Pandemics Homework Questions

Homeostasis is a living organisms: a. Ability to maintain constant internal conditions even when environmental conditions change. b. Ability to hibernate during cold times of the year. c. Attempt to cool off, even when it is cold outside. d. Attempt to carry out photosynthesis even when there is no sunlight present. e. Ability to pump blood through the body.

A. Ability to maintain constant internal conditions even when environmental conditions change

Which of the following is true? a. Aedes mosquitoes spread more kinds of diseases than Anopheles mosquitoes. b. Neither Anopheles nor Aedes mosquitoes spread diseases. c. Anopheles mosquitoes spread more kinds of diseases than Aedes mosquitoes. d. Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes spread about the same number of disease.

A. Aedes mosquitoes spread more kinds of diseases than Anopheles mosquitoes

Why is cholera much more prevalent in the developing world? a. Contaminated water is more common in the developing world. b. Nearly everyone in the developed world has been vaccinated against cholera. c. Food supplies in the developing world do not have to meet safety standards. d. There are far fewer mosquitoes in the developed world.

A. Contaminated water is more common in the developing world.

Which of the following is still necessary to eradicate cholera? a. Intergovernmental cooperation b. Clear understanding of how it is transmitted c. An effective vaccine d. Genetic sequencing of the disease-causing organism

A. Intergovernmental cooperation

As climate change continues, which of the following is most likely? a. Mosquitoes will increase their range, and their populations will increase. b. Mosquitoes will decrease their range, but their populations will increase. c. Mosquitoes will decrease their range, and their populations will decline. d. Mosquitoes will increase their range, but their populations will decline.

A. Mosquitoes will increase their range, and their populations will increase

Assuming COVID-19 is like cholera, which of the following will be the largest factor motivating those in charge to get it under control? a. The economy b. Fear of mutation within humans c. Concern for human life d. Concern that it will spread to other species, mutate, and spread back to humans in a more virulent strain

A. The economy

Which of the following statements about viruses is FALSE? a. The widespread use of antibiotics has led to resistant strains of viruses. b. If a virus mutates, the immune system may not recognize the virus. c. People can get colds and flus again because the viruses are constantly mutating. d. Vaccines are available to prevent several diseases caused by viruses.

A. The widespread use of antibiotics has led to resistant strains of viruses.

Suppose you were in charge of sending an unmanned space probe to a new planet in search of life. The probe would be able to collect and test samples and make observations, but the planet is too far away for the probe to be able to bring samples back to Earth. The probe is small and would only be able to run a few tests, so you want to pick a test for evidence of life that is broad enough to incorporate all forms of life as we know it. Which one of the following tests would be the best to use in this situation? a. A test for the presence of large organisms capable of movement b. A test for the presence of cells that contain DNA c. A test for the presence of soil suitable for growing plants d. A test for the presence of things that change size quickly, since it would be an indication of growth and development

B. A test for the presence of cells that contain DNA

Given the same conditions, which of the following people is most likely to be bit the most? a. A woman with Type AB blood who does not use deodorant. b. A woman with Type O blood who is wearing perfume. c. A man with Type B blood who uses unscented soap. d. A man with Type A blood who is wearing cologne.

B. A woman with Type O blood who is wearing perfume.

Viruses are a. Not alive because they can only carry out photosynthesis and not cellular respiration. b. Not alive because they are not made of cells and require a host cell for reproduction. c. Alive because they mutate and change over time through evolution. d. Alive because they often contain DNA.

B. Not alive because they are not made of cells and require a host cell for reproduction.

You are a historian writing a book about diseases that affected United States history. Which of the following diseases had the largest impact? a. Measles b. Smallpox c. Bubonic plague d. Ebola

B. Smallpox

The introduction of smallpox to the Americas by Europeans in the colonial era devastated populations of Native Americans. However, now very few people are vaccinated against the smallpox virus. Why? a. Humans have evolved natural immunity to smallpox virus. b. Smallpox virus has been eliminated from the earth by vaccination of most of the people alive today. c. The smallpox virus is in the lysogenic stage of the life cycle. d. The bacteria that serve as hosts for the smallpox virus are extinct.

B. Smallpox virus has been eliminated from the earth by vaccination of most of the people alive today.

Why is combination drug therapy for HIV/AIDS less likely to lead to resistance than single drug therapy? a The drugs improve the immune system so that it is better able to find and remove virus particles. b. The likelihood of one virus spontaneously mutating to be resistant to several different drugs at the same time is extremely small. c. There are fewer side effects associated with combination drug therapy, and the appearance of resistance is directly related to the severity of side effects. d. In the presence of multiple drugs, the mutation rate of HIV decreases.

B. The likelihood of one virus spontaneously mutating to be resistant to several different drugs at the same time is extremely small.

If trends continue, which of the following will happen? a. The number of diseases crossing from animals to humans will remain steady. b. The number of diseases crossing from animals to humans will increase. c. The number of diseases crossing from animals to humans will decline. d. Diseases crossing from animals to human will be eliminated.

B. The number of diseases crossing from animals to humans will increase

Which of the following can be found in bacteria, but not viruses? a. Genetic material b. Nucleic acids c. A cell membrane d. Proteins

C. A cell membrane

Which of the following pathogens causes mad cow disease? a. A bacterium b. A virus c. A prion d. A viroid

C. A prion

Which of the following is true regarding cholera and COVID-19? a. Both are caused by a virus. b. Both are believed to have originated in India. c. At the time of this article, both are in a state of pandemic. d. Both are caused by a bacterium.

C. At the time of this article, both are in a state of pandemic.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of living things? a. Being capable of reproduction b. Exhibiting complex organization c. Creating energy d. Responding to stimuli E. Having DNA as a genetic code

C. Creating energy

The mRNA vaccine available for Covid-19 utilized Crispr technology. What was done? a. Live antigens were created. b. Dormant viruses were created. c. Gene editing was performed. d. Live antibodies were created.

C. Gene editing was performed.

Covid-19 is a truly global pandemic. Which of the following was most like it in distribution around the planet? a. Ebola b. Bubonic plague c. Spanish influenza d. Plague of Justinian

C. Spanish influenza

A group of bioterrorists wants to make use of the H5N1 virus. Which of the following will they need to do to the virus to wreak havoc on humans? a. Alter it so that humans can actually harbor the disease. b. Alter it so that chicken-to-person transmission is possible. c. Alter it so that person-to-chicken transmission is possible. d. Alter it so that person-to-person transmission is possible

D. Alter it so that person-to-person transmission is possible

Patients with advanced AIDS often die from infections that do little harm to healthy people. Why? a. HIV infects so many different types of cells in the patient that they are too weak to deal with any pathogen. b. Long-term use of anti-viral drugs weakens patients so that they cannot fight off opportunistic infections. c. The reverse transcriptase of HIV prevents the production of antibodies by the immune system. d. HIV infects and destroys the helper T cells of the immune system.

D. HIV infects and destroys the helper T cells of the immune system.

You are a doctor working in Cambodia. A patient presents with cholera. Which of the following would likely be best for you to do first? a. Vaccinate b. Give an antiviral c. Reduce fever d. Rehydrate

D. Rehydrate

Scientists genetically alter a mosquito so the females no longer produce an anticoagulant in their saliva. Which of the following will happen? a. They will not be able to feed. b. Their feeding time will be shorter. c. Their feeding time will not be affected. d. Their feeding time will be longer.

D. Their feeding time will be longer.

A person is infected with a severe case of malaria. Which of the following is true? a. While sick, they are less likely to be bit by mosquitoes. b. They will not be bit by a mosquito until they are well. c. Being sick has no effect on how much they will be bit by mosquitoes. d. While sick, they are more likely to be bit by mosquitoes.

D. While sick, they are more likely to be bit by mosquitoes.