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Haryana BSEH Secondary NSQF Physical Education study materials
Haryana BSEH Secondary NSQF Physical Education study resources

Haryana BSEH Secondary NSQF Physical Education practice questions

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Question 1Physical Fitness and Wellness

In the context of the BSEH Secondary NSQF Physical Education syllabus, which component of physical fitness is best described as the ability of the heart, blood vessels and lungs to supply oxygen to working muscles during sustained activity?

  1. Flexibility
  2. Body composition
  3. Muscular strength
  4. Cardiovascular endurance Correct answer.

Explanation

Cardiovascular endurance, also called cardiorespiratory endurance, depends on the efficiency of the heart, blood vessels and lungs in delivering oxygen to muscles over a long period. Muscular strength concerns the force a muscle can exert once, flexibility concerns range of motion, and body composition concerns proportions of fat and lean mass.

Question 2Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student performs the sit-and-reach test during a fitness assessment in the school gymnasium. Which health-related fitness component does this test primarily measure?

  1. Reaction time
  2. Agility
  3. Speed
  4. Flexibility Correct answer.

Explanation

The sit-and-reach test measures the range of motion of the lower back and hamstring region, which is a standard field measure of flexibility. Speed, agility and reaction time belong to skill-related fitness and are assessed by sprint, shuttle-run and reaction-stick tests respectively.

Question 3Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which of the following is classified as a skill-related component of physical fitness rather than a health-related component?

  1. Balance Correct answer.
  2. Muscular endurance
  3. Body composition
  4. Cardiovascular endurance

Explanation

Skill-related fitness includes balance, agility, speed, power, coordination and reaction time, all of which support sports performance. Muscular endurance, body composition and cardiovascular endurance are health-related components linked to good health and disease prevention.

Question 4Physical Fitness and Wellness

A 16-year-old student wants to improve muscular strength using progressive resistance training. Which training principle explains why the load must be increased gradually as the muscles adapt?

  1. Principle of reversibility
  2. Principle of individual differences
  3. Principle of overload Correct answer.
  4. Principle of specificity

Explanation

The overload principle states that a system must be stressed beyond its accustomed level for adaptation to occur, so the resistance must rise as strength improves. Reversibility describes loss of fitness with inactivity, specificity describes training matching the desired outcome, and individual differences describe variation between people.

Question 5Physical Fitness and Wellness

During a physical education period a student's pulse is counted at 150 beats per minute immediately after a 12-minute run. Which statement correctly interprets this value?

  1. The student is showing signs of bradycardia at rest
  2. The student is in the target heart-rate zone for aerobic training Correct answer.
  3. The student has reached maximal heart rate for the age group
  4. The student has exceeded the safe upper limit for any exercise

Explanation

A heart rate around 150 beats per minute after sustained running typically falls within the moderate-to-vigorous aerobic zone for a secondary school student, whose estimated maximum is roughly 200 beats per minute. Bradycardia refers to a resting rate below about 60 beats per minute, and no unsafe ceiling has been crossed.

Question 6Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which body mass index (BMI) range is classified as 'overweight' for an adult according to standard World Health Organization cut-offs used in school health education?

  1. 18.5 to 24.9
  2. Below 18.5
  3. 25.0 to 29.9 Correct answer.
  4. 30.0 to 34.9

Explanation

The WHO classifies an adult BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 as overweight, while 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 30 and above is obese, and below 18.5 is underweight. These cut-offs are widely taught in school health and wellness lessons.

Question 7Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student wants to calculate a safe target heart-rate range using the Karvonen method. If the resting heart rate is 70 beats per minute and the estimated maximum is 200 beats per minute, what is the heart rate at 60 per cent intensity?

  1. 140 beats per minute
  2. 130 beats per minute
  3. 148 beats per minute Correct answer.
  4. 120 beats per minute

Explanation

The Karvonen method uses heart-rate reserve, which is maximum minus resting rate, so 200 minus 70 equals 130. Sixty per cent of 130 is 78, and adding the resting rate of 70 gives 148 beats per minute.

Question 8Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a warm-up before vigorous physical activity in a school physical education class?

  1. To increase body fat before endurance work
  2. To raise muscle temperature and prepare joints for the main activity Correct answer.
  3. To exhaust the muscles so that the main activity feels easier
  4. To replace the need for a cool-down after the session

Explanation

A warm-up gradually raises body and muscle temperature, increases blood flow and prepares joints and muscles for the demands of the main activity, lowering injury risk. It does not exhaust the performer, replace a cool-down, or alter body fat.

Question 9Physical Fitness and Wellness

A physical education teacher advises a student to drink water before, during and after a long outdoor session in summer. Which wellness concern is the teacher mainly addressing?

  1. Prevention of dehydration and heat-related illness Correct answer.
  2. Reduction of reaction time
  3. Improvement of flexibility
  4. Increase of muscular strength

Explanation

Fluid intake in hot conditions replaces sweat losses and helps regulate body temperature, preventing dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat cramps. Water does not directly build strength or flexibility and does not slow reaction time.

Question 10Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which nutrient is the body's most efficient source of energy during high-intensity short-duration activities such as a 100-metre sprint?

  1. Vitamin C
  2. Dietary fat
  3. Carbohydrate Correct answer.
  4. Protein

Explanation

Carbohydrates are stored as muscle and liver glycogen and can be broken down rapidly to supply energy for short, intense efforts. Fat is used mainly in longer lower-intensity work, protein is primarily structural, and vitamin C is not an energy source.

Question 11Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student is asked to design a balanced weekly fitness programme that develops all health-related components. Which combination best achieves this aim?

  1. Only daily sprint training
  2. Aerobic work, resistance work, stretching and body-composition monitoring Correct answer.
  3. Only weight training on one day per week
  4. Only stretching sessions every day

Explanation

A balanced programme combines aerobic exercise for cardiovascular endurance, resistance work for strength and endurance, stretching for flexibility, and monitoring of body composition. Single-mode programmes leave several health-related components untrained.

Question 12Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which of the following is the most reliable indicator that a student is exercising at a moderate intensity during an aerobic session?

  1. The student cannot speak more than one word at a time
  2. The student can talk in short sentences but cannot sing Correct answer.
  3. The student stops sweating completely
  4. The student feels no change in breathing at all

Explanation

The talk test is a practical field indicator of intensity: at moderate intensity a person can converse in short sentences but cannot sing comfortably. Being unable to speak more than a word indicates vigorous intensity, while no change in breathing suggests very light effort.

Question 13Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student measures a resting heart rate of 58 beats per minute. How should this value be interpreted in a school wellness report?

  1. As a normal resting value that may reflect good aerobic fitness Correct answer.
  2. As evidence that the student is dehydrated
  3. As an error, because resting rate can never fall below 70
  4. As a sign of illness requiring immediate hospital admission

Explanation

A resting heart rate in the high fifties is within the normal adult and adolescent range and is often seen in aerobically fit individuals, since a stronger heart pumps more blood per beat. It is not by itself a sign of illness or dehydration.

Question 14Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which of the following best explains why a cool-down after vigorous exercise helps recovery?

  1. It gradually lowers heart rate and helps remove metabolic waste from muscles Correct answer.
  2. It immediately builds new muscle fibres
  3. It stops all sweating at once
  4. It raises core temperature above the exercise level

Explanation

A cool-down of light activity and stretching allows heart rate and blood pressure to fall gradually, maintains circulation and helps clear metabolic by-products, reducing dizziness and stiffness. Muscle building and temperature regulation occur through other processes.

Question 15Physical Fitness and Wellness

In the context of wellness, which statement best describes the relationship between physical activity and mental health in adolescents?

  1. Exercise has no effect on mood or sleep
  2. Only competitive sport improves mental health
  3. Physical activity always increases anxiety
  4. Regular activity can reduce symptoms of stress and improve mood Correct answer.

Explanation

Regular moderate physical activity is associated with reduced stress, better mood and improved sleep quality in adolescents, partly through the release of endorphins and better regulation of stress hormones. The benefits are not limited to competitive sport.

Question 16Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student's fitness record shows a BMI of 31. Which interpretation is most appropriate for a school wellness discussion?

  1. The student falls in the obese category and may benefit from a supervised activity and diet plan Correct answer.
  2. The student is underweight and needs more calories
  3. The student is overweight but not obese
  4. The student is in the normal range and needs no change

Explanation

An adult BMI of 30 or above is classified as obese, so a value of 31 falls in that category and warrants supportive guidance on activity and diet. It is not underweight, normal, or merely overweight.

Question 17Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which of the following best defines muscular endurance?

  1. The speed of a single movement
  2. The maximum force a muscle can produce once
  3. The range of motion at a joint
  4. The ability of a muscle group to exert force repeatedly over time Correct answer.

Explanation

Muscular endurance is the capacity of a muscle group to perform repeated contractions against a submaximal load over time, as in push-ups or sit-ups. Maximum single force defines strength, joint range defines flexibility, and movement speed defines speed.

Question 18Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student follows a programme of 30 minutes of brisk walking five days a week for eight weeks. Which change is most likely to occur in the cardiovascular system?

  1. An improvement in the efficiency of oxygen delivery to muscles Correct answer.
  2. An increase in resting heart rate
  3. A decrease in stroke volume
  4. A complete loss of flexibility

Explanation

Regular aerobic training improves cardiac output and oxygen delivery, often lowering resting heart rate and increasing stroke volume. It does not reduce stroke volume or cause flexibility to disappear.

Question 19Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which assessment method is most appropriate for estimating the cardiovascular endurance of a large group of students in a school setting?

  1. A grip dynamometer test
  2. A vertical jump test
  3. A 12-minute run-and-walk test Correct answer.
  4. A sit-and-reach box test

Explanation

The 12-minute run-and-walk test measures the distance covered in a set time and is a practical field test of aerobic capacity suitable for large groups. Grip dynamometry measures strength, the sit-and-reach box measures flexibility, and the vertical jump measures power.

Question 20Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student reports sharp knee pain that worsens with every training session. What is the most appropriate first response according to safe training practice?

  1. Ignore the pain and continue the same programme
  2. Stop the activity and seek assessment from a qualified health professional Correct answer.
  3. Increase the training load to strengthen the knee
  4. Apply heat and continue running immediately

Explanation

Pain that worsens with activity is a warning sign that should lead to stopping the activity and seeking professional assessment to prevent further injury. Increasing load or continuing through pain risks worsening the damage.

Question 21Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which principle of training explains why a long-distance runner must include running-specific work rather than only cycling to improve running performance?

  1. Principle of overload
  2. Principle of specificity Correct answer.
  3. Principle of reversibility
  4. Principle of recovery

Explanation

The specificity principle holds that training adaptations are specific to the muscles, movement patterns and energy systems used, so running performance improves most through running. Cycling transfers only partially because the movement pattern and muscle recruitment differ.

Question 22Physical Fitness and Wellness

During a fitness test a student's heart rate is 190 beats per minute and the student feels dizzy and nauseated. What is the correct action?

  1. Continue the test to obtain a valid score
  2. Stop the activity, sit down and inform the teacher Correct answer.
  3. Drink a large amount of cold water immediately and keep running
  4. Increase the pace to finish quickly

Explanation

Dizziness and nausea during maximal effort are warning signs of excessive strain and possible heat or cardiovascular stress, so the activity should stop and the teacher should be informed. Continuing or accelerating the effort risks collapse or injury.

Question 23Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which statement correctly distinguishes physical activity from exercise in the context of wellness?

  1. Physical activity includes any bodily movement, while exercise is planned and structured for fitness Correct answer.
  2. Exercise includes all bodily movement, while physical activity is only sport
  3. Physical activity and exercise are identical terms with no difference
  4. Exercise refers only to household work

Explanation

Physical activity is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that raises energy expenditure, including walking to school or household work. Exercise is a subset that is planned, structured and repeated to improve or maintain fitness.

Question 24Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student wants to reduce sedentary time while preparing for examinations. Which strategy best supports this wellness goal?

  1. Taking a short active break every 45 to 60 minutes of study Correct answer.
  2. Sitting continuously for six hours without a break
  3. Skipping meals to save time
  4. Sleeping less to create more study time

Explanation

Short active breaks at regular intervals interrupt prolonged sitting, improve circulation and attention, and reduce sedentary risk without sacrificing study time. Continuous sitting, sleep loss and skipped meals harm both health and academic performance.

Question 25Physical Fitness and Wellness

Which of the following best explains why body composition cannot be accurately judged from body weight alone?

  1. Body weight ignores the proportions of fat and lean tissue, which vary between individuals Correct answer.
  2. Body weight cannot be measured accurately in schools
  3. Body composition depends only on height
  4. Body weight is always higher in fit people

Explanation

Two people of the same weight can differ greatly in fat mass and lean mass, so weight alone does not indicate body composition. Measures such as BMI combined with skinfold or waist measurements give a better picture, and height alone is also insufficient.

Question 26Physical Fitness and Wellness

In a school fitness record, a student's flexibility is being assessed. Which test is designed specifically to measure hamstring and lower-back flexibility?

  1. Standing broad jump
  2. Shuttle run test
  3. Grip dynamometer test
  4. Sit-and-reach test Correct answer.

Explanation

The sit-and-reach test measures how far a student can reach forward while seated with legs extended, which reflects the extensibility of the hamstrings and lower back. It is a standard field test for the flexibility component of health-related fitness and requires only a box or bench and ruler.

Question 27Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student performs push-ups until fatigue to assess upper-body fitness. Which health-related component is this test primarily measuring?

  1. Body composition
  2. Cardiovascular endurance
  3. Reaction time
  4. Muscular endurance Correct answer.

Explanation

Counting maximal push-ups before fatigue shows how long a muscle group can sustain repeated contractions against resistance, which is the definition of muscular endurance. Cardiovascular endurance would instead be judged from a sustained whole-body activity such as a run, and body composition from measures like skinfolds.

Question 28Physical Fitness and Wellness

A teacher plans a fitness session for beginners and wants to apply the principle of progression safely. Which approach best follows this principle?

  1. Alternating randomly between very hard and very easy sessions with no plan
  2. Increasing overload gradually as the student adapts, in small planned steps Correct answer.
  3. Keeping the same load and volume for the whole term regardless of improvement
  4. Starting immediately at the highest intensity the student can tolerate

Explanation

Progression means the training stimulus is raised over time as the body adapts, and safe progression uses small, planned increments so tissues are not overloaded beyond their capacity. Sudden large jumps or random loading raise injury risk and do not reflect controlled progression.

Question 29Physical Fitness and Wellness

Two students of the same age have the same body mass, but one has a much higher body-fat percentage. Which conclusion is most defensible?

  1. The student with less body fat must have greater muscular strength
  2. The student with more body fat has a higher lean mass
  3. Both students necessarily have identical health-related fitness
  4. Body mass alone cannot reveal their body composition Correct answer.

Explanation

Body mass combines fat mass and lean mass, so identical mass can hide very different proportions of each; composition must be measured, for example by skinfolds or bioelectrical impedance. Strength and general fitness depend on training and other factors, so they cannot be inferred from fat percentage alone.

Question 30Physical Fitness and Wellness

A student's training log shows steady improvement for six weeks, then no further change despite the same programme. Which explanation and adjustment best reflects training theory?

  1. The student has reached the ceiling of human performance and should stop training
  2. The body has adapted to the stimulus, so the load or volume should be increased within safe limits Correct answer.
  3. The plateau proves the programme was too hard, so all training should be stopped for a month
  4. Improvement has stopped because warming up was included before each session

Explanation

A plateau after weeks of gains typically means the body has adapted to the current stimulus, so the overload must be raised progressively, for example by adding repetitions, load or a new mode. Rest and variation can also help, but the core response is a controlled increase in demand rather than stopping training.

Question 31Health Education and Hygiene

Under the disease-prevention concept of 'primary prevention', a school health programme that teaches students to wash hands before eating is best described as which type of measure?

  1. A measure taken after symptoms appear, to shorten the illness
  2. A measure taken after recovery, to restore lost function
  3. A measure taken to prevent complications during surgery
  4. A measure taken before disease occurs, to reduce exposure and build resistance Correct answer.

Explanation

Primary prevention acts before disease develops, aiming to reduce exposure to risk factors and strengthen the body's resistance. Hand washing before eating removes pathogens before they can enter the body, so it fits the pre-disease stage. The later stages of prevention deal with treatment, disability limitation and rehabilitation.

Question 32Health Education and Hygiene

A student asks why the school insists on drinking water being stored in a covered container with a tap rather than in an open pot with a dipper. Which explanation matches the hygiene principle involved?

  1. Covering the container increases the oxygen content of the stored water
  2. Open storage allows harmful gases to escape from the water
  3. Covering keeps out dust and insects, and a tap prevents hands from entering and contaminating the water Correct answer.
  4. A tap adds minerals to the water as it flows out of the container

Explanation

Stored drinking water is protected from contamination by keeping it covered and by drawing it without dipping hands or cups into it. Dust, flies and fingers are the common sources of faecal contamination in household storage. The tap-and-cover rule therefore protects against pathogens rather than changing the water's chemistry.

Question 33Health Education and Hygiene

Which food-handling practice is the most important single measure for preventing food-borne infection in a school canteen?

  1. Serving food only in disposable plates
  2. Separating raw and cooked foods and cooking food thoroughly Correct answer.
  3. Adding extra salt to all cooked dishes
  4. Keeping cooked food warm for many hours before serving

Explanation

Cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods and inadequate cooking are the leading causes of food-borne illness. Thorough cooking destroys most vegetative pathogens, while separation stops raw juices from recontaminating ready-to-eat food. Salt level and plate type do not control microbial growth.

Question 34Health Education and Hygiene

The 'iceberg phenomenon' in the study of disease means that:

  1. Vaccines work best at low temperatures
  2. Chronic diseases always begin with a fever
  3. Most infections spread only in cold climates
  4. Only a small fraction of disease in the community is detected and reported Correct answer.

Explanation

The iceberg phenomenon describes how the reported, clinically obvious cases of a disease are only the tip of the total burden in the community. Large numbers of undetected, subclinical or mild cases lie hidden below the surface. This is why community surveys are needed alongside hospital records.

Question 35Health Education and Hygiene

In a state school health programme, screening students for vision and hearing at entry is best classified as:

  1. Secondary prevention through early detection Correct answer.
  2. Health promotion through physical activity
  3. Tertiary prevention through rehabilitation
  4. Primary prevention through immunisation

Explanation

Secondary prevention aims to detect disease in its early, asymptomatic stage so that treatment can begin before complications develop. Vision and hearing screening identifies problems early in school children. Immunisation is primary prevention and rehabilitation is tertiary.

Question 36Health Education and Hygiene

Which of the following is the correct definition of 'personal hygiene' for a secondary school student?

  1. The practice of attending physical education classes regularly
  2. The practice of taking vitamin tablets daily to prevent deficiency
  3. The practice of avoiding all contact with other students
  4. The practice of keeping the body, clothing and oral cavity clean to maintain health and prevent infection Correct answer.

Explanation

Personal hygiene covers routine care of the body, including bathing, oral care, clean clothing and hand washing, to reduce pathogens and maintain health. It is a daily self-care practice rather than a supplement or exercise habit. Avoiding contact with others is not hygiene but social isolation.

Question 37Health Education and Hygiene

A village reports many cases of diarrhoea among children. Which single measure would most effectively reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal disease in this community?

  1. Providing oral rehydration salts to every household
  2. Ensuring safe drinking water and safe disposal of human excreta Correct answer.
  3. Giving antibiotics to all children every month
  4. Advising families to eat more fruit

Explanation

Diarrhoeal disease spreads mainly through contaminated water and food and through poor sanitation. Safe water supply and sanitary disposal of excreta interrupt this faecal-oral route at its source. Oral rehydration treats dehydration but does not prevent new cases.

Question 38Health Education and Hygiene

The 'incubation period' of an infectious disease is best defined as:

  1. The time from entry of the pathogen to the appearance of the first symptom Correct answer.
  2. The period during which a person can transmit the disease
  3. The period during which a person is immune after infection
  4. The time from the first symptom to complete recovery

Explanation

The incubation period is measured from the moment the infectious agent enters the host to the appearance of the first clinical sign or symptom. Its length varies with the pathogen and is useful in contact tracing and quarantine decisions. The communicable period and the period of immunity are separate concepts.

Question 39Health Education and Hygiene

A student has a wound on the foot and walks barefoot in a field where cattle graze. Which disease is most directly associated with this exposure?

  1. Cholera
  2. Tetanus Correct answer.
  3. Malaria
  4. Typhoid

Explanation

Tetanus spores are common in soil contaminated with animal manure and enter the body through a break in the skin. Walking barefoot with an open wound in a grazing field therefore creates a classic tetanus risk. Typhoid and cholera are water- and food-borne, and malaria is mosquito-borne.

Question 40Health Education and Hygiene

In a school, several students develop fever with chills every alternate day. Which preventive measure is most relevant to interrupt the transmission of this disease?

  1. Washing hands before every meal
  2. Isolating the students in separate rooms
  3. Removing stagnant water and using mosquito nets Correct answer.
  4. Boiling drinking water before use

Explanation

Fever with chills on alternate days suggests malaria, which is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water. Eliminating breeding sites and using nets interrupts the vector cycle. Water boiling and hand washing target faecal-oral diseases, and isolation does not affect mosquito transmission.

Question 41Health Education and Hygiene

Which statement about the DPT vaccine used under India's universal immunisation programme is correct?

  1. It protects against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus Correct answer.
  2. It is given only to adults during outbreaks
  3. It provides lifelong immunity after a single dose
  4. It protects against diarrhoea, polio and typhoid

Explanation

DPT stands for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, and it is given as a course of multiple doses in infancy with boosters later. A single dose does not complete protection. It is a routine childhood vaccine, not an outbreak-only adult vaccine.

Question 42Health Education and Hygiene

A health worker explains that an epidemic is different from an endemic disease. Which example best illustrates an endemic disease?

  1. Malaria occurring at a steady, expected level in a particular region every year Correct answer.
  2. A sudden rise in cholera cases after a festival in one district
  3. A worldwide spread of a new influenza strain
  4. A single isolated case of rabies in a city

Explanation

An endemic disease is constantly present at a predictable, usual level in a defined population or area. Malaria that recurs at a steady annual level in a known region fits this definition. A sudden local rise is an epidemic, worldwide spread is a pandemic, and one isolated case is a sporadic case.

Question 43Health Education and Hygiene

Which of the following best explains why hand washing with soap is more effective than washing with water alone?

  1. Soap kills all bacteria instantly on contact
  2. Soap dissolves the outer membrane of all viruses permanently
  3. Soap adds a protective layer of bacteria to the skin
  4. Soap helps lift and remove oils, dirt and microbes from the skin surface Correct answer.

Explanation

Soap acts mainly by lifting oils, grease and dirt from the skin so that microbes are carried away with the lather and rinsing water. Mechanical removal, not instant killing of all organisms, is the key mechanism. Water alone removes far less of this oily, microbe-carrying layer.

Question 44Health Education and Hygiene

A student complains that his school bag is always damp and smells musty. Which hygiene advice is most appropriate?

  1. Spray perfume on the bag every morning
  2. Dry the bag in sunlight and keep the contents dry Correct answer.
  3. Carry more books so the moisture is absorbed
  4. Keep the bag closed tightly to trap the moisture inside

Explanation

Damp conditions encourage fungal growth and odour, so the correct advice is to dry the bag and its contents thoroughly in sunlight. Sunlight and air movement reduce moisture and discourage mould. Trapping the moisture, masking the smell or adding absorbent materials does not solve the underlying problem.

Question 45Health Education and Hygiene

Which of the following correctly describes the role of a 'carrier' in the spread of infectious disease?

  1. An insect that mechanically transfers a pathogen between hosts
  2. A person who is fully immune to the pathogen
  3. A person who harbours the pathogen and can transmit it without showing symptoms Correct answer.
  4. A contaminated object such as a towel or cup

Explanation

A carrier is an infected person who harbours and sheds the pathogen but shows no apparent illness, so spread often goes unnoticed. Insects that transmit pathogens are vectors, and contaminated objects are fomites. A fully immune person does not transmit the pathogen.

Question 46Health Education and Hygiene

A school decides to improve sanitation by installing toilets and providing soap near them. Which aspect of health education does this action directly support?

  1. Nutritional supplementation for students
  2. Immunisation coverage
  3. Mental health counselling
  4. Environmental sanitation and the safe disposal of human excreta Correct answer.

Explanation

Toilets and soap address environmental sanitation, which controls the faecal-oral route by safe disposal of excreta and hand hygiene. This is a core element of community health education. Supplementary nutrition, immunisation and counselling are separate health programmes.

Question 47Health Education and Hygiene

Which statement about the relationship between 'infection' and 'disease' is correct?

  1. Infection means the pathogen has entered the host, but disease appears only if the host is harmed Correct answer.
  2. Disease can occur without any pathogen entering the body in every case
  3. Infection always produces signs and symptoms of disease
  4. Infection and disease are identical terms in epidemiology

Explanation

Infection refers to the entry and establishment of a pathogen in the host, while disease refers to the resulting signs, symptoms and functional disturbance. Many infections remain subclinical, which is why infection is not identical to disease. Disease can also arise from non-infectious causes such as deficiency or injury.

Question 48Health Education and Hygiene

A community has a high incidence of anaemia among adolescent girls. Which combination of measures is most appropriate for the school health programme?

  1. Vaccination against anaemia and a ban on green vegetables
  2. Antibiotic treatment for all girls and isolation from classes
  3. Iron and folic acid supplementation with dietary counselling and deworming Correct answer.
  4. Reducing physical activity and increasing screen time

Explanation

Iron deficiency anaemia in adolescent girls is addressed by iron and folic acid supplementation, improved diet rich in iron, and deworming because hookworm contributes to blood loss. These are complementary measures targeting the causes. There is no vaccine against anaemia, and antibiotics or isolation are not appropriate.

Question 49Health Education and Hygiene

In a school outbreak of food poisoning, all affected students ate the same stale rice dish. Which term best describes the stale rice as the source of the outbreak?

  1. Vehicle Correct answer.
  2. Host
  3. Vector
  4. Reservoir

Explanation

A vehicle is an inanimate object or food through which a pathogen is transmitted to the host. The stale rice carried the toxin or organism to the students and is therefore the vehicle. The host is the student, a vector is a living carrier such as an insect, and a reservoir is where the pathogen normally lives and multiplies.

Question 50Health Education and Hygiene

Which of the following correctly explains why a person who has recovered from a disease like chickenpox is usually not affected again by the same disease?

  1. The body develops antibodies and immunological memory against that pathogen Correct answer.
  2. The person develops a permanent immunity to all diseases
  3. The pathogen changes its species after the first infection
  4. The pathogen loses the ability to survive in the environment

Explanation

After an infection, the immune system produces antibodies and memory cells specific to that pathogen, so a later exposure is met with a rapid protective response. This acquired immunity is specific to the organism concerned. It does not confer immunity against all diseases.