Communicable diseases
Edexcel GCSE Biology revision on Communicable diseases. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 specification. This bank has 25 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 25)
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Question 1
Which component of the human immune system is responsible for producing specific antibodies to target pathogens?
- A) Red blood cells
- B) Lymphocytes
- C) Phagocytes
- D) Platelets
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Answer: Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes recognise specific antigens on the surface of pathogens and produce Y-shaped proteins called antibodies. These antibodies bind to the antigens, effectively flagging the pathogen for destruction or neutralising its toxins. Other white blood cells like phagocytes perform non-specific engulfing, whereas lymphocytes provide the specific adaptive immune response.
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Question 2
Why are antibiotics ineffective against viral infections such as the common cold?
- A) Viruses reproduce inside host cells
- B) Bacteria have thick cell wall layers
- C) Fungi produce toxins that kill cells
- D) Protists mutate at very high speeds
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Answer: Viruses reproduce inside host cells
Antibiotics target bacterial processes like cell wall synthesis. Viruses reproduce inside host cells, making them inaccessible to antibiotics, which only work on free-living bacteria.
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Question 3
What is the primary function of a vaccine in preparing the immune system for a future pathogen encounter?
- A) Destroying the pathogen
- B) Creating memory cells
- C) Killing all antibodies
- D) Increasing phagocytosis
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Answer: Creating memory cells
A vaccine contains a harmless version of a pathogen that triggers the primary immune response. This leads to the formation of memory lymphocytes that remain in the blood. If the actual pathogen enters the body later, these memory cells allow for a rapid and massive production of antibodies, preventing the onset of disease.
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22 more questions on Communicable diseases — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Biology spec.