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IGCSE Biology: Human nutrition — Practice Questions & Answers
Learn the balanced diet, the gut, digestive enzymes, and how the small intestine absorbs food for IGCSE Biology.
909 practice questions available for this topic — here are 10 with full answers and explanations.
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Practice questions with answers
1
Multiple choice · Easy
Which nutrient is the body's main source of energy?
Carbohydrate
Vitamin
Fibre
Water
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Why Carbohydrates are the primary energy source, releasing energy when broken down in respiration.
2
Multiple choice · Easy
Which mineral ion is needed to make haemoglobin?
Iron
Calcium
Sodium
Iodine
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Why Iron is required for the formation of haemoglobin in red blood cells.
3
Multiple choice · Easy
A lack of vitamin C in the diet causes which deficiency disease?
Scurvy
Rickets
Anaemia
Goitre
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Why Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy.
4
Multiple choice · Easy
Which mineral is needed for strong teeth and bones?
Calcium
Iron
Carbon
Phosphorus only
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Why Calcium is needed to build strong teeth and bones.
5
Multiple choice · Easy
What is the function of the enzyme amylase?
It breaks down starch into maltose
It breaks down protein into amino acids
It breaks down fat into fatty acids and glycerol
It breaks down maltose into glucose
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Why Amylase digests starch into the sugar maltose.
6
Multiple choice · Easy
In which organ is most water absorbed back into the blood?
Large intestine
Stomach
Oesophagus
Mouth
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Why The large intestine (colon) absorbs most of the remaining water from undigested food.
7
Multiple choice · Easy
Where is bile produced in the human body?
The liver
The gall bladder
The pancreas
The stomach
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Why Bile is produced by the liver.
8
Multiple choice · Easy
Which type of tooth is shaped for biting and cutting food?
Incisor
Molar
Premolar
Canine
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Why Incisors are chisel-shaped teeth at the front used for biting and cutting.
9
Multiple choice · Medium
Why is fibre (roughage) an important part of a balanced diet?
It provides bulk that helps peristalsis move food through the gut
It is digested to release large amounts of energy
It is absorbed to build new cells
It is broken down by amylase into glucose
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Why Fibre adds bulk to food, helping the muscles of the gut push food along by peristalsis and preventing constipation.
10
Multiple choice · Medium
What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
It kills bacteria and provides the low pH needed for pepsin
It digests starch into maltose
It emulsifies fats into droplets
It neutralises acid from the small intestine
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Why Stomach acid kills bacteria in food and provides the acidic pH needed for the enzyme pepsin to work.
Key terms in Human nutrition
Nutrition: The taking in of materials for energy, growth and development; in humans this involves a varied diet of organic and inorganic substances.
Diet: The food and drink that a person regularly eats and drinks.
Balanced diet: A diet that supplies all the required nutrients in the correct proportions and amounts to keep the body healthy.
Nutrient: A substance in food that the body needs for energy, growth, repair or to stay healthy, such as carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water.
Carbohydrate: A nutrient made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that is the body's main source of energy; examples include starch and sugars.
Protein: A nutrient made of amino acids that is needed for growth, repair of tissues and the making of enzymes.
Fat: A nutrient (lipid) that provides a concentrated store of energy, acts as a thermal insulator and is a component of cell membranes.
Lipid: The chemical group that includes fats and oils, used for energy storage and insulation.
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