Pearson Edexcel GCSE Combined Science · B5

Health, disease and the development of medicines

Revision questions with answers for B5 Health, disease and the development of medicines in Pearson Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (spec 1SC0). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below.

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Question 1 · Spec B5.1
How does the WHO definition describe health?
Answer:
Complete physical, mental and social well-being, rather than merely absence of disease.
Question 2 · Spec B5.2
Distinguish communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Answer:
Communicable diseases can spread between organisms; non-communicable diseases cannot be transmitted in this way.
Question 3 · Spec B5.4
What is a pathogen? Name four groups.
Answer:
A disease-causing agent; the groups studied are bacteria, viruses, fungi and protists.
Question 4 · Spec B5.3
How can one disease increase susceptibility to another?
Answer:
It may weaken immune defences or damage tissues, making another infection or condition more likely.
Question 5 · Spec B5.5
What causes cholera, and what is its main symptom?
Answer:
A bacterium; it causes severe diarrhoea and associated water loss.
Question 6 · Spec B5.6
How is cholera spread?
Answer:
By ingesting water or food contaminated with the bacteria, often from faecal contamination.
Question 7 · Spec B5.6
How can cholera transmission be reduced?
Answer:
Provide clean drinking water, effective sewage treatment and good hygiene.
Question 8 · Spec B5.5
What type of pathogen causes tuberculosis, and what can it damage?
Answer:
A bacterium that can damage lung tissue.
Question 9 · Spec B5.6
How is tuberculosis commonly transmitted?
Answer:
Through airborne droplets or particles released by an infectious person.
Question 10 · Spec B5.6
How can tuberculosis spread be reduced?
Answer:
Identify and treat infections and reduce exposure through ventilation and limiting close contact during infectious periods.
Question 11 · Spec B5.5
What causes Chalara ash dieback, and what are its symptoms?
Answer:
A fungus; symptoms include leaf loss and lesions on the bark.
Question 12 · Spec B5.6
How does ash dieback spread?
Answer:
Airborne fungal spores can spread between trees.
Question 13 · Spec B5.6
Why can controlling movement of infected plants help limit ash dieback?
Answer:
It reduces transport of the pathogen into new areas.
Question 14 · Spec B5.5
What causes malaria, and which tissues can be damaged?
Answer:
A protist; it can damage blood cells and the liver.
Question 15 · Spec B5.6
Why is the mosquito a vector rather than the malaria pathogen?
Answer:
It carries and transmits the protist that causes the disease.
Question 16 · Spec B5.6
Give two ways to reduce malaria transmission.
Answer:
Prevent mosquito breeding and use mosquito nets or other methods that reduce bites.
Question 17 · Spec B5.5
Which cells does HIV attack?
Answer:
White blood cells involved in immune defence.
Question 18 · Spec B5.5
How can HIV infection lead to AIDS?
Answer:
Progressive destruction of immune cells severely weakens defence against infections and some cancers.
Question 19 · Spec B5.8
How can HIV be transmitted?
Answer:
Through sexual contact or exchange of infected body fluids, including contaminated blood.
Question 20 · Spec B5.8
Which pathogen group causes chlamydia, and how is it transmitted?
Answer:
Bacteria; transmission occurs through sexual contact.
Question 21 · Spec B5.8
How can condom use reduce STI transmission?
Answer:
It forms a barrier that reduces contact and exchange of potentially infected fluids.
Question 22 · Spec B5.12
How does skin protect against pathogens?
Answer:
It forms a physical barrier that prevents many pathogens entering the body.
Question 23 · Spec B5.12
What is mucus's defensive role?
Answer:
It traps pathogens and particles on surfaces such as the airways.
Question 24 · Spec B5.12
How do cilia help protect the respiratory system?
Answer:
They move pathogen-containing mucus towards the throat for removal or swallowing.
Question 25 · Spec B5.12
What do lysozymes do?
Answer:
These enzymes, present in secretions such as tears, damage bacterial cell walls.
Question 26 · Spec B5.12
How does stomach hydrochloric acid defend the body?
Answer:
Its low pH kills many swallowed pathogens.
Question 27 · Spec B5.13
What is an antigen?
Answer:
A molecule recognised by the immune system that can trigger a specific immune response.
Question 28 · Spec B5.13
How do antibodies help defend against a pathogen?
Answer:
They bind to specific matching antigens and help the immune system deal with the pathogen.
Question 29 · Spec B5.13
What are memory lymphocytes?
Answer:
Long-lived immune cells formed after antigen exposure that enable a faster response to the same antigen.
Question 30 · Spec B5.13
Why is a secondary immune response usually faster and stronger?
Answer:
Memory lymphocytes recognise the antigen and rapidly produce large amounts of the correct antibody.
Question 31 · Spec B5.14
How can an inactive pathogen in a vaccine provide protection?
Answer:
Its antigens stimulate antibody and memory-cell production without causing the full disease.
Question 32 · Spec B5.14
Why can high immunisation coverage reduce transmission?
Answer:
Fewer susceptible hosts interrupt transmission chains and reduce exposure of others.
Question 33 · Spec B5.16
Why can antibiotics target bacteria without directly killing human cells?
Answer:
They inhibit bacterial processes or structures that differ from those of the host cells.
Question 34 · Spec B5.16
Why do antibiotics not treat viral infections?
Answer:
Viruses lack the bacterial structures and processes targeted by antibiotics and reproduce using host cells.
Question 35 · Spec B5.20
Name the main stages of medicine development.
Answer:
Discovery, development, preclinical testing and clinical testing.
Question 36 · Spec B5.20
What is assessed in preclinical testing?
Answer:
Effects on cells, tissues and suitable animals, including toxicity and potential effectiveness before human trials.
Question 37 · Spec B5.20
What is assessed during clinical trials?
Answer:
Safety, effectiveness and a suitable dose in human volunteers and patients.
Question 38 · Spec B5.20
What do toxicity, efficacy and dose mean?
Answer:
Harmful effects, effectiveness and the amount of medicine administered, respectively.
Question 39 · Spec B5.20
Why include a placebo group in a trial?
Answer:
It allows comparison with people receiving no active medicine, helping isolate the treatment's effect.
Question 40 · Spec B5.20
Why use a double-blind trial?
Answer:
Neither participants nor investigators know allocation during the trial, reducing expectation and observer bias.
Question 41 · Spec B5.23
Why can a non-communicable disease have several risk factors?
Answer:
Genes, lifestyle and environmental influences can interact rather than a single factor determining the outcome.
Question 42 · Spec B5.24
How can energy intake and activity influence obesity risk?
Answer:
Regular intake exceeding expenditure can increase body mass; activity increases energy expenditure.
Question 43 · Spec B5.24
State the BMI equation.
Answer:
BMI = mass in kilograms / height in metres squared.
Question 44 · Spec B5.24
Calculate BMI for a 72 kg adult who is 1.8 m tall.
Answer:
BMI = 72 / 1.8² = 22.2, to one decimal place.
Question 45 · Spec B5.24
A waist is 84 cm and hips 100 cm. Find waist:hip ratio.
Answer:
84 / 100 = 0.84.
Question 46 · Spec B5.24
How can excessive alcohol consumption affect health?
Answer:
It increases the risk of liver damage and liver disease.
Question 47 · Spec B5.24
How does smoking affect cardiovascular disease risk?
Answer:
It damages the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of conditions such as coronary heart disease.
Question 48 · Spec B5.25
Give a benefit and limitation of long-term cardiovascular medication.
Answer:
It can reduce risk or control disease, but requires continued use and may cause side effects.
Question 49 · Spec B5.25
How can surgery treat narrowed coronary arteries?
Answer:
Stents can hold arteries open; bypass surgery provides another route for blood, although procedures carry risks.
Question 50 · Spec B5.25
Why might lifestyle changes be recommended alongside other cardiovascular treatments?
Answer:
Exercise, a suitable diet and stopping smoking can reduce risk factors and support long-term health.

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