Multiple Choice Test Questions
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Programmed Learning and
Medical Word Building
Multiple choice. Select the best answer.
1. Which of the following elements is not a
combining form?
a. gastr/o
b. arthr/o
c. angi
d. nephr/o
e. mast/o
Answer: c
2. The combining form gastr/o refers to the:
a. mouth
b. intestine
c. stomach
d. liver
e. bladder
Answer: c
3. To build a medical word, use a combining
form before a suffix that begins with a:
a. prefix
b. suffix
c. vowel
d. consonant
e. letter "o"
Answer: d
4. Which of the following is a word root?
a. hepat
b. hepato
c. hepatom
d. -megaly
e. hepatomegaly
Answer: a
5. A combining form is a word root plus a:
a. prefix
b. vowel
c. suffix
d. another word root
e. consonant
Answer: b
6. Which of the following is an adjective suffix?
a. -oma
b. -penia
c. -itis
d. -ic
e. -ia
Answer: d
7. An element located at the beginning of a
medical word is a:
a. prefix
b. suffix
c. combining vowel
d. a and c
e. b and c
Answer: a
8. The word root usually indicates:
a. position
b. number
c. condition
d. anatomical structure
e. procedure
Answer: d
9. The prefix in post/mortem means:
a. before
b. after
c. death
d. life
e. beyond
Answer: b
10. Arthr/o/centesisis a surgical puncture of a
joint. In this word, arthr/o is a:
a. prefix
b. suffix
c. word root
d. combining vowel
e. combining form
Answer: e
Chapter 1 37
11. A therm/o/meter is an instrument for
measuring temperature. In this word, -
meteris a(n):
a. adjective
b. prefix
c. combining form
d. compound word
e. suffix
Answer: e
12. Which of the following is an example of a
combining vowel that is used to link one
word root to another word root?
a. gastr/itis
b. gastr/o/dynia
c. gastr/o/esophag/itis
d. gastr/o/megaly
e. gastr/oma
Answer: c
13. Which of the following words is built
incorrectly?
a. my/algia
b. nephr/o/dynia
c. aden/oid
d. gastr/plasty
e. py/o/rrhea
Answer: d
14. The suffix -itismeans:
a. pain
b. blood
c. excision
d. rupture
e. inflammation
Answer: e
15. Which of the following words contains a
prefix?
a. hyperthermia
b. gastric
c. thermometer
d. nephritis
e. cardiac
Answer: a
16. Which of the following statement about
compound words is false?
a. They contain two or more roots or
combining forms.
b. They have only one word element and
a suffix.
c. Their word elements are usually linked
by combining vowels.
d. Their suffixes are added using the rules
that govern suffixes.
e. Their roots may refer to anatomical
structures and organs.
Answer: b
17. Vowels marked with a macron (-) indicate:
a. short sound
b. stress
c. silent letter
d. long sound
e. diphthong
Answer: d
18. Oste/o/chondr/itisis an example of a:
a. suffix that begins with a consonant
b. simple word
c. compound word
d. medical word containing a prefix
e. word with only one word element
Answer: c
19. The oein roentgen is pronounced:
a. ĕ
b. oy
c. ŭ
d. ō
e. ā
Answer: a
20. In medical terms, ch(as in cholera) is
usually pronounced:
a. "chal"
b. "cha"
c. "k"
d. "aitch"
e. "cee"
Answer: c
38 Multiple Choice Test Questions
21. To make words ending in y plural:
a. retain the y and add es
b. drop the y and add es
c. drop the y and add i
d. retain the y and add s
e. drop the y and add ies
Answer: e
22. The plural form of pubis is:
a. pubices
b. pubex
c. pubic
d. pubes
e. pubous
Answer: d
23. What does the suffix -ism mean?
a. small
b. specialist
c. condition
d. pertaining to
e. treatment
Answer: c
24. Which set of noun/adjective terms is paired
incorrectly?
a. vein; venous
b. cardium; cardiac
c. artery; arteries
d. cerebrum; cerebral
e. neuron; neural
Answer: c
25. Which set of singular/plural terms is paired
incorrectly?
a. bursa; bursae
b. thorax; thoraces
c. radius; radii
d. bronchus; bronchial
e. atrium; atria
Answer: d
26. Which set of noun/adjective terms is paired
incorrectly?
a. mucus; mucous
b. myocardium; myocardial
c. ileum; ilea
d. duodenum; duodenal
e. colon; colic
Answer: c
27. What is the adjective form of axilla?
a. axillar
b. axillary
c. axilliac
d. axillae
e. axillic
Answer: b
28. What is the plural form of radius?
a. radii
b. radium
c. radiae
d. radious
e. radial
Answer: a
29. What is the plural form of nucleus?
a. nuclear
b. nucleolus
c. nuclei
d. nucleic
e. nucleii
Answer: c
30. Which of the following is not a diminutive
word?
a. arteriole
b. macule
c. particle
d. atom
e. venule
Answer: d
31. All of the following terms are nouns except:
a. coronary
b. bile
c. lung
d. tooth
e. kidney
Answer: a
32. The plural form of calcaneumis:
a. calcaniae
b. calcaneus
c. calcaneal
d. calcanea
e. calcania
Answer: d
Chapter 1 39
33. To make words ending in is plural:
a. drop is and add es
b. drop is and add ex
c. drop is and add ices
d. drop is and add a
e. retain is and add es
Answer: a
34. All of the following are nouns except:
a. pneumonia
b. alcoholism
c. psychologist
d. psychiatry
e. coronary
Answer: e
35. The plural form of bacterium is:
a. bacteria
b. bacteries
c. bacteriae
d. bacterion
e. bacterias
Answer: a
36. The word for a small vein is:
a. venous
b. venae
c. venule
d. venicle
e. veinula
Answer: c
37. Which set of singular/plural terms is paired
incorrectly?
a. ganglion; ganglia
b. lumen; lumina
c. pleura; pleural
d. deformity; deformities
e. apex; apices
Answer: c
38. Which of the following is a noun form for
heart?
a. cardiac
b. cardium
c. cardial
d. cardii
e. cardiae
Answer: b
39. The word mucous is a(n):
a. adjective
b. adverb
c. noun
d. plural form
e. singular form
Answer: a
40. The plural form of lumen is:
a. lumena
b. lumenae
c. luminata
d. lumina
e. luminal
Answer: d
41. The plural form of bursa is:
a. bursi
b. bursium
c. bursices
d. bursae
e. bursal
Answer: d
42. All of the following are adjectives except:
a. cutaneous
b. acoustic
c. hypodermic
d. pulmonary
e. rectum
Answer: e
40 Multiple Choice Test Questions
43. Which ending is not an adjective ending?
a. -tic
b. -ia
c. -ary
d. -eal
e. -ous
Answer: b
44. Which of the following vowels is most
commonly used in combining forms?
a. a
b. e
c. i
d. o
e. u
Answer: d