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HKDSE PE practice questions

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Question 1Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which component of physical fitness is best described as the ability of a muscle or muscle group to exert a maximal force against a resistance in a single effort?

  1. Flexibility
  2. Muscular endurance
  3. Cardiorespiratory endurance
  4. Muscular strength Correct answer.

Explanation

Muscular strength refers to the peak force a muscle or muscle group can generate in one maximal contraction, such as a one-repetition maximum lift. It is distinct from endurance, which concerns repeated submaximal efforts, and from flexibility, which concerns range of motion.

Question 2Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

During a 400-metre sprint, which energy system supplies the majority of ATP for the working muscles?

  1. The ATP-CP (phosphagen) system
  2. Aerobic glycolysis
  3. The lactate (anaerobic glycolytic) system Correct answer.
  4. Fat oxidation

Explanation

A 400 m sprint lasts roughly 50 to 60 seconds, so the anaerobic glycolytic system dominates, breaking down glucose to lactate while producing ATP rapidly. The phosphagen system contributes mainly in the first ten seconds, and aerobic metabolism only becomes dominant in longer events.

Question 3Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

In the HKDSE context, which training principle explains why a performer must gradually increase training load as the body adapts to a programme?

  1. Individual differences
  2. Specificity
  3. Reversibility
  4. Progressive overload Correct answer.

Explanation

Progressive overload states that the body adapts to a given training stimulus, so the load must be increased over time to keep producing gains. Without progressive increases, adaptation plateaus and further improvement stops.

Question 4Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A basketball player wants to improve the ability to change direction quickly while maintaining balance. Which fitness component should be the main training focus?

  1. Body composition
  2. Agility Correct answer.
  3. Static balance only
  4. Reaction time only

Explanation

Agility is the ability to change body position and direction rapidly while maintaining control and balance, which matches the demand described. Training should include drills with rapid directional changes such as cone shuttles and cutting movements.

Question 5Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the FITT principle for a beginner's aerobic conditioning programme is most appropriate?

  1. Type must always be high-intensity interval training
  2. Time should begin with short continuous bouts and progress gradually Correct answer.
  3. Intensity should begin at maximal heart rate to ensure overload
  4. Frequency should start at seven days per week to maximise gains

Explanation

FITT stands for frequency, intensity, time and type, and beginners should start with modest duration and progress gradually to reduce injury risk and allow adaptation. Short continuous bouts of moderate activity are a safe starting point before extending duration or intensity.

Question 6Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which structure is the main site of oxygen exchange between the lungs and the blood?

  1. The diaphragm
  2. The alveoli Correct answer.
  3. The trachea
  4. The bronchi

Explanation

The alveoli are tiny air sacs with thin walls and a dense capillary network, providing a large surface area for diffusion of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out. The trachea and bronchi are conducting airways, while the diaphragm is a muscle of breathing.

Question 7Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

During submaximal steady-state exercise, which change is most typical of long-term aerobic training adaptation?

  1. A lower maximal oxygen uptake
  2. A larger stroke volume and lower submaximal heart rate Correct answer.
  3. A reduced number of mitochondria in muscle fibres
  4. A higher resting heart rate

Explanation

Endurance training enlarges the heart's chambers and strengthens the myocardium, increasing stroke volume so a lower heart rate can deliver the same cardiac output. Mitochondrial density and maximal oxygen uptake also increase, not decrease.

Question 8Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which of the following is a correct description of the immediate physiological response to exercise?

  1. Ventilation increases while cardiac output falls
  2. Heart rate and ventilation both increase Correct answer.
  3. Heart rate increases while ventilation stays constant
  4. Blood flow to working muscles decreases

Explanation

During exercise both heart rate and ventilation rise to deliver more oxygen to working muscles and remove carbon dioxide. Cardiac output increases and blood flow is redistributed towards active muscle rather than away from it.

Question 9Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A student performs a sit-and-reach test. Which fitness component is this test designed to assess?

  1. Aerobic capacity
  2. Lower back and hamstring flexibility Correct answer.
  3. Speed
  4. Muscular power

Explanation

The sit-and-reach test measures the range of motion of the trunk and hamstrings by assessing how far the subject can reach forward from a seated position. It is a standard field measure of flexibility rather than power, endurance or speed.

Question 10Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which of the following best defines a motor skill as a closed skill?

  1. A skill that is learned only through observational learning
  2. A skill that involves only gross body movements without fine control
  3. A skill performed in an unpredictable environment where the performer must adapt to changing conditions
  4. A skill performed in a stable, predictable environment where the movement is largely self-paced Correct answer.

Explanation

Closed skills are performed in a predictable environment, so the performer can plan and repeat the movement pattern, such as a free throw in basketball or a gymnastics routine. Open skills, in contrast, require adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

Question 11Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A coach breaks a tennis serve into stance, toss, backswing, contact and follow-through phases for a beginner. Which learning approach is being used?

  1. Massed practice
  2. Mental rehearsal
  3. Whole method
  4. Part method Correct answer.

Explanation

The part method teaches a complex skill by dividing it into smaller components, which suits skills that can be meaningfully separated and are low in organisation. Beginners who find the whole serve overwhelming benefit from practising each phase before linking them.

Question 12Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

According to Fitts and Posner's stages of motor learning, which characteristic is typical of the associative stage?

  1. The learner cannot yet coordinate the basic movement pattern
  2. The learner produces large, inconsistent errors and needs frequent demonstration
  3. The skill becomes fully automatic and requires little conscious attention
  4. The learner refines technique and errors become smaller and more consistent Correct answer.

Explanation

In the associative stage the learner has grasped the basic movement pattern and works on refining technique, so errors decrease and become more consistent. The cognitive stage involves large errors and frequent demonstration, while the autonomous stage involves automatic performance.

Question 13Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which type of feedback is an example of knowledge of performance?

  1. A heart-rate monitor showing a peak value
  2. A coach telling a swimmer that the elbow dropped during the pull Correct answer.
  3. A stopwatch showing a runner's 100 m time
  4. A scoreboard showing the final score

Explanation

Knowledge of performance provides information about the quality or technique of the movement itself, such as a coach commenting on elbow position during a swim pull. Knowledge of results describes the outcome, such as time, score or distance.

Question 14Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the principle of specificity in training is correct?

  1. Training the upper body will automatically improve lower-body strength
  2. Training adaptations are specific to the muscles, energy systems and movement patterns trained Correct answer.
  3. Any training will improve any fitness component equally
  4. Specificity means training must always be performed at maximal intensity

Explanation

Specificity means the body adapts to the particular demands placed on it, so a swimmer must train swimming-specific energy systems and movement patterns to improve swimming performance. Transfer to unrelated activities is limited.

Question 15Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A performer's heart rate continues to rise slightly after beginning steady-state running before levelling off. Which term best describes the plateau reached?

  1. Steady state Correct answer.
  2. Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption
  3. Oxygen deficit
  4. Anaerobic threshold

Explanation

Steady state is reached when oxygen uptake and heart rate level off and the body is meeting the energy demand aerobically. The early rise reflects the oxygen deficit before aerobic supply catches up with demand.

Question 16Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which of the following best describes the role of the lactic acid system during high-intensity exercise?

  1. It produces ATP slowly but for an unlimited duration
  2. It produces ATP rapidly without oxygen but leads to lactate accumulation and fatigue Correct answer.
  3. It requires oxygen to break down fat for ATP
  4. It supplies ATP only during the first two seconds of contraction

Explanation

The lactic acid system breaks down glucose without oxygen to produce ATP quickly, but lactate and hydrogen ions accumulate and contribute to fatigue, limiting the duration of this system to roughly one to two minutes. It therefore suits high-intensity efforts of moderate duration.

Question 17Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which method is most appropriate for improving muscular endurance in a beginner?

  1. Sprinting maximally for 10 seconds
  2. Lifting near-maximal loads for one repetition
  3. Holding a static stretch for 60 seconds
  4. Performing multiple sets of moderate-load repetitions with short rest intervals Correct answer.

Explanation

Muscular endurance improves through repeated submaximal contractions, so multiple sets of moderate-load repetitions with short rest intervals are appropriate. This increases the muscle's capacity to sustain work over time.

Question 18Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which of the following is a recognised benefit of regular physical activity for psychological health?

  1. Complete prevention of depression
  2. Reduced anxiety and improved mood Correct answer.
  3. Permanent removal of exam pressure
  4. Guaranteed elimination of all stress

Explanation

Regular physical activity is associated with reduced anxiety, improved mood and better self-esteem, partly through the release of endorphins and improved sleep. Claims of guaranteed or complete prevention overstate the evidence.

Question 19Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and body composition?

  1. BMI is the same as waist-to-hip ratio
  2. BMI uses height and mass and does not distinguish fat from lean tissue Correct answer.
  3. BMI directly measures the percentage of body fat
  4. BMI is a measure of muscular endurance

Explanation

BMI is calculated from mass and height and gives a general indicator of weight status, but it cannot distinguish fat mass from lean mass. A muscular athlete may therefore have a high BMI despite low body fat.

Question 20Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which of the following best explains why a warm-up improves performance and reduces injury risk?

  1. It raises muscle temperature and increases blood flow to working muscles Correct answer.
  2. It reduces the range of motion at joints
  3. It decreases nerve conduction speed
  4. It lowers heart rate before activity

Explanation

A warm-up raises muscle temperature, increases blood flow and enhances nerve conduction, making muscles more pliable and ready for activity. This prepares the body for the demands of the main session and lowers injury risk.

Question 21Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A coach wants to reduce the risk of overtraining in a school team during a busy competition period. Which action is most appropriate?

  1. Schedule regular rest and recovery days and monitor fatigue Correct answer.
  2. Increase training volume every day without rest
  3. Increase intensity sharply every session
  4. Remove all warm-ups to save time

Explanation

Recovery is essential for adaptation, so scheduling rest days and monitoring fatigue helps prevent overtraining. Progressive increases in load, rather than daily increases without rest, allow the body to adapt safely.

Question 22Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the transfer of learning from one skill to another is correct?

  1. Transfer only occurs between completely unrelated skills
  2. Positive transfer occurs when a previously learned skill helps the learning of a new skill Correct answer.
  3. Zero transfer means the new skill is learned perfectly
  4. Negative transfer occurs when a previous skill helps a new skill

Explanation

Positive transfer happens when a previously learned skill aids the learning of a new one, such as the similarity between a tennis forehand and a badminton forehand. Negative transfer occurs when an existing habit interferes with the new skill.

Question 23Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which of the following correctly describes the role of the skeletal system during exercise?

  1. It produces red blood cells to increase aerobic capacity during a single session
  2. It secretes hormones that directly increase heart rate
  3. It provides a framework for muscle attachment and acts as levers for movement Correct answer.
  4. It stores oxygen for immediate use by muscles

Explanation

Bones provide a rigid framework for muscle attachment and act as levers that, with joints as fulcra, allow muscles to move the body. This mechanical role is central to producing coordinated movement.

Question 24Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement best explains the concept of the anaerobic threshold?

  1. The intensity at which blood lactate begins to accumulate faster than it can be cleared Correct answer.
  2. The point at which exercise must stop because of muscle cramp
  3. The maximum heart rate a performer can reach
  4. The intensity at which oxygen uptake begins to rise above resting levels

Explanation

The anaerobic threshold, or lactate threshold, is the exercise intensity at which lactate production exceeds clearance and blood lactate begins to rise steeply. Training at or near this intensity improves the ability to sustain high-intensity work.

Question 25Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A coach uses massed practice when teaching a new gymnastics skill. Which situation best illustrates this?

  1. Continuous practice with short or no rest intervals between trials Correct answer.
  2. Alternating between two unrelated sports
  3. Practising only once per week
  4. Long rest intervals between short trials

Explanation

Massed practice involves continuous practice with little or no rest between trials, which is useful for short-duration skills that do not cause high fatigue. Distributed practice, in contrast, uses longer rest intervals between trials.

Question 26Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

In a double-leg squat performed with correct technique, which muscle group acts as the main extensor of the knee joint during the upward phase?

  1. Gastrocnemius
  2. Iliopsoas
  3. Quadriceps femoris Correct answer.
  4. Hamstrings

Explanation

Knee extension is produced by the quadriceps femoris group, whose four heads act through the patellar tendon to straighten the knee against resistance. The hamstrings act mainly at the hip and knee as flexors, while the calf and hip flexors play supporting rather than primary roles.

Question 27Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A 60 kg athlete has a body mass index of 25. Which statement about the interpretation of this value is most accurate?

  1. BMI measures body fat percentage directly and confirms a high fat level
  2. BMI is invalid for anyone who exercises regularly and should be ignored
  3. BMI alone cannot distinguish fat mass from lean mass, so further assessment is needed Correct answer.
  4. The athlete is definitely obese because 25 exceeds the healthy range for all adults

Explanation

BMI is calculated from mass and height only, so a muscular athlete can score highly without excess fat. It is a screening tool for populations rather than a measure of body composition in an individual, so additional methods such as skinfolds are needed.

Question 28Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which term describes the ability to move the body quickly from one position to another with controlled force?

  1. Flexibility
  2. Reaction time
  3. Agility Correct answer.
  4. Static balance

Explanation

Agility combines speed, coordination and the ability to change direction under control, which matches the description given. Flexibility concerns range of motion, balance concerns maintaining equilibrium, and reaction time concerns the delay before a response.

Question 29Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A teacher wants a class to practise a new badminton overhead clear in a predictable sequence of sub-routines. Which practice condition fits best?

  1. Random practice mixing clears with net shots
  2. Variable practice from different court positions
  3. Part practice with the skill broken into stages Correct answer.
  4. Whole practice performed at full speed from the start

Explanation

When a skill is low in organisation and can be separated into parts, part practice lets learners master each sub-routine before linking them. Whole, random and variable practice suit skills that are highly organised or already established.

Question 30Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which description correctly matches the lactic acid system with its typical duration of dominant contribution?

  1. It dominates during light walking lasting 30 minutes
  2. It dominates for about 10 seconds to 2 minutes of very high-intensity work Correct answer.
  3. It supplies most energy during a 100 m sprint in the first 3 seconds
  4. It dominates during a marathon lasting over two hours

Explanation

The lactic acid system, also called anaerobic glycolysis, provides energy rapidly without oxygen and peaks in contribution after the phosphagen stores fade, roughly between 10 seconds and 2 minutes. Longer events rely on aerobic metabolism, and the first seconds of a sprint depend on stored ATP and phosphocreatine.

Question 31Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A runner trains at a heart rate just below the point where blood lactate begins to accumulate faster than it can be cleared. Which training effect is this session designed to develop?

  1. Raising the anaerobic threshold to delay fatigue at high aerobic intensity Correct answer.
  2. Improving flexibility of the hip flexors
  3. Increasing maximal muscular strength of the quadriceps
  4. Reducing the resting heart rate to below 40 beats per minute

Explanation

Training near but below the lactate threshold improves the muscles' ability to clear lactate and use fat and carbohydrate aerobically, which raises the threshold and delays fatigue. Strength, flexibility and resting heart rate are influenced by other training stimuli or by long-term aerobic adaptation rather than by this specific intensity.

Question 32Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement describes a correct use of the overload principle in a resistance training programme?

  1. Training at maximal intensity every session to guarantee progress
  2. Performing the same load and repetitions indefinitely to keep technique consistent
  3. Reducing the training load whenever the body adapts to the stimulus
  4. Gradually increasing the load or volume once the current stimulus no longer challenges the body Correct answer.

Explanation

Overload means applying a stimulus greater than the body is accustomed to, so load or volume must be raised progressively as adaptation occurs. Keeping the same stimulus indefinitely leads to a plateau, and maximal effort every session risks overtraining.

Question 33Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which action best demonstrates the use of knowledge of results to improve a learner's basketball free throw?

  1. Describing how the player's wrist flicked at release
  2. Telling the player that the ball hit the back rim and bounced out Correct answer.
  3. Showing the player a video of their elbow angle during the shot
  4. Demonstrating the correct follow-through position

Explanation

Knowledge of results is information about the outcome of the movement, such as where the ball went. Information about body position or technique, whether given verbally or by video, is knowledge of performance.

Question 34Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A swimmer's heart rate rises sharply in the first minute of a race and then continues to climb slowly before levelling. Which concept explains the continued slow rise?

  1. A decrease in stroke volume caused by training
  2. The oxygen deficit being repaid during the race
  3. Cardiovascular drift as body temperature and fluid loss increase Correct answer.
  4. The complete shutdown of the aerobic system

Explanation

During prolonged exercise, sweating reduces plasma volume and rising core temperature redistributes blood, so heart rate creeps upward even at a constant workload. This is cardiovascular drift and is distinct from the oxygen deficit, which is repaid after exercise.

Question 35Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which structural feature of the respiratory system is correctly matched with its function?

  1. Bronchi contain cartilage rings to increase gas exchange surface area
  2. Pleural fluid carries oxygen directly to the tissues
  3. The diaphragm relaxes to increase thoracic volume during inspiration
  4. Alveolar walls are one cell thick to allow rapid diffusion of gases Correct answer.

Explanation

The alveolar wall and capillary wall are each one cell thick, giving a short diffusion distance for oxygen and carbon dioxide. The diaphragm contracts during inspiration, and gas transport to tissues is a function of the blood, not pleural fluid.

Question 36Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

During a 400 m race, which combination of changes is most likely as the runner approaches the final 100 m?

  1. Ventilation increases while blood pH falls because of lactate accumulation Correct answer.
  2. Oxygen uptake falls while carbon dioxide production ceases
  3. Heart rate falls while stroke volume increases sharply
  4. Ventilation decreases while blood pH rises because of carbon dioxide retention

Explanation

As anaerobic glycolysis contributes more energy, lactate and hydrogen ions accumulate, lowering blood pH and stimulating ventilation. The respiratory system responds by increasing breathing to remove carbon dioxide and buffer the acidosis.

Question 37Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A gymnast practises a beam routine by rehearsing the sequence of movements mentally before performing it. Which term describes this technique?

  1. Massed practice
  2. Mental rehearsal Correct answer.
  3. Positive transfer
  4. Knowledge of results

Explanation

Mental rehearsal involves imagining the performance of a skill to reinforce the motor programme and reduce anxiety. It is distinct from practice scheduling, transfer effects and feedback about outcomes.

Question 38Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the immediate physiological response to a single bout of aerobic exercise is correct?

  1. Cardiac output increases mainly through a rise in both heart rate and stroke volume Correct answer.
  2. Systolic blood pressure falls sharply during moderate aerobic work
  3. Blood flow to working muscles decreases to maintain core temperature
  4. Cardiac output increases only because heart rate rises while stroke volume falls

Explanation

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume, and both rise during moderate aerobic exercise, so output increases. Blood flow is redirected towards working muscles rather than away from them.

Question 39Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A student has a BMI of 28 and is assessed by skinfold measurement, which shows a high body fat percentage. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

  1. The skinfold result supports the BMI screening and suggests a health risk worth addressing Correct answer.
  2. The two measures cannot be compared because they assess unrelated concepts
  3. The student must be classified as underweight
  4. The BMI result must be ignored because skinfolds are always inaccurate

Explanation

BMI is a screening measure, and skinfold measurement estimates body fat directly, so agreement between a high BMI and high skinfolds strengthens the conclusion that body fat is elevated. Both measures address body composition, so they can be combined to support a health assessment.

Question 40Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the role of protein in an athlete's diet is correct?

  1. Protein should supply most of the energy in a balanced athlete's diet
  2. Protein cannot be used for energy under any circumstances
  3. Protein supports muscle repair and can be obtained from both animal and plant sources Correct answer.
  4. Protein is the main fuel for endurance exercise lasting over 90 minutes

Explanation

Protein supplies amino acids for tissue repair and growth, and both animal and plant foods can provide complete or complementary amino acid profiles. Carbohydrate, not protein, is the dominant fuel for endurance work, and protein can contribute to energy when intake exceeds needs.

Question 41Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the role of the skeletal system in protecting organs during physical activity is correct?

  1. The rib cage protects the heart and lungs, while the skull protects the brain Correct answer.
  2. The clavicle protects the lungs, while the femur protects the liver
  3. The vertebrae protect the heart, while the pelvis protects the brain
  4. The sternum protects the spinal cord, while the ribs protect the kidneys

Explanation

Bones form protective cases for vital organs, with the rib cage shielding the heart and lungs and the skull shielding the brain. The other pairings assign organs to bones that do not enclose them.

Question 42Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A coach wants a beginner to learn a new javelin throw safely. Which practice design is most appropriate?

  1. Random practice mixing the throw with sprint starts
  2. Whole practice at competition intensity from the first attempt
  3. Distributed practice with short bouts and rest between attempts Correct answer.
  4. Massed practice with continuous throws until fatigue

Explanation

Distributed practice spaces trials with rest intervals, which suits beginners learning a complex skill because it limits fatigue and allows recovery between attempts. Massed practice and high-intensity whole practice increase fatigue and injury risk for novices.

Question 43Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement best explains why a cool-down after vigorous exercise is recommended?

  1. It increases blood lactate to stimulate recovery
  2. It helps remove metabolic by-products and gradually returns heart rate and blood pressure towards resting levels Correct answer.
  3. It raises core temperature to prevent muscle stiffness
  4. It replaces the need for a warm-up before the next session

Explanation

Active recovery during a cool-down maintains circulation, which aids the removal of lactate and other by-products and prevents blood from pooling. It also allows heart rate and blood pressure to fall gradually, reducing the risk of dizziness.

Question 44Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A player who has mastered a tennis forehand struggles to learn a similar squash forehand. Which explanation is most consistent with the concept of transfer?

  1. Zero transfer arises because the two sports share no perceptual elements
  2. Bilateral transfer arises because the player uses both arms
  3. Negative transfer arises because the movement patterns and timing of the two strokes differ Correct answer.
  4. Positive transfer arises because both strokes use a racket and a ball

Explanation

When a previously learned skill interferes with learning a new one, the effect is negative transfer. Similar racket sports share some perceptual elements, but differences in swing path, timing and wrist action can cause interference rather than benefit.

Question 45Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement correctly describes how the body regulates body temperature during exercise in a hot environment?

  1. Shivering and skin vasoconstriction increase heat loss from the body surface
  2. Core temperature falls because working muscles produce less heat in the heat
  3. Sweating and skin vasodilation increase heat loss, while blood flow to the skin rises Correct answer.
  4. Sweat evaporation is reduced by high humidity, which increases heat loss

Explanation

Thermoregulation during exercise in heat relies on evaporative cooling through sweating and on vasodilation of skin vessels to deliver blood to the surface. High humidity impairs evaporation, and muscle heat production rises rather than falls.

Question 46Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A 70 kg athlete who weighs 68 kg after a two-hour training session in the heat should replace fluid to address which condition?

  1. Overhydration caused by excessive sodium intake
  2. Protein catabolism caused by fluid loss
  3. Dehydration of about 2 kg of body water Correct answer.
  4. Hyperhydration of about 2 kg of excess water

Explanation

A loss of about 2 kg of body mass during exercise largely reflects sweat loss, indicating dehydration of roughly 2 litres of water. Rehydration should aim to restore this loss gradually with fluid containing electrolytes.

Question 47Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the relationship between force, velocity and power in muscular performance is correct?

  1. Power output increases continuously as velocity rises with a fixed load
  2. Power output is greatest at intermediate loads where both force and velocity are moderate Correct answer.
  3. Power output is independent of the load being moved
  4. Power output is greatest when force is maximal and velocity is zero

Explanation

Power equals force multiplied by velocity, so the product peaks at intermediate loads where neither force nor velocity is maximal. At maximal force with zero velocity, no mechanical work is done and power is zero.

Question 48Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A coach observes that a long jumper's horizontal velocity decreases sharply in the final two steps before take-off. Which biomechanical principle best explains the loss of distance?

  1. Air resistance is the dominant factor limiting jump distance
  2. The take-off angle should always be 45 degrees regardless of speed
  3. Horizontal velocity is reduced by braking forces, lowering the optimal projection speed Correct answer.
  4. Vertical velocity alone determines the length of a jump

Explanation

Jump distance depends on take-off speed, angle and height, with speed being the most influential factor. Braking forces in the final steps reduce horizontal velocity, so the projection speed falls and the jump shortens.

Question 49Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

A sprinter's coach wants to improve the rate of force development during the first 30 m. Which training method is most specific to this goal?

  1. Long slow distance running at 60 percent of maximal heart rate
  2. High-repetition resistance training at 30 percent of one-repetition maximum
  3. Static stretching of the hip flexors before each session
  4. Plyometric and short sprint drills with maximal intent over 10 to 30 m Correct answer.

Explanation

The principle of specificity means training should resemble the target activity in muscle action, velocity and energy system. Short maximal sprints and plyometrics train the neuromuscular system to produce force rapidly, which matches acceleration demands.

Question 50Physical Education (Category A elective subject)

Which statement about the Fitts and Posner cognitive stage of motor learning is most accurate?

  1. The learner performs the skill consistently with few errors and little conscious attention
  2. The learner makes many errors and relies heavily on visual guidance and conscious control Correct answer.
  3. The learner has reached the highest level and no longer requires feedback
  4. The learner automatically adapts the skill to changing environments without thought

Explanation

In the cognitive stage, learners are forming a mental picture of the skill, so performance is inconsistent, error-prone and dependent on visual information and conscious processing. Consistency and automaticity develop in the associative and autonomous stages.