CHALLENGE TEST
Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine
Allow yourself 75 minutes to complete. Each questions is worth 2 points. See the key at the end for scoring.
1. Finish the statement of fact. “New diseases are in the channels; old diseases are in the
a) viscera and bowels
b) skin and body hair
c) network vessels
d) lower burner
e) clear orifices
2. Identify the Chinese medical specialty which treats lily disease (bai he bing), visceral agitation (zang zao), and plum-pit qi (mei he qi).
a) obstetrics and gynecology
b) psychiatry
c) dermatology
d) cardiology
e) andrology
3. The tongue is the sprout of the heart and the external indicator of the
a) lungs and large intestine
b) liver and gallbladder
c) spleen and stomach
d) kidneys and urinary bladder
e) pericardium and triple burner
4. “The _____________________ is (are) the unyielding viscus.”
a) liver
b) lungs
c) spleen
d) kidneys
e) heart
5. A pale tongue body with transverse fissures on the sides most often indicates
a) yin vacuity
b) blood vacuity
c) toxic heat
d) qi vacuity
e) phlegm-dampness
6. Waking in a fright is pathognomonic for the pattern of
a) liver qi depression and binding
b) gallbladder qi vacuity and timidity
c) damp-heat in the liver channel
d) ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang
e) liver fire flaming upward
7. Of the pulses characterized by abnormal changes in rhythm, a ___________________ is the only one which feels moderate and weak.
a) bound jie mai
b) surging hong mai
c) soggy ru mai
d) regularly intermittent dai mai
e) skipping cu mai
8. Using diet therapy, constipation can be remediated with the ___________ flavors.
a) bland and salty
b) acrid and sweet
c) sour and salty
d) bitter and acrid
e) sweet and salty
9. Huang Di Nei Jing, the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, was written approximately
a) 5,000 years ago
b) 1,000 years ago
c) 500 years ago
d) 100 years ago
e) 2,500 years ago
10. “The ____________ turn(s) the blood red.”
a) heart
b) liver
c) spleen
d) lungs
e) kidneys
11. According to Shang Han Lun theory, “the ______________ , the ______________ is the opening, the _____________ is the pivot, and the ______________ is the closing.”
a) tai yang; shao yang; jue yin
b) tai yin; shao yin; jue yin
c) tai yang; shao yang; yang ming
d) tai yang; tai yin; jue yin
e) tai yang; yang ming; jue yin
12. ________________________ govern cold patterns.
a) Fine pulses xi mai
b) Large pulses da mai
c) Slippery pulses hua mai
d) Tight pulses jin mai
e) Floating pulses fu mai
13. “The _______________ is (are) the thief (thieves) of the five viscera and the six bowels.”
a) spleen
b) heart
c) pericardium
d) liver
e) lungs
14. __________________________ is the standard treatment for impediment.
a) Quickening the blood and transforming stasis
b) Clearing heat and resolving toxicity
c) Dispelling wind-cold-damp
d) Supplementing qi and blood
e) Moving qi and blood
15. “At the age of 35, the _________________ declines.”
a) yang ming
b) tai yin
c) shao yang
d) jue yin
e) tai yang
16. Difficult-to-treat, knotty disease is a technical term which indicates
a) terminal illness
b) multiple pattern presentations
c) genetic diseases
d) infectious diseases
e) acute diseases
17. Over time most evils (pathogenic factors) in the body will transform into
a) cold
b) phlegm
c) dampness
d) heat
e) wind
18. “The ___________________ is (are) the delicate viscus (viscera).”
a) lungs
b) heart
c) liver
d) spleen
e) kidneys
19. “In children blame the kidneys, in adults the _____________, and in the elderly blame the spleen.”
a) lungs
b) heart
c) stomach
d) liver
e) pericardium
20. In the standard description of the rough pulse se mai is defined as being
a) large
b) forceless
c) fine
d) floating
e) sunken (deep)
21. Ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang describes liver counterflow stemming from
a) qi and blood vacuity
b) liver blood and kidney yin vacuity
c) heat toxins
d) damp-heat in the lower burner
e) qi stagnation and blood stasis
22. The best time for accurate pulse palpation is
a) dawn
b) dusk
c) immediately after eating
d) the middle of the day
e) following light exercise
23. Which of the basic pulse images can indicate either normalcy or pathology?
a) floating fu mai
b) surging hong mai
c) moderate huan mai
d) rough se mai
e) slippery hua mai
24. ____________ is the color of agitated qi and blood flooding the channels; ___________ is the color of static and obstructed channels or qi stagnation.
a) yellow; black
b) black; yellow
c) green-blue; red
d) red; green-blue
e) white; black
25. “Qi vacuity leads to
a) liver dryness
b) itching
c) the liver not being nourished
d) numbness
e) fatigue and lack of strength
26. “Strange diseases are mostly due to
a) wind
b) heat toxins
c) phlegm
d) taxation
e) blood stasis
27. A fine, floating, forceless pulse is referred to as
a) surging hong mai
b) confined lao mai
c) rough se mai
d) moderate huan mai
e) soggy ru mai
28. Joy is the _______________ of qi.
a) slackening
b) upbearing
c) downbearing
d) dissipating
e) binding
29. Liver-spleen disharmony pattern describes liver depression with
a) spleen-stomach damp-heat
b) spleen qi downward falling
c) spleen qi vacuity
d) spleen failing to contain the blood
e) spleen-stomach damp-heat
30. Which basic form of qi is characterized as “fierce, bold, and uninhibited”?
a) construction
b) ancestral
c) defense
d) channel and network vessel
e) visceral and bowel
31. The sweet flavor in foods has the action of
a) moderating tension
b) securing and astringing
c) softening hardness
d) dissipating and diffusing
e) clearing heat
32. The liver
a) governs the blood
b) lives on the left
c) has no repletion patterns
d) is the source of root qi
e) faces the hundreds of vessels
33. The current theories of blood stasis were developed by Wang Qing-Ren and described in his book Yi Lin Gai Cuo approximately ___________ years ago.
a) 175
b) 500
c) 1,000
d) 1,800
e) 2,500
34. A subjective sense of unrest and chest discomfort with heat signs is referred to as
a) vexation
b) irritability
c) palpitations
d) chest oppression
e) chest impediment
35. Dizziness with standing often indicates a pattern of
a) blood vacuity
b) liver wind stirring internally
c) spleen qi vacuity
d) ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang
e) liver qi counterflowing upward
36. Four limb pain worse after inactivity or first thing after getting up that is improved with and activity with underlying qi and blood signs and symptoms indicates
a) damp toxin accumulation and retention
b) malnourishment of the sinew vessels
c) cold-damp obstruction and stagnation
d) damp-heat pouring downward
e) blood stasis blocking the network vessels
37. Overweight and obese patients present
a) qi and blood dual vacuity
b) heart fire flaming upward
c) phlegm-damp accumulation
d) insufficiency of kidney yang
e) stasis in the network vessels
38. Which of the following suggests a treatment method of resolving toxins?
a) painful, red, and suppurative sores
b) hair test positive for heavy metals
c) reporting of parasitic infections
d) history of exposure to agriculture chemicals
e) hepatocarcinoma
39. Cherry hemangiomas, spider nevi, and varicosities are all considered signs of
a) toxic heat
b) qi stagnation
c) blood stasis
d) heart fire
e) lung qi vacuity
40. “The _______________ is the source of phlegm’s engenderment. The lungs are merely the receptacle.”
a) heart
b) spleen
c) kidney
d) stomach
e) liver
41. Which statement best explains the nasal congestion often seen with the common cold?
a) the lungs govern qi
b) the lungs govern the skin and body hair
c) the lungs govern diffusing and discharging
d) the lungs depend on nourishment from the spleen
e) the lungs store the corporeal soul
42. Rectal prolapse and easy bruising are both attributable to the failure of qi to
a) move
b) warm
c) contain
d) protect
e) transform
43. Fright leads to _______________ of the qi.
a) dissipation
b) derangement
c) binding
d) upbearing
e) slackening
44. Which system of diagnosis is specific for externally-contracted diseases?
a) triple burner
b) viscera and bowel
c) qi and blood
d) eight principle
e) fluid and humor
45. Select the disease cause that can be classified as neither exterior nor interior.
a) anger
b) epidemic pestilential qi
c) dryness
d) unregulated diet
e) thought
46. Fright damages the
a) lungs
b) liver
c) kidneys
d) spleen
e) heart
47. The clear portion of the clear essence of water and grains is upborne to the lungs, while the turbid portion of the clear essence of water and grains is upborne to the _________.
a) liver
b) kidneys
c) heart
d) spleen
e) stomach
48. “Vigorous fire eats
a) qi
b) blood
c) yin
d) essence
e) body fluids
49. Tinnitus traditionally described as sounding like cicadas and improved with pressing the ear is attributable to
a) kidney yin insufficiency
b) kidney yang insufficiency
c) liver fire flaming upward
d) liver wind stirring internally
e) liver blood vacuity
50. A tender-soft tongue body, compared to the flesh of an infant, indicates
a) liver wind stirring internally
b) toxic heat
c) chronic and severe vacuity
d) stomach dryness
e) kidney yin insufficiency
KEY
1. Finish the statement of fact. “New diseases are in the channels; old diseases are in the
a) viscera and bowels
b) skin and body hair
c) network vessels (SF)
d) lower burner
e) clear orifices
2. Identify the Chinese medical specialty which treats lily disease (bai he bing), visceral agitation (zang zao), and plum-pit qi (mei he qi).
a) obstetrics and gynecology
b) psychiatry (DD)
c) dermatology
d) cardiology
e) andrology
3. The tongue is the sprout of the heart and the external indicator of the
a) lungs and large intestine
b) liver and gallbladder
c) spleen and stomach (FE)
d) kidneys and urinary bladder
e) pericardium and triple burner
4. “The _____________________ is (are) the unyielding viscus.”
a) liver (SF)
b) lungs
c) spleen
d) kidneys
e) heart
5. A pale tongue body with transverse fissures on the sides most often indicates
a) yin vacuity
b) blood vacuity
c) toxic heat
d) qi vacuity (FE)
e) phlegm-dampness
6. Waking in a fright is pathognomonic for the pattern of
a) liver qi depression and binding
b) gallbladder qi vacuity and timidity (PD)
c) damp-heat in the liver channel
d) ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang
e) liver fire flaming upward
7. Of the pulses characterized by abnormal changes in rhythm, a ___________________ is the only one which feels moderate and weak.
a) bound jie mai
b) surging hong mai
c) soggy ru mai
d) regularly intermittent dai mai (FE)
e) skipping cu mai
8. Using diet therapy, constipation can be remediated with the ___________ flavors.
a) bland and salty
b) acrid and sweet
c) sour and salty
d) bitter and acrid
e) sweet and salty (FT)
9. Huang Di Nei Jing, the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, was written approximately
a) 5,000 years ago
b) 1,000 years ago
c) 500 years ago
d) 100 years ago
e) 2,500 years ago (MH)
10. “The ____________ turn(s) the blood red.”
a) heart (SF)
b) liver
c) spleen
d) lungs
e) kidneys
11. According to Shang Han Lun theory, “the ______________ , the ______________ is the opening, the _____________ is the pivot, and the ______________ is the closing.”
a) tai yang; shao yang; jue yin (PD)
b) tai yin; shao yin; jue yin
c) tai yang; shao yang; yang ming
d) tai yang; tai yin; jue yin
e) tai yang; yang ming; jue yin
12. ________________________ govern cold patterns.
a) Fine pulses xi mai
b) Large pulses da mai
c) Slippery pulses hua mai
d) Tight pulses jin mai (FE)
e) Floating pulses fu mai
13. “The _______________ is (are) the thief (thieves) of the five viscera and the six bowels.”
a) spleen
b) heart
c) pericardium
d) liver (SF)
e) lungs
14. __________________________ is the standard treatment for impediment.
a) Quickening the blood and transforming stasis
b) Clearing heat and resolving toxicity
c) Dispelling wind-cold-damp (TM)
d) Supplementing qi and blood
e) Moving qi and blood
15. “At the age of 35, the _________________ declines.”
a) yang ming (SF)
b) tai yin
c) shao yang
d) jue yin
e) tai yang
16. Difficult-to-treat, knotty diseases is a technical term which indicates
a) terminal illness
b) multiple pattern presentations (PD)
c) genetic diseases
d) infectious diseases
e) acute diseases
17. Over time most evils (pathogenic factors) in the body will transform into
a) cold
b) phlegm
c) dampness
d) heat (AP)
e) wind
18. “The ___________________ is (are) the delicate viscus (viscera).”
a) lungs (SF)
b) heart
c) liver
d) spleen
e) kidneys
19. “In children blame the kidneys, in adults the _____________, and in the elderly blame the spleen.”
a) lungs
b) heart
c) stomach
d) liver (SF)
e) pericardium
20. In the standard description of the rough pulse se mai is defined as being
a) large
b) forceless
c) fine (FE)
d) floating
e) sunken (deep)
21. Ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang describes liver counterflow stemming from
a) qi and blood vacuity
b) liver blood and kidney yin vacuity (PD)
c) heat toxins
d) damp-heat in the lower burner
e) qi stagnation and blood stasis
22. The best time for accurate pulse palpation is
a) dawn (FE)
b) dusk
c) immediately after eating
d) the middle of the day
e) following light exercise
23. Which of the basic pulse images can indicate either normalcy or pathology?
a) floating fu mai
b) surging hong mai
c) moderate huan mai (FE)
d) rough se mai
e) slippery hua mai
24. ____________ is the color of agitated qi and blood flooding the channels; ___________ is the color of static and obstructed channels or qi stagnation.
a) yellow; black
b) black; yellow
c) green-blue; red
d) red; green-blue (AP)
e) white; black
25. “Qi vacuity leads to
a) liver dryness
b) itching
c) the liver not being nourished
d) numbness
e) fatigue and lack of strength (SF)
26. “Strange diseases are mostly due to
a) wind
b) heat toxins
c) phlegm (SF)
d) taxation
e) blood stasis
27. A fine, floating, forceless pulse is referred to as
a) surging hong mai
b) confined lao mai
c) rough se mai
d) moderate huan mai
e) soggy ru mai (FE)
28. Joy is the _______________ of qi.
a) slackening (AP)
b) upbearing
c) downbearing
d) dissipating
e) binding
29. Liver-spleen disharmony pattern describes liver depression with
a) spleen-stomach damp-heat
b) spleen qi downward falling
c) spleen qi vacuity (PD)
d) spleen failing to contain the blood
e) spleen-stomach damp-heat
30. Which basic form of qi is characterized as “fierce, bold, and uninhibited”?
a) construction
b) ancestral
c) defense (AP)
d) channel and network vessel
e) visceral and bowel
31. The sweet flavor in foods has the action of
a) moderating tension (FT)
b) securing and astringing
c) softening hardness
d) dissipating and diffusing
e) clearing heat
32. The liver
a) governs the blood
b) lives on the left (AP)
c) has no repletion patterns
d) is the source of root qi
e) faces the hundreds of vessels
33. The current theories of blood stasis were developed by Wang Qing-Ren and described in his book Yi Lin Gai Cuo approximately ___________ years ago.
a) 175 (MH)
b) 500
c) 1,000
d) 1,800
e) 2,500
34. A subjective sense of unrest and chest discomfort with heat signs is referred to as
a) vexation (FE)
b) irritability
c) palpitations
d) chest oppression
e) chest impediment
35. Dizziness with standing often indicates a pattern of
a) blood vacuity
b) liver wind stirring internally
c) spleen qi vacuity (PD)
d) ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang
e) liver qi counterflowing upward
36. Four limb pain worse after inactivity or first thing after getting up that is improved with movement and activity with underlying qi and blood signs and symptoms indicates
a) damp toxin accumulation and retention
b) malnourishment of the sinew vessels (PD)
c) cold-damp obstruction and stagnation
d) damp-heat pouring downward
e) blood stasis blocking the network vessels
37. Overweight and obese patients present
a) qi and blood dual vacuity
b) heart fire flaming upward
c) phlegm-damp accumulation (PD)
d) insufficiency of kidney yang
e) stasis in the network vessels
38. Which of the following suggests a treatment method of resolving toxins?
a) painful, red, and suppurative sores (TM)
b) hair test positive for heavy metals
c) reporting of parasitic infections
d) history of exposure to agriculture chemicals
e) hepatocarcinoma
39. Cherry hemangiomas, spider nevi, and varicosities are all considered signs of
a) toxic heat
b) qi stagnation
c) blood stasis (PD)
d) heart fire
e) lung qi vacuity
40. “The _______________ is the source of phlegm’s engenderment. The lungs are merely the receptacle.”
a) heart
b) spleen (SF)
c) kidney
d) stomach
e) liver
41. Which statement best explains the nasal congestion often seen with the common cold?
a) the lungs govern qi
b) the lungs govern the skin and body hair
c) the lungs govern diffusing and discharging (SF)
d) the lungs depend on nourishment from the spleen
e) the lungs store the corporeal soul
42. Rectal prolapse and easy bruising are both attributable to the failure of qi to
a) move
b) warm
c) contain (AP)
d) protect
e) transform
43. Fright leads to _______________ of the qi.
a) dissipation
b) derangement (AP)
c) binding
d) upbearing
e) slackening
44. Which system of diagnosis is specific for externally-contracted diseases?
a) triple burner (PD)
b) viscera and bowel
c) qi and blood
d) eight principle
e) fluid and humor
45. Select the disease cause that can be classified as neither exterior nor interior.
a) anger
b) epidemic pestilential qi
c) dryness
d) unregulated diet (DD)
e) thought
46. Fright damages the
a) lungs
b) liver (AP)
c) kidneys
d) spleen
e) heart
47. The clear portion of the clear essence of water and grains is upborne to the lungs, while the turbid portion of the clear essence of water and grains is upborne to the _________.
a) liver
b) kidneys
c) heart (AP)
d) spleen
e) stomach
48. “Vigorous fire eats
a) qi (AP)
b) blood
c) yin
d) essence
e) body fluids
49. Tinnitus traditionally described as sounding like cicadas and improved with pressing the ear is attributable to
a) kidney yin insufficiency (PD)
b) ascendant liver yang
c) liver fire flaming upward
d) liver wind stirring internally
e) qi stagnation and blood stasis
50. A tender-soft tongue body, compared to the flesh of an infant, indicates
a) liver wind stirring internally
b) toxic heat
c) chronic and severe vacuity (FE)
d) stomach dryness
e) kidney yin insufficiency
Answers are coded for the area of knowledge tested to allow test takers to identify the portion of fundamentals which requires further development. Statements of fact often include other categories of knowledge but are phrases which must be memorized by Chinese learners verbatim.
(SF) — Statements of Fact
(FE) — Four examinations
(AP) — Anatomy and physiology
(PD) — Pattern differentiation
(DD) — Disease diagnosis
(TM) — Treatment methods
(MH) — Medical History
(FT) — Food therapy