Communicable disease: practice question

A PSM 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.

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PSM · Communicable disease

Sample item

What does an epidemic curve display?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Cases by time of onset

An epidemic curve plots case counts against time of onset, helping infer outbreak timing, possible exposure pattern, and need for further investigation.

Option by option

  • A. Genetic pedigree

    Pedigrees describe inheritance patterns.

  • B. Cases by time of onset (correct)

    Correct: epidemic curves show temporal distribution of cases.

  • C. Hospital floor plan

    Floor plans may aid exposure mapping but are not epidemic curves.

  • D. Drug prices

    Drug prices are not outbreak data.

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 PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Cases by time of onset. An epidemic curve plots case counts against time of onset, helping infer outbreak timing, possible exposure pattern, and need for further investigation.

Why is "Genetic pedigree" not the answer?

Pedigrees describe inheritance patterns.

Why is "Hospital floor plan" not the answer?

Floor plans may aid exposure mapping but are not epidemic curves.

Why is "Drug prices" not the answer?

Drug prices are not outbreak data.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable disease in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: epidemic curves show temporal distribution of cases.

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 Communicable disease?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.