Physician Assistant Academic Ability 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A clinic sees 120 patients per day and is open 5 days per week. How many patients are seen in a 4-week month?
- 2,000
- 2,400 (Correct answer)
- 2,200
- 1,800
Correct answer: 2,400
120 patients/day × 5 days/week × 4 weeks = 2,400 patients.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a primary source in medical research?
- A textbook chapter summarizing diabetes management
- A systematic review of hypertension trials
- An original clinical trial published in a peer-reviewed journal (Correct answer)
- A news article reporting on a new vaccine
Correct answer: An original clinical trial published in a peer-reviewed journal
A primary source presents original, firsthand research data, such as an original clinical trial.
Question 3: Which word is the MOST precise synonym for 'prognosis'?
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Outlook (Correct answer)
- Symptom
Correct answer: Outlook
Prognosis refers to the predicted course or likely outcome of a disease, which is best captured by 'outlook.'
Question 4: A number increased by 15% equals 92. What was the original number (rounded to the nearest whole number)?
- 78
- 80 (Correct answer)
- 75
- 82
Correct answer: 80
92 / 1.15 ≈ 80.
Question 5: In critical reading, 'inferring' means:
- Restating what the author explicitly wrote
- Drawing a conclusion based on evidence not directly stated (Correct answer)
- Summarizing the author's argument
- Identifying grammatical errors in the text
Correct answer: Drawing a conclusion based on evidence not directly stated
Inference involves reading between the lines to reach conclusions supported by implicit evidence.
Question 6: A student scores 78, 85, 90, and 87 on four exams. What score must they earn on the fifth exam to achieve an average of 86?
- 88
- 90 (Correct answer)
- 92
- 94
Correct answer: 90
Total needed: 86 × 5 = 430; current total: 78 + 85 + 90 + 87 = 340; fifth score: 430 − 340 = 90.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST illustrates a non sequitur in argumentation?
- All antibiotics kill bacteria; penicillin is an antibiotic; therefore penicillin kills bacteria.
- She is an excellent surgeon, so she would make a great PA educator. (Correct answer)
- The patient's fever broke after treatment, suggesting the medication was effective.
- Studies show exercise reduces blood pressure, so patients should exercise more.
Correct answer: She is an excellent surgeon, so she would make a great PA educator.
A non sequitur presents a conclusion that does not logically follow from the premise; surgical skill does not necessarily translate to teaching ability.
Physician Assistant Academic Ability 5
A clinic sees 120 patients per day and is open 5 days per week.
How many patients are seen in a 4-week month?