Transcript Interactive questions

INTERACTIVE
MULTIPLE CHOICE
QUESTIONS
Diseases, causes, transmission and control
The answers are provided.
Explanations of why the alternatives
are unsatisfactory are also offered
These multiple choice questions are similar to the ones set
by the GCSE and IGCSE Examination Boards except that,
in some cases, there may be more than one acceptable
answer.
For this reason, even if you select a correct answer at your
first attempt, it is worth looking at all the alternatives
(a) to see if there is a better answer and
(b) to see why some of the alternatives are unacceptable.
Question 1
Which of the following is a transmissible disease?
(a) Scurvy
(b) Food poisoning
(c) Diabetes
(d) Cancer
Question 2
No
Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C
Yes
Food poisoning is caused either by one of a number of
viruses or the bacteria Salmonella typhimurium or
S. enteritidis.
It is spread by contact with an infected person, or via food
which has been handled by an infected person. The bacterial
form may also come from animals, e.g. chickens, which
carry the bacteria
No
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. It is caused either by
insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or by the
failure of cells in the body to respond properly to insulin
No
Cancer occurs when the normal control of cell division in a
tissue fails
Question 2
Contagious disease is spread by …
(a) infected droplets in exhaled air
(b) mosquitoes or other biting, insects
(c) contaminated food
(d) direct or indirect contact with an
infected person
Question 3
No
The term ‘contagious’ means that some form of contact
is necessary to spread the disease
No
Mosquitoes and other biting insects do spread
diseases but not by mere contact. They need to insert
their probosces into the infected person to pick up
and transmit the disease
No
Contaminated food can cause spread of disease but
not by contagion. The food has to be ingested to
cause the disease.
Yes
The disease can be transmitted by direct contact with
an infected person or by contact with some item used
by that person, e.g a towel. Tinea is spread in this way
Question 3
Which of the following are sexually transmitted diseases?
(a) Typhoid fever
(b) Syphilis
(c) Cholera
(d) HIV (AIDS)
Question 4
No
Typhoid is transmitted by infected water or food
Yes
Syphilis is spread by sexual intercourse with an infected
person. Rarely it can be passed from an infected woman
to her offspring.
Syphilis can be treated by a course of injections with an
antibiotic
No
Cholera is an intestinal disease spread by contaminated
food or water
Yes
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is spread by
sexual contact with an infected person. It may also
be transmitted unwittingly by the use of
contaminated syringe needles.
If untreated, HIV can cause AIDS (Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
Question 4
To reduce the chances of spreading disease, it is important
to wash the hands …
(a) frequently
(b) before handling food
(c) after handling food
(d) after visiting the lavatory
Question 5
No
Although frequent hand-washing may reduce the chances
of disease, unless it takes place at specific times it is not
effective
Yes
Intestinal diseases such as food poisoning or typhoid can be
spread if food is contaminated by hands which carry disease
organisms such as Salmonella
No
If the food-handler’s hands are contaminated, the harm has
been done while handling the food. Washing at this stage might
be desirable but it will not reduce the spread of infection.
Yes
After visiting the lavatory, there is the possibility that the
fingers may have become contaminated by bacteria present
in the faeces. Thorough hand-washing at this stage greatly
reduces the chances of the bacteria contaminating food or
objects such as door handles
Question 5
The chances of catching a sexually transmitted disease
are greatly reduced if …
(a) the man uses a condom
(b) the couple keep themselves clean
(c) the woman is on ‘the pill’
(d) the partners are ‘faithful’ to each other
Question 6
Yes
The condom prevents direct contact between the penis
and vagina and also retains the semen. Viruses and
bacteria cannot therefore be transmitted from one partner
to the other
No
Cleanliness is desirable but cannot prevent the spread
of infection.
No
The contraceptive pill may reduce the chances of
conception but it can have no influence on the
transmission of disease
Yes
If both partners are free from disease to start with, so long as
they remain ‘faithful’ to each other, there is no chance of
contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
Question 6
The blood system combats infection by producing …
(a) antibodies
(b) antigens
(c) antibiotics
(d) antiseptics
Question 7
Yes
Antibodies are chemicals (immunoglobulins) produced by
certain of the white cells in the blood. They neutralise or
destroy foreign substances in the blood such as bacteria or
their products.
No
Antigens are foreign substances such as bacteria or their
toxins in the blood, which provoke an immune reaction.
No
Antibiotics are chemicals made by fungi or related
organisms. They can be extracted and processed to be used
as drugs to combat infection. Penicillin is an example of an
antibiotic
No
An antiseptic is an artificially produced substance which kills
bacteria. It is used to sterilise instruments, surfaces or systems
such as drains. Some forms can be used on the skin.
Question 7
A vaccine reduces the chances of getting a virus
infection by …
(a) killing the virus
(b) making the bone marrow produce more white cells
(c) prompting the body to produce antibodies
(d) raising the body temperature
Question 8
No
A vaccine prompts an immune reaction which destroys
viruses but does not itself ‘kill’ them.
No
A virus infection may result in an increase in the population
of white cells but this is not the primary function of a vaccine
Yes
Vaccines provoke an immune reaction in the body which
results in the production of antibodies against viruses and
bacteria
No
The body temperature may rise during an infection but this is
not a function of the vaccine.
Question 8
If you have a wound contaminated by soil you may be
given an anti-tetanus injection. The injection will contain
anti-tetanus antibodies. This is an example of …
(a) passive immunity
(b) active immunity
(c) artificial immunity
(d) drug therapy
Question 9
Yes
It is passive immuity because the antibodies have not been
produced by your own body but from another organism,
e.g. a genetically engineered bacterium
No
Active immunity results from the production of antibodies
by your own immune system
No
Artificial immunity is produced by injecting the body with a
harmless form of the infective agent or its products. The
body produces antibodies to the antigens and is stimulated
to do so when when the real infective agent enters the body
No
Drug therapy is used in order to cure rather than to prevent
a disease
Question 9
Malaria is spread by …
(a) exhaled droplets
(b) houseflies
(c) contact with an infected person
(d) mosquitoes
Question 10
No
Many diseases are spread by droplet infection but not malaria
No
Houseflies do spread diseases such as typhoid and cholera
but they do so by contaminating food. They do not suck
blood and so cannot transmit malaria
No
Malaria is not a contagious disease
Yes
Mosquitoes are blood-sucking insects. If they suck blood
from an infected person, they pick up the malarial parasite
which may then be transmitted to the next person to be bitten
Question 10
Which of the following are water-borne diseases ?
(a) Influenza
(b) Cholera
(c) Typhoid
(d) Tuberculosis
No
Influenza is mostly transmitted via air-borne droplets or by
contact with infected persons or objects
Yes
Cholera is transmitted by contaminated water which
contains bacteria from the faeces of infected persons. It is
most likely to happen after a natural disaster which disables
the sewage system
Yes
Typhoid is transmitted by contaminated water which
contains bacteria from the faeces of infected persons. It is
most likely to happen after a natural disaster which disables
the sewage system
No
Tuberculosis is transmitted by infected droplets
End of questions
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