Mock ARRT Exam #1
The brightness gained by an image intensification tube is the product of which of the following?
A. Minification gain times tube distance
B. Minification gain times flux gain
C. Flux gain times mA
D. mA times kVp times tube-to-table distance - (correct Answer) - B (Minification gain is a result of the
focusing of the electron beam to a smaller output phosphor. Flux gain is the result of accelerating the
electron beam through a series of electrostatic lens. Multiply the two together to get the brightness
gained.)
This AP radiograph of the hip was done using automatic exposure control (AEC). What could have made
it come out underexposed?
A. mA set too low
B. Small focal spot used
C. Back-up time too short
D. kVp too high - (correct Answer) - C (AEC is designed to reproduce a predetermined density. Changing
mA, kVp and focal spot size should still produce the correct density. However, if the back-up time is too
short, it will terminate the exposure before the ionization device does.)
The skull and spine make up which of the following?
A. True skeleton
B. Bony skeleton
C. Axial skeleton
D. Appendicular skeleton - (correct Answer) - C (The limbs, shoulder girdle, and pelvic girdle make up the
appendicular skeleton)
During retrograde urography contrast media is administered in which of the following ways?
A. Intravenously
,B. Via a cystoscope
C. Via a ureteral catheter
D. Intramuscularly - (correct Answer) - C (Retrograde means backwards, or against the flow. During a
retrograde urography examination, the urologist use a cystoscope to view the bladder and then places
one or two ureteral catheters into the ureter(s) and injects contrast media backwards into the renal
pelvis.)
With digital imaging, radiographers can avoid the possibility of repeats by overexposing the patient. This
practice is referred to as:
A. digital danger.
B. patient indexing.
C. exposure creep.
D. x ray over-load.
. - (correct Answer) - C (Overexposing patients is a problem with digital radiography because it often goes
unnoticed if the exposure indicator numbers are not being monitored)
The margin of error a radiographer has in setting his/her technical factors and still obtaining a diagnostic
quality image is known as what?
A. Luck
B. Technical margin
C. Exposure latitude
D. Error area - (correct Answer) - C (Exposure latitude is the range of technical factor settings that will
produce a diagnostic quality radiograph. For example, if 40 mAs will produce a perfect density, anything
between 30 mAs - 50 mAs will produce a diagnostic quality image. This 20 mAs range is the margin of
error or exposure latitude.)
Which of the following would NOT be considered a type of transmission-based precaution?
A. AIDS
B. Contact
C. Airborne
D. Droplet
,. - (correct Answer) - A (Contact isolation prevents the spread of diseases like staphylococcus, airborne
isolation prevents the spread of airborne diseases like tuberculosis, and droplet precautions prevents the
spread of diseases like influenza)
After a barium enema, you notice that the sheets have fecal material and blood on them. What should
be done with the sheets?
A. Place them in a leak proof linen bag
B. Place them in a red biohazardous bag
C. Place them in a red bag and then put them in a leak-proof linen bag
D. Double bag them - (correct Answer) - A (Linen bags must be leak-proof. Also, all linen is considered
contaminated. Therefore, simply place the sheets in the linen hamper as you would with any other
sheet. The laundry will handle them properly.)
When radiation exposure causes hematopoietic death, what is the main reason why the person died?
A. Hemorrhage
B. Respiratory distress
C. Immune system is destroyed
D. Heart failure - (correct Answer) - C (Since the lymphocytes are the cells that are easiest to destroy, the
person will die from infection.)
Which of the following target materials increases the efficiency and energy of x-ray production?
A. Molybdenum
B. Rhodium
C. Tungsten
D. Xenon - (correct Answer) - C (As the atomic number of the target material increases, efficiency and
energy increases. Molybdenum (Z=42), Rhodium (Z=45), Tungsten (Z=74). Xenon (Z=54) is not a target
material.)
Which of the following positions/projections will best demonstrate the distal tibiofibular joint?
A. AP
B. 15 - 20 degree medial oblique
, C. 45 degree medial oblique
D. Lateral - (correct Answer) - C (The distal tibiofibular joint is best visualized with a 45 degree medial
oblique position of the ankle. A 15 - 20 degree medial oblique position (Mortise) will best demonstrate
the entire ankle joint.)
Which bones make up the elbow joint?
A. Radius and ulna
B. Radius and humerus
C. Radius, ulna and humerus
D. Capitulum, trochlea and radial head - (correct Answer) - C (The elbow joint is made up of articulations
between the forearm (radius and ulna) and the upper arm (humerus).)
Which of the following positions is used to demonstrate foreign bodies in the hand?
A. Tunnel
B. Carpal
C. Ulnar flexion
D. Lateral in extension - (correct Answer) - D (A lateral hand with the fingers extended would show the
depth of a foreign body within the hand.)
There is only one safe solution that can be used to clean photostimulable phosphor plates. Which one is
it?
A. Water
B. Alcohol
C. Isopropyl methanol
D. Anhydrous ethyl alcohol - (correct Answer) - D (It is imperative that the image plates be cleaned only
with anhydrous ethyl alcohol (abbreviated name - anhydrous ethanol). Anything else could damage the
imaging plate)
For an AP projection of the sacrum, how is the CR directed?
A. 10 degrees caudad
The brightness gained by an image intensification tube is the product of which of the following?
A. Minification gain times tube distance
B. Minification gain times flux gain
C. Flux gain times mA
D. mA times kVp times tube-to-table distance - (correct Answer) - B (Minification gain is a result of the
focusing of the electron beam to a smaller output phosphor. Flux gain is the result of accelerating the
electron beam through a series of electrostatic lens. Multiply the two together to get the brightness
gained.)
This AP radiograph of the hip was done using automatic exposure control (AEC). What could have made
it come out underexposed?
A. mA set too low
B. Small focal spot used
C. Back-up time too short
D. kVp too high - (correct Answer) - C (AEC is designed to reproduce a predetermined density. Changing
mA, kVp and focal spot size should still produce the correct density. However, if the back-up time is too
short, it will terminate the exposure before the ionization device does.)
The skull and spine make up which of the following?
A. True skeleton
B. Bony skeleton
C. Axial skeleton
D. Appendicular skeleton - (correct Answer) - C (The limbs, shoulder girdle, and pelvic girdle make up the
appendicular skeleton)
During retrograde urography contrast media is administered in which of the following ways?
A. Intravenously
,B. Via a cystoscope
C. Via a ureteral catheter
D. Intramuscularly - (correct Answer) - C (Retrograde means backwards, or against the flow. During a
retrograde urography examination, the urologist use a cystoscope to view the bladder and then places
one or two ureteral catheters into the ureter(s) and injects contrast media backwards into the renal
pelvis.)
With digital imaging, radiographers can avoid the possibility of repeats by overexposing the patient. This
practice is referred to as:
A. digital danger.
B. patient indexing.
C. exposure creep.
D. x ray over-load.
. - (correct Answer) - C (Overexposing patients is a problem with digital radiography because it often goes
unnoticed if the exposure indicator numbers are not being monitored)
The margin of error a radiographer has in setting his/her technical factors and still obtaining a diagnostic
quality image is known as what?
A. Luck
B. Technical margin
C. Exposure latitude
D. Error area - (correct Answer) - C (Exposure latitude is the range of technical factor settings that will
produce a diagnostic quality radiograph. For example, if 40 mAs will produce a perfect density, anything
between 30 mAs - 50 mAs will produce a diagnostic quality image. This 20 mAs range is the margin of
error or exposure latitude.)
Which of the following would NOT be considered a type of transmission-based precaution?
A. AIDS
B. Contact
C. Airborne
D. Droplet
,. - (correct Answer) - A (Contact isolation prevents the spread of diseases like staphylococcus, airborne
isolation prevents the spread of airborne diseases like tuberculosis, and droplet precautions prevents the
spread of diseases like influenza)
After a barium enema, you notice that the sheets have fecal material and blood on them. What should
be done with the sheets?
A. Place them in a leak proof linen bag
B. Place them in a red biohazardous bag
C. Place them in a red bag and then put them in a leak-proof linen bag
D. Double bag them - (correct Answer) - A (Linen bags must be leak-proof. Also, all linen is considered
contaminated. Therefore, simply place the sheets in the linen hamper as you would with any other
sheet. The laundry will handle them properly.)
When radiation exposure causes hematopoietic death, what is the main reason why the person died?
A. Hemorrhage
B. Respiratory distress
C. Immune system is destroyed
D. Heart failure - (correct Answer) - C (Since the lymphocytes are the cells that are easiest to destroy, the
person will die from infection.)
Which of the following target materials increases the efficiency and energy of x-ray production?
A. Molybdenum
B. Rhodium
C. Tungsten
D. Xenon - (correct Answer) - C (As the atomic number of the target material increases, efficiency and
energy increases. Molybdenum (Z=42), Rhodium (Z=45), Tungsten (Z=74). Xenon (Z=54) is not a target
material.)
Which of the following positions/projections will best demonstrate the distal tibiofibular joint?
A. AP
B. 15 - 20 degree medial oblique
, C. 45 degree medial oblique
D. Lateral - (correct Answer) - C (The distal tibiofibular joint is best visualized with a 45 degree medial
oblique position of the ankle. A 15 - 20 degree medial oblique position (Mortise) will best demonstrate
the entire ankle joint.)
Which bones make up the elbow joint?
A. Radius and ulna
B. Radius and humerus
C. Radius, ulna and humerus
D. Capitulum, trochlea and radial head - (correct Answer) - C (The elbow joint is made up of articulations
between the forearm (radius and ulna) and the upper arm (humerus).)
Which of the following positions is used to demonstrate foreign bodies in the hand?
A. Tunnel
B. Carpal
C. Ulnar flexion
D. Lateral in extension - (correct Answer) - D (A lateral hand with the fingers extended would show the
depth of a foreign body within the hand.)
There is only one safe solution that can be used to clean photostimulable phosphor plates. Which one is
it?
A. Water
B. Alcohol
C. Isopropyl methanol
D. Anhydrous ethyl alcohol - (correct Answer) - D (It is imperative that the image plates be cleaned only
with anhydrous ethyl alcohol (abbreviated name - anhydrous ethanol). Anything else could damage the
imaging plate)
For an AP projection of the sacrum, how is the CR directed?
A. 10 degrees caudad
