7
USMLE STEP 1
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
BLOCK 1, ITEMS 1-40
1.
A 28-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 1-year history of pain with urination that has increased in severity
during the past month. He also has had episodes of blood in his urine during the past 5 years. He lived in sub-Saharan Africa
until he came to the USA 6 months ago for graduate school. His temperature is 38°C (100.4°F), pulse is 80/min, respirations
are 16/min, and blood pressure is 110/84 mm Hg. Physical examination shows suprapubic tenderness. Laboratory studies
show:
Hemoglobin
12.3 g/dL
Hematocrit
37%
Leukocyte count
13,400/mm
3
Segmented neutrophils
65%
Bands
5%
Eosinophils
5%
Lymphocytes
22%
Monocytes
3%
Serum
Urea nitrogen
75 mg/dL
Creatinine
3.8 mg/dL
Urine
Blood
3+
RBC
200/hpf
WBC
100/hpf
RBC casts
absent
WBC casts
absent
Imaging studies show bilateral hydroureter and hydronephrosis and foci of calcification in the region of the bladder. A biopsy
specimen of the bladder shows marked chronic inflammation with fibrosis and scattered granulomas. Which of the following
best explains the biopsy findings?
(A) Exposure to a chemical toxin
(B) Interstitial
cystitis
(C) Malacoplakia
(D) Schistosomiasis
(E) Vesicoureteral reflux
2.
A 14-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department after being hit with a baseball bat on the lateral side of his leg
immediately below the knee. He is unable to dorsiflex his foot. Which of the following nerves is most likely injured?
(A) Common fibular (peroneal)
(B) Femoral
(C) Obturator
(D) Sural
(E) Tibial
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3.
A 24-year-old man comes to the office because of a 2-day history of a red, itchy rash on his buttocks and legs. Four days ago,
he returned from a cruise to the Caribbean, during which he swam in the ship’s pool and used the hot tub. He appears well.
His vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows the findings in the photograph. The infectious agent
causing these findings most likely began to proliferate in which of the following locations?
(A) Apocrine gland
(B) Dermis
(C) Eccrine gland
(D) Hair follicle
(E) Sebaceous gland
4.
A 14-year-old girl is brought to the physician after her mother learned that she began having sexual intercourse with various
partners 1 month ago. She does not use condoms or other contraception. The mother is concerned about her behavior. The
patient's parents separated 3 months ago. She had been an honor student and excelled in sports and leadership positions at
school before the separation. Since the separation, however, she has become sullen, defiant, and rebellious. She has begun
smoking cigarettes, disobeying her curfew, and being truant from school. This patient is most likely using which of the
following defense mechanisms?
(A) Acting out
(B) Displacement
(C) Projection
(D) Reaction formation
(E) Sublimation
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5.
A 24-year-old woman comes to the physician for a follow-up examination. One week ago, she was treated in the emergency
department after she accidentally spilled hot grease on her left leg while working at a fast-food restaurant. Examination of the
left lower extremity shows a 7-cm, pink, soft, granular, edematous wound. The formation of this tissue was most likely
caused by increased activity of which of the following?
(A) Complement C3b
(B) Glycosylation-dependent cell adhesion molecule-1
(C) P-selectin
(D) Stromelysin
(E) Vascular endothelial growth factor
6.
A 63-year-old woman comes to the physician 1 day after the sudden onset of pain and swelling of her right knee. She has had
no injury. Her medications include occasional ibuprofen for mild osteoarthritis of both knees. Her temperature is
37°C (98.6°F), pulse is 97/min, respirations are 19/min, and blood pressure is 129/79 mm Hg. Examination of the right knee
shows warmth, erythema, and effusion. Exquisite tenderness is produced with minimal range-of-motion testing. Examination
of synovial fluid obtained via joint aspiration shows that it is clear, with positively birefringent rhomboids observed under
polarized light microscopy. Deposition of which of the following substances is the most likely cause of these findings?
(A) Ammonium urate
(B) Calcium oxalate
(C) Calcium pyrophosphate
(D) Calcium urate
(E) Sodium urate
7.
A 55-year-old woman with small cell carcinoma of the lung is admitted to the hospital to undergo chemotherapy. Six days
after treatment is started, she develops a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F). Physical examination shows no other abnormalities.
Laboratory studies show a leukocyte count of 100/mm
3
(5% segmented neutrophils and 95% lymphocytes). Which of the
following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy to increase this patient's leukocyte count?
(A) Darbepoetin
(B) Dexamethasone
(C) Filgrastim
(D) Interferon alfa
(E) Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
(F) Leucovorin
8.
A 37-year-old woman with right lower extremity edema is evaluated because of the sudden onset of shortness of breath and
pleuritic chest pain. A diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is made. Which of the following signs, if present on physical
examination, would be the most specific indicator of pulmonary arterial hypertension in this patient?
(A) Increased jugular venous pressure
(B) P
2
louder than A
2
(C) Peripheral edema
(D) Presence of an S
3
(E) Pulmonary crackles