WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 3 LATEST 2023 EXAM
A 40-year-old patient without a history of seizures experiences a generalized (tonic-
clonic) seizure. The LEAST likely cause of this seizure is:
A: a serious infection
B: a brain tumor
C: epilepsy
D: intercranial bleeding - ANSWER: C: epilepsy
A patient who is experiencing aphasia is:
A: not able to swallow without choking
B: experiencing a right hemispheric stroke
C: unable to produce or understand speech
D: usually conscious but has slurred speech - ANSWER: C: unable to produce or
understand speech
A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT eligible for thrombolytic
(fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she:
A: has a GCS score that is less than 8
B: has had a prior heart attack
C: is older than 60 years of age
D: has bleeding within the brain - ANSWER: D: has bleeding within the brain
A patient with an altered mental status is:
A: typically alert but is confused as to preceding events
B: usually able to be aroused with a painful stimulus
C: completely unresponsive to all forms of stimuli
D: not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused - ANSWER: D: not thinking
clearly or is incapable of being aroused
Components of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale include:
A: arm drift, memory, and grip strength
B: speech, pupil reaction, and memory
C: facial droop, speech, and pupil size
D: arm drift, speech, and facial droop - ANSWER: D: arm drigt, speech, and facial
droop
Febrile seizures:
A: are usually benign but should be evaluated
B: are also referred to as absence seizures
,C: often result in permanent brain damage
D: occur when a child's fever rises slowly - ANSWER: A: are usually benign but should
be evaluated
Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and
hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the:
A: pancreas
B: kidneys
C: brain
D: liver - ANSWER: D: liver
Muscle control and body coordination are controlled by the:
A: brain stem
B: cerebral cortex
C: cerebellum
D: cerebrum - ANSWER: C: cerebellum
Status epilepticus is characterized by:
A: generalized seizures that last less than 5 minutes
B: an absence seizure that is not preceded by an aura
C: prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness
D: profound tachycardia and total muscle flaccidity - ANSWER: C: prolonged seizures
without a return of consciousness
The most basic functions of the body, such as breathing, blood pressure, and
swallowing, are controlled by the:
A: brain stem
B: cerebellum
C: cerebral cortex
D: cerebrum - ANSWER: A: brain stem
The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is:
A: hypertension
B: diabetes mellitus
C: severe stress
D: heavy exertion - ANSWER: A: hypertension
The spinal cord exits the cranium through the:
A: foramen magnum
B: cauda equina
C: foramen lamina
,D: vertebral foramen - ANSWER: A: foramen magnum
The three major parts of the brain are the:
A: cerebellum, medulla, and occiput
B: cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem
C: brain stem, midbrain, and spinal cord
D: midbrain, cerebellum, and spinal cord - ANSWER: B: cerebrum, cerebellum, and
brain stem
When assessing for arm drift of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should:
A: ask the patient to hold his or her arms up with the palms down
B: ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment
C: observe movement of the arms for approximately 2 minutes
D: expect to see one arm slowly drift down to the patient's side - ANSWER: B: ask the
patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment
When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, you should be MOST
alert for:
A: an acute stroke
B: a seizure
C: respiratory distress
D: a febrile convulsion - ANSWER: B: a seizure
Which of the following clinical signs is MOST suggestive of a ruptured aneurysm:
A: Confusion and weakness
B: Unilateral hemiparesis
C: Sudden, severe headache
D: Nasal discharge of blood - ANSWER: C: Sudden, severe headache
Which of the following conditions would MOST likely affect the entire brain:
A: Blocked cerebral artery in the frontal lobe
B: Ruptured cerebral artery in the occipital lobe
C: Reduced blood supply to the left hemisphere
D: Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest - ANSWER: D: Respiratory failure or
cardiopulmonary arrest
Which of the following findings should concern the EMT the MOST when assessing a
patient who complains of a headache:
A: Neck stiffness or pain
B: Sinus congestion
C: Slow onset of symptoms
, D: History of migraines - ANSWER: A: Neck stiffness or pain
Which of the following is characteristic of a focal-onset aware seizure:
A: No change in vision, smell, or taste
B: Generalized twitching of all muscles
C: Absence of breathing
D: Normal level of consciousness - ANSWER: D: Normal level of consciousness
Which of the following MOST accurately describes the cause of an ischemic stroke:
A: Blockage of a cerebral artery
B: Narrowing of a carotid artery
C: Rupture of a cerebral artery
D: Acute atherosclerotic disease - ANSWER: A: Blockage of a cerebral artery
A 60-year-old female presents with a tearing sensation in her lower back. Her skin is
sweaty, and she is tachycardic. The EMT should suspect:
A: kidney stones
B: aortic aneurysm
C: strangulated hernia
D: acute pancreatitis - ANSWER: B: aortic aneurysm
A strangulated hernia is one that:
A: can be pushed back into the body cavity to which it belongs
B: spontaneously reduces without any surgical intervention
C: loses its blood supply due to compression by local tissues
D: is reducible if surgical intervention occurs within 2 hours - ANSWER: C: loses its
blood supply due to compression by local tissues
Chronic renal failure is a condition that:
A: can be reversed with prompt treatment
B: causes dehydration from excessive urination
C: is often caused by hypertension or diabetes
D: occurs from conditions such as dehydration - ANSWER: C: is often caused by
hypertension or diabetes
Erosion of the protective layer of the stomach or duodenum secondary to
overactivity of digestive juices results in:
A: cholecystitis
B: ileus
C: appendicitis
D: an ulcer - ANSWER: D: an ulcer
A 40-year-old patient without a history of seizures experiences a generalized (tonic-
clonic) seizure. The LEAST likely cause of this seizure is:
A: a serious infection
B: a brain tumor
C: epilepsy
D: intercranial bleeding - ANSWER: C: epilepsy
A patient who is experiencing aphasia is:
A: not able to swallow without choking
B: experiencing a right hemispheric stroke
C: unable to produce or understand speech
D: usually conscious but has slurred speech - ANSWER: C: unable to produce or
understand speech
A patient who is possibly experiencing a stroke is NOT eligible for thrombolytic
(fibrinolytic) therapy if he or she:
A: has a GCS score that is less than 8
B: has had a prior heart attack
C: is older than 60 years of age
D: has bleeding within the brain - ANSWER: D: has bleeding within the brain
A patient with an altered mental status is:
A: typically alert but is confused as to preceding events
B: usually able to be aroused with a painful stimulus
C: completely unresponsive to all forms of stimuli
D: not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused - ANSWER: D: not thinking
clearly or is incapable of being aroused
Components of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale include:
A: arm drift, memory, and grip strength
B: speech, pupil reaction, and memory
C: facial droop, speech, and pupil size
D: arm drift, speech, and facial droop - ANSWER: D: arm drigt, speech, and facial
droop
Febrile seizures:
A: are usually benign but should be evaluated
B: are also referred to as absence seizures
,C: often result in permanent brain damage
D: occur when a child's fever rises slowly - ANSWER: A: are usually benign but should
be evaluated
Individuals with chronic alcoholism are predisposed to intracranial bleeding and
hypoglycemia secondary to abnormalities in the:
A: pancreas
B: kidneys
C: brain
D: liver - ANSWER: D: liver
Muscle control and body coordination are controlled by the:
A: brain stem
B: cerebral cortex
C: cerebellum
D: cerebrum - ANSWER: C: cerebellum
Status epilepticus is characterized by:
A: generalized seizures that last less than 5 minutes
B: an absence seizure that is not preceded by an aura
C: prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness
D: profound tachycardia and total muscle flaccidity - ANSWER: C: prolonged seizures
without a return of consciousness
The most basic functions of the body, such as breathing, blood pressure, and
swallowing, are controlled by the:
A: brain stem
B: cerebellum
C: cerebral cortex
D: cerebrum - ANSWER: A: brain stem
The MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is:
A: hypertension
B: diabetes mellitus
C: severe stress
D: heavy exertion - ANSWER: A: hypertension
The spinal cord exits the cranium through the:
A: foramen magnum
B: cauda equina
C: foramen lamina
,D: vertebral foramen - ANSWER: A: foramen magnum
The three major parts of the brain are the:
A: cerebellum, medulla, and occiput
B: cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem
C: brain stem, midbrain, and spinal cord
D: midbrain, cerebellum, and spinal cord - ANSWER: B: cerebrum, cerebellum, and
brain stem
When assessing for arm drift of a patient with a suspected stroke, you should:
A: ask the patient to hold his or her arms up with the palms down
B: ask the patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment
C: observe movement of the arms for approximately 2 minutes
D: expect to see one arm slowly drift down to the patient's side - ANSWER: B: ask the
patient to close his or her eyes during the assessment
When caring for a patient with documented hypoglycemia, you should be MOST
alert for:
A: an acute stroke
B: a seizure
C: respiratory distress
D: a febrile convulsion - ANSWER: B: a seizure
Which of the following clinical signs is MOST suggestive of a ruptured aneurysm:
A: Confusion and weakness
B: Unilateral hemiparesis
C: Sudden, severe headache
D: Nasal discharge of blood - ANSWER: C: Sudden, severe headache
Which of the following conditions would MOST likely affect the entire brain:
A: Blocked cerebral artery in the frontal lobe
B: Ruptured cerebral artery in the occipital lobe
C: Reduced blood supply to the left hemisphere
D: Respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest - ANSWER: D: Respiratory failure or
cardiopulmonary arrest
Which of the following findings should concern the EMT the MOST when assessing a
patient who complains of a headache:
A: Neck stiffness or pain
B: Sinus congestion
C: Slow onset of symptoms
, D: History of migraines - ANSWER: A: Neck stiffness or pain
Which of the following is characteristic of a focal-onset aware seizure:
A: No change in vision, smell, or taste
B: Generalized twitching of all muscles
C: Absence of breathing
D: Normal level of consciousness - ANSWER: D: Normal level of consciousness
Which of the following MOST accurately describes the cause of an ischemic stroke:
A: Blockage of a cerebral artery
B: Narrowing of a carotid artery
C: Rupture of a cerebral artery
D: Acute atherosclerotic disease - ANSWER: A: Blockage of a cerebral artery
A 60-year-old female presents with a tearing sensation in her lower back. Her skin is
sweaty, and she is tachycardic. The EMT should suspect:
A: kidney stones
B: aortic aneurysm
C: strangulated hernia
D: acute pancreatitis - ANSWER: B: aortic aneurysm
A strangulated hernia is one that:
A: can be pushed back into the body cavity to which it belongs
B: spontaneously reduces without any surgical intervention
C: loses its blood supply due to compression by local tissues
D: is reducible if surgical intervention occurs within 2 hours - ANSWER: C: loses its
blood supply due to compression by local tissues
Chronic renal failure is a condition that:
A: can be reversed with prompt treatment
B: causes dehydration from excessive urination
C: is often caused by hypertension or diabetes
D: occurs from conditions such as dehydration - ANSWER: C: is often caused by
hypertension or diabetes
Erosion of the protective layer of the stomach or duodenum secondary to
overactivity of digestive juices results in:
A: cholecystitis
B: ileus
C: appendicitis
D: an ulcer - ANSWER: D: an ulcer
