OpenRevise

Exam questions · Biology · Health and Infectious Disease

Health and Types of Disease

  • 6 exam questions
  • 19 marks
  • 9 quick checks
  1. 1 State [1 mark]

    State the definition of health used by the World Health Organization.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

    Mark scheme

    • Complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just absence of disease — 1 mark
  2. 2 State [2 marks]

    State two differences between communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens, but non-communicable diseases are not. Communicable diseases can be passed from person to person, but non-communicable diseases cannot.

    Mark scheme

    • Caused by pathogens / not caused by pathogens — 1 mark
    • Can be passed on / cannot be passed on — 1 mark
  3. 3 Classify [3 marks]

    Classify each of these as communicable or non-communicable: malaria, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    Malaria is communicable. Cystic fibrosis is non-communicable. Tuberculosis is communicable.

    Mark scheme

    • Malaria: communicable — 1 mark
    • Cystic fibrosis: non-communicable — 1 mark
    • Tuberculosis: communicable — 1 mark
  4. 4 Explain [3 marks]

    Explain why a person who is malnourished is more likely to catch an infection.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    Malnutrition means the body does not get the nutrients it needs, so the immune system is weaker. White blood cells and antibodies cannot be made as well, so the person is less able to fight pathogens and is more susceptible.

    Mark scheme

    • Lack of nutrients — 1 mark
    • Weakens the immune system — 1 mark
    • Less able to fight pathogens — 1 mark
  5. 5 Explain [4 marks]

    A graph shows that countries with a high rate of HIV also have a high rate of TB. Explain what the graph shows, and explain whether it proves that HIV causes TB.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    The graph shows a positive correlation between HIV and TB. This does not prove that HIV causes TB, because correlation does not show cause, and other factors such as poverty may affect both. However, we know that HIV destroys white blood cells, so the immune system is weaker, which provides a likely explanation for the link.

    Mark scheme

    • Positive correlation — 1 mark
    • Does not prove cause — 1 mark
    • Another factor may affect both — 1 mark
    • HIV weakens the immune system — 1 mark
  6. 6 Explain [6 marks]

    Explain why health is more than the absence of disease, and give examples of how different parts of health can affect each other.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    The WHO says health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, so a person with no disease might still be unhealthy if they have poor mental health or social problems such as loneliness or unemployment. The parts are linked. Long-term illness can cause anxiety or depression, and so mental health is affected. Stress and mental illness can weaken the immune system, so the person is more likely to get an infection, which affects physical health. Poverty or poor housing can lead to disease, and illness can make it difficult to work and keep friends, which damages social well-being.

    Mark scheme

    • Defines health as physical, mental and social — 1 mark
    • A person without disease may not be healthy — 1 mark
    • Example of physical affecting mental — 1 mark
    • Example of mental affecting physical — 1 mark
    • Example of social factors affecting health — 1 mark
    • Parts are linked — 1 mark

Quick check

  1. 1

    Which of these is a communicable disease?

    1. ACancer
    2. BTuberculosis
    3. CCystic fibrosis
    4. DDiabetes caused by genes
    Show answerHide answer

    B: Tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium and can spread from person to person.

  2. 2

    Which of these is a non-communicable disease?

    1. ACystic fibrosis
    2. BCholera
    3. CMalaria
    4. DHIV
    Show answerHide answer

    A: Cystic fibrosis

    Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder, so it is not caused by a pathogen and cannot be passed on by contact.

  3. 3

    Which organisation defines health as complete physical, mental and social well-being?

    1. AThe NHS
    2. BThe Red Cross
    3. CThe WHO
    4. DThe Royal Society
    Show answerHide answer

    C: The WHO

    The World Health Organization (WHO) uses this definition.

  4. 4

    What is a pathogen?

    1. AA type of medicine
    2. BA symptom
    3. CA part of the immune system
    4. DA microorganism that causes disease
    Show answerHide answer

    D: A microorganism that causes disease

    A pathogen is an organism that causes disease.

  5. 5

    Why does HIV increase the risk of other infections?

    1. AIt makes the skin thicker
    2. BIt destroys white blood cells
    3. CIt produces more antibodies
    4. DIt kills bacteria
    Show answerHide answer

    B: It destroys white blood cells

    HIV destroys white blood cells, which weakens the immune system.

  6. 6

    Which of these is a pathogen?

    1. AA red blood cell
    2. BA vitamin
    3. CA virus
    4. DA chromosome
    Show answerHide answer

    C: A virus

    A virus is a pathogen, as it can cause disease.

  7. 7

    What does a positive correlation between two variables show?

    1. AThey increase together
    2. BOne causes the other
    3. CThey are not related
    4. DOne goes up as the other goes down
    Show answerHide answer

    A: They increase together

    As one variable increases, so does the other, although this does not prove that one causes the other.

  8. 8

    Which statement about non-communicable diseases is correct?

    1. AThey are caused by bacteria
    2. BThey spread through the air
    3. CThey can be caught from others
    4. DThey are not caused by pathogens
    Show answerHide answer

    D: They are not caused by pathogens

    They are not caused by pathogens, so they cannot be spread from person to person.

  9. 9

    HPV infection can lead to cervical cancer. What does this show?

    1. ACancer is communicable
    2. BA communicable disease can lead to a non-communicable disease
    3. CHPV is a type of cancer
    4. DCancer causes HPV
    Show answerHide answer

    B: A communicable disease can lead to a non-communicable disease

    A communicable disease (an infection) can increase the risk of a non-communicable disease (cancer).