ACSM-GEI Exam Questions

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61.

A 33-year-old female client who scored 38 centimeters on her sit and reach test would be classified under which of the following categories?

  • Very good

  • Excellent

  • Good

  • Fair

Correct answer: Very good

Females aged 30 to 39 are categorized as follows with regard to the sit and reach test:

  • Excellent: 41 or more centimeters
  • Very good: 36-40 centimeters
  • Good: 32-35 centimeters
  • Fair: 27-31 centimeters
  • Needs improvement: 26 or less centimeters

62.

You are teaching a circuit class that involves barbell back squat. One of your clients unracks the barbell and you notice that some of the weight starts sliding off one side. What type of feedback do you immediately give since you are too far away to help? 

  • Direct feedback

  • Indirect feedback

  • Tactile feedback

  • General feedback

Correct answer: Direct feedback

Direct feedback allows you to address a specific client by name. In this case, they and others around them are at risk of getting hurt if the weight falls off one side of the barbell. 

The other forms of feedback might not get the attention of the client who needs immediate help.

63.

What type of contraction occurs when lowering the body to the floor during a pushup?

  • Eccentric

  • Conentric

  • Isometric

  • Isokinetic

Correct answer: Eccentric

Eccentric contractions refer to a muscle lengthening as it contracts. 

Concentric contractions refer to a muscle shortening as it contracts. 

Isometric contractions refer to a muscle neither lengthening or shortening as it contracts.

Isokinetic contractions refer to the velocity of the contraction remaining constant regardless of the force produced. This requires special equipment in order to replicate.

64.

Which of the following is not the purpose of using RPE?

  • Determine how tired your clients are at the end of a workout

  • Decide if a student should increase weight for a specific exercise

  • Determine how hard clients are working in class

  • Compare previous workouts to current ones

Correct answer: Determine how tired your clients are at the end of a workout

RPE has numerous practical applications. First and foremost, it is a subjective scale that allows the client to place their effort level, in this case, on a scale of 6-20. Stemming out from there, you can use RPE to compare past workouts to current ones and determine if they need to increase weight or reps. 

65.

Which of the following is not a benefit of using a rowing machine for exercise?

  • Rowing machines allow participants to perform many different movements and exercises

  • Rowing machines are low impact devices

  • Rowing machines can provide excellent cardiovascular exercise

  • Rowing machines allow for a true total body workout

Correct answer: Rowing machines allow participants to perform many different movements and exercises

Apart from very new, specialized rowers that can be transitioned into ski ergs, traditional rowing machines only allow participants to row. There are no other exercises available with this machine.

Rowing machines are considered low or no-impact devices. Rowing machines provide one of the best ways to stimulate the cardiovascular system. Rowing machines use muscles of the upper body, lower body, and trunk with every pull.

66.

Which muscle fiber type is more resistant to fatigue?

  • Type I

  • Type II

  • Type IIa

  • Type IIb

Correct answer: Type I

Type I muscle fibers are more aerobically inclined and able to use oxygen more effectively than any other fiber. 

Type II fibers are anaerobic in nature, meaning they can produce large amounts of force quickly. 

Type IIa & IIb fibers are subcategories of type II fibers. Type IIa fibers are more oxidative than IIb and are more resistant to fatigue.

67.

Which of the following is true of resistance exercise in the water?

  • When submerged, most exercises will be concentric in nature

  • When submerged, most exercises will be eccentric in nature

  • When submerged, most exercise will be isokinetic in nature

  • When submerged, most exercise will be isometric in nature

Correct answer: When submerged, most exercises will be concentric in nature

Because water resists all movements, most exercises will be mainly concentric. This is known as positive resistance exercise and can be a useful tool for decreasing DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness in the days following exercise.

68.

Which of the following methods would serve to decrease the intensity of a step class?

  • Lowering the step height

  • Increasing the tempo

  • Holding light dumbbells during the movements

  • Raising the step height

Correct answer: Lowering the step height

Steps can be easily raised or lowered during a step class. Lowering the step will serve to decrease the intensity of the class, while raising the step, increasing the tempo, and adding weight will all increase the intensity.

69.

What is the correct order of steps when preparing to give CPR?

  • 1) Check the surrounding area for safety and get any necessary PPE 2) Check the victim for responsiveness 3) Call 911 if the person is unresponsive and is not breathing 4) Make sure the person is flat on their back 5) Begin compressions and breaths 6) Use an AED once it is available 

  • 1) Call 911 if the person is unresponsive and is not breathing 2) Check the surrounding area for safety and get any necessary PPE 3) Check the victim for responsiveness 4) Make sure the person is flat on their back 5) Begin compressions and breaths 6) Use an AED once it is available 

  • 1) Check the victim for responsiveness 2) Call 911 if the person is unresponsive and is not breathing 3) Check the surrounding area for safety and get any necessary PPE 4) Make sure the person is flat on their back 5) Begin compressions and breaths 6) Use an AED once it is available

  • 1) Call 911 if the person is unresponsive and is not breathing 2) Check the victim for responsiveness 3) Check the surrounding area for safety and get any necessary PPE 4) Make sure the person is flat on their back 5) Begin compressions and breaths 6) Use an AED once it is available

Correct answer: 1) Check the surrounding area for safety and get any necessary PPE 2) Check the victim for responsiveness 3) Call 911 if the person is unresponsive and is not breathing 4) Make sure the person is flat on their back 5) Begin compressions and breaths 6) Use an AED once it is available

It is important to check your surroundings and assess the situation first before doing anything. It is likely that no two situations will ever be the same, nor will they be in a safe and controlled environment. Once you’ve deemed the area safe, get the necessary PPE, like gloves and a respirator. In order to determine if 911 must be called, you must first check if the victim is responsive, breathing, and if there is any blood. To check for responsiveness, firmly tap their shoulder and shout. If they do not respond, then you or someone else must call 911. Next, make sure the victim is on their back and begin giving chest compressions. Both hands should be centered on the chest, one on top of the other. With shoulders stacked over the elbows, begin compressions at 100 to 120 cpm. The chest should compress at least 2 inches and be allowed to fully rebound before the next compression is given. Once 30 compressions are given, tilt the head and lift the chin, ensuring an open airway. Using a respirator, if available, administer 2 breaths, allowing the chest to rise fully before giving another. Check the airway for blockage if the chest does not rise. Repeat this step of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until an AED is available. Use the AED immediately. Follow the instructions on the AED and continue compressions and breaths while you wait for emergency services to arrive.  

70.

Which of the following eating disorders is characterized as eating a large amount of food in a short time span?

  • Binge eating disorder

  • Anorexia nervosa

  • Bulimia nervosa

  • Pica

Correct answer: Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder refers to a condition where one consumes large amounts of food quickly and feels a lack of control to stop. 

Anorexia affects a person’s body image of themselves and they generally tend to hyperfocus on their weight and restrict calorie intake. Bulimia refers to a person consuming large amounts of food followed by a purge to get rid of the calories. Pica refers to someone who eats things that are not considered food or edible.

71.

Consider the following sequence of movements to determine the orientation of the palms. Starting in anatomical position: abduct the arm, externally rotate the shoulder, then flex the elbow. 

In anatomical terms, which direction is the palm facing?

  • Medially

  • Superiorly

  • Inferiorly

  • Anteriorly

Correct answer: Medially

In order to answer this correctly, you must know how the body is oriented in anatomical position. The palms will be facing anteriorly from the start. Once the arm is abducted and externally rotated, the palm will be facing upwards. We then flex the elbow, which faces the palm medially, towards the midline of the body. 

72.

For a lateral step over movement on a BOSU ball, which of the following approaches would be most appropriate and most efficient?

  • A side approach

  • A front approach

  • A rear approach

  • A diagonal approach

Correct answer: A side approach

Lateral step overs are best completed through the use of a side approach. 

While one could potentially perform lateral step overs using a different approach, the side approach is the most efficient way to perform this exercise.

73.

Which of the following structures is a shared passageway for both the respiratory and digestive tracts?

  • Pharynx

  • Larynx

  • Trachea

  • Esophagus

Correct answer: Pharynx

The pharynx is a part of both the respiratory and digestive tracts. It is at this junction that the epiglottis either opens to allow air to the larynx or closes to send food down the esophagus. 

The larynx is the opening of the respiratory tract. It is also where we produce sound and manipulate pitch and volume. The trachea connects the larynx to the rest of the respiratory tract. The esophagus is the food passageway.

74.

Which exercise would you expect to have a higher MET value?

  • Running (6 min./mile)

  • Heavy weight training

  • Circuit training

  • Moderate effort cycling

Correct answer: Running (6 min./mile)

Of the following options, running has the highest MET value at around 16 to 18. Running is a constant exercise, typically with no rest, whereas the others, barring cycling, have planned rest periods. 

Moderate intensity cycling, while it involves constant movement, is generally easier to maintain than running, especially on flat surfaces.

75.

Which of the following structures is part of the upper respiratory tract?

  • Pharynx

  • Trachea

  • Bronchi

  • Lungs

Correct answer: Pharynx

The pharynx is part of the upper respiratory tract. 

The trachea, bronchi, and lungs are all a part of the lower respiratory tract.

76.

Which of the following is a good exercise for isolating the gluteus medius muscle?

  • Side-lying hip abduction

  • Lateral dumbbell shoulder raises

  • Squats

  • Broad jumps

Correct answer: Side-lying hip abduction

The gluteus medius is a hip abductor muscle. This muscle serves to swing the leg out to the side from midline. 

While squats and broad jumps may rely on the gluteus medius for some stability, the primary muscles used during the squat are the triple extensors such as the gluteus max, quads, and calves.

77.

Which of the following options would impart the least amount of joint impact force during a burpee exercise?

  • Walking the legs into all positions of the burpee instead of jumping

  • Jumping the legs backward during the bottom portion of the exercise, but not jumping the legs forward

  • Jumping the legs forward during the bottom portion of the exercise, but not jumping the legs backward

  • Hopping slightly at the top of the movement, but walking the legs in and out at the bottom of the movement

Correct answer: Walking the legs into all positions of the burpee instead of jumping

Burpees can be modified in a number of ways to make them easier/harder, or lower/higher impact. In order to fully remove joint impact forces, eliminating all plyometric portions of the movement will be necessary. 

All of the choices on this list include high impact forces at one point or another except for walking the legs in and out during the movement.

78.

What is the neutral spine position?

  • When the spine has natural curves at each of the three segments

  • When the spinal segments are flat and stacked directly over each other

  • When the cervical and lumbar spine are flat and the thoracic spine has a kyphotic curve

  • When the cervical and thoracic spine are flat and the lumbar spine has a lordotic curve

Correct answer: When the spine has natural curves at each of the three segments   

The spine has natural curvatures at each segment. The cervical and lumbar spine have a lordotic curve, and the thoracic spine has a kyphotic curve. These curves develop over time to adjust to the natural distribution of our body weight. The curves also assist in balance, flexibility, and shock absorption. 

The spine is not and should not be flat. A flat spine can contribute to issues with balance and muscle strain trying to maintain an upright position. 

If any part of the spine is flat or has reduced curvature, that can be detrimental to posture and create long-term problems if it is not taken care of.

79.

Which of the following is the best description of floor-based cardio classes?

  • Group exercise classes which don't require the use of equipment

  • Group exercises classes that use only one piece of equipment

  • Group exercise classes that emphasize movements performed exclusively in prone or supine positions

  • Group exercise classes that use different types of flooring, such as carpeting or hardwood, based on the types of participants

Correct answer: Group exercise classes which don't require the use of equipment

Sometimes, for one reason or another, there is no equipment available for a class. Alternatively, some group fitness instructors may find it prudent to start beginners with no equipment so that they can practice and learn the movements that will later be used with other pieces of equipment. These types of classes are known as "no-equipment" classes or floor-based classes.

80.

Of the options listed, which of the following is expected to elicit the lowest heart rate during an indoor cycling class?

  • Low resistance seated cycling

  • Jumps

  • Standing cycling

  • Climbing

Correct answer: Low resistance seated cycling

All of the other options listed have been shown to cause the highest heart rates, ratings of perceived exertion, and calorie burn within an indoor cycling class.