Causes of Disease - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Chapter: Why Do We Fall Ill | Topic: Causes of Disease Pathogens Nutrition Genetics
CAUSES OF DISEASE - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Topic: Causes of Disease Pathogens Nutrition Genetics
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Pathogens are:
- Medicines that cure diseases
- Disease-causing microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa
- White blood cells that fight infection
- Nutrients that boost immunity
Q2. Which of the following is NOT a type of pathogen?
- Bacteria
- Virus
- Antibiotic
- Protozoan
Q3. A child in a village develops a swollen belly and thin limbs. This condition, kwashiorkor, is caused by:
- A virus
- A bacterium
- Protein deficiency in diet
- Genetic mutation
Q4. Sickle cell anaemia is a disease caused by:
- Drinking contaminated water
- A genetic defect in red blood cells
- Lack of vitamin C
- A fungal infection
Q5. Which of these diseases is caused by a combination of genetic tendency and lifestyle factors?
- Common cold
- Type 2 diabetes
- Malaria
- Cholera
Short Answer Questions
Q6. Define 'pathogen.' Name the five main types of pathogens and give one example of a disease caused by each.
Q7. Explain how poor nutrition can lead to disease. Give two examples of deficiency diseases and the nutrients whose absence causes them.
Q8. What are genetic diseases? Give two examples. Why can genetic diseases not be prevented by vaccines or antibiotics?
Q9. Your classmate eats only rice and fried snacks every day. Explain why this limited diet might lead to nutritional deficiency diseases. Name two diseases he might develop.
Long Answer Questions
Q10. Explain the three major categories of disease causes - pathogens, poor nutrition, and genetic factors - with two examples for each. Discuss how these causes can sometimes work together to make a person more susceptible to disease. Give one example where poor nutrition and pathogens combine.
Q11. "Finding the cause is half the cure." Explain this statement by discussing how knowing that bacteria cause tuberculosis helps in its treatment, how knowing that vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy helps in prevention, and how genetic counselling helps families with a history of genetic diseases like thalassaemia.
APPLICATION / ANALYSIS
Q12. Case Study — Village Health Diagnosis:
A doctor visited a tribal village in Odisha and examined 50 children. She found:
| Symptom | Number of Children | Likely Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Swollen abdomen | 18 | ? |
| Bowed legs, difficulty walking | 10 | ? |
| Frequent infections, poor wound healing | 12 | ? |
| Pale skin, fatigue, breathlessness | 10 | ? |
Answer the following:
(a) Identify the nutrient deficiency causing each condition.
(b) Which group of children is most likely to have a weakened immune system? Explain the connection between their deficiency and susceptibility to infections.
(c) If the government provides one food supplement to all these children, which nutrient-rich food would help the maximum number of children? Justify your answer.
Q13. Real-Life Application - Health Detective:
Four patients visited a city hospital:
| Patient | Symptoms | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Raju | Coughing blood, weight loss, night sweats | Works in a crowded factory |
| Meena | Child with bowed legs | Lives in a slum with no sunlight Diet: only rice and dal |
| Karan | Family history of diabetes, overweight, high blood sugar | Desk job, no exercise |
| Anil | Poor growth, thin hair, frequent diarrhoea | Diet: mostly packaged noodles |
Answer the following:
(a) Identify the cause of disease for each patient as pathogen, nutrition, or genetics.
(b) Which patient's disease could have been prevented entirely by a better diet and lifestyle? Explain what specific changes would have helped.
(c) Why is Karan's disease considered to have both genetic and lifestyle causes? What does this tell us about disease prevention?