Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which organization(s) saw the need for standardized education for pharmacy technicians?
a. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
b. American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
c. Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA)
d. All of the above
ANS: D
An urgent need for standardized training arose in the 1960s as pharmacist organizations, such
as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Michigan Pharmacists
Association (MPA), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), realized that
technicians would be able to better serve the patient with additional training.
3. In which language were medicinal recipes (prescriptions) written until the 1900s?
a. French
b. Greek
c. Latin
d. Italian
ANS: C
Medicinal recipes were written in Latin until the 1900s. Many Latin abbreviations are still in
use when writing prescriptions.
4. Which of the following old time remedies are still being used today?
a. Maggots
b. Trephining
c. Leeches
d. A and C
ANS: D
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of both leeches and maggots
in the medical setting in 1976. Trephining was the practice of cutting into the skull to give the
evil spirit a portal through which to leave and is no longer used.
5. The effects associated with opioid receptors include all of the following except:
a. Analgesia
b. Respiratory depression
c. Increased gastrointestinal motility
d. Euphoria
ANS: C
The effects associated with the opioid receptors include analgesia, respiratory depression,
pupil constriction, reduced gastrointestinal motility, euphoria, dysphoria, sedation, and
physical dependence.
6. Which of the following choices best describes sources of materials for remedies in ancient
times?
a. Chemicals, minerals, and vitamins
b. Minerals, animals, and plant parts
c. Bodies of water, plant parts, and dirt
d. Prayer, bones, and plant parts
ANS: B
Archaeologic discoveries have revealed civilizations that documented the use of minerals,
animals, and plant parts to heal the sick.
DIF: Recall REF: Page 3 OBJ: ASHP objective: none
MSC: PTCE Domain: none NOT: EXCPT: none
9. The first vaccine, developed in 1796, was for the prevention of which condition?
a. Mumps
b. Smallpox
c. Measles
d. Poliomyelitis (polio)
ANS: B
Vaccines were not developed until 1796 with the first immunization against smallpox in
England.
10. Laudanum, which is a combination of opium and alcohol that was used during the Civil War
for multiple conditions, was problematic for what reason?
a. Laudanum was difficult to make.
b. It was very expensive.
c. Opium could no longer be imported.
d. Laudanum was highly addictive and resulted in many deaths and miscarriages.
ANS: D
Individuals became addicted to laudanum at an alarming rate. Many mortalities and
miscarriages were attributed to this agent.
DIF: Comprehension REF: Page 8
OBJ: ASHP objective: 11.2 (Understanding) Understanding adverse effects
MSC: PTCE Domain: none NOT: EXCPT: none
11. During the Civil War, many soldiers died from ______________.
a. common diseases
b. battle wounds
c. postsurgical infections
d. all of the above
ANS: D
Soldiers who did not die of their wounds succumbed to tuberculosis, typhoid fever, dysentery,
and a host of other diseases, including measles, mumps, and chickenpox. Many men died of
infections caused by amputations and gunshot wounds.
DIF: Recall REF: Page 3 | Page 6 | Page 9 OBJ: ASHP objective: none
MSC: PTCE Domain: none NOT: EXCPT: none
13. Which of the following scientists made major contributions to the field of genetics?
a. Watson and Crick
b. Gregor Mendel
c. Louis Pasteur
d. A and B
ANS: D
As a result of his work with pea plants, Gregor Mendel became known as the “Father of
Genetics.” In April 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick published a scientific paper
presenting the structure of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)–helix, the molecule that carries
genetic information from one generation to another. Louis Pasteur (France), best known for
the pasteurization process, was responsible for inventing vaccinations such as the anthrax
vaccine.
14. What is the name of the first pharmacy school in the United States, which opened in 1821?
a. College of Pharmacy and Sciences in Philadelphia
b. College of Pharmacy in Albany
c. Ohio State College of Pharmacy in Columbus
d. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston
ANS: A
The first pharmacy school opened in 1821 at the College of Pharmacy and Sciences in
Philadelphia, which is now called the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
18. Why are the roles of pharmacy technicians expanding to include duties that used to be limited
only to pharmacists?
a. Pharmacists are moving into more clinical roles by counseling patients and
working with medical staff.
b. There is a shortage of pharmacists in the workforce.
c. Technicians are better trained in computer order entry.
d. Technicians are replacing pharmacists in the workplace.
ANS: A
The pharmacist is moving into a more highly clinical role, not only counseling patients but
also working with medical staff.
19. __________ was known as a proponent of diet, exercise, rest, and lifestyle changes to
improve health.
a. Hippocrates
b. Bacon
c. Asclepius
d. Salk
ANS: A
Hippocrates practiced what he preached with respect to exercise, rest, diet, and overall
moderation in one’s lifestyle.
20. Which early physician and alchemist realized the benefit of treating a disorder with one
medication at a time to determine the effectiveness and dose of each medication, rather than
the customary multiple dosing?
a. Aristotle
b. Paracelsus
c. Galen
d. Bacon
ANS: B
At the end of the Middle Ages, administering multiple remedies or large quantities of agents
that had not been previously tested was a common practice. Through the use of
experimentation and documentation of the effectiveness and dosage of each individual agent,
Paracelsus was able to produce many medications.
22. In the 1700s in early North America, who prepared remedies to cure the new immigrant
patients?
a. Apothecary
b. Medicine man
c. Physician
d. Pharmacist
ANS: C
In early North America as new immigrants brought their families from Europe and other parts
of the world, disease followed. At that time, physicians were responsible for not only
diagnosing conditions but also for preparing the necessary remedies to cure patients.
23. In early American history, many people died of mercury poisoning, since mercury was used to
treat:
a. Diphtheria
b. Dysentery
c. Malaria
d. Syphilis
ANS: D
Remedies used in early American history included cinchona bark (quinine) for the treatment
of malaria. More unconventional and dangerous treatments were also used, such as using
mercury to treat syphilis. Many persons died of mercury poisoning because of its toxicity.
24. The first pharmacy operated by a registered pharmacist opened in which city in 1823?
a. New Orleans
b. New York
c. Washington
d. Philadelphia
ANS: A
The first pharmacy managed by a registered pharmacist opened in New Orleans in 1823.
25. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) was formed in _________.
a. 1955
b. 1975
c. 1990
d. 1995
ANS: D
In 1995, the PTCB was formed and is responsible for creating a national examination for
technicians.
27. Federal patient consultation laws mandated by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1990 (OBRA 90) are directed at:
a. All insured patients
b. All patients
c. Medicaid patients
d. Medicare patients
ANS: C
The OBRA 90 addressed several issues concerning patient education and the monitoring of
medications. Although consultation is federally mandated to be offered only to patients
receiving Medicaid benefits, most states have developed statutes that require pharmacists to
provide written and/or oral consultation to all patients who are prescribed new or changed
medications.
31. Which organization offers specialized training in sterile products and hazardous drug
compounding?
a. Critical Point
b. National Association of Chain Drug Stores
c. PCAT
d. PTEC
ANS: A
Critical Point offers specialized training in sterile products and hazardous drug compounding.
DIF: Application REF: Page 14
OBJ: ASHP objective: 10.1 (Applying) Demonstrating a commitment to excellence in the pharmacy
profession and to continuing education and training MSC: PTCE Domain: none
NOT: EXCPT: none
32. What test must potential pharmacy students obtain a passing grade before being admitted to a
school of pharmacy?
a. MCAT
b. PCAT
c. PTCE
d. PTEC
ANS: B
College students can start a 4-year pharmacy program after successfully completing 2 to 4
years of undergraduate coursework and earning a passing score on the Pharmacy College
Admissions Test (PCAT).
33. Which website may a pharmacy technician access to obtain information on their state laws
regarding pharmacy technicians?
a. www.nabp.net
b. www.nabp.org
c. www. ptcb.org
d. www.ptec.org
ANS: A
A pharmacy technician may obtain information on their state pharmacy laws affecting
pharmacy technicians at www.nabp.net.
34. Which of the following topics must an entry level technician have a basic understanding?
a. Anticoagulation services
b. Medication reconciliation
c. Pharmacokinetic services
d. Pharmacology
ANS: D
Entry level pharmacy technicians must possess skills in pharmacology, laws and regulations,
compounding, medication safety, inventory and billing, and technology.
37. Which term refers to both synthetic and semisynthetic medications of opium?
a. Hypnotic
b. Narcotic
c. Opiate
d. Opioid
ANS: D
Opioid refers to both synthetic and semisynthetic medications of opium.