 1/10 of a sievert.
b. 1/100 of a sievert.
c. 1/1000 of a sievert.
d. 1/10,000 of a sievert.
ANS: C REF: 9
5. The advantages of the BERT method are:
1. it does not imply radiation risk; it is simply a means for comparison.
, 2. it emphasizes that radiation is an innate part of our environment.
3. the answer given in terms of BERT is easy for the patient to comprehend.
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1 and 3 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 9
6. If a patient asks a radiographer a question about the potential risk of radiation exposure
associated with a specific x-ray procedure, the radiographer should:
a. use his or her intelligence and knowledge to answer the question honestly and
provide a suitable example that compares the amount of radiation received from
the procedure in question with natural background radiation received over a given
period of time.
b. avoid the patient’s question by changing the subject.
c. tell the patient that it is unethical to discuss such concerns.
d. refuse to answer the question and recommend that he or she speak with the
referring physician.
ANS: A REF: 9
7. Which of the following is the intention behind the ALARA concept?
a. To keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at the highest possible level
b. To keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at an average level
c. To keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at the lowest possible level
d. To avoid the use of ionizing radiation in radiologic practice
ANS: C REF: 5
8. The basic principles of radiation protection include which of the following?
1. Time
2. Distance
3. Shielding
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 5
9. In a hospital setting, which of the following professionals is expressly charged by the hospital
administration to be directly responsible for the execution, enforcement, and maintenance of
the ALARA program?
a. Assistant administrator of the facility
b. Chief of staff
c. Radiation Safety Officer
d. Student radiologic technologist
ANS: C REF: 8
,10. Why is a question about the amount of radiation a patient will receive during a specific x-ray
procedure difficult to answer?
1. Because the received dose is measured in a number of different units
2. Because scientific units for radiation dose are not comprehensible by the patient
3. Because the patient should not receive any information about radiation dose
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1 and 3 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: A REF: 9
11. X-rays are a form of which of the following kinds of radiation?
a. Environmental
b. Ionizing
c. Internal
d. Nonionizing
ANS: B REF: 2
12. The radiographer must answer patient questions about the potential risk of radiation exposure:
a. abruptly to discourage the patient from asking any other questions.
b. evasively so as not to reveal any information about radiation risk.
c. honestly and in understandable terms.
d. with technical terms.
ANS: C REF: 9
13. Radiation phobia can be greatly reduced by explaining the diagnostic radiation dose to the
patient by using the:
a. ALARA method.
b. BERT method.
c. ORP method.
d. TRACE method.
ANS: B REF: 10
14. Which of the following provides the basis for determining whether an imaging procedure or
practice is justified?
a. ALARA program
b. BERT method
c. Efficacy
d. TRACE program
ANS: C REF: 4
15. Which of the following is a method of explaining radiation to the public?
a. ALARA
b. BERT
c. ORP
d. Standardized dose reporting
, ANS: B REF: 10
16. Some ways of providing education for non-radiologist physicians who perform fluoroscopic
procedures can include:
1. creating increased awareness of radiation dose for specific procedures through discussion.
2. establishing goals for lowering radiation dose for patients, assisting personnel, and
themselves.
3. radiographers helping physicians performing fluoroscopic procedures by informing them
that they have reached a specific dose, thereby giving fluoroscopists the opportunity to decide
to continue or stop a procedure.
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 11
17. Some ways of providing education for imaging department staff are:
1. providing in-service education on various radiation safety topics to accommodate
individual needs of staff members.
2. handing out a facts-to-remember sheet at the end of an in-service program.
3. e-mailing the most important topics covered in a staff in-service program to imaging staff
members to help reinforce and retain vital information.
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 11
18. The TRACE program creates:
a. an analysis of radiation dose.
b. greater awareness of radiation dose.
c. a system of radiation dose reporting.
d. a means for determining radiation dose in fluoroscopic procedures.
ANS: B REF: 11
19. Typically, people are more willing to accept a risk if they perceive that the potential benefit to
be obtained is:
a. greater than the risk involved.
b. equal to the risk involved.
c. less than the risk involved.
d. typically, people are not willing to accept risk no matter how great the benefit may
be.
ANS: A REF: 8
20. Which of the following statements below is true?
a. It appears that no safe dose level exists for radiation-induced malignant disease.
b. The ALARA method establishes a dose level for radiation-induced malignancy.
c. The BERT method establishes a dose level for radiation-induced malignancy.
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Some consequences of ionization in human cells include:
1. creation of unstable atoms.
2. production of free electrons.
3. creation of reactive free radicals capable of producing substances poisonous to the cell.
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 2
2. Which of the following is a special form of radiation that is capable of creating electrically
charged particles by removing orbital electrons from the atom of the material with which it
interacts?
a. Ionizing radiation
b. Nonionizing radiation
c. Subatomic radiation
d. Ultrasonic radiation
ANS: A REF: 2
3. Patients who have an understanding of the medical benefits of an imaging procedure because
they received factual information about the study before having the examination are more
likely to:
a. assume a small risk of biologic damage but not overcome any radiation phobia
they may have.
b. cancel their scheduled procedure because they are not willing to assume a small
risk of biologic damage.
c. overcome any radiation phobia but not assume a small risk of possible biologic
damage.
d. overcome any radiation phobia and be willing to assume a small risk of possible
biologic damage.
ANS: D REF: 8
4. The millisievert (mSv) is equal to:
a. 1/10 of a sievert.
b. 1/100 of a sievert.
c. 1/1000 of a sievert.
d. 1/10,000 of a sievert.
ANS: C REF: 9
5. The advantages of the BERT method are:
1. it does not imply radiation risk; it is simply a means for comparison.
, 2. it emphasizes that radiation is an innate part of our environment.
3. the answer given in terms of BERT is easy for the patient to comprehend.
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1 and 3 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 9
6. If a patient asks a radiographer a question about the potential risk of radiation exposure
associated with a specific x-ray procedure, the radiographer should:
a. use his or her intelligence and knowledge to answer the question honestly and
provide a suitable example that compares the amount of radiation received from
the procedure in question with natural background radiation received over a given
period of time.
b. avoid the patient’s question by changing the subject.
c. tell the patient that it is unethical to discuss such concerns.
d. refuse to answer the question and recommend that he or she speak with the
referring physician.
ANS: A REF: 9
7. Which of the following is the intention behind the ALARA concept?
a. To keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at the highest possible level
b. To keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at an average level
c. To keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at the lowest possible level
d. To avoid the use of ionizing radiation in radiologic practice
ANS: C REF: 5
8. The basic principles of radiation protection include which of the following?
1. Time
2. Distance
3. Shielding
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 5
9. In a hospital setting, which of the following professionals is expressly charged by the hospital
administration to be directly responsible for the execution, enforcement, and maintenance of
the ALARA program?
a. Assistant administrator of the facility
b. Chief of staff
c. Radiation Safety Officer
d. Student radiologic technologist
ANS: C REF: 8
,10. Why is a question about the amount of radiation a patient will receive during a specific x-ray
procedure difficult to answer?
1. Because the received dose is measured in a number of different units
2. Because scientific units for radiation dose are not comprehensible by the patient
3. Because the patient should not receive any information about radiation dose
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1 and 3 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: A REF: 9
11. X-rays are a form of which of the following kinds of radiation?
a. Environmental
b. Ionizing
c. Internal
d. Nonionizing
ANS: B REF: 2
12. The radiographer must answer patient questions about the potential risk of radiation exposure:
a. abruptly to discourage the patient from asking any other questions.
b. evasively so as not to reveal any information about radiation risk.
c. honestly and in understandable terms.
d. with technical terms.
ANS: C REF: 9
13. Radiation phobia can be greatly reduced by explaining the diagnostic radiation dose to the
patient by using the:
a. ALARA method.
b. BERT method.
c. ORP method.
d. TRACE method.
ANS: B REF: 10
14. Which of the following provides the basis for determining whether an imaging procedure or
practice is justified?
a. ALARA program
b. BERT method
c. Efficacy
d. TRACE program
ANS: C REF: 4
15. Which of the following is a method of explaining radiation to the public?
a. ALARA
b. BERT
c. ORP
d. Standardized dose reporting
, ANS: B REF: 10
16. Some ways of providing education for non-radiologist physicians who perform fluoroscopic
procedures can include:
1. creating increased awareness of radiation dose for specific procedures through discussion.
2. establishing goals for lowering radiation dose for patients, assisting personnel, and
themselves.
3. radiographers helping physicians performing fluoroscopic procedures by informing them
that they have reached a specific dose, thereby giving fluoroscopists the opportunity to decide
to continue or stop a procedure.
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 11
17. Some ways of providing education for imaging department staff are:
1. providing in-service education on various radiation safety topics to accommodate
individual needs of staff members.
2. handing out a facts-to-remember sheet at the end of an in-service program.
3. e-mailing the most important topics covered in a staff in-service program to imaging staff
members to help reinforce and retain vital information.
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3
ANS: D REF: 11
18. The TRACE program creates:
a. an analysis of radiation dose.
b. greater awareness of radiation dose.
c. a system of radiation dose reporting.
d. a means for determining radiation dose in fluoroscopic procedures.
ANS: B REF: 11
19. Typically, people are more willing to accept a risk if they perceive that the potential benefit to
be obtained is:
a. greater than the risk involved.
b. equal to the risk involved.
c. less than the risk involved.
d. typically, people are not willing to accept risk no matter how great the benefit may
be.
ANS: A REF: 8
20. Which of the following statements below is true?
a. It appears that no safe dose level exists for radiation-induced malignant disease.
b. The ALARA method establishes a dose level for radiation-induced malignancy.
c. The BERT method establishes a dose level for radiation-induced malignancy.
