In preparing for a new semester, I’ve been downloading a few free question compilations for the TEAS test. TEAS is the ‘Test of Essential Academic Skills’ that students wishing to enter into nursing programs must take. Since many of my students in both my Biology and Microbiology classes wish to enter nursing programs and are taking required classes for that purpose, I find these questions to be very useful in directing my syllabus creation.

However, today, I found this question amongst the free samples offered at the practicequiz.com website:

Category – Science

Q – What is a term used to describe the subtle energy running through the body?
A.	The Tao
B.	The Force
C.	Chi
D.	ATP
Your answer: –
Answer: C – Chi is a term used for the subtle energy that runs through the body. Chi is specific to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Other terms used are ki, prana and life force.

What am I to think?

I’m not sure that I am comfortable with ‘Chi’ being a legitimate concept being taught in science classes.

Am I wrong to think that the science and medicine taught to students of these disciplines should be objectively verifiable? Is ‘Chi’ a documented phenomenon? Or is this just a word / description that describes some metaphysical concept?

Wikipedia uses the following to define Chi:

“Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts…Elements of the qi concept can also be found in Western popular culture, for example “The Force” in Star Wars.”

Given this loose definition for an equally loose concept, I think “The Force” is an equally reasonable answer to the question as it is posed. And no answer to this question should be acceptable or expected in a serious exam. I certainly hope that this question is an example made up by practicequiz.com, and not one that my students are ever likely to see on a real examination.

See this link for a review of chi, also known as qi or qidong, in medicine.