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Human Immune System Quiz

Total questions: 27

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which activity would stimulate the human immune system to provide protection against an invasion by a microbe?

a)

receiving antibiotic injections after surgery

b)

choosing a well-balanced diet and following it throughout life

c)

being vaccinated against chicken pox

d)

receiving hormones contained in mother's milk while nursing

2.

Pollen grains often stimulate an allergic response that produces

a)

antigens

b)

antibodies

c)

plasma

d)

platelets

3.

When the antibiotic penicillin was first introduced, it was immediately effective in combating staphylococcus bacterial infections. After a number of years, there were outbreaks of staphylococcal infections that did not respond to treatment with penicillin. The best explanation for this situation is that

a)

members of the original population of bacteria that were penicillin resistant survived and reproduced, creating a more resistant population

b)

the bacteria that survived exposure to penicillin learned to avoid it

c)

the bacteria that caused the new outbreaks were from populations that had never been exposed to penicillin

d)

during each generation, the bacteria modified their own DNA to increase their ability to resist penicillin and passed this ability on to their descendants

4.

The immune system of humans may respond to chemicals on the surface of an invading organism by

a)

releasing hormones that break down these chemicals

b)

synthesizing antibodies that mark these organisms to be destroyed

c)

secreting antibiotics that attach to these organisms

d)

altering a DNA sequence in these organisms

5.

Salmonella bacteria can cause humans to have stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. The effect these bacteria have on humans indicates that Salmonella bacteria are

a)

predators

b)

pathogenic organisms

c)

parasitic fungi

d)

decomposers

6.

An infection in the body might result in a sudden

a)

decrease in the activity of antigens produced by the mitochondria

b)

decrease in the amount of DNA present in the nuclei of cells

c)

increase in the activity of white blood cells

d)

increase in the number of red blood cells

7.

Which statement does not identify a characteristic of antibodies?

a)

They are produced by the body in response to the presence of foreign substances.

b)

They may be produced in response to an antigen.

c)

They are nonspecific, acting against any foreign substance in the body.

d)

They may be produced by white blood cells.

8.

The diagram below represents one possible immune response that can occur in the human body.

a)

A, only

b)

A and C, only

c)

B and C, only

d)

A, B, and C

9.

A 6-year-old child ate a peanut butter sandwich at snack time in school. Five minutes later, her throat became swollen and she collapsed. This allergic reaction occurred because her body

a)

recognized an antigen in peanut butter and produced antibiotics against it

b)

digested the white blood cells that can recognize an antigen in peanut butter

c)

did not recognize an antigen in peanut butter and could not produce antibodies against it

d)

recognized an antigen in peanut butter and produced an immune response

10.

The human immune system fights infection by releasing

a)

ATPs

b)

antibiotics

c)

antibodies

d)

antigens

11.

Cells of the immune system are able to respond to the presence of invading organisms because they recognize the

a)

antigens present on the invaders

b)

antibodies present in invading pathogens

c)

DNA pattern in the nuclei of viruses

d)

antibiotics released from microbes

12.

Which statement describes the best procedure to determine if a vaccine for a disease in a certain bird species is effective?

a)

Vaccinate 100 birds and expose all 100 to the disease.

b)

Vaccinate 100 birds and expose only 50 of them to the disease.

c)

Vaccinate 50 birds, do not vaccinate 50 other birds, and expose all 100 to the disease.

13.

A vaccine for the viral disease known as chicken pox would contain

a)

a large amount of live virus

b)

a dead or weakened form of the pathogen

c)

several different antibiotics

d)

a small number of white blood cells

14.

Which statement best describes an immune response?

a)

It always produces antibiotics.

b)

It usually involves the recognition and destruction of pathogens.

c)

It stimulates asexual reproduction and resistance in pathogens.

d)

It releases red blood cells that destroy parasites.

15.

In some individuals, the immune system attacks substances such as grass pollen that are usually harmless, resulting in

a)

an allergic reaction

b)

a form of cancer

c)

an insulin imbalance

d)

a mutation

16.

The diagram below shows the growth pattern of some skin cells in the human body after they have been exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The cells in area X are most likely:

a)

red blood cells

b)

cancer cells

c)

white blood cells

d)

sex cells

17.

Some diseases and their causes are listed below. Which disease would individuals have the greatest difficulty preventing in themselves?

a)

Flu—influenza virus

b)

Lung cancer—smoking

c)

Cystic fibrosis—genes

d)

Dysentery—parasitic ameba

18.

If the same antibiotic is used too many times, it can become less effective against a certain type of bacteria. This observation is best explained by the:

a)

presence of pathogens in antibiotics

b)

production of antibiotics by white blood cells

c)

replication of viruses that attack bacteria

d)

survival and reproduction of unaffected bacteria

19.

Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) 19-20 on the graph below and on your knowledge of biology. Which statement best explains a change in the incidence of disease in 1970?

a)

Children were vaccinated against measles.

b)

New drugs cured diabetes.

c)

The bacteria that cause pneumonia developed a resistance to drugs.

d)

New technology helped to reduce the incidence of all three diseases.

20.

Refer to the graph in question 19. Which statement provides the best possible reason for the decrease in number of cases of bacterial pneumonia from 1940 to 1970?

a)

As a result of genetic engineering, humans became immune to the bacteria.

b)

Antibiotics were made available for the treatment of bacterial infections.

c)

The bacteria did not respond to medical treatments.

d)

As a result of sexual reproduction, the bacteria evolved into a harmless form.

21.

Certain antibacterial soaps kill 99% of the bacteria present on hands. Constant use of these soaps could be harmful over time because

a)

more pathogens may be resistant to the soap

b)

microbes prevent viral diseases

c)

large populations of pathogens are beneficial to the hands

d)

the soap stimulates skin cell division

22.

What usually results when an organism fails to maintain homeostasis?

a)

Growth rates within organs become equal.

b)

The organism becomes ill or may die.

c)

A constant sugar supply for the cells is produced.

d)

The water balance in the tissues of the organism stabilizes.

23.

Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on the information below and on your knowledge of biology. In order to enroll in most schools, students must be vaccinated against certain viral diseases, such as mumps. Even with these vaccinations, many students still suffer from other diseases. Discuss how a vaccination works and why some students still become infected with other diseases. Identify what is present in a vaccine that stimulates an immune response.

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24.

Describe how a vaccine protects against disease.

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25.

State why a student vaccinated against mumps can still be infected by the pathogens that cause other diseases, such as chicken pox.

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26.

Base your answer to the following question on the information below and on your knowledge of biology. In an experiment to test the effectiveness of a new vaccine, 50 rats received an injection of equal doses of the vaccine and 50 other rats received an injection of equal doses of a weak salt solution. Two months later, all of the rats received injections that contained equal doses of live, disease-causing organisms. The experimental results are shown in the chart below.

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27.

Was the vaccine effective in preventing the disease? Use the information in the data table to support your answer.

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