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Kerala Plus Two Home Science (DHSE) study materials
Kerala Plus Two Home Science (DHSE) study resources

Kerala Plus Two Home Science (DHSE) practice questions

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Question 1Human Development and Family Studies

In the study of human development, which term describes the pattern of change that begins at conception and continues through the lifespan?

  1. Growth
  2. Heredity
  3. Maturation
  4. Development Correct answer.

Explanation

Development refers to the systematic pattern of change that starts at conception and continues throughout life, covering physical, cognitive and socio-emotional domains. Growth and maturation are narrower ideas that describe only parts of this larger process.

Question 2Human Development and Family Studies

A researcher studies how a child's attention span changes as the same child grows from age four to age ten. Which research design is being used?

  1. Case study design
  2. Correlational design
  3. Longitudinal design Correct answer.
  4. Cross-sectional design

Explanation

A longitudinal design follows the same individuals repeatedly over an extended period, so change within the person can be observed directly. This differs from designs that compare different people at one point in time.

Question 3Human Development and Family Studies

According to Piaget, a child who can conserve liquid quantity and classify objects on more than one dimension at once has most likely entered which stage?

  1. Preoperational stage
  2. Formal operational stage
  3. Concrete operational stage Correct answer.
  4. Sensorimotor stage

Explanation

Conservation and multiple classification are hallmarks of the concrete operational stage, roughly from seven to eleven years, when logical thought is applied to tangible situations. Formal operations involve abstract hypothetical reasoning, which appears later.

Question 4Human Development and Family Studies

In Erikson's psychosocial theory, the central crisis of adolescence is best described as which of the following?

  1. Initiative versus guilt
  2. Industry versus inferiority
  3. Identity versus role confusion Correct answer.
  4. Trust versus mistrust

Explanation

Erikson placed identity versus role confusion in adolescence, when young people explore values, roles and commitments to form a coherent sense of self. The earlier crises belong to infancy, early childhood and middle childhood respectively.

Question 5Human Development and Family Studies

A newborn turns her head toward a touch on the cheek and opens her mouth. This response is known as which reflex?

  1. Palmar grasp
  2. Rooting reflex Correct answer.
  3. Babinski reflex
  4. Moro reflex

Explanation

The rooting reflex helps the infant locate the nipple when the cheek is stroked, and it supports feeding in early weeks. It is distinguished from startle, grasping and foot reflexes by the specific stimulus and movement.

Question 6Human Development and Family Studies

A pregnant woman in her first trimester is advised to increase folic acid intake. Which outcome is this advice mainly intended to prevent?

  1. Neural tube defects Correct answer.
  2. Iron-deficiency anaemia
  3. Gestational diabetes
  4. Low birth weight from smoking

Explanation

Adequate folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida, because the neural tube closes in the first weeks. Other outcomes are influenced by different nutritional or behavioural factors.

Question 7Human Development and Family Studies

Which statement best describes the Apgar score used immediately after birth?

  1. It assesses five signs of newborn condition at one and five minutes. Correct answer.
  2. It measures the mother's recovery from delivery.
  3. It predicts the child's future intelligence quotient.
  4. It records the birth weight and length of the infant.

Explanation

The Apgar score rates heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex response and skin colour to judge how well a newborn is adapting after delivery. It is a quick clinical screening, not a long-term predictor.

Question 8Human Development and Family Studies

A two-year-old uses the word 'dog' for all four-legged animals, including cats and cows. This error in language development is called which of the following?

  1. Telegraphic speech
  2. Babbling
  3. Underextension
  4. Overextension Correct answer.

Explanation

Overextension occurs when a young child applies a word too broadly to objects sharing some feature, as when every animal becomes a dog. Underextension is the opposite, restricting a word to a narrow instance.

Question 9Human Development and Family Studies

During middle childhood, which change in motor development is typically observed?

  1. Loss of balance and coordination
  2. Disappearance of all gross motor skills
  3. Improved fine motor control needed for writing Correct answer.
  4. Inability to follow rules in games

Explanation

Middle childhood brings steady gains in coordination and fine motor precision, allowing children to write, draw and handle tools more skilfully. Gross motor skills continue to improve rather than disappear.

Question 10Human Development and Family Studies

A child who understands that a ball of clay still contains the same amount after its shape changes is demonstrating which cognitive achievement?

  1. Animism
  2. Egocentrism
  3. Centration
  4. Conservation Correct answer.

Explanation

Conservation is the understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in appearance or arrangement. It depends on decentration and reversibility, which egocentric and centrated thinking lack.

Question 11Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following best illustrates the attachment behaviour described as separation protest?

  1. A toddler cries and clings when the mother leaves the room. Correct answer.
  2. A newborn sleeps through most of the day.
  3. A child ignores the caregiver after a brief absence.
  4. An infant smiles at every adult who approaches.

Explanation

Separation protest is distress shown when the attachment figure departs, common in the second half of the first year and into toddlerhood. It reflects a specific bond rather than indiscriminate or indifferent responses.

Question 12Human Development and Family Studies

In Ainsworth's strange situation procedure, a child who shows little distress on separation and avoids or ignores the caregiver on reunion is classified as which attachment type?

  1. Insecure-resistant
  2. Disorganised
  3. Secure
  4. Insecure-avoidant Correct answer.

Explanation

Insecure-avoidant attachment is marked by minimal distress at separation and avoidance of contact at reunion, as the child has learned not to rely on the caregiver for comfort. Secure and resistant patterns show different reunion responses.

Question 13Human Development and Family Studies

Which parenting style is associated with children who are self-reliant and socially responsible, according to Baumrind's classification?

  1. Authoritative Correct answer.
  2. Permissive
  3. Authoritarian
  4. Uninvolved

Explanation

Authoritative parenting combines warmth with firm, reasoned expectations, and is linked with self-reliance, self-control and social competence. The other styles differ in warmth or control, with less favourable outcomes.

Question 14Human Development and Family Studies

A family in which grandparents, parents and children live together in one household is best described as which type?

  1. Joint family Correct answer.
  2. Blended family
  3. Single-parent family
  4. Nuclear family

Explanation

A joint family, common in many Indian settings, includes several generations or married siblings sharing a household and its resources. The other terms describe different household compositions.

Question 15Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following is an example of a fine motor skill in a preschool child?

  1. Climbing a ladder
  2. Catching a large ball
  3. Skipping across a playground
  4. Threading beads onto a string Correct answer.

Explanation

Fine motor skills involve small, precise movements of the hands and fingers, such as threading beads or using a crayon. Skipping, climbing and catching depend mainly on large muscle groups.

Question 16Human Development and Family Studies

A child says 'I am good because I help my mother' when asked about right and wrong. In Kohlberg's theory, this reasoning belongs to which level?

  1. Preconventional level
  2. Amoral level
  3. Postconventional level
  4. Conventional level Correct answer.

Explanation

Conventional moral reasoning judges actions by social approval and the expectations of family and community, as in seeking to be seen as a good child. Preconventional reasoning focuses on rewards and punishments, while postconventional reasoning appeals to universal principles.

Question 17Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following is the most suitable first complementary food to introduce to an infant around six months of age?

  1. Cow's milk
  2. Mashed rice with a little breast milk Correct answer.
  3. Strong tea
  4. Honey

Explanation

At about six months, soft energy-dense foods such as mashed rice mixed with breast milk are suitable first complementary foods while breastfeeding continues. Cow's milk, honey and tea are unsuitable at this age for safety and nutritional reasons.

Question 18Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following best describes the role of play in early childhood development?

  1. It is useful only for physical exercise.
  2. It is mainly a way to keep children quiet.
  3. It should be replaced by formal written work for preschoolers.
  4. It supports physical, cognitive, language and social learning. Correct answer.

Explanation

Play is a central learning medium in early childhood, promoting motor skills, problem solving, language and cooperation with peers. Formal academic drills are not a substitute for these varied developmental benefits.

Question 19Human Development and Family Studies

A mother reports that her eight-year-old has started comparing his height and marks with classmates and feels inferior when he does not match them. Which developmental theme does this illustrate?

  1. Freud's oral stage
  2. Bowlby's imprinting
  3. Piaget's sensorimotor exploration
  4. Erikson's industry versus inferiority Correct answer.

Explanation

In middle childhood, children invest in competence and peer comparison, so repeated failure or unfavourable comparison can breed feelings of inferiority, matching Erikson's industry versus inferiority crisis. The other concepts belong to infancy or early childhood.

Question 20Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of adolescent egocentrism as described by Elkind?

  1. Belief that everyone is watching and judging one's appearance Correct answer.
  2. Inability to understand object permanence
  3. Use of telegraphic speech
  4. Failure to conserve number

Explanation

Elkind described the imaginary audience, in which adolescents feel constantly observed and evaluated by others, alongside the personal fable. The other options are features of infancy or early childhood cognition.

Question 21Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following is a common physical change that signals the onset of puberty in girls?

  1. Deepening of the voice
  2. Growth of facial hair
  3. Development of breast buds Correct answer.
  4. Broadening of the shoulders

Explanation

Breast budding is usually the first visible sign of puberty in girls, followed by the growth spurt and menarche. Voice change, facial hair and shoulder broadening are typical pubertal changes in boys.

Question 22Human Development and Family Studies

A grandparent regularly tells stories, teaches family rituals and helps settle disputes among members. In family studies, this role is best described as which function of the family?

  1. Reproductive function
  2. Socialisation and cultural transmission Correct answer.
  3. Economic function
  4. Protective function

Explanation

Teaching values, rituals and traditions and guiding behaviour reflects the family's socialisation and cultural transmission function. Economic, reproductive and protective functions involve different resources and tasks.

Question 23Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following best explains why breast milk is considered the ideal first food for an infant?

  1. It needs no preparation and is always available.
  2. It provides more iron than any other food.
  3. It contains antibodies and is easily digested. Correct answer.
  4. It is cheaper than all commercial foods.

Explanation

Breast milk supplies protective antibodies such as immunoglobulin A and is well suited to the immature digestive system, reducing infection risk. Its iron content is actually low but well absorbed, so the antibody and digestibility aspects are the strongest reasons.

Question 24Human Development and Family Studies

A child who has just learned that a toy exists even when it is hidden under a cloth has developed which concept?

  1. Object permanence Correct answer.
  2. Conservation
  3. Reversibility
  4. Classification

Explanation

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight, developing during the sensorimotor period. Conservation, reversibility and classification emerge later in the concrete operational stage.

Question 25Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following statements about the role of the father in child development reflects current understanding in family studies?

  1. The father's role is limited to financial provision.
  2. Fathers have no influence on attachment.
  3. Fathering is identical in every respect to mothering.
  4. Father involvement contributes to cognitive and social outcomes. Correct answer.

Explanation

Research shows that involved fathers contribute to children's cognitive development, peer relationships and emotional regulation, though the pathways may differ from maternal care. Reducing the role to money or denying influence misrepresents the evidence.

Question 26Human Development and Family Studies

In family life education, which of the following best describes the family life cycle stage of 'families with young children'?

  1. The stage beginning when the last child leaves home and ending with retirement
  2. The stage beginning with the couple's marriage and ending with the birth of the first child
  3. The stage covering the period after all children are married and grandchildren arrive
  4. The stage spanning from the birth of the first child until the eldest child begins school Correct answer.

Explanation

The family life cycle divides family experience into predictable stages. The stage of families with young children (the expanding family) runs from the arrival of the first child until the eldest child enters school, when new tasks of nurturing and adjusting routines arise.

Question 27Human Development and Family Studies

A mother notices that her three-month-old smiles and coos when she leans over the crib and becomes quiet when a stranger approaches. Which developmental domain do these behaviours chiefly illustrate?

  1. Language comprehension development
  2. Cognitive development
  3. Social-emotional development Correct answer.
  4. Gross motor development

Explanation

Responsive smiling, cooing in interaction and wariness of strangers are early signs of social and emotional development, showing the infant's growing ability to engage with familiar people and react to unfamiliar ones. These behaviours reflect emotional attachment rather than movement, thinking or understanding of words.

Question 28Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following is the most appropriate way to handle a preschool child's temper tantrum in a family setting?

  1. Reason with the child at length during the peak of the outburst
  2. Stay calm, ensure safety and ignore the tantrum until it subsides Correct answer.
  3. Give in immediately to the child's demand so the crying stops quickly
  4. Punish the child physically in front of siblings to set an example

Explanation

Tantrums in preschoolers are best managed by remaining calm, keeping the child safe and withholding attention from the outburst, so that the behaviour is not reinforced. Reasoning or giving in during the peak teaches the child that tantrums work, and physical punishment models aggression.

Question 29Human Development and Family Studies

According to Piaget's theory, a child in the preoperational stage is most likely to fail which of the following tasks?

  1. Crying when separated from the mother
  2. Solving a conservation task involving liquid volume Correct answer.
  3. Recognising a familiar face across the room
  4. Grasping a rattle placed in the hand

Explanation

Preoperational children are not yet able to conserve, so they judge quantity by the most striking perceptual feature, such as the height of liquid in a tall narrow glass. Conservation of liquid volume is typically achieved only in the concrete operational stage.

Question 30Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following statements about the social development of a child in middle childhood is most accurate?

  1. The child's world widens to include school, teachers and neighbourhood friends Correct answer.
  2. The child becomes completely independent of parental guidance
  3. Peer groups become less important than they were in early childhood
  4. Same-sex friendships usually dissolve and are replaced by mixed groups

Explanation

In middle childhood the child's social world expands beyond the home to school, teachers, classmates and neighbourhood peers, and the peer group gains increasing importance. Parental guidance remains significant even as friendships grow.

Question 31Human Development and Family Studies

A family counsellor observes that parents in a household make decisions jointly, children are consulted on matters affecting them, and rules are explained rather than imposed. Which family pattern does this illustrate?

  1. Authoritarian family
  2. Patriarchal family
  3. Laissez-faire family
  4. Democratic or egalitarian family Correct answer.

Explanation

A democratic or egalitarian family shares decision-making among members, explains rules and values children's participation, which supports autonomy and self-esteem. Authoritarian and patriarchal patterns concentrate authority in parents or a single head, while laissez-faire families provide little guidance.

Question 32Human Development and Family Studies

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the developmental tasks of adolescence as described in family studies?

  1. Mastering conservation and reversibility of thought
  2. Achieving emotional independence from parents while developing a personal identity Correct answer.
  3. Learning to walk and talk independently
  4. Establishing a career and starting a family of one's own

Explanation

A central developmental task of adolescence is achieving emotional independence from parents while forming a stable personal identity and adjusting to physical changes. Starting a career and family belongs to early adulthood, while the other options are infancy and childhood tasks.

Question 33Human Development and Family Studies

A couple expecting their first child attends a prenatal class where they learn about nutrition, danger signs in pregnancy and preparation for breastfeeding. This activity is best described as which type of family life education?

  1. Geriatric care education
  2. Parent education for prospective parents Correct answer.
  3. Marriage counselling
  4. Family planning counselling

Explanation

Preparing expectant couples for pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting through information on nutrition, warning signs and breastfeeding is a form of parent education for prospective parents. It aims to promote maternal and child health and readiness for caregiving.

Question 34Human Development and Family Studies

A researcher wants to study how siblings influence each other's prosocial behaviour over time in the same families. Which research approach is most suited to this question?

  1. A single case study of one family
  2. A longitudinal study following the same sibling pairs over several years Correct answer.
  3. An experiment in which siblings are randomly assigned to conditions
  4. A cross-sectional survey of schoolchildren of different ages

Explanation

A longitudinal design follows the same individuals over time, making it suitable for tracking how siblings influence each other's prosocial behaviour across years. Cross-sectional surveys cannot show change over time, and random assignment of siblings to conditions is not feasible.

Question 35Human Development and Family Studies

Which statement best explains the concept of 'family resilience' in family studies?

  1. The fixed pattern of authority established at marriage
  2. The family's capacity to adapt and cope with stress and crisis while maintaining functioning Correct answer.
  3. The tendency of a family to avoid all forms of change
  4. The number of generations living in a household

Explanation

Family resilience refers to the family's ability to withstand and rebound from adversity through shared beliefs, communication and problem solving, while continuing to function. It is a dynamic process, not a fixed structure or an avoidance of change.

Question 36Human Development and Family Studies

In the context of caregiving in later life, which of the following best describes the 'empty nest' transition and its typical effect?

  1. It describes the arrival of grandchildren into the household
  2. It refers to the period when children leave home and may bring both relief and a sense of loss Correct answer.
  3. It always produces severe depression in mothers and requires clinical treatment
  4. It refers to retirement from paid employment

Explanation

The empty nest transition occurs when the last child leaves home, and reactions vary widely; some parents feel relief and renewed freedom while others experience sadness and loss of role. It is not inevitably pathological, nor is it about grandchildren or retirement.

Question 37Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which nutrient is the primary structural material used by the body for building and repairing tissues such as muscle and skin?

  1. Ascorbic acid
  2. Starch
  3. Protein Correct answer.
  4. Sodium chloride

Explanation

Proteins are chains of amino acids that supply the nitrogen and building blocks needed for synthesis of muscle, skin, enzymes and other tissue components. Carbohydrates and fats are mainly fuel, while minerals such as sodium and vitamins such as ascorbic acid serve regulatory or cofactor roles rather than bulk structure.

Question 38Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

A traditional Kerala breakfast of idli and sambar is mainly valued nutritionally because combining cereal and pulse improves which property of the meal?

  1. Protein quality through complementary amino acids Correct answer.
  2. Fat digestibility through bile stimulation
  3. Iron absorption through phytate enrichment
  4. Vitamin C retention during steaming

Explanation

Cereals are limiting in lysine but rich in methionine, while pulses are rich in lysine but limiting in methionine, so combining them gives a better amino acid pattern. This mutual supplementation raises the biological value of the protein in the meal.

Question 39Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

In the food exchange system used for planning diabetic diets, foods are grouped mainly so that items within one list can be exchanged because they are similar in which respect?

  1. Vitamin and mineral content
  2. Glycaemic index value
  3. Macronutrient and energy content Correct answer.
  4. Dietary fibre content

Explanation

Food exchange lists group foods that provide roughly the same amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat and energy per specified portion. This allows a planned number of exchanges to be swapped without disturbing the calculated nutrient totals.

Question 40Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

A person with untreated coeliac disease must avoid wheat, barley and rye. Which component of these grains triggers the intestinal damage?

  1. Beta-glucan
  2. Phytic acid
  3. Resistant starch
  4. Gluten proteins Correct answer.

Explanation

Coeliac disease is an immune-mediated reaction to the gluten protein fraction of wheat, barley and rye, which damages the small intestinal villi. Removal of gluten from the diet allows mucosal healing and improved absorption.

Question 41Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which change in a food is chiefly responsible for the browning of sliced raw apple exposed to air?

  1. Caramelisation of sugars
  2. Enzymatic oxidation of phenolic compounds Correct answer.
  3. Hydrolysis of pectin
  4. Maillard reaction between sugars and amino acids

Explanation

When the cut surface is exposed to oxygen, the enzyme polyphenol oxidase converts phenolic compounds into quinones, which polymerise into brown pigments. This enzymatic browning is distinct from heat-driven caramelisation and Maillard browning.

Question 42Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

During preparation of a vegetable salad for a school function, which practice best limits loss of water-soluble vitamins?

  1. Cutting vegetables into large pieces and adding dressing just before serving Correct answer.
  2. Boiling vegetables in plenty of water and discarding the water
  3. Peeling and chopping vegetables hours before serving
  4. Soaking shredded vegetables in water for a long time

Explanation

Water-soluble vitamins such as ascorbic acid and thiamine leach into water and are destroyed by prolonged exposure to air and light. Large pieces reduce cut surface area, and dressing added at serving time limits leaching and oxidation.

Question 43Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which anthropometric measurement is most commonly used with weight to compute body mass index in a school health survey?

  1. Waist-to-hip ratio
  2. Height Correct answer.
  3. Mid-upper arm circumference
  4. Skinfold thickness

Explanation

Body mass index is weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres, so height and weight are the two required measurements. The other measures assess fat distribution or body composition but are not used in the BMI formula.

Question 44Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

A child shows night blindness and dry conjunctiva. Which dietary improvement is most directly indicated?

  1. Increased intake of table salt
  2. Regular intake of dark green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange fruits Correct answer.
  3. Increased intake of polished white rice
  4. Increased intake of refined wheat flour products

Explanation

Night blindness and conjunctival dryness indicate vitamin A deficiency. Dark green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange fruits supply beta-carotene, which the body converts to retinol, and are the practical dietary correction.

Question 45Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which statement correctly distinguishes the energy values of the macronutrients as used in diet calculation?

  1. Carbohydrate yields about 7 kcal per gram, whereas protein yields about 9 kcal per gram
  2. Protein yields about 9 kcal per gram, whereas fat yields about 4 kcal per gram
  3. Fat yields about 9 kcal per gram, whereas carbohydrate and protein each yield about 4 kcal per gram Correct answer.
  4. Fat yields about 4 kcal per gram, whereas carbohydrate yields about 9 kcal per gram

Explanation

Using Atwater factors, fat provides roughly 9 kcal per gram while carbohydrate and protein each provide roughly 4 kcal per gram. These factors are the standard basis for computing the energy content of a diet.

Question 46Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

A pregnant woman in her second trimester is advised to increase her daily energy intake moderately rather than double it. Which principle explains this advice?

  1. Energy needs should be met only after delivery
  2. All extra energy should come from fat to spare protein
  3. Additional energy needs in pregnancy are modest and are met by a small daily increment plus improved diet quality Correct answer.
  4. Energy needs in pregnancy fall below pre-pregnancy levels

Explanation

Pregnancy raises energy and nutrient requirements, but the increase is modest and is best met by a small daily energy increment with a nutrient-dense diet. Excessive energy intake raises the risk of unnecessary gestational weight gain without improving outcome.

Question 47Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which is the most appropriate first-line dietary measure for an adult with essential hypertension who is otherwise healthy?

  1. Increasing refined sugar intake to improve palatability of a low-salt diet
  2. Reducing sodium intake and increasing potassium-rich fruits and vegetables Correct answer.
  3. Increasing intake of salted pickles and papads
  4. Substituting saturated fat with trans fat

Explanation

Lowering sodium and raising potassium intake through fruits and vegetables lowers blood pressure and is a recognised dietary approach to hypertension. Salt-preserved foods work against this goal, and trans fat and refined sugar offer no benefit.

Question 48Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

In a diet for a patient with chronic kidney disease who is not on dialysis, which combination of dietary adjustments is usually emphasised?

  1. High sodium with low fluid intake
  2. High potassium with high phosphorus
  3. Very high protein with unrestricted potassium
  4. Controlled protein, sodium and potassium with adequate energy from non-protein sources Correct answer.

Explanation

Before dialysis, the diet aims to reduce the workload on the kidney by moderating protein, sodium and potassium while supplying enough non-protein energy to prevent tissue breakdown. High intakes of protein, potassium or sodium would worsen the metabolic burden.

Question 49Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which statement best explains why dietary fibre helps in the management of constipation?

  1. Fibre inhibits peristalsis so that water is absorbed
  2. Fibre is completely digested in the stomach, softening stools
  3. Fibre holds water and adds bulk, stimulating intestinal peristalsis Correct answer.
  4. Fibre supplies most of the daily energy requirement

Explanation

Indigestible fibre retains water in the colon, increasing stool bulk and softness, and the distension stimulates peristalsis. This shortens transit time and relieves constipation.

Question 50Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics

A family wants to improve the protein quality of a rice-based meal without increasing cost much. Which addition is most effective?

  1. A glass of plain water
  2. A spoon of refined sugar
  3. A serving of dal or other pulse Correct answer.
  4. A portion of sago

Explanation

Rice is low in lysine, and pulses are rich in lysine, so adding dal supplies the limiting amino acid and improves the overall protein quality. The other additions supply energy or water but no complementary protein.