ASWB Social Work Licensing Exam
Practice 4 Questions And Answers.
3. Jason is 16 years old, a socially isolated high school sophomore who is afraid to try
new things. Jason's father is an accountant, a quiet man, and his mother is a full-time
housewife whose parenting style is to focus on problems rather than strengths and to
give lots of advice. He has two older sisters. Except for holiday gatherings of the
extended family, Jason's parents have a limited social life, and they are not active in the
community. Jason's parents ask for an evaluation from a family service agency because
Jason spends all his spare time on the computer, playing games and surfing the net. He
seems interested in nothing else. After an evaluation that confirms Jason's behavior and
his social isolation, the social worker's best recommendation should probably focus on:
1. group treatment of Jason.
2. individual treatment for Jason.
3. family treatment.
4. that Jason joins an after-school computer club. -
\1. Group treatment would offer Jason a setting in which to learn social skills and where
he would get support and guidance for interacting with peers. A computer club would
put him in proximity to peers with a similar interest, but without the agenda of learning
social skills. While individual or family treatment might be useful, they do not directly
address the presenting problem of Jason's isolation in a boy whose family is also
isolated in the community.
5. A soldier returns from Iraq after 18 months of service and is recovering from serious
wounds. After discharge from the military, he takes several short-term jobs that are not
up to his abilities. He is angry, and though never a problem drinker prior to his service,
he now drinks heavily and demonstrates poor motivation at work. He is often depressed
and frequently expresses rage at coworkers, supervisors, and his wife and two children.
There is some concern about family violence as well. The husband and wife request
help from a community-based mental health clinic. How should an initial evaluation of
this case be structured?
1. Individual meetings with the man and his wife.
2. Family meeting with the couple and their children together.
3. Individual meetings for the man and his wife, and their
4. Individual meetings with the man only. -
\3. The [resenting problem involves substance abuse, depression and "rage" expressed
in the presence of the wife and children and others as well as suspicion that there has
been domestic violence. Since the husband has recently returned from Iraq, PTSD
should not be ruled out as PTSD is commonly experienced by returning soldiers. There
have also been many reports of suicide among returning soldiers. Therefore, the worker
should be alert to screening both for suicidality and domestic violence and should
, interview the husband, the wife, and the children, both to observe the relationships and
behavior and evoke information without putting anyone at risk.
9. A board member refers a client to an agency and asks the intake worker to waive the
two-month wait-list because of his personal relationship with the agency and his
involvement in its activities. What should the social worker do?
1. Tell the board member that she cannot do this because of agency rules.
2. Suggest that the board member discuss the issue with the executive director.
3. accept the referral as requested.
4. Say nothing and treat the referral as she would any other. -
\2. The executive director has responsibility for managing board relations. Although the
worker would be correct in answering that (1) she cannot do this, the worker should be
protected and supported in this situation by the executive director.
17. Sally is a 44-year-old nurse who has had several brief extramarital affairs during her
20-year marriage. A year ago, she was involved in a long-term affair that ended when
she was diagnosed with colon cancer that required a temporary colostomy. Despite
successfully reversing the colostomy and returning to normal functioning, making a
good recovery from cancer, and having a positive recommitment to her marriage, Sally
is confused as she finds herself quite depressed. She makes an initial appointment with
the cancer center social worker and asks for a treatment recommendation. The social
worker should suggest:
1. that Sally joins a cancer support group.
2. that despite restabilizing her health and her marriage, she would benefit from
individual therapy for depression.
3. that Sally and her husband should enter marital therapy to work on their long-
standing problems.
4. that Sally's strength in coping with cancer a -
\2. Sally may have residual feelings and fears regarding her health as well as feelings
about the loss of her lover, but these more sensitive and personal issues might not be
easily discussed in a support group. Discussing the latter issue with her husband
present is likely to undermine marital stability. Sally could well profit from a cancer
support group, but it would not be the appropriate place to deal with the full range of her
conflicts. The best choice for her is individual treatment.
24. Charlotte is six years old. She was born with moderately severe cerebral palsy. She
is able to scoot independently on the floor, but she is at risk for self-harm because she
persistently eats non food items such as sand, insects, and house plants. This latter
behavior is called:
1. encopresis.
2. anxiety disorder.
3. autism.
4. pica. -
Practice 4 Questions And Answers.
3. Jason is 16 years old, a socially isolated high school sophomore who is afraid to try
new things. Jason's father is an accountant, a quiet man, and his mother is a full-time
housewife whose parenting style is to focus on problems rather than strengths and to
give lots of advice. He has two older sisters. Except for holiday gatherings of the
extended family, Jason's parents have a limited social life, and they are not active in the
community. Jason's parents ask for an evaluation from a family service agency because
Jason spends all his spare time on the computer, playing games and surfing the net. He
seems interested in nothing else. After an evaluation that confirms Jason's behavior and
his social isolation, the social worker's best recommendation should probably focus on:
1. group treatment of Jason.
2. individual treatment for Jason.
3. family treatment.
4. that Jason joins an after-school computer club. -
\1. Group treatment would offer Jason a setting in which to learn social skills and where
he would get support and guidance for interacting with peers. A computer club would
put him in proximity to peers with a similar interest, but without the agenda of learning
social skills. While individual or family treatment might be useful, they do not directly
address the presenting problem of Jason's isolation in a boy whose family is also
isolated in the community.
5. A soldier returns from Iraq after 18 months of service and is recovering from serious
wounds. After discharge from the military, he takes several short-term jobs that are not
up to his abilities. He is angry, and though never a problem drinker prior to his service,
he now drinks heavily and demonstrates poor motivation at work. He is often depressed
and frequently expresses rage at coworkers, supervisors, and his wife and two children.
There is some concern about family violence as well. The husband and wife request
help from a community-based mental health clinic. How should an initial evaluation of
this case be structured?
1. Individual meetings with the man and his wife.
2. Family meeting with the couple and their children together.
3. Individual meetings for the man and his wife, and their
4. Individual meetings with the man only. -
\3. The [resenting problem involves substance abuse, depression and "rage" expressed
in the presence of the wife and children and others as well as suspicion that there has
been domestic violence. Since the husband has recently returned from Iraq, PTSD
should not be ruled out as PTSD is commonly experienced by returning soldiers. There
have also been many reports of suicide among returning soldiers. Therefore, the worker
should be alert to screening both for suicidality and domestic violence and should
, interview the husband, the wife, and the children, both to observe the relationships and
behavior and evoke information without putting anyone at risk.
9. A board member refers a client to an agency and asks the intake worker to waive the
two-month wait-list because of his personal relationship with the agency and his
involvement in its activities. What should the social worker do?
1. Tell the board member that she cannot do this because of agency rules.
2. Suggest that the board member discuss the issue with the executive director.
3. accept the referral as requested.
4. Say nothing and treat the referral as she would any other. -
\2. The executive director has responsibility for managing board relations. Although the
worker would be correct in answering that (1) she cannot do this, the worker should be
protected and supported in this situation by the executive director.
17. Sally is a 44-year-old nurse who has had several brief extramarital affairs during her
20-year marriage. A year ago, she was involved in a long-term affair that ended when
she was diagnosed with colon cancer that required a temporary colostomy. Despite
successfully reversing the colostomy and returning to normal functioning, making a
good recovery from cancer, and having a positive recommitment to her marriage, Sally
is confused as she finds herself quite depressed. She makes an initial appointment with
the cancer center social worker and asks for a treatment recommendation. The social
worker should suggest:
1. that Sally joins a cancer support group.
2. that despite restabilizing her health and her marriage, she would benefit from
individual therapy for depression.
3. that Sally and her husband should enter marital therapy to work on their long-
standing problems.
4. that Sally's strength in coping with cancer a -
\2. Sally may have residual feelings and fears regarding her health as well as feelings
about the loss of her lover, but these more sensitive and personal issues might not be
easily discussed in a support group. Discussing the latter issue with her husband
present is likely to undermine marital stability. Sally could well profit from a cancer
support group, but it would not be the appropriate place to deal with the full range of her
conflicts. The best choice for her is individual treatment.
24. Charlotte is six years old. She was born with moderately severe cerebral palsy. She
is able to scoot independently on the floor, but she is at risk for self-harm because she
persistently eats non food items such as sand, insects, and house plants. This latter
behavior is called:
1. encopresis.
2. anxiety disorder.
3. autism.
4. pica. -
