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Exam questions · Biology · Health and Communicable Disease

Health and Disease

  • 8 exam questions
  • 25 marks
  • 8 quick checks
  1. 1 Describe [2 marks]

    Describe the difference between a communicable disease and a non-communicable disease.

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    Model answer

    A communicable disease is caused by a pathogen and can be passed from one person to another, but a non-communicable disease is not caused by a pathogen and cannot be passed on.

    Mark scheme

    • A communicable disease is caused by a pathogen and can be passed on — 1 mark
    • A non-communicable disease is not caused by a pathogen and cannot be passed on — 1 mark
  2. 2 Name [3 marks]

    Name the type of disease that each of these is: scurvy, cystic fibrosis and depression.

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    Model answer

    Scurvy is a deficiency disease. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder. Depression is a mental illness.

    Mark scheme

    • Scurvy: deficiency disease — 1 mark
    • Cystic fibrosis: inherited disorder — 1 mark
    • Depression: mental illness — 1 mark
  3. 3 Explain [3 marks]

    People who have HIV are more likely to get tuberculosis (TB). Explain why.

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    Model answer

    HIV infects and damages the white blood cells, so the immune system becomes weak. The immune system can then no longer control the bacteria that cause TB, so they multiply, and the person is more likely to develop active tuberculosis.

    Mark scheme

    • HIV damages the white blood cells and the immune system — 1 mark
    • The immune system cannot control the TB bacteria — 1 mark
    • So tuberculosis is more likely to develop — 1 mark
  4. 4 Explain [3 marks]

    Cervical cancer is a non-communicable disease, but it can be linked to HPV infection. Explain how a virus can lead to a non-communicable disease.

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    Model answer

    HPV infects the cells of the cervix and can change their DNA. These cells then divide in an uncontrolled way and form a tumour, which is cervical cancer. The cancer itself cannot be passed on, so it is non-communicable, even though the virus that triggered it can be.

    Mark scheme

    • HPV infects the cells of the cervix and changes their DNA — 1 mark
    • The cells divide in an uncontrolled way, forming a tumour — 1 mark
    • The cancer cannot be passed on, so it is non-communicable — 1 mark
  5. 5 Calculate [3 marks]

    Source: In one year a country had 120 000 deaths. Of these, 18 000 were caused by communicable diseases and 96 000 were caused by non-communicable diseases. The rest were caused by injuries. Calculate the percentage of the deaths that were caused by communicable diseases, the percentage caused by non-communicable diseases, and the percentage caused by injuries.

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    Model answer

    Communicable: \(\frac{18000}{120000} \times 100 = 15\%\). Non-communicable: \(\frac{96000}{120000} \times 100 = 80\%\). Injuries: \(120000 - 18000 - 96000 = 6000\), and \(\frac{6000}{120000} \times 100 = 5\%\).

    Mark scheme

    • 15% from communicable diseases — 1 mark
    • 80% from non-communicable diseases — 1 mark
    • 5% from injuries — 1 mark
  6. 6 Explain [2 marks]

    A child lives on a diet that is very low in protein and vitamins and gets many infections. Explain why a poor diet can make infections more likely.

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    Model answer

    Without enough protein, vitamins and minerals, the body cannot make enough healthy white blood cells and antibodies, so the immune system is weaker. The pathogens are then not killed as quickly, so the child is more likely to get infections.

    Mark scheme

    • A poor diet means that the body cannot make enough white blood cells or antibodies — 1 mark
    • The immune system is weaker, so infections are more likely — 1 mark
  7. 7 Describe [3 marks]

    Describe how a person's mental health and physical health can affect each other.

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    Model answer

    Long-term physical illness or pain can cause depression or anxiety, which lowers mental health. Stress and mental illness can weaken the immune system, so that a person is more likely to get infections. A person with poor mental health may also not eat well or exercise, which lowers their physical health.

    Mark scheme

    • Physical illness can cause poor mental health — 1 mark
    • Stress or mental illness can weaken the immune system — 1 mark
    • Poor mental health can lead to poor diet or exercise, lowering physical health — 1 mark
  8. 8 Discuss [6 marks]

    Discuss how different types of disease can interact with one another and with a person's health.

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    Model answer

    Different types of disease are linked. HIV is a communicable disease that damages the immune system, so a person with HIV is more likely to get another communicable disease, such as tuberculosis, because the TB bacteria are not controlled. A communicable disease can also lead to a non-communicable disease. HPV infection can change the cells of the cervix so that they divide in an uncontrolled way, which causes cervical cancer. A deficiency disease or a poor diet can lower the immune system, which makes infections more likely. Physical and mental health are also linked, because a long-term physical illness can lead to depression, and stress can weaken the immune system. All of these interactions lower a person's overall health.

    Mark scheme

    • Level 3 (5 to 6 marks): several interactions between different types of disease are explained with accurate examples, including the effect on the immune system — A clear, well-structured explanation using correct terms
    • Level 2 (3 to 4 marks): two interactions are described, with some explanation — Some reasoning, but links are not fully developed
    • Level 1 (1 to 2 marks): one example is named with little explanation — Simple statements
    • Possible points: HIV and TB; HPV and cervical cancer; immune deficiency; poor diet and infection; physical and mental health — Content that can earn credit at any level

Quick check

  1. 1

    Which of these is a communicable disease?

    1. AScurvy
    2. BTuberculosis
    3. CCystic fibrosis
    4. DDepression
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    B: Tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium and can be passed on, so it is communicable.

  2. 2

    Which of these is a deficiency disease?

    1. AMalaria
    2. BCystic fibrosis
    3. CAthlete's foot
    4. DScurvy
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    D: Scurvy

    Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet.

  3. 3

    How is cystic fibrosis passed on?

    1. AIt is inherited from parents
    2. BBy coughs and sneezes
    3. CBy drinking dirty water
    4. DBy insect bites
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    A: It is inherited from parents

    It is an inherited disorder caused by faulty alleles that are passed from parents to children.

  4. 4

    Why are people with HIV more likely to get tuberculosis?

    1. AHIV is a type of TB bacterium
    2. BTB can be caught only from HIV patients
    3. CHIV weakens the immune system
    4. DHIV makes people eat less
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    C: HIV weakens the immune system

    HIV damages the immune system, so the TB bacteria are not controlled.

  5. 5

    What is the link between HPV and cervical cancer?

    1. AHPV is a treatment for cervical cancer
    2. BHPV can lead to cervical cancer
    3. CHPV is caused by cervical cancer
    4. DThere is no link between them
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    B: HPV can lead to cervical cancer

    HPV can change the cells of the cervix so that they divide in an uncontrolled way.

  6. 6

    Which statement about cancer is correct?

    1. ACancer is caused by a virus every time
    2. BCancer is passed on by coughs and sneezes
    3. CCancer is a deficiency disease
    4. DMost cancers cannot be passed from person to person
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    D: Most cancers cannot be passed from person to person

    Cancer is caused by changes to cells that lead to uncontrolled division, and it cannot be caught from another person.

  7. 7

    In a country, 8 000 of 50 000 deaths are caused by communicable diseases. What percentage is this?

    1. A16%
    2. B8%
    3. C6.25%
    4. D40%
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    A: 16%

    8 000 divided by 50 000 is 0.16, which is 16%.

  8. 8

    Which of these would NOT lead to an immune deficiency?

    1. AAn HIV infection
    2. BDrugs given after a transplant
    3. CA balanced diet
    4. DAn inherited immune defect
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    C: A balanced diet

    A healthy balanced diet helps the body to make white blood cells. The other three weaken the immune system.