10 questions ยท Form 2 Science Bab 4: Human Health
What is an antigen?
Prefer reading to quizzing? All 10 questions are listed below with the answer and explanation under each one.
1. What is an antigen?
Answer: B
An antigen is a foreign protein or molecular structure on pathogens that triggers white blood cells to produce specific antibodies.
2. Which of the following diseases is classified as non-infectious?
Answer: C
Diabetes mellitus is caused by genetic factors or lifestyle habits (lack of insulin production/sensitivity) and cannot be transmitted between people.
3. What does a vaccine injected into a person during artificial active immunisation contain?
Answer: B
Vaccines contain dead, weakened, or fragmented pathogens that trigger the immune system to produce its own antibodies without causing the full-blown disease.
4. Which organ acts as the primary physical barrier in the first line of defence against micro-organisms?
Answer: B
Intact skin serves as a tough physical and chemical barrier preventing microorganisms from invading internal tissues.
5. What is the primary mechanism utilized by the second line of defence to neutralize pathogens?
Answer: B
The second line of defence uses non-specific white blood cells (phagocytes) to perform phagocytosis, engulfing and destroying pathogens.
6. A person bitten by a venomous snake is immediately injected with antivenom containing ready-made antibodies. What form of immunity is this?
Answer: A
Injecting manufactured antiserum/antibodies directly into a patient provides immediate protection via artificial passive immunity.
7. Which action helps break the transmission chain of waterborne infectious diseases?
Answer: B
Boiling water kills pathogens like *Vibrio cholerae* and *Salmonella typhi*, preventing waterborne infection.
8. Which factor is a primary cause of non-infectious cardiovascular disease?
Answer: B
Cardiovascular diseases are non-infectious conditions linked to lifestyle factors like unhealthy diets, smoking, and physical inactivity.
9. Why is active immunity generally longer-lasting than passive immunity?
Answer: B
Active immunity stimulates the body's immune system to generate memory lymphocytes that retain the ability to produce targeted antibodies for years.
10. What happens when an antibody binds to its matching target antigen?
Answer: A
Antibody-antigen binding neutralizes toxins or clumps pathogens (agglutination), making them easier for phagocytes to engulf and digest.