Health

Question 1

Define a drug.

1 mark

Answer 1

Drugs are substances that change a person’s mental or physical state.

Question 2

Define and give examples of depressants and stimulants.

4 marks

Answer 2

Depressants are drugs that lower neurotransmission levels. An example is alcohol.

Stimulants increase the activity of the brain and the spinal cord. An example is cocaine.

Question 3

List the negative impacts of smoking on the body from nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide.

3 marks

Answer 3

Nicotine – an addictive drug that affects the central nervous system. It increases the heart rate and narrows the arteries, causing high blood pressure.

Tar – a brown, sticky substance that consists of tiny particles and is formed when tobacco smoke condenses. Tar paralyses tiny hairs in the airways called cilia; this stops them removing mucus easily.

Carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas that reduces the amount of oxygen that red blood cells can carry around the body.

Question 4

What is a balanced diet?

1 mark

Answer 4

A balanced diet is when you have all the nutrients, water and fibre in the correct proportions.

Question 5

What are the 5 nutrients?

6 marks

Answer 5

The five nutrients are:
* Carbohydrates (simple and complex)
* Proteins
* Fats
* Minerals
* Vitamins

Water and fibre are technically not nutrients but are needed for a healthy diet.

Question 6

What is a microbe?

1 mark

Answer 6

Microbes are organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Question 7

Give examples of microbes.

3 marks

Answer 7

The most commmon microbes are bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Question 8

Describe the properties of viruses.

4 marks

Answer 8

• They are microscopic (around 10 to 100 times smaller than bacteria)
• They either have DNA or RNA but not both
• They don’t grow and divide - they must use the host cell to reproduce
• They are acellular - they have no cytoplasm or cellular organelles

Question 9

Give examples of common viruses.

3 marks

Answer 9

• Rhinovirus (common cold)
• Influenza (flu)
• Norovirus (stomach flu)

Question 10

Describe the properties of bacteria.

4 marks

Answer 10

• They are unicellular (consisting of a single cell)
• They do not have a nucleus (instead, the DNA is found in the nucleoid or as a plasmid)
• They have a cell wall which gives them their shape (rod, coccus or spiral)
• They are microscopic

Question 11

What are antibiotics, antiseptics and disinfectants?

3 marks

Answer 11

• Antibiotics are naturally occuring or synthetic organic substances which kill selective bacteria or other microorganisms.
• Antiseptics are products that kill microorganisms in or on living tissue (e.g. hand sanitiser).
• Disinfectants are similar are similar but are generally products that are used on inanimate (non-living) objects or surfaces.

Question 12

List some natural barriers to microbes entering the body.

6 marks

Answer 12

• Skin
• Mucous membranes
• Tears
• Earwax
• Mucus
• Stomach acid

Question 13

What is the role of white blood cells, phagocytes and lymphocytes?

6 marks

Answer 13

• White blood cells help the body fight infection and other diseases. There are many types, including phagocytes and lymphocytes.
• Phagocytes surround and kill microorganisms, ingest foreign material, and remove dead cells.
• Lymphocytes include T, B, and natural killer cells. They are responsible for antibody production, direct killing of virus-infected or tumour cells and regulation of the immune response.

Question 14

List some things we can do to stay healthy.

Answer 14

Personal hygiene - wash hands, brush teeth, dress wounds, etc.

Exercise - at least 30 minutes per day

Diet - aim for a balanced diet, stay hydrated

Sleep - teenagers 8-10 hours per night, adults 7-9 hours per night