WorksheetsEpidemics
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 19mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Millions of people living all over the world have cancer. Is cancer a pandemic?
a)
No, because cancer is not contagious.
b)
No, because cancer is not always fatal.
c)
Yes, because millions of people have cancer.
d)
Yes, because people all over the world have cancer.
2.
A city has an outbreak of a disease that affects an unusually large portion of its population at the same time. Which term BEST describes the outbreak?
a)
pandemic
b)
plague
c)
epidemic
d)
infection
3.
The bacteria B. anthracis causes the deadly disease anthrax. Here is one way humans can contract the disease:
1.The bacteria form tough endospores that rest in soil indefinitely.
2.Grazing animals such as sheep inhale the endospores from the soil.
3.Once inside the sheep, the spores reactivate and cause infection.
4.Infected sheep then pass the bacteria to humans who become infected.
In this scenario, what is the vector of anthrax?
1.The bacteria form tough endospores that rest in soil indefinitely.
2.Grazing animals such as sheep inhale the endospores from the soil.
3.Once inside the sheep, the spores reactivate and cause infection.
4.Infected sheep then pass the bacteria to humans who become infected.
In this scenario, what is the vector of anthrax?
a)
endospores
b)
soil
c)
sheet
d)
humans
4.
Which is a distinction between an epidemic and a pandemic?
a)
the symptoms of the disease
b)
the geographical area affected
c)
the species of organisms infected
d)
the season in which the disease spreads
5.
In 1918, an outbreak of influenza infected 500,000 people all over the world. Tens of millions of those infected died. In 1994, an outbreak of pneumonic plague spread quickly through the city of Surat in India, killing 52 people.
Which statement BEST describes the two events?
Which statement BEST describes the two events?
a)
Both outbreaks were pandemics.
b)
Both outbreaks were epidemics.
c)
The influenza outbreak was a pandemic. The plague outbreak was an epidemic.
d)
The influenza outbreak was an epidemic. The plague outbreak was a pandemic.
6.
Which tool is MOST responsible for preventing future pandemics of smallpox?
a)
worldwide vaccination for smallpox
b)
global education about smallpox
c)
better worldwide urban sanitation
d)
improved global quarantine facilities
7.
Which tool is MOST responsible for preventing future pandemics of smallpox?
a)
worldwide vaccination for smallpox
b)
global education about smallpox
c)
better worldwide urban sanitation
d)
improved global quarantine facilities
8.
Which has made the most significant difference to reduce the spread of epidemics and pandemics worldwide?
a)
water treatment
b)
decreased pollution
c)
increased medical aid
9.
Which best describes how an outbreak of cholera begins?
a)
Fleas bite animals and humans causing the disease to spread.
b)
A bacterial organism contaminates the drinking water of a community.
c)
An infected mosquito penetrates the skin of several humans, causing them to contract the disease.
10.
Which epidemic could best be treated by antibiotics?
a)
flu
b)
AIDS
c)
cholera
11.
Which vector could lead to a malaria epidemic?
a)
fly
b)
bat
c)
mosquito
12.
If a monkey is a vector for an infectious disease, which bestdescribes how it transmits into the human population and becomes an epidemic?
a)
The monkey inhales contaminated drops from the air.
b)
The monkey bites a human.
c)
The monkey shares food.
13.
Why are AIDS vaccines less likely to be developed now?
a)
Scientists are unable to get genetic material from the virus.
b)
Scientists are unable to experiment on human patients.
c)
Scientists are unable to figure out what causes AIDS.
14.
Which most accurately describes what makes a mosquito a vector?
a)
A mosquito can be sick with malaria but not spread the disease.
b)
A mosquito can spread malaria but not be sick with the disease.
c)
A mosquito can carry malaria but not spread the disease.
15.
What is the most common method by which AIDS is spread?
a)
animal bites
b)
contaminated food
c)
shared body fluids
16.
Which is the best requirement for viruses to reproduce?
a)
The virus must be inside a living cell.
b)
The virus must produce a toxin.
c)
The virus must be a pathogen.
17.
Which best explains why researchers are working to improve antimicrobial drugs?
a)
Microbes are becoming more resistant to current drugs.
b)
Microbes are learning to detect current drugs and avoid them.
c)
Microbes are growing too large to be stopped by current drugs.
18.
Which best explains why a contagious disease is likely to become an epidemic?
a)
failure to follow safety rules when handling bacteria
b)
lack of understanding as to how the disease is spread
c)
creation of supergerms due to the overuse of antibiotics
19.
Which is the best prediction of microbial drug resistance without the help of National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases?
a)
All microbes will become drug resistant.
b)
Drug resistance will remain stable at 70 percent.
c)
Drug resistance will increase, making it harder to treat bacterial infections.
20.
After World War I, an outbreak of the Spanish Flu killed 50 million to 100 million people around the world. Which best describes this occurrence?
a)
Epidemic, because it happened within a relatively short time span.
b)
Epidemic, because it affected many individuals in multiple countries.
c)
Pandemic, because it happened within a relatively short time span.
d)
Pandemic, because it affected many individuals in multiple countries.
21.
How are quarantines used to slow the spread of an epidemic?
a)
Quarantines prevent individuals from eating food that is potentially contaminated.
b)
Quarantines allow enough time for antibiotics to take effect in infected individuals.
c)
Quarantines keep infected individuals separate so they cannot pass the disease to others.
d)
Quarantines keep people inside their homes so that family members can provide care for each other.
22.
Which illness is most likely to spread throughout the world and infect the most people?
a)
chicken pox
b)
influenza
c)
malaria
d)
measles
23.
Which would most likely prevent a cold virus from spreading through a classroom?
a)
Have a large supply of tissues on the teacher’s desk.
b)
Have all students wash their hands regularly with soap.
c)
Have all students shake hands regularly with all students.
d)
Have all students wipe desk with dry paper towel at end of class.
24.
Which best compares an epidemic and a pandemic?
a)
An epidemic is caused by bacteria, while a pandemic is caused by viruses.
b)
A pandemic is spread by humans, while an epidemic is spread by insects and rodents.
c)
A pandemic occurs in a small region, while an epidemic occurs in a much larger region.
d)
An epidemic affects a small population of humans, while a pandemic affects a large population of humans.
25.
Which antibiotic was developed from a fungus and has been used to cure many illnesses that could have led to epidemics?
a)
aspirin
b)
ethanol
c)
penicillin
d)
acetaminophen
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