20 Infectious Disease Practice Questions for HSC Biology

Responses to Pathogens

Inquiry question: How does a plant or animal respond to infection?

Question 6

Which biological term is best described by ‘engulfing and destruction of bacteria or other foreign bodies’? (1 mark)

a) Vaccination

b) Attenuation

c) Phagocytosis

d) Antibody production

Sourced from HSC Biology 2007 Exam 

(Analyse responses to the presence of pathogens by assessing the physical and chemical changes that occur in the host animals cells and tissues)

Question 7

Which of the following prevents entry of pathogens into the human body? (1 mark)

a) The skin and phagocytosis

b) The skin and chemical barriers

c) Inflammation response and phagocytosis

d) Inflammation response and chemical barriers

Sourced from HSC Biology 2009 Exam

(Analyse responses to the presence of pathogens by assessing the physical and chemical changes that occur in the host animals cells and tissues)

Question 8

When a foreign body breaches the first line of defence, the mast cells produce histamines in response. What is the role of histamines in the defence of the body?

a) To attack the invading pathogen

b) To activate B and T lymphocytes of the specific immune response

c) To activate the inflammation response and increase blood flow to the affected area

d) To retain information on a pathogen’s antigen so that the immune system can respond quickly to any subsequent infection

(Analyse responses to the presence of pathogens by assessing the physical and chemical changes that occur in the host animals cells and tissues )

Question 9

Identify a viral pathogen affecting Australian plants and outline its biological effects on the plant. (3 marks)

(Investigate the response of a named Australian plant to a named pathogen through practical and/or secondary-sourced investigation, for example: – fungal pathogens – viral pathogens)

Question 10

You undertook a first-hand investigation to examine plants for evidence of pathogens and insect pests.

Use the information you gathered to complete the table. (3 marks)

Sourced from HSC Biology 2004 Exam

(Investigate the response of a named Australian plant to a named pathogen through practical and/or secondary-sourced investigation, for example: – fungal pathogens – viral pathogens)

Immunity

Inquiry question: How does the human immune system respond to exposure to a pathogen?

Question 11

The diagram below illustrates one process that occurs as part of an immune response. What process does the diagram illustrate? (1 mark)

a) Cytokinesis

b) Inflammation

c) Osmosis

d) Phagocytosis

Sourced from 2004 HSC Biology Exam

(Investigate and model the innate and adaptive immune systems in the human body)

Question 12

What is the function of T-helper cells? (1 mark)

a) Initiation of inflammation

b) Phagocytosis of bacteria and viruses

c) Promotion of B-cell and T-cell activity

d) Production of specific antibodies against pathogens

Sourced from 2003 HSC Biology Exam

(Investigate and model the innate and adaptive immune systems in the human body)

Question 13

Humoral immunity is a form of adaptive immunity. It is characterised by the flow of which of the following in the blood? (1mark)

a) Macrophages

b) Antigens

c) Antibodies

d) Cytotoxic t cells

(Explain how the immune system responds after primary exposure to a pathogen, including innate and acquired immunity)

Question 14

a) Identify ONE type of T lymphocyte. (1 mark)

b) Distinguish between the function of a B cell and a T cell. (2 marks)

Sourced from 2004 HSC Biology Exam

(Investigate and model the innate and adaptive immune systems in the human body)

Question 15

a) Outline the 3 key differences between innate immunity and adaptive immunity. (3 marks)

b) The principle of vaccinations is to introduce your body to attenuated or inactivated pathogens to confer immunity to the individual. Which system of immunity does this process mainly make use of? (1 mark)

(Investigate and model the innate and adaptive immune systems in the human body)

Prevention, Treatment and Control

Inquiry question: How can the spread of infectious diseases be controlled?

Question 16

Overseas avian enthusiasts brought their hawks to Australia for an international hawking competition. The birds were kept in quarantine for a duration of time before the event began. In terms of biosecurity what is the reason for this process? (1 mark)

a) To acclimatise them to Australian conditions

b) To make sure no bird diseases spread to spectators

c) To make sure the birds don’t contract Australian diseases

d) To make sure the birds do not have an infectious disease

(Investigate procedures that can be employed to prevent the spread of disease)

Question 17

How do vaccinations prevent disease? (1 mark)

a) They increase the inflammation response

b) They enable infected cells to seal off the pathogen

c) They increase the number of antibodies against the pathogen

d) They decrease the number of antigens that trigger the immune response

Sourced from NESA HSC Biology additional sample examination questions

(Investigate procedures that can be employed to prevent the spread of disease)

Question 18

Antibiotics are a widely used drug in most developed countries. They are frequently used to treat bacterial infections and are sometimes added to animal feed.

Explain how the widespread use of antibiotics can impact the spread of disease in the future. (4 marks)

(Investigate and assess the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals as treatment strategies for the control of infectious disease)

Question 19

Lifetime traceable tags as shown in the diagram are now required on all cattle in Australia.

Discuss the use of this strategy in dealing with diseases. (4 marks)

Sourced from 2005 HSC Biology Exam

(Investigate procedures that can be employed to prevent the spread of disease)

Question 20

Assess the importance of the confiscation or destruction of high risk imported goods to Australian biosecurity and its effects on preventing disease. (6 marks)

(Investigate and evaluate environmental management and quarantine methods used to control an epidemic or pandemic)