Edexcel GCSE Biology

Topic Questions

5.1 Disease

1a
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4 marks

Figure 1 shows the percentage of the population with type 2 diabetes and the mean body mass of the population, from 1990 to 2000.

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Figure 1
(i)
Diabetes is a non-communicable disease. 

Explain what is meant by a non-communicable disease.
(2)
(ii)
Use the information in Figure 1 to describe the correlation between type 2 diabetes and body mass shown from 1993 and 2000.
(2)
1b
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2 marks

Identify two lifestyle factors that may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

1c
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3 marks

In Figure 2 below draw one line from each disease to the correct description.


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Figure 2

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2a
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2 marks

Pathogens cause disease.

Draw one straight line from each type of pathogen to the disease that is caused by that pathogen.

q1a-1bio-1f-june18-qp-gcse-bio
2b
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1 mark

Antibiotics can be used to treat diseases.

Antibiotics kill

  A antibodies
  B antigens
  C bacteria
  D viruses
2c
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2 marks

Figure 1 shows the number of white blood cells in blood samples from three patients.

  Patient X Patient Y Patient Z
Number of white blood cells per μl 8 500 5 700 12 500

Figure 1

Explain why the data suggests that Patient Z has a bacterial infection.

2d
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2 marks

HIV is diagnosed by blood tests.

State two safety precautions that need to be taken when handling blood samples.



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3a
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2 marks

Pathogens can be passed on from one host to another in different ways.

State two examples of how this happens.

3b
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3 marks

Hygienic food preparation methods are very important in preventing the spread of pathogens and disease.

Describe three examples of such methods.

3c
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1 mark

Cholera is a disease that spreads through the ingestion of contaminated food or water.

Identify the pathogen that causes cholera.

3d
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2 marks

One of the symptoms of cholera is diarrhoea, which may become life-threatening if left untreated.

Explain the reason for this.

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4a
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4 marks

Identify the potential factors that can contribute to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases.

4b
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1 mark

Represent the components of health according to the World Health Organisation.

4c
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2 marks

The body's response to diseases involves complex interactions between the immune system and pathogens.

Distinguish between the terms susceptibility and immunity.

4d
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5 marks

Table 1 below shows the key differences between communicable diseases caused by bacteria and viruses.

Fill the table accordingly.

Table 1

  Viral communicable disease Bacterial communicable disease
Genetic material    
Structure    
Transmission    
Treatment    
Examples    

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5a
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1 mark

State one characteristic that differentiates between pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms.

5b
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2 marks

Separate: Biology Only

The lysogenic pathway is a phase in the life cycle of viruses characterised by a period of dormancy.

Describe the lysogenic pathway in the lifecycle of a virus.

5c
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1 mark

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a disease sexually transmitted through body fluids.

Give one method to reduce its transmission. 

5d
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3 marks

Separate: Biology Only

Compare and contrast the lytic and lysogenic pathways of a virus in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Aspect Lytic pathway Lysogenic pathway
Entry and Injection Virus infects host cell and injects DNA into cytoplasm.  
Replication   Integrated viral DNA replicates along with host cell replication but no new virus particles are produced during this time.
Host cell outcome Cell bursts and releases virus particles into the host organism.  

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1a
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3 marks

One type of food poisoning is caused by Salmonella microorganisms. Raw chicken often contains Salmonella and so should be frozen within 1 or 2 days of purchase for up to 9 months. Raw chicken should be kept refrigerated for no longer than 2 days. To prevent food poisoning from frozen chicken, it should be thoroughly defrosted before cooking. The raw chicken should not be allowed to touch other food which is not going to be cooked. After cooking, the chicken should be cooled quickly and stored in a refrigerator at 4 °C for 3 to 4 days.

(i)
Identify the type of pathogen which causes Salmonella food poisoning.
(1)
(ii)
Suggest and explain why raw chicken can be preserved in a freezer for up to 9 months but only 1 to 2 days in the fridge.
(2)
1b
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5 marks

Figure 1 shows the number of cases of tuberculosis (TB) per 100 000 in 3 regions of England between the years of 2000 and 2011.

Year Number of cases of TB per 100 000 people per region
London South East South West
2000 37 5 3
2001 36 6 4
2002 42 6 6
2003 42 7 4
2004 42 7 5
2005 49 8 5
2006 44 8 3
2007 43 8 5
2008 44 8 5
2009 44 9 6
2010 42 9 5
2011 45 10 5

Figure 1

(i)
Compare the trend shown in Figure 1 in the data for the three regions of England.
(3)
(ii)
Suggest why a higher number of cases of TB would be expected in a city compared to a rural region.
(2)

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2
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6 marks

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection.

Figure 1 shows the number of people diagnosed with gonorrhoea in the UK.fig-13-1bio-1h-june19-qp-gcse-bio

Figure 1

Explain how gonorrhoea is transmitted and how the number of people infected can be reduced.

Use data from the graph to justify why it is necessary to reduce the number of people infected.

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3a
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2 marks

This question is about a disease called cholera. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water.

(i)
Cholera is caused by a pathogen.

Identify the type of pathogen that causes cholera. 

(1)

(ii)
Cholera is a communicable disease. 

Describe the difference between a communicable and a non-communicable disease. 

(1)

3b
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6 marks

Since the 19th century, there have been cholera outbreaks worldwide. The most affected countries are in East Africa and South-East Asia.

Figure 1 shows the number of reported cases in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 1990-2010.5-1-diseases-hard-sq1

Figure 1

(i)
Calculate the percentage decrease in the number of cholera cases in Addis Ababa from 1996 to 2010. Give your answer to 1 decimal place

(2)

(ii)
Suggest and explain two reasons why the number of cases might have decreased.

(4)

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4a
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5 marks

The graph in Figure 1 shows data about men in the UK who have died from throat cancer and cigarettes smoked from 1900 to 2000.bPUB7cHr_5-1-edexcel-gcse-5-1h-sq-q4-throat-cancer

Figure 1

(i)
Which statement about the graph is correct?

Put a cross (☒) in the box to indicate your answer.

(1)

  A The number of cigarettes smoked peaks at 5200
  B The highest number of deaths from throat cancer occurred in 1985
  C The graph shows a correlation between cigarettes smoked and throat cancer deaths
  D Smoking cigarettes is the sole cause of throat cancer

(ii)
Describe the changes in throat cancer deaths from 1950 to 2000.

Use data from the graph to support your answer.

(2)

(iii)     Suggest an explanation for the changes described in part (ii).

(2)

4b
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4 marks

Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking cigarettes in the last decade.

Figure 2 shows data on the effect of smoking tobacco cigarettes, vaping and abstinence (not smoking at all) on heart rate throughout a typical day.5-1-edexcel-gcse-5-1h-sq-q4b-ecig-vs-cig-2

Figure 2

One student concluded that vaping is good for your health.

Evaluate their statement. Use information from Figure 2 and your own knowledge. 

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5a
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6 marks

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

(i)
A virus is an example of a pathogen.

State what is meant by the term ‘pathogen’.

(1)

(ii)
Complete Table 1 below to compare viruses and bacteria.

Put a tick () in the correct boxes.
(5)

Table 1

Feature Bacteria Viruses Both
Produce toxins      
Does not contain a nucleus      
Contain DNA or RNA      
Treated with antibiotics      
Infects host cells      
5b
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4 marks

The image in Figure 1 shows a norovirus capsid, which shows the virus magnified 900,000x.

The cell has an image size of 36mm.

edexcel-gcse-5-1h-sq-q5-virus

Figure 1

Calculate the actual size of the norovirus capsid in Figure 1. Give your answer in micrometres.

5c
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4 marks

Viruses, such as noroviruses, have two stages in their lifecycle.

Compare and contrast the stages in the lysogenic pathway and the lytic pathway.

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1a
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3 marks

In 2012 there was an outbreak of whooping cough in the UK.

Figure 1 shows the number of new cases of whooping cough in the UK from April to December 2012.

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Figure 1
(i)
Describe the trend shown in the graph from April to December.
(1)
(ii)
In September 2011 there were 168 cases of whooping cough in the UK.
Calculate the difference in numbers of cases of whooping cough between September 2011 and September 2012.
(2)
1b
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4 marks

Dysentery is a bacterial disease which results in symptoms such as diarrhoea containing blood or mucus, sickness and stomach cramps. Houseflies, such as the one pictured in Figure 2, can be an animal vector for dysentery.

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Figure 2
(i)
Define what is meant by the term 'vector' in this scenario.
(1)
(ii)
Describe a series of events by which a housefly causes a person to become infected with dysentery.
(3)

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2a
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3 marks

Higher Tier only

Chalara Ash Dieback is a fungal disease affecting ash trees. 

Cases of Ash Dieback were reported in a region of Devon. The affected trees were cut down to avoid infection of nearby ash trees. It was also recommended that all trees within a 30 km radius of the infected trees were checked for infection.

(i)
Describe the signs that would indicate that an ash tree has been infected with Chalara Ash Dieback.
(1)
(ii)
Explain how Chalara Ash Dieback could infect trees as far as 30 km away from an infected tree.
(2)
2b
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5 marks

Figure 1 shows the structure of a virus particle.

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Figure 1
(i)
Complete the table below to identify the structures labelled in Figure 5.

Letter Structure
A  
B  
C  
(3)
(ii)
Describe the function of component B.
(2)
2c
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2 marks

Explain why a virus could be considered parasitic.



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3a
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6 marks

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus which emerged during the  20th century and has since infected millions of people globally. 

Below are some facts about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):

  • It is a transmissible disease passed on through through bodily fluids
  • HIV infects and destroys lymphocytes in the bloodstream
  • HIV may eventually lead to the onset of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
(i)
Describe two precautions which could reduce or prevent transmission of HIV.
(2)
(ii)
Explain how infection with HIV can lead to the development of AIDS.
(4)
3b
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3 marks

HIV is caused by a virus which infects lymphocytes in the blood.

(i)
Complete the table to correctly order the statements about HIV infection.

Statement Order
After making many copies of the virus particles, the host cell is destroyed  
HIV attaches to receptors on the lymphocyte  
HIV uses components within the host cell to clone itself  
The genetic material is injected into the host cell  
(2)
(ii)
Which viral pathway is represented in part (i)?
(1)

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4
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5 marks

Streptococcus bacteria can cause a sore throat or skin infection.

An illness called scarlet fever can also develop during an infection with this bacterium.

(i)
Give two precautions a doctor should take when treating a patient who is infected with Streptococcus.
(2)
(ii)
From September 2013 to March 2014 there were 2 830 cases of scarlet fever in the UK.

From September 2014 to March 2015 there were 5 943 cases of scarlet fever.

Calculate the percentage increase of the number of cases of scarlet fever between the periods September 2014 to March 2015 and September 2013 to March 2014.
(2)

.......................................... %

(iii)
Figure 1 shows some Streptococcus bacteria.fig-10-1bio-1h-june18-qp-gcse-bio

Figure 1

Some bacteria are motile, meaning they can move themselves.

Why is a Streptococcus bacterium not motile?
(1)
  A it does not have flagella
  B it does not have plasmids 
  C it does not have ribosomes 
  D it does not have acrosomes

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5
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6 marks

Infections can also be caused by viruses.

Describe the lytic pathway of a virus and how this causes the spread of infection through a population.

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6
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3 marks

Measles is a disease caused by a virus.

Describe the lytic pathway for a virus.

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7a1 mark

Name the organisation which defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

7b6 marks

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease.

(i)
State two ways that communicable diseases are different from non-communicable diseases.
(2)
(ii)
Explain one way that the spread of tuberculosis (TB) can be reduced or prevented.
(2)
(iii)
A student researched the number of people with TB in some countries.

Figure 1 shows the student’s data.

fig-4-1bio-1h-nov2021-qp-gcse-bio

Figure 1

Complete the table to show the student’s data.

(2)

   
   
   
   
   
   
7c2 marks

Explain why people with AIDS are more susceptible to TB.

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8a
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2 marks

Chlamydia is caused by a pathogen.

(i)
Chlamydia is transmitted by
(1)
  A insect vectors
  B sneezing
  C sexual intercourse 
  D contaminated food

(ii)

The type of pathogen that causes chlamydia is a
(1)
  A bacterium
  B fungus
  C protist
  D virus
8b
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5 marks

Figure 1 shows the number of cases of chlamydia in the United Kingdom per 100000 people between 1996 and 2013.fig-3-1bio-1f-june19-qp-gcse-bio

Figure 1

(i)
Describe the trend in the number of cases of chlamydia between 1996 and 2013.
(2)
(ii)
State the number of cases of chlamydia per 100 000 in 2013.
(1)
(iii)
The population of the United Kingdom in 2013 was 64 000 000.

Calculate the number of people with chlamydia in 2013.

(2)

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