ICFSEB NBE Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: C

1. Formula: Statement total = goods and services subtotal + cash advance items subtotal.
2. Goods and services: $2,195 + $395 + $795 + $275 + $495 + $595 + $375 + $2,895 = $8,020.
3. Cash advance items: 6 × $20 = $120; $120 + $250 + $360 = $730.
4. Total: $8,020 + $730 = $8,750 (dollars).
5. Check: the total exceeds the goods-and-services subtotal by exactly the cash advances; each cash advance is listed separately on the Statement.

$8,020: Total of goods and services only; the cash advance items were left out.

$8,650: Counted one certified copy ($20) instead of six ($120).

$8,750: Correct. Goods and services $8,020 plus cash advance items $730 ($120 + $250 + $360) gives $8,750.

$9,480: Added the $730 of cash advance items twice.

The Statement itemizes the goods and services selected and lists each cash advance item separately; the total is both subtotals added together.

Answer: B

Folding and presenting the flag, and a rifle volley: A firing party (rifle volley) may be provided when available, but it is not part of the guaranteed minimum ceremony.

Folding and presenting the flag, and playing Taps: Correct. Federal law (10 U.S.C. 1491) provides, on request, an honors detail of at least two uniformed members, one from the veteran's branch, who fold and present the U.S. burial flag and play Taps (by bugler or an electronic recording).

A 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps: The 21-gun salute is a cannon salute reserved for heads of state; it is confused with the three-volley rifle salute and is not a veteran's honor.

A rifle volley and a military flyover: Neither element is guaranteed; flyovers are rare and reserved for special cases.

The minimum military funeral honors for an eligible veteran are a detail of at least two uniformed members who fold and present the flag and play Taps; other elements depend on availability.

Answer: D

The decedent's Social Security number and usual occupation: Vital-statistics data for the death certificate; it is gathered at the arrangement conference, not needed to dispatch the removal.

Whether a pre-need contract is on file with the firm: Useful to check later, but a pre-need file does not change where staff must go or whether the body may be released.

A time for the family to come in for the arrangements: Scheduling the arrangement conference can wait; it does not affect the removal itself.

Where the decedent is and whether death was pronounced: Correct. First-call information centers on what the removal staff need right now: where the decedent is (address, room, access) and whether death has been pronounced and the body may be released. Without these the transfer cannot proceed.

The first call gathers only what is needed to transfer the remains properly: the location, the caller and next of kin, and whether death has been pronounced and the body released. Vital statistics and selections wait for the arrangement conference.

Answer: D

Unit pricing: Unit (single-unit) pricing combines the casket and all services into one price; here the casket is priced separately.

Functional pricing: Functional pricing charges separately for each category of service and merchandise, closest to the itemization the FTC Funeral Rule requires on the GPL; this quote groups all services together.

Tri-unit pricing: Tri-unit pricing uses three separate figures (e.g., professional services, facilities and vehicles, and the casket); this quote has only two.

Bi-unit pricing: Correct. Bi-unit pricing uses two figures: one charge for all services, facilities and equipment, and a second charge for the casket. Under the FTC Funeral Rule such a grouped price may be offered only in addition to, never instead of, the itemized prices on the GPL.

Unit = one price; bi-unit = services + casket; tri-unit = three groups; functional = itemized by function. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, packages or grouped prices may be offered only in addition to the itemized GPL, never in place of it.

Answer: A

Say that he “died” and his body stopped working for good.: Correct. Preschool children tend to view death as temporary and reversible; simple, concrete, honest words such as “died” and “his body stopped working” help them understand that death is permanent.

Tell her that Grandpa has gone to sleep for a long time.: Linking death with sleep can confuse a preschooler who sees death as reversible and can create fear of going to sleep.

Wait to discuss the death until she is old enough to understand it fully.: Avoiding the topic leaves the child to fill the silence with fantasy and fear; children grieve at every age and need honest information suited to their level.

Keep her away from the funeral so that she is not upset by it.: Automatically excluding a child is discouraged; when prepared beforehand and accompanied, children are generally given the choice to take part.

Young children think concretely and may see death as reversible, so use honest, simple language (“died”) and avoid euphemisms such as sleep or “gone away.”

Answer: C

post the preparation room as a regulated area: Regulated areas are required only where exposure exceeds the PEL (0.75 ppm) or STEL (2 ppm).

require respirators during every embalming: Respirators are required above the PEL or STEL; this exposure is below both.

make medical surveillance available to the embalmer: Correct — 1910.1048(l): medical surveillance is required for employees exposed at or above the action level (0.5 ppm TWA) or above the STEL; 0.6 ppm meets the action level.

take no action, since the result is below the PEL: Ignores the action level (0.5 ppm), which triggers surveillance and periodic monitoring.

Formaldehyde: action level 0.5 ppm, PEL 0.75 ppm (8-h TWA), STEL 2 ppm (15 min). Medical surveillance applies at or above the action level or above the STEL.

Answer: D

The Casket Price List is given to keep; the GPL need only be shown at the end of the conference: Reverses the two lists, and the GPL is due when the discussion of arrangements or prices begins, not at the end.

Both lists must be given to keep at the first face-to-face meeting: Overstates the Casket Price List duty; only the GPL must be given for retention.

Both lists may be withheld until the family selects a casket: Wrong timing: both must be presented before the selection discussion, the casket list before caskets are shown.

The GPL is given to keep; the Casket Price List must be shown before caskets are, but need not be kept: Correct — 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4) requires the GPL "for retention"; 453.2(b)(2) requires the Casket Price List to be offered for review before caskets are shown, with no requirement that the consumer keep it.

The consumer keeps the GPL; the Casket Price List (and Outer Burial Container Price List) must be shown before those goods are shown or discussed, if their prices are not on the GPL.

Answer: D

at least 3 nautical miles from land in 600 feet of water: The 600-foot depth applies to non-cremated (whole body) burials, not cremated remains.

at least 12 nautical miles from land, at any depth: Confuses the 3-nautical-mile permit rule with the 12-mile territorial-sea limit.

at least 3 nautical miles from land, only from a licensed vessel: The general permit sets distance; it imposes no vessel-licensing condition, and remains may also be released from an aircraft.

at least 3 nautical miles from land, at any depth: Correct — the EPA general permit under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act requires cremated remains to be placed at least 3 nautical miles from land; there is no depth rule for cremated remains, and EPA is notified within 30 days.

Burial at sea: 3 nautical miles from land for all remains; whole bodies also need at least 600 feet of depth; report to EPA within 30 days.

Answer: C

1. Formula: C × V = C′ × V′ (index of concentrate × ounces of concentrate = desired strength × total solution volume).
2. Total volume: 2 gallons × 128 oz = 256 oz.
3. Substitute: 30 × V = 3.0 × 256 = 768.
4. Solve: V = 768 ÷ 30 = 25.6 oz of concentrate.
5. Sanity check: 25.6 / 256 = 1/10 of the solution, and 30 ÷ 10 = 3.0%, matching the target.

7.7 oz: Takes 3% of 256 oz as if the concentrate were pure formaldehyde, ignoring the index.

12.8 oz: Uses 1 gallon (128 oz) instead of the full 2 gallons (256 oz).

25.6 oz: Correct — C × V = C′ × V′: 30 × V = 3.0 × 256 oz, so V = 25.6 oz of concentrate (stronger solution for the high preservative demand of uremia).

76.8 oz: Treats the index of 30 as 30% of the volume (0.30 × 256) instead of using C × V = C′ × V′.

Uremia raises preservative demand, so a stronger solution is used; find the concentrate with C × V = C′ × V′ using the total volume in ounces.

Answer: A

The STEL was exceeded, though the TWA is below the action level: Correct. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1048: the STEL is 2 ppm over 15 minutes, so 2.4 ppm exceeds it, while 0.4 ppm is below the 0.5 ppm action level. Exposure above the STEL alone triggers medical surveillance and control measures.

The PEL was exceeded because one sample is above 0.75 ppm: Wrong measure: the PEL of 0.75 ppm is an 8-hour TWA; a single 15-minute sample is compared with the STEL.

No action is needed, since the TWA is below the action level: Wrong: a TWA below the action level does not excuse an exposure above the STEL.

The action level was exceeded, but the STEL was not: Reversed: the 0.4 ppm TWA is below the 0.5 ppm action level, and the 2.4 ppm sample is above the 2 ppm STEL.

Compare 8-hour TWAs with the action level (0.5 ppm) and PEL (0.75 ppm), and 15-minute samples with the STEL (2 ppm); either limit can be exceeded on its own.

Answer: C

It needs only one incision, over the right carotid: Wrong: restricted cervical injection needs two incisions, one over each common carotid artery.

It removes the need for cavity aspiration and injection: Wrong: the method changes only arterial injection; the cavities still need aspiration and cavity fluid.

It lets the head be injected separately and controlled: Correct. Because the head is injected last and separately, the embalmer can adjust the strength and volume reaching the face and avoid facial distension.

It drains the body through the right femoral vein: Wrong vessel: drainage is generally taken from the right internal jugular vein, which is exposed at the same incision.

Restricted cervical injection injects the trunk and then each side of the head separately, giving the embalmer control over the facial tissues.

Answer: D

1. Formula: C × V = C′ × V′ (C = index of the concentrate, V = ounces of concentrate, C′ = desired strength, V′ = total ounces of solution).
2. Substitute: 20 × V = 2.5 × 128.
3. Solve: V = 320 ÷ 20 = 16.
4. Units: 16 oz of concentrate, plus 112 oz of water, makes the 128 oz of solution.
5. Sanity check: 20 × 16 ÷ 128 = 2.5%, the strength wanted.

3.2 oz: Wrong: 2.5% of 128 oz is the volume of formaldehyde gas itself; the concentrate is only 20% formaldehyde, so more concentrate is needed (the index step was skipped).

8 oz: Wrong: 20 ÷ 2.5 = 8 is only the dilution factor; it ignores the 128-oz total volume.

12.5 oz: Wrong: uses 100 oz instead of 128 oz for a gallon (2.5 × 100 ÷ 20).

16 oz: Correct. 20 × V = 2.5 × 128, so V = 320 ÷ 20 = 16 oz of concentrate.

Ounces of concentrate = (desired strength × total ounces of solution) ÷ index; a gallon is 128 oz.

Answer: A

Length of the nose: Correct. Restorative art proportion: the ear is about as long as the nose, and it lies between the line of the eyebrows and the line of the base of the nose.

Width of one eye: One eye width guides the space between the eyes and the width of the nose at the wings, not the ear's length.

Width of the mouth: Mouth width relates to the spacing of the eyes (about the inner margins of the irises), not to ear length.

Width of the nose at the wings: The width of the base of the nose is about one eye width; it is far shorter than the ear.

When no ear remains as a model, set its length equal to the nose length and place it between the eyebrow line and the base-of-nose line.

Answer: A

Sodium hydroxide or strong bleach: Correct — infectious cases: prions resist aldehydes, alcohols and standard disinfection; 1 N sodium hydroxide or concentrated sodium hypochlorite (about 20,000 ppm) is used.

70% isopropyl alcohol: Alcohol is an intermediate-level disinfectant with no reliable effect on prions.

Glutaraldehyde solution: Glutaraldehyde, like formaldehyde, is an aldehyde that does not destroy prions.

Formaldehyde arterial solution: Formaldehyde does not inactivate prions; it fixes and stabilizes them in tissue.

Prions survive formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and alcohol; decontaminate with sodium hydroxide or concentrated sodium hypochlorite and dispose of single-use items.

Answer: B

Livor mortis from blood that settled within the vessels: Livor mortis is intravascular. It is the part that cleared with injection and drainage.

Postmortem stain from hemolyzed blood in the tissues: Correct. Thanatology: postmortem stain is extravascular. Hemolyzed blood has seeped out of the vessels into the tissues, so drainage cannot remove it.

Tache noire from drying of exposed tissue: Tache noire is the dark band from drying of exposed sclera. It is not discoloration of the back.

Ecchymosis from injury before death: Ecchymosis is an antemortem bruise from trauma. It would not explain diffuse discoloration over the dependent surfaces.

Livor mortis (intravascular) can be cleared by arterial injection and drainage; postmortem stain (extravascular) cannot.

Answer: B

Biliverdin: Biliverdin is the green pigment formed when formaldehyde oxidizes bilirubin in jaundice. It is not a decomposition product of hemoglobin.

Sulfhemoglobin: Correct. Chemistry of decomposition: hydrogen sulfide from bacterial action in the cecum combines with hemoglobin to form green sulfhemoglobin. It is the first visible sign of decomposition, over the right lower quadrant.

Methemoglobin: Methemoglobin is oxidized hemoglobin and is chocolate-brown. It does not cause the green abdominal discoloration of decomposition.

Hemosiderin: Hemosiderin is an iron-storage pigment from old hemorrhage. It is golden-brown.

The green discoloration of the right lower quadrant is sulfhemoglobin (H2S + hemoglobin), the first visible sign of decomposition.