I85PREP
⌘ K
UPMSP Intermediate Human Science study materials
UPMSP Intermediate Human Science study resources

UPMSP Intermediate Human Science practice questions

One question at a time. Build your UPMSP Intermediate Human Science understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Home Science and Human Development

In a well-balanced diet, which nutrient group is the body's most concentrated source of energy, supplying about 9 kcal per gram?

  1. Water-soluble vitamins
  2. Fats and oils Correct answer.
  3. Minerals
  4. Dietary fibre

Explanation

Fat is the most energy-dense macronutrient, providing roughly 9 kilocalories per gram, whereas carbohydrate and protein each supply about 4 kcal per gram. Vitamins, minerals and water supply no energy at all. Home Science diet planning therefore uses fats sparingly to meet energy needs without excess.

Question 2Home Science and Human Development

A mother is advised to begin complementary feeding for her infant. According to standard infant feeding guidance, at what age should complementary foods be introduced while breastfeeding continues?

  1. Only after the first birthday
  2. At birth along with colostrum
  3. From the third month onward
  4. From the completed age of six months Correct answer.

Explanation

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six completed months, after which breast milk alone can no longer meet energy and micronutrient needs. Complementary foods are therefore started at six months while breastfeeding is continued up to two years or beyond. Starting too early or too late both raise risks of infection or growth faltering.

Question 3Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following is the best dietary source of iron that is absorbed most efficiently by the body?

  1. Whole wheat chapati
  2. Liver and other organ meats Correct answer.
  3. Spinach cooked in milk
  4. Rice with ghee

Explanation

Iron in animal foods such as liver, meat and fish is haem iron, which is absorbed far more efficiently than the non-haem iron of plant foods. Plant sources like spinach and wheat contain non-haem iron whose absorption is limited by phytates and is enhanced only when taken with vitamin C. Liver therefore remains the richest and best-absorbed iron source.

Question 4Home Science and Human Development

A family wants to reduce the loss of water-soluble vitamins while cooking green leafy vegetables. Which practice best preserves these vitamins?

  1. Boiling in a large volume of water and discarding the water
  2. Adding baking soda to keep the colour bright during long boiling
  3. Cutting the vegetables into very small pieces and soaking them overnight
  4. Steaming or stir-frying in minimal water for a short time Correct answer.

Explanation

Water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and thiamine leach into cooking water and are destroyed by prolonged heat. Steaming or quick stir-frying with little water minimises both leaching and heat destruction. Large-volume boiling with discarded water, fine cutting with soaking, and alkaline additives all increase losses.

Question 5Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following is a correct statement about the functions of water in the human body?

  1. It acts as a solvent, transports nutrients and regulates body temperature Correct answer.
  2. It supplies about 4 kcal of energy per gram
  3. It is needed only during illness and hot weather
  4. It is stored in the body in large reserve amounts

Explanation

Water is the medium in which nutrients and wastes dissolve and move, and evaporation of sweat helps regulate body temperature. It yields no energy and the body has no large store, so it must be taken regularly. This is why fluid needs are continuous rather than occasional.

Question 6Home Science and Human Development

During the preschool years, which developmental change in a child's eating behaviour is most typical?

  1. Preference for strongly spiced foods
  2. Neophobia, or fear of new foods, with fluctuating appetite Correct answer.
  3. Complete refusal of all milk products
  4. A sharp increase in appetite and portion size

Explanation

Preschoolers grow more slowly than infants, so appetite falls and often fluctuates from meal to meal. Fear of unfamiliar foods is common at this stage, and repeated gentle exposure helps acceptance. Caregivers should offer small portions and avoid forcing.

Question 7Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following correctly describes the process of pasteurisation of milk?

  1. Boiling milk repeatedly for two hours
  2. Heating milk to about 63 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes or 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds Correct answer.
  3. Freezing milk to minus 20 degrees Celsius for a week
  4. Adding sugar to milk to prevent bacterial growth

Explanation

Pasteurisation uses controlled heat, either the holder method at about 63 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes or the flash method at about 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds, to kill pathogenic bacteria. Rapid cooling follows to prevent recontamination. Freezing, sugaring and prolonged boiling are not pasteurisation.

Question 8Home Science and Human Development

A woman in the second trimester of pregnancy is advised to increase her intake of folic acid and iron. Which food combination best supplies these two nutrients?

  1. Dark green leafy vegetables with citrus fruit and pulses Correct answer.
  2. Polished rice with sugar and tea
  3. Cream biscuits with cola drinks
  4. White bread with butter and jam

Explanation

Dark green leafy vegetables and pulses are rich in folate and iron, while citrus fruit supplies vitamin C that enhances non-haem iron absorption. This combination addresses both nutrients emphasised in pregnancy. Refined cereals, sugars and empty-calorie snacks provide little of either nutrient.

Question 9Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following best explains why adolescent girls have a higher risk of iron-deficiency anaemia than adolescent boys?

  1. Girls absorb iron more efficiently than boys
  2. Girls have a slower growth spurt than boys
  3. Menstrual blood loss adds to iron losses during rapid growth Correct answer.
  4. Girls eat more iron-rich foods than boys

Explanation

Adolescence brings rapid growth and rising iron needs, and in girls menstrual blood loss adds a recurring loss of iron. When dietary intake is inadequate, this combination makes iron-deficiency anaemia more likely. Boys do not experience menstrual loss, so their risk is lower.

Question 10Home Science and Human Development

A family's monthly food budget is limited. Which strategy gives the best nutritional value for money while maintaining a balanced diet?

  1. Using seasonal local vegetables, pulses and eggs in place of costly meats Correct answer.
  2. Replacing all pulses with polished rice
  3. Skipping breakfast to save money
  4. Buying only imported packaged snacks in bulk

Explanation

Seasonal local produce and pulses are inexpensive yet rich in protein, vitamins and fibre, and eggs provide good-quality protein at low cost. This allows a balanced diet on a small budget. Imported snacks, refined rice alone and skipped meals all compromise nutrition.

Question 11Home Science and Human Development

A pregnant woman reports persistent vomiting and inability to retain food in early pregnancy. Which action is most appropriate for a community health worker to recommend?

  1. Recommend strong laxatives to clear the stomach
  2. Advise her to continue as usual and ignore the symptoms
  3. Advise her to stop all fluids until vomiting stops
  4. Refer her for medical assessment while suggesting small frequent dry meals Correct answer.

Explanation

Persistent vomiting in pregnancy can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, so medical assessment is needed. Meanwhile, small frequent dry meals and sips of fluid are gentler on the stomach. Ignoring symptoms, laxatives or stopping fluids could worsen her condition.

Question 12Home Science and Human Development

A newborn is put to the breast within the first hour after birth. Which benefit is most directly supported by this practice?

  1. The infant no longer needs any further feeding for 24 hours
  2. The infant receives colostrum, which is rich in antibodies and vitamin A Correct answer.
  3. The mother's milk supply becomes permanently fixed
  4. The infant gains weight rapidly in the first week

Explanation

Early initiation ensures the newborn receives colostrum, the first milk, which is concentrated in antibodies such as immunoglobulin A and in vitamin A. It also supports uterine contraction and breastfeeding success. It does not, however, cause rapid weight gain or remove the need for continued feeding.

Question 13Home Science and Human Development

Which statement correctly distinguishes a balanced diet from a merely adequate diet?

  1. A balanced diet contains only fruits and vegetables
  2. An adequate diet always contains more protein than a balanced diet
  3. A balanced diet supplies all required nutrients in correct proportions, whereas an adequate diet only meets energy needs Correct answer.
  4. Both terms mean the same thing in Home Science

Explanation

A balanced diet provides energy plus all essential nutrients in the right proportions, while an adequate diet is judged mainly by whether energy needs are met. A diet can therefore be adequate in calories yet unbalanced in vitamins or minerals. The two concepts are related but not identical.

Question 14Home Science and Human Development

A weaning food is prepared at home for a nine-month-old infant. Which practice most reduces the risk of diarrhoeal infection?

  1. Feeding with a bottle left unsterilised between feeds
  2. Adding extra salt and spices to improve taste
  3. Washing hands and utensils, and using freshly cooked food Correct answer.
  4. Storing cooked food at room temperature for the whole day

Explanation

Diarrhoea in weaning infants is often caused by contaminated food, water or utensils, so hand and utensil hygiene plus fresh cooking are critical. Food left at room temperature allows bacterial multiplication. Excess salt and spices and unsterilised bottles add further risks.

Question 15Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following best describes the role of dietary fibre in preventing constipation?

  1. It is completely digested and absorbed in the small intestine
  2. It kills bacteria in the large intestine
  3. It supplies most of the body's energy
  4. It adds bulk and holds water, increasing stool volume and promoting movement Correct answer.

Explanation

Fibre resists digestion and reaches the large intestine largely intact, where it holds water and adds bulk to the stool. This stimulates peristalsis and shortens transit time, reducing constipation. It is not a source of energy nor an antibiotic.

Question 16Home Science and Human Development

A family cooks dal and rice daily. Which combination improves the protein quality of this meal?

  1. Replacing dal with sugar
  2. Eating only rice and avoiding dal
  3. Combining cereal and pulse proteins in the same meal Correct answer.
  4. Adding extra oil to the dal

Explanation

Cereals are limited in lysine while pulses are limited in methionine, so combining them in one meal complements their amino acid profiles and raises overall protein quality. This is the principle of complementary proteins. Adding oil or sugar does not improve protein quality.

Question 17Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following is a correct description of the growth chart used in child health monitoring?

  1. It records the child's blood group and immunisation history
  2. It shows weight-for-age and helps detect growth faltering over time Correct answer.
  3. It measures the mother's weight during pregnancy
  4. It is used only once, at birth

Explanation

Growth charts plot weight, height and head circumference against age and allow comparison with reference standards. Repeated plotting reveals faltering growth or overweight early, allowing timely action. A single measurement at birth is far less informative than a plotted trend.

Question 18Home Science and Human Development

A homemaker wants to store wheat flour for several months in a humid climate. Which practice best prevents insect infestation and spoilage?

  1. Storing it in an open container near the stove
  2. Mixing it with fresh vegetables before storing
  3. Sprinkling water on the flour to keep it cool
  4. Keeping it in a dry, airtight container in a cool place Correct answer.

Explanation

Moisture and warmth promote insect growth, mould and rancidity, so dry airtight storage in a cool place is essential. Open containers near heat invite pests and dampness. Adding water or vegetables introduces moisture and accelerates spoilage.

Question 19Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following correctly explains why adolescent girls need more calcium-rich foods during the growth spurt?

  1. Calcium is needed for peak bone mass development, which occurs largely during adolescence Correct answer.
  2. Calcium is stored only in the liver
  3. Calcium replaces iron in haemoglobin formation
  4. Calcium supplies energy for physical activity

Explanation

Adolescence is the period when a large proportion of adult peak bone mass is laid down, and calcium is the key mineral for that process. Adequate intake now reduces later risk of osteoporosis. Calcium does not supply energy or form part of haemoglobin, and most body calcium is in bone, not liver.

Question 20Home Science and Human Development

A child with severe protein-energy malnutrition shows oedema, a swollen abdomen and a moon face. Which condition is most consistent with these signs?

  1. Scurvy
  2. Marasmus
  3. Beriberi
  4. Kwashiorkor Correct answer.

Explanation

Kwashiorkor is protein-energy malnutrition in which protein deficiency is prominent, producing oedema, an enlarged abdomen and a moon face. Marasmus is characterised instead by severe wasting without oedema. Scurvy and beriberi are vitamin-deficiency diseases.

Question 21Home Science and Human Development

A community nutrition programme wants to reduce vitamin A deficiency among children. Which food-based approach is most appropriate and sustainable?

  1. Promoting dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, papaya and mango in daily diets Correct answer.
  2. Replacing all vegetables with polished rice
  3. Encouraging children to avoid all yellow fruits
  4. Distributing only refined sugar and oil

Explanation

Dark green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange fruits such as papaya and mango are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. Promoting these locally available foods is sustainable and prevents deficiency. Sugar, oil and refined rice are poor in vitamin A.

Question 22Home Science and Human Development

Which of the following best explains the relationship between sanitation, safe water and nutritional status in a community?

  1. Safe water has no effect on nutrition because nutrients come only from food
  2. Sanitation affects only adults and not children
  3. Diarrhoea improves nutrient absorption
  4. Repeated diarrhoea from unsafe water impairs nutrient absorption and contributes to malnutrition Correct answer.

Explanation

Repeated diarrhoeal illness from unsafe water and poor sanitation damages the gut lining, reduces appetite and causes nutrient loss, contributing to undernutrition and stunting. Safe water and sanitation are therefore essential components of nutrition programmes. Diarrhoea never improves absorption.

Question 23Home Science and Human Development

A family prepares a meal of rice, dal, spinach and curd. Which nutrient is supplied in the greatest proportion by the curd in this meal?

  1. Iron
  2. Dietary fibre
  3. Calcium Correct answer.
  4. Vitamin C

Explanation

Curd, like other milk products, is a rich source of calcium and also supplies good-quality protein. The spinach and dal contribute iron and fibre, while vitamin C is better obtained from citrus fruits. Therefore curd most notably raises the calcium content of the meal.

Question 24Home Science and Human Development

A woman with a body mass index of 27 before pregnancy is advised on weight gain during pregnancy. Which approach is most consistent with good practice?

  1. Adequate nutrient-dense food with monitored, modest weight gain Correct answer.
  2. Doubling calorie intake from the first trimester
  3. Avoiding all fats and proteins
  4. Restricting food severely to lose weight during pregnancy

Explanation

For a woman who is overweight before pregnancy, the aim is not weight loss but monitored, modest gain with nutrient-dense foods. Severe restriction risks fetal growth problems, while doubling calories from early pregnancy is unnecessary. Avoiding fats and proteins would deprive mother and fetus of essential nutrients.

Question 25Home Science and Human Development

A researcher compares two villages: one has a piped safe-water supply and the other draws water from an open pond. After a year, the first village has fewer cases of diarrhoea and better child growth. Which conclusion is most defensible?

  1. Diarrhoea has no link with child growth
  2. Open pond water is harmless if boiled occasionally
  3. Safe water alone guarantees perfect growth in every child
  4. Safe water supply is associated with reduced diarrhoea and better growth, though other factors may also contribute Correct answer.

Explanation

The observation supports an association between safe water and better child health and growth, but observational comparison cannot rule out other factors such as income, diet or health services. A cautious causal statement is therefore appropriate. Claiming a guarantee or denying the growth link would be unsupported.

Question 26Home Science and Human Development

In a Home Science practical, a student classifies kitchen activities by the type of resource they consume. Which activity is the best example of using human resources rather than material resources?

  1. Purchasing vegetables from the local market
  2. Planning a weekly menu using knowledge of nutrition Correct answer.
  3. Storing pulses in an airtight container
  4. Using a pressure cooker to shorten cooking time

Explanation

Human resources are the personal qualities of the homemaker, such as knowledge, skills, time, energy and attitudes. Applying nutritional knowledge to plan a menu draws on these personal capabilities, so it is a human resource in action. Buying, storing and using equipment involve material or non-human resources.

Question 27Home Science and Human Development

A family decides to buy a refrigerator on instalments even though its monthly income is fixed and small. Which principle of resource management is most directly violated by this decision?

  1. Simplifying household work
  2. Balancing expenditure with income Correct answer.
  3. Using resources according to individual needs and values
  4. Coordination of household activities

Explanation

Managing family resources requires that spending be kept within the available income so that essential needs are not sacrificed. Committing a large share of a fixed small income to instalments disturbs this balance. The other principles concern values, work simplification and coordination, not solvency of the budget.

Question 28Home Science and Human Development

A mother notices that her two-year-old can hold a spoon but spills food while eating. How should she respond to support the child's development?

  1. Give the child a small spoon and allow practice with some spilling Correct answer.
  2. Stop giving semi-solid foods until the child's grip improves
  3. Punish the child for wasting food so the habit is corrected
  4. Feed the child herself until the spillage stops completely

Explanation

Self-feeding with a spoon is a developing motor skill in the toddler years, and control improves only with repeated practice. Providing a child-sized spoon and tolerating some mess supports independence and fine motor coordination. Feeding the child entirely or withholding food would delay the skill.

Question 29Home Science and Human Development

In a study of family relationships, a researcher notes that grandparents, parents and children all influence one another's behaviour. Which characteristic of the family does this illustrate?

  1. The family is a universal institution
  2. The family is an interacting unit Correct answer.
  3. The family provides a protected environment
  4. The family is a changing institution

Explanation

The family is described as an interacting unit because members are interdependent and each person's behaviour affects the others. Mutual influence across generations is the essence of this interaction. Universality, change over time and protection are separate characteristics and do not describe mutual influence.

Question 30Home Science and Human Development

A young couple is deciding whether to have a first child. Which factor is an example of a social factor rather than a biological factor influencing this decision?

  1. The wife's age and general health status
  2. The couple's genetic history
  3. Approval and support from the extended family Correct answer.
  4. The wife's menstrual cycle regularity

Explanation

Social factors are those arising from the family's social environment, such as the attitudes, approval and support of relatives and the community. Extended family approval is therefore a social influence. Age, health, genetic history and cycle regularity are biological or physiological factors.

Question 31Home Science and Human Development

A woman in her first trimester complains of nausea in the morning. Which dietary advice is most appropriate for her?

  1. Take a large, spicy meal immediately on waking
  2. Skip breakfast and take a heavy lunch instead
  3. Eat small, frequent dry snacks such as toast before rising Correct answer.
  4. Drink a large glass of very cold water before getting up

Explanation

Morning sickness is often eased by taking a small dry snack such as toast or biscuit before getting out of bed and eating small frequent meals. Large, spicy or skipped meals tend to worsen nausea. The advice should support adequate intake without provoking vomiting.

Question 32Home Science and Human Development

A community health worker explains the advantages of breastfeeding to a group of mothers. Which statement about colostrum is correct?

  1. It is the mature milk produced after the first month
  2. It is rich in antibodies and should not be discarded Correct answer.
  3. It contains more fat than the milk produced later
  4. It is given only when the mother has excess milk

Explanation

Colostrum is the thick yellowish first milk produced in the first few days after delivery. It is especially rich in antibodies and protective factors and is produced in small amounts suited to the newborn's needs, so it should never be thrown away. Fat content rises in the later milk, not the colostrum.

Question 33Home Science and Human Development

A mother is preparing complementary food for her seven-month-old infant. Which practice best supports the infant's nutritional needs?

  1. Adding salt and sugar generously to improve acceptance
  2. Giving only diluted cow's milk in addition to breast milk
  3. Adding mashed soft foods of increasing consistency while continuing breastfeeding Correct answer.
  4. Replacing breast milk entirely with a thin cereal drink

Explanation

Complementary feeding should begin around six months with soft mashed foods whose texture gradually increases, while breastfeeding continues up to two years. This supplies energy and nutrients that milk alone can no longer provide. Diluted milk, replacing breast milk or adding salt and sugar are all inappropriate.

Question 34Home Science and Human Development

A school health programme records the weight-for-age of children. What does this measurement primarily help to detect?

  1. Whether a child has an infection at the time of measurement
  2. Whether a child is underweight for age Correct answer.
  3. Whether a child has a specific vitamin deficiency
  4. Whether a child's height is appropriate for age

Explanation

Weight-for-age compares a child's weight with the expected weight for children of the same age, and low values indicate underweight. It is a general indicator of growth status, not a test for a particular vitamin deficiency or current infection. Height for age is a separate indicator used to detect stunting.

Question 35Home Science and Human Development

A woman with young children wants to reduce the time spent on daily cooking without lowering meal quality. Which practice is the best application of work simplification?

  1. Avoiding all advance planning to keep the routine flexible
  2. Buying ready-to-eat food for every meal
  3. Preparing and storing a batch of basic items such as dal and vegetables for the week Correct answer.
  4. Cooking each dish separately just before serving

Explanation

Work simplification means eliminating unnecessary steps and combining tasks to save time and energy. Batch preparation of basic items reduces repeated effort while still allowing balanced meals to be assembled. Separate cooking, ready-to-eat meals and lack of planning either increase effort or reduce quality.

Question 36Home Science and Human Development

A family of five has a limited monthly income. Which approach to budgeting is most consistent with sound family resource management?

  1. Spending first on entertainment and saving whatever remains
  2. Recording regular expenditure and allotting fixed shares for food, housing and savings Correct answer.
  3. Borrowing each month to maintain the same spending pattern
  4. Ignoring small daily expenses because they are too minor to record

Explanation

A sound budget records income and expenditure and assigns planned shares to essential categories, with some provision for savings. This allows the family to meet needs and absorb emergencies. Spending on leisure first, repeated borrowing or ignoring small expenses all undermine financial stability.

Question 37Home Science and Human Development

A child of three years is observed in a play group. Which behaviour is typical of the social development expected at this age?

  1. Forming a close friendship with one particular child
  2. Playing cooperatively in an organised team with fixed rules
  3. Preferring solitary play and avoiding all contact with peers
  4. Engaging in parallel play alongside other children Correct answer.

Explanation

Preschool children commonly engage in parallel play, playing beside others with similar materials without true cooperation. Organised team play with rules and close individual friendships emerge later in middle childhood. Avoidance of all peers would be a concern rather than a typical pattern.

Question 38Home Science and Human Development

A married couple in their thirties lives with their two children and the husband's widowed mother; the husband is the only earner. Which term best describes this family?

  1. Nuclear family
  2. Extended family Correct answer.
  3. Childless family
  4. Single-parent family

Explanation

An extended family includes relatives beyond the parents and their children, such as a grandparent living in the same household. The presence of the widowed mother therefore makes this an extended family. A nuclear family would contain only parents and children, and the other options do not fit the description.

Question 39Home Science and Human Development

A mother is advised to introduce iron-rich foods to her infant from about six months. Which explanation best justifies this advice?

  1. Breast milk contains no iron at any stage of lactation
  2. Infants cannot absorb iron from breast milk at all
  3. The iron stores laid down before birth begin to run low while the infant's needs rise Correct answer.
  4. Iron from breast milk is absorbed better than iron from any solid food

Explanation

The newborn's iron stores are laid down during pregnancy and are largely used up by about six months, while growth increases iron requirements. Breast milk supplies some iron but not enough to meet the rising need, so iron-rich complementary foods are introduced. The other statements overstate or misstate the facts.

Question 40Home Science and Human Development

A woman reports that her menstrual cycle is irregular and she is unsure about the safe period method of family planning. Which limitation of this method should a counsellor explain?

  1. It is effective only after the age of forty
  2. It permanently prevents conception
  3. It requires regular cycles and abstinence during the fertile period Correct answer.
  4. It protects against sexually transmitted infections

Explanation

The safe period method relies on identifying fertile days from a regular cycle and avoiding intercourse during that time. Irregular cycles make prediction unreliable, and the method offers no protection against infection. It does not cause permanent sterility or depend on the woman's age in the way stated.

Question 41Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

In human nutrition, which nutrient is classified as a macronutrient because it supplies energy in bulk rather than acting as a micronutrient?

  1. Zinc
  2. Carbohydrate Correct answer.
  3. Riboflavin
  4. Ascorbic acid

Explanation

Macronutrients are needed in gram quantities and provide energy or structural material; carbohydrate supplies about 4 kcal per gram. Vitamins and minerals such as ascorbic acid, riboflavin and zinc are micronutrients required in milligram or microgram amounts and do not supply energy.

Question 42Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

A student lists foods for a practical on cheap plant proteins. Which combination gives the best mutual supplementation of limiting amino acids?

  1. Rice with wheat flour
  2. Cereals with pulses Correct answer.
  3. Butter with sugar
  4. Potato with cassava

Explanation

Cereals are low in lysine but rich in methionine, while pulses are rich in lysine but low in methionine, so combining them complements the limiting amino acids. Rice with wheat flour and potato with cassava pair foods with similar amino acid patterns, and butter with sugar supplies almost no protein.

Question 43Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which statement correctly describes the energy contribution of alcohol in a diet calculation?

  1. It provides no energy because it is not digested
  2. It provides 7 kcal per gram but is not a nutrient Correct answer.
  3. It provides 4 kcal per gram like carbohydrate
  4. It provides 9 kcal per gram like fat

Explanation

Ethanol yields approximately 7 kcal per gram when metabolised, a value between carbohydrate and fat. It is conventionally treated as non-nutritive in the sense that it supplies energy without essential nutrients, so diet planners count it separately.

Question 44Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

A child shows bowing of the legs, delayed closure of the fontanelle and muscle weakness. Which nutrient deficiency best explains this picture?

  1. Vitamin D Correct answer.
  2. Iodine
  3. Vitamin B12
  4. Iron

Explanation

These signs describe rickets, in which poor vitamin D status reduces calcium and phosphate absorption and impairs bone mineralisation. Bowing of weight-bearing bones and delayed fontanelle closure are classic skeletal consequences in growing children.

Question 45Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which food source is the richest and most reliable dietary provider of iodine in typical inland diets?

  1. Whole wheat flour
  2. Fresh apples
  3. Refined sugar
  4. Iodised salt Correct answer.

Explanation

Iodine content of foods depends heavily on soil and water, so iodised salt is the standard vehicle for ensuring adequate intake. Cereals, sugar and fruits contain only small and variable amounts of iodine.

Question 46Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

A dietitian calculates the protein requirement for a healthy adult weighing 60 kg using 0.8 g per kg body weight per day. What is the daily protein allowance?

  1. 24 g
  2. 60 g
  3. 96 g
  4. 48 g Correct answer.

Explanation

Multiplying 0.8 g by 60 kg gives 48 g of protein per day, the reference intake for a healthy adult at maintenance. This figure is then adjusted upward for pregnancy, lactation, growth or recovery from illness.

Question 47Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which statement about dietary fibre and its physiological action is accurate?

  1. Fibre increases iron absorption from plant foods
  2. All fibres provide 9 kcal per gram
  3. Insoluble fibre is fully digested in the small intestine
  4. Soluble fibre lowers blood cholesterol by binding bile acids Correct answer.

Explanation

Soluble fibres such as pectin and beta-glucan form gels that trap bile acids, increasing their excretion and forcing the liver to use cholesterol to make more. Insoluble fibres mainly add bulk and speed transit and are not digested in the small intestine.

Question 48Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which vitamin functions as a coenzyme carrying acyl groups in the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat, and is deficient in beriberi?

  1. Calciferol
  2. Thiamine Correct answer.
  3. Tocopherol
  4. Retinol

Explanation

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is converted to thiamine pyrophosphate, a coenzyme for pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. Deficiency impairs energy metabolism and produces beriberi, with wet and dry forms.

Question 49Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

A nutrition survey finds a population eating large amounts of raw whole-grain cereals and legumes with high phytate content. Which mineral deficiency is most likely to be aggravated?

  1. Chloride
  2. Sodium
  3. Fluoride
  4. Zinc Correct answer.

Explanation

Phytate binds zinc, iron and calcium in the gut and reduces their absorption, so high-phytate diets can precipitate zinc deficiency. Sodium, chloride and fluoride are not primarily limited by phytate binding.

Question 50Food, Nutrition and Dietetics

Which anthropometric index is most appropriate for classifying thinness and obesity in adults?

  1. Head circumference
  2. Weight-for-age
  3. Mid-upper arm circumference
  4. Body mass index Correct answer.

Explanation

Body mass index, weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared, adjusts weight for stature and provides standard adult cut-offs for underweight, overweight and obesity. The other measures either lack height adjustment or are used for different purposes.