Respiratory medicine: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

General Medicine · Respiratory medicine

Sample item

What finding suggests a pleural effusion on examination?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Reduced breath sounds and dullness

Pleural fluid dampens sound transmission and percussion resonance, causing reduced breath sounds and stony dullness over the affected lower chest.

Option by option

  • A. Stridor

    Stridor reflects upper-airway narrowing.

  • B. Hyperresonance

    Hyperresonance suggests excess air, such as pneumothorax.

  • C. Reduced breath sounds and dullness (correct)

    Correct: fluid produces dullness and reduced breath sounds.

  • D. Bilateral wheeze only

    Wheeze is an airway narrowing sign, not the defining pleural-fluid finding.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Reduced breath sounds and dullness. Pleural fluid dampens sound transmission and percussion resonance, causing reduced breath sounds and stony dullness over the affected lower chest.

Why is "Stridor" not the answer?

Stridor reflects upper-airway narrowing.

Why is "Hyperresonance" not the answer?

Hyperresonance suggests excess air, such as pneumothorax.

Why is "Bilateral wheeze only" not the answer?

Wheeze is an airway narrowing sign, not the defining pleural-fluid finding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine in General Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: fluid produces dullness and reduced breath sounds.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Respiratory medicine?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.