Epic Skills Assessment Verbal Reasoning & Comprehension 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'Studies show that patients who receive clear discharge instructions are 30% less likely to be readmitted.' Which statement is an assumption required for this conclusion?
- All patients want to avoid readmission.
- Clear instructions effectively improve patient understanding and adherence. (Correct answer)
- Discharge instructions have not changed in recent years.
- Readmission rates are the most important hospital metric.
Correct answer: Clear instructions effectively improve patient understanding and adherence.
The conclusion assumes that clear instructions lead to better understanding and adherence, which then reduces readmission.
Question 2: Which sentence uses a PASSIVE voice construction?
- The pharmacist reviewed the prescription carefully.
- The prescription was reviewed carefully by the pharmacist. (Correct answer)
- The nurse administered the medication on time.
- The patient accepted the treatment plan willingly.
Correct answer: The prescription was reviewed carefully by the pharmacist.
Passive voice places the receiver of the action (prescription) as the subject, with the agent (pharmacist) in a prepositional phrase.
Question 3: What does 'contraindicated' mean in a clinical context?
- Strongly recommended for the condition
- Not advised due to potential harm (Correct answer)
- Required before any procedure
- Approved for off-label use
Correct answer: Not advised due to potential harm
Contraindicated means a treatment or medication should not be used because it may cause harm in specific circumstances.
Question 4: A memo concludes: 'Therefore, we recommend switching to electronic scheduling.' The word 'therefore' signals:
- A contrast with the previous point
- A conclusion drawn from prior evidence (Correct answer)
- An unanswered question
- A definition of a term
Correct answer: A conclusion drawn from prior evidence
Therefore is a transitional word that signals a conclusion or result based on preceding reasoning or evidence.
Question 5: Which sentence best demonstrates concise, professional writing?
- Due to the fact that the patient was experiencing pain, medication was given by the nurse.
- The nurse administered pain medication to the patient. (Correct answer)
- The nurse, who was on duty at the time, gave the patient some medicine for their pain.
- Medication for pain purposes was administered in a timely manner by nursing staff.
Correct answer: The nurse administered pain medication to the patient.
Option B conveys the same information in the fewest words with clear subject-verb-object structure.
Question 6: Read: 'The policy applies to all staff, including part-time employees, except those under contract arrangements.' A part-time contractor asks if she is covered. The answer is:
- Yes, because all part-time employees are covered.
- No, because contract arrangements are explicitly excluded. (Correct answer)
- Yes, unless she works fewer than 20 hours per week.
- The policy does not clarify this situation.
Correct answer: No, because contract arrangements are explicitly excluded.
The exception clause 'except those under contract arrangements' overrides the inclusion of part-time employees for contractors.
Question 7: The root word 'graph' appears in telegraph, autograph, and photograph. What does 'graph' most likely mean?
- Sound or voice
- Light or vision
- Writing or recording (Correct answer)
- Movement or distance
Correct answer: Writing or recording
The Greek root 'graph' means to write or record, present across all three words as a form of recording information.
Epic Skills Assessment Verbal Reasoning & Comprehension 5
A passage reads: 'Studies show that patients who receive clear discharge instructions are 30% less likely to be readmitted.' Which statement is an assumption required for this conclusion?