Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and pica have details that are easy to mix up. These practice questions ask you to compare eating behaviours, physical and psychological effects, and ways to support clients. You’ll also work through situations involving CCA observation, reporting, and role limits in Nova Scotia. Expect a mix of direct knowledge and questions that ask you to apply what you’ve learned.
What This Quiz Covers
- General eating-disorder characteristics, risk factors, recovery, and treatment approaches
- Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, including their characteristics, symptoms, behaviours, and physical complications
- Pica, including nonfood consumption, contributing factors, and complications
- Psychological influences and differences between related eating disorders
- Supportive communication, client observations, reporting, care plans, documentation, and Nova Scotia CCA role limits
How to Use This Quiz
Answer each question as if you were writing a multiple-choice test. Read every answer choice before choosing the best response.
Use 80% or higher as a personal study target for this practice quiz.
After finishing, review the explanations for every question you missed.
Each attempt shows 15 random questions from a larger bank containing 115 questions.
Start the Quiz!
Results
You passed, great job!
Your answers show solid understanding of the eating-disorder comparisons and client-support decisions covered in this attempt. If any questions felt uncertain, review those ideas. Another attempt gives you another selection of questions to practise, helping you focus on understanding rather than memorizing answers.
You’re not there yet, but you’re getting practice.
Review the explanations, look at the questions you missed, then try again. Mistakes show you what to study next.
Need a refresher before retaking it? Study this topic here.
#1. Why may a person with anorexia nervosa frequently complain of feeling cold?
Correct answer: B. Body temperature may decrease with the disorder.
Explanation: Anorexia nervosa may lower body temperature, causing frequent complaints of feeling cold. This is a physical consequence associated with the condition.
Why A is wrong: Hunger alone does not describe the identified decrease in body temperature.
Why C is wrong: Sensitivity to cold foods is different from feeling physically cold.
Why D is wrong: Meal temperature does not explain the stated body-temperature change.
#2. In Nova Scotia, how should a CCA handle observed changes in a client’s eating and behaviour?
Correct answer: B. Observe the changes and report concerns to the supervisor as directed.
Explanation: Nova Scotia CCAs observe changes in eating and behaviour and report concerns according to direction. Observational responsibilities do not include independent diagnosis, treatment selection, or care-plan changes.
Why A is wrong: Treatment selection exceeds the observational responsibility described.
Why C is wrong: Revising care plans independently is not a CCA responsibility.
Why D is wrong: Determining diagnoses is not part of the stated reporting role.
#3. A client explores thoughts, feelings, and behaviours with a mental health specialist. Which therapy is this?
Correct answer: D. Psychotherapy
Explanation: Psychotherapy involves exploring thoughts, feelings, and behaviours with guidance from a mental health specialist. This approach can benefit clients who remain preoccupied with food and weight, including those who are thin.
Why A is wrong: Nutritional rehabilitation focuses on nutritional recovery rather than defining this mental health process.
Why B is wrong: Physical rehabilitation addresses physical functioning rather than this exploration of thoughts and feelings.
Why C is wrong: Observing behaviour does not itself provide the guided therapeutic process described.
#4. Which combination describes serious organ-related effects of anorexia nervosa?
Correct answer: D. Heart and brain damage, with possible heart-rhythm disturbances
Explanation: Anorexia nervosa can damage vital organs, including the heart and brain. Serious cardiac effects include irregular heart rhythms and heart failure.
Why A is wrong: These are digestive symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa.
Why B is wrong: These findings are more closely associated with bulimia and repeated purging.
Why C is wrong: These primarily describe dental and digestive complications rather than vital-organ damage.
#5. Which statement accurately connects iron-deficiency anemia and pica?
Correct answer: A. Iron-deficiency anemia may be one of several conditions contributing to pica.
Explanation: Iron-deficiency anemia is a possible contributing factor in pica, alongside zinc deficiency and other nutritional, developmental, and psychological influences. Its presence cannot be assumed solely because nonfood eating occurs.
Why B is wrong: Pica can have causes other than iron deficiency.
Why C is wrong: Eating nonfood substances does not independently establish anemia.
Why D is wrong: Other contributors to pica include developmental and psychiatric factors.
#6. Which approach reflects positive communication with a client who has a feeding and eating disorder?
Correct answer: A. Avoiding negative statements about the client’s behaviours
Explanation: A positive approach avoids negative statements about eating-disorder behaviours. It aims to support the client without adding criticism or shame.
Why B is wrong: Repeated focus on past mistakes does not reflect positive support.
Why C is wrong: Emphasizing undesirable behaviour can become a negative or blaming approach.
Why D is wrong: Repeated criticism does not match the identified positive communication principle.
#7. Which non-nutritional factors may contribute to pica?
Correct answer: A. Developmentally poor judgement and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Explanation: Developmentally poor judgement and obsessive-compulsive disorder are possible contributors to pica. They differ from nutritional deficiencies, although more than one influence may be involved.
Why B is wrong: These do not identify the stated possible causes.
Why C is wrong: Ordinary food preferences and meal routines do not describe the identified factors.
Why D is wrong: Appearance pressures and calorie counting relate more closely to weight-focused eating concerns.
#8. Which family-history pattern is associated with increased risk of anorexia nervosa?
Correct answer: C. An affected sibling, particularly within families with affected female relatives
Explanation: Feeding and eating disorders can occur within families, with female relatives especially affected. A sibling with anorexia nervosa is an important familial risk factor.
Why A is wrong: Unrelated individuals do not establish the familial pattern being tested.
Why B is wrong: Digestive illness is not the specific family-history association described.
Why D is wrong: A friend’s condition does not establish a genetic or familial relationship.
#9. Which sequence characterizes bulimia nervosa?
Correct answer: B. Binge eating followed by inappropriate weight-control behaviours
Explanation: Bulimia nervosa involves episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate methods of controlling weight, commonly called purging. The repeated connection between these behaviours distinguishes its typical pattern.
Why A is wrong: This describes restriction rather than the characteristic binge-purge cycle.
Why C is wrong: Eating nonfood substances is associated with pica.
Why D is wrong: Reduced appetite and texture avoidance do not describe bulimia nervosa.
#10. What should a CCA do when unsure how to respond to a client’s eating-disorder symptoms?
Correct answer: C. Ask the supervisor for guidance about responding appropriately.
Explanation: A CCA should seek the supervisor’s guidance about responding to symptoms such as vomiting or food refusal. This allows concerns to be addressed through appropriate supervision rather than independent treatment decisions.
Why A is wrong: Previous experience does not authorize independent treatment selection.
Why B is wrong: Changing a care plan is not an independent CCA decision.
Why D is wrong: A diagnosis is not required before seeking guidance.
#11. Which change in sexual functioning may accompany bulimia nervosa?
Correct answer: A. Reduced libido
Explanation: Bulimia nervosa may be associated with reduced libido, meaning decreased sexual desire. This is separate from the menstrual irregularities that may also occur.
Why B is wrong: Increased fertility is not the described change in sexual desire.
Why C is wrong: This is the opposite of the identified libido change.
Why D is wrong: Menstrual regularity concerns a different aspect of reproductive functioning.
#12. How much greater is the reported risk of anorexia nervosa for a girl with an affected sibling?
Correct answer: B. About 10 to 20 times
Explanation: A girl who has a sibling with anorexia nervosa is described as having a 10- to 20-fold greater risk of developing the disorder. This is a relative risk figure, not a prediction that she will develop the condition.
Why A is wrong: This is below the reported range.
Why C is wrong: This exceeds the stated upper range.
Why D is wrong: This range is lower than the stated estimate.
#13. Which finding meets the definition of amenorrhea associated with anorexia nervosa?
Correct answer: C. Absence of three consecutive expected menstrual periods
Explanation: Amenorrhea is defined here as the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual periods that would normally be expected. It may occur in some people with anorexia nervosa who have female reproductive anatomy.
Why A is wrong: Lighter bleeding does not establish the specified absence of menstruation.
Why B is wrong: Irregularity over one month does not meet the stated definition.
Why D is wrong: One missed period does not meet the three-period criterion.
#14. Which combination of psychological therapies may be used to treat feeding and eating disorders?
Correct answer: B. Individual, family, and group therapies
Explanation: Individual, family, and group therapies are identified as important treatment approaches. They may address different psychological and relationship concerns related to the disorder.
Why A is wrong: Occupational and physical therapies do not replace the identified family and group approaches.
Why C is wrong: This combination leaves out individual and group therapy.
Why D is wrong: This combination omits individual and family therapy.
#15. Which psychological symptom may accompany the physical effects of anorexia nervosa?
Correct answer: C. Depression
Explanation: Depression is among the symptoms that may accompany anorexia nervosa. It can occur alongside the physical effects of food restriction and low body weight.
Why A is wrong: Increased appetite does not identify the psychological symptom being tested.
Why B is wrong: Anorexia nervosa commonly involves continuing concerns about body image.
Why D is wrong: Increased body-image confidence is not the associated psychological symptom.
How to Read Your Score
Your score shows how well you understood the questions in this attempt. Because the quiz selects random questions from a larger bank, another attempt might cover a different selection.
Use these ranges to decide what to review next:
- 80% or higher: Strong understanding of the material tested.
- 60% to 79%: Some areas need more review.
- Below 60%: Return to the matching study notes before another attempt.
The 80% target is a personal study goal for this website quiz, not an official passing score. These ranges guide your study decisions only. One score does not predict your certification-exam result.
What Your Mistakes Might Show
Look at the kinds of questions that slowed you down, not only how many you missed.
If comparison or terminology questions were difficult, review the differences between anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and pica. Missed cause-and-effect questions might point to confusion about contributing factors and physical complications.
If direct-knowledge questions caused trouble, check whether you’re mixing up physical signs and psychological symptoms. Difficulties with client situations or role-judgment questions might point to areas needing review in supportive communication, observation, reporting, or CCA responsibilities.
One missed question does not mean you misunderstand the whole topic. Look for repeated mistakes that point to a specific area worth reviewing.
Questions You Guessed On Matter Too
A correct guess helps your score, but it does not always mean you understand the material.
Notice questions you guessed on, changed several times, found difficult, or answered correctly without feeling sure. Review these alongside the questions you missed. Check whether you understand why the correct response fits and why the closest wrong answer choice does not.
Review and Retake
- Read the explanation for every question you missed.
- Think about why your chosen wrong answer seemed correct.
- Include questions you guessed on or felt unsure about.
- Review the matching section of the study notes.
- Explain the correct response in your own words, without looking.
- Return for another attempt after you’ve had time to review.
Focus on understanding the ideas instead of memorizing answers from an earlier attempt. If comparisons between eating disorders or CCA responsibilities caused trouble, review those areas before trying another set of questions.
Track Your Quiz Progress
The quiz displays your score for the current attempt, but it does not keep a detailed study log.
Record the date, your score, one or two areas that caused trouble, and questions you guessed on or felt unsure about. Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or note on your phone.
Each attempt draws random questions, so the selection might change. Small score differences between attempts are normal. Over time, look for stronger understanding of the disorders and fewer uncertain answers rather than focusing on one perfect score.
If your score was lower than you hoped, choose one area, such as comparing anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and review it carefully. Focus on understanding the differences before returning for another attempt.
Continue Studying
Return to the matching study notes for a refresher, or check the wider Nova Scotia CCA exam study plan.