Pregnancy Test — Questions and answers

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What important discovery did Selmar Aschheim and Bernhard Zondek make in 1927?

Choices

  1. A. They found a new type of mouse.
  2. B. They discovered a special hormone called HCG in the urine of pregnant women. ✓
  3. C. They learned how to make plants grow faster.
  4. D. They invented a new kind of microscope.

Answer: B. They discovered a special hormone called HCG in the urine of pregnant women.

From page 2

How did the first reliable pregnancy test, the Aschheim-Zondek (A-Z) test, work?

Choices

  1. A. It used a special paper that changed color instantly.
  2. B. It involved injecting urine into mice or rabbits and waiting several days. ✓
  3. C. Doctors just had to listen to a person's heartbeat.
  4. D. It used a machine to scan the body quickly.

Answer: B. It involved injecting urine into mice or rabbits and waiting several days.

From page 3

Why did scientists want to find a new way to test for pregnancy after the animal tests?

Choices

  1. A. The animal tests were too fast and too cheap.
  2. B. They wanted to make the tests less accurate.
  3. C. The animal tests were slow, expensive, and not easy for everyone to use. ✓
  4. D. Nobody cared about knowing if they were pregnant anymore.

Answer: C. The animal tests were slow, expensive, and not easy for everyone to use.

From page 4

What new scientific field helped create the modern pregnancy test?

Choices

  1. A. Astronomy, the study of stars.
  2. B. Botany, the study of plants.
  3. C. Immunology, which uses special 'detective' proteins called antibodies. ✓
  4. D. Geology, the study of rocks.

Answer: C. Immunology, which uses special 'detective' proteins called antibodies.

From page 5

What happens on a modern pregnancy test strip if HCG is present in the urine?

Choices

  1. A. The strip glows in the dark.
  2. B. The HCG binds to special colored particles that then flow along the strip. ✓
  3. C. The strip gets very cold.
  4. D. Nothing happens until it's put in a special machine.

Answer: B. The HCG binds to special colored particles that then flow along the strip.

From page 6

What is the purpose of the control line on a pregnancy test strip?

Choices

  1. A. To show how old the test strip is.
  2. B. To make the test strip look pretty.
  3. C. To confirm that the test is working correctly, no matter if HCG is present or not. ✓
  4. D. To tell you the exact day of conception.

Answer: C. To confirm that the test is working correctly, no matter if HCG is present or not.

From page 7

What big change did home pregnancy tests bring in the 1970s?

Choices

  1. A. People had to visit a doctor for every test.
  2. B. People could get quick and accurate test results privately at home. ✓
  3. C. Tests became more confusing and took longer.
  4. D. Only scientists could understand the test results.

Answer: B. People could get quick and accurate test results privately at home.

From page 8

How did home pregnancy tests help pregnant people and doctors?

Choices

  1. A. They made pregnancy more mysterious and confusing.
  2. B. They allowed for earlier care and helped with family planning decisions. ✓
  3. C. They made it harder to get information about pregnancy.
  4. D. They stopped people from getting medical help.

Answer: B. They allowed for earlier care and helped with family planning decisions.

From page 9

What is the most important lasting impact of the modern pregnancy test?

Choices

  1. A. It made doctors famous and rich.
  2. B. It is a symbol of old, forgotten science.
  3. C. It gives people important information for making choices, helps with healthcare, and changes how people understand a big life event. ✓
  4. D. It caused more confusion and made life harder for everyone.

Answer: C. It gives people important information for making choices, helps with healthcare, and changes how people understand a big life event.

From page 10