11 mark
During a pandemic of a very infectious disease, immediate protection would be needed for vulnerable people.
Which type of immunity would be given to these people?
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Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2023
First exams 2025
|
Antibodies & Vaccination (CIE A Level Biology)
Exam Questions
2 hours41 questions21 mark
Specific antibodies are produced in response to a vaccination.
Which type of immunity would this be?
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31 mark
When a baby ingests the mother’s milk they take in antibodies.
Which type of immunity would this be?
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41 mark
Which of the following is a description of natural passive immunity?
Stimulation of lymphocytes by antigens contained in a vaccine.
Stimulation of lymphocytes by antigens on the surface of invading pathogens.
Protection against a pathogen by drinking colostrum containing antibodies.
Protection against a pathogen by an injection of antibodies.
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51 mark
The statements below all describe possible developments in vaccine production.
Which one of them would be the most important in the fight against measles in developing countries?
A vaccine produced by genetic engineering techniques.
A vaccine containing only the live measles virus.
A single vaccine without the need for boosters.
A combined vaccine to combat it and other diseases.
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61 mark
Antibodies can protect the body from pathogens in several ways.
Which will not happen following antigen-antibody binding?
increased susceptibility to phagocytosis
neutralisation of toxins to make them harmless
secretion of histamine to produce an allergic reaction
agglutination of bacteria to reduce their spread
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71 mark
A vaccine may contain dead bacteria.
What type of immune response would this produce?
| artificial | passive | |
| A | yes | yes |
| B | no | no |
| C | yes | no |
| D | no | yes |
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81 mark
Natural passive immunity in newborn babies is only temporary.
What is the reason for this?
the immunity is not inherited
the antibodies only act in the mother
the antibodies are insufficient in number
no memory cells are produced in the baby
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91 mark
A child is given a vaccine to a viral disease. A few months later she is in contact with the same virus.
What is the expected response to the second contact with the virus?
increased number of T-lymphocytes
large numbers of antibodies are released
large numbers of antigens are released
increased number of B-lymphocytes
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101 mark
Influenza is a disease that is still highly prevalent in many countries, with annual outbreaks.
Why has a vaccination program not been able to eradicate influenza?
the pathogen exists in many strains which mutate
the pathogen is airborne
the pathogen is present in the mucus of the lungs
the virus has a stage of its life cycle in other mammals
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11 mark
The following statements are about the defence of the body to infectious disease.
Which statement is incorrect?
Lysosomes fuse with vacuoles that have been formed by phagocytes and which contain invading microorganisms.
Following invasion by microorganisms, natural active immunity can be gained by initiating an immune response.
A specific immune response involves activation of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes following recognition of, and binding to, a specific antigen.
Antibodies against specific antigens are produced by plasma cells in passive immunity, but the protection is short-lived as no memory cells are produced.
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21 mark
Antiserums to a toxin can be produced by injecting toxins into a horse. The blood plasma is then taken from the horse a few weeks later. The antiserum can then be injected to a person that has been bitten and infected with the same toxin.
What type of immunity would this be?
natural passive
natural active
artificial active
artificial passive
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31 mark
The following statements were written by a student about antibodies.
|
1 |
They are protein molecules with both tertiary and quaternary structures. |
|
2 |
Four polypeptides provide four antigen-binding sites. |
|
3 |
Their structure depends on peptide, hydrogen and disulfide bonds. |
Which statements are true?
1, 2 and 3
1 and 2
1 and 3
2 and 3
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41 mark
The following statements are facts about a pathogen Q:
|
1 |
It is transmitted in food and water. |
|
2 |
It lives in human intestines. |
|
3 |
It has many genes coding for surface proteins. |
|
4 |
It changes its surface antigens. |
|
5 |
It may or may not trigger an immune response. |
Which statement explains why it is difficult to develop an effective vaccine for Q?
People can be infected with Q and may not show symptoms.
Q is found in contaminated food and water and affects the gut.
Q is a eukaryotic cell with many genes.
Q can mutate to produce different antigens.
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51 mark
The polypeptide chains of an antibody molecule can be hydrolysed by an enzyme. This happens at the hinge region and breaks the antibody into three fragments.
How many of these fragments are able to bind to antigens?
3
2
1
0
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61 mark
The diagram below represents the structure of an antibody.
Which row of the table correctly identifies the parts Q, R and S of the antibody?
| Q | R | S | |
| A | constant region | variable region | antigen binding site |
| B | antigen binding site | variable region | constant region |
| C | antigen binding site | constant region | variable region |
| D | constant region | antigen binding site | variable region |
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71 mark
Which of the examples in the table below correctly demonstrates the different types of immunity?
| passive natural | active artificial | |
| A | receiving antibodies to measles in colostrum | immunity to smallpox after vaccination |
| B | receiving antibodies to tetanus by injection | immunity to measles after infection |
| C | receiving antibodies to measles in colostrum | immunity to measles after infection |
| D | receiving antibodies to tetanus by injection | immunity to smallpox after vaccination |
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81 mark
The amount of antibody produced in response to an antigen in a vaccine is shown in the graph below.
Which statement about the graph is correct?
The second exposure to the antigen occurred at 25 days.
T-helper lymphocytes are activated on day 12.
Memory cells for this antigen are present in the body within 20 days.
It takes 25 days to achieve active immunity.
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91 mark
The following statements describe possible methods for the production of a hybridoma.
Which statement is correct?
fusing T-helper cells with myeloma cells
fusing B memory cells with myeloma cells
fusing T cells with myeloma cells
fusing B cells with myeloma cells
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101 mark
Antibody molecules have antigen-binding sites.
Which of the following is a correct statement about the properties of these binding sites?
They have variable amino acid sequences for different antigens.
They have binding sites for receptors on phagocytes.
They have a hinge region to give flexibility for different antigens.
They are located on the light chains only.
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11 mark
A worldwide vaccination programme in the 1970s successfully eradicated smallpox.
Which row in the table correctly identifies the problems of eradicating other diseases through global vaccination?
|
TB |
malaria |
sickle cell anaemia |
cholera |
|
|
A |
genetically inherited recessive condition |
different vaccines needed for active and dormant to active forms |
invade gut cells where immune system less effective |
different stages with different antigens; invades body cells |
|
B |
different vaccines needed for active and dormant to active forms |
different stages with different antigens; invades body cells |
genetically inherited recessive condition |
invade gut cells where immune system less effective |
|
C |
different stages with different antigens; invades body cells |
poor response with malnourished children; boosters then needed |
genetically inherited recessive condition |
different vaccines needed for active and dormant to active forms |
|
D |
invade gut cells where immune system less effective |
genetically inherited recessive condition |
invade gut cells where immune system less effective |
poor response with malnourished children; boosters then needed |
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21 mark
Read the following statements:
|
1 |
There are no B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes in the stomach. |
|
2 |
Macrophages present antigens in vaccines to stimulate an immune response. |
|
3 |
The TB antigens necessary to produce an immune response are proteins which would be digested in the stomach and small intestine. |
Which statement(s) explains why the TB vaccination must be given via injection rather than by mouth?
1, 2 and 3
1 and 2
3 only
2 only
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31 mark
Monoclonal antibodies can be used to treat diseases.
Which of the following statements describe a current clinical use for monoclonal antibodies?
They can protect against a wide variety of viruses and bacteria.
They are derived from the plasma of individuals already immune to infectious pathogens.
They each have broad specificity for many antigenic determinants.
They can reduce inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
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41 mark
The diagram below shows different types of immunity. Each number refers to one type.
Which of the rows in the table would be correct?
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
|
A |
active |
passive |
natural |
artificial |
natural |
artificial |
|
B |
passive |
active |
artificial |
natural |
artificial |
natural |
|
C |
passive |
active |
natural |
artificial |
artificial |
natural |
|
D |
active |
passive |
artificial |
natural |
artificial |
natural |
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51 mark
The table below shows some cells involved in the production of monoclonal antibodies.
Which row shows the cells that can divide continuously?
| cancer cells | mouse B-lymphocyte plasma cells | hybridoma cells | |
| A | ✔ | X | ✔ |
| B | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| C | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| D | X | ✔ | ✔ |
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61 mark
The World Health Organisation (WHO) aimed for polio to be eradicated by vaccination by the year 2000. However, there are still reports of cases of polio twenty years later.
Which of the following statements explains the new cases of polio?
|
1 |
Records of vaccinated and unvaccinated people are incomplete. |
|
2 |
There is not enough research to develop more effective vaccines. |
|
3 |
Some parts of countries are difficult to reach because of poor transport or as a result of civil war. |
1 and 2
1 and 3
3 only
1 only
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71 mark
Which of the following is not a use for monoclonal antibodies?
the identification of chromosome abnormality
blood and tissue typing
pregnancy test
used to prevent organ rejection
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81 mark
The statements below refer to the functions of antibodies.
Which of these statements are not correct?
|
1 |
Antibodies can combine with viruses inside cells to prevent them from damaging cells. |
|
2 |
Antibodies can attach to flagella to make the bacteria less mobile. |
|
3 |
Antibodies with single binding sites can cause agglutination of bacteria. |
|
4 |
Antibodies can, with other molecules, make holes in the cell walls of bacteria. |
|
5 |
Antibodies can coat bacteria to mark them for phagocytosis. |
|
6 |
Antibodies can neutralise toxins. |
1, 2 and 6
1 and 6
2, 3 and 5
1 and 3
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91 mark
The statements below refer to steps in the production of monoclonal antibodies.
|
1 |
hybridoma cells cultured |
|
2 |
mouse plasma cells fused with cancer cells |
|
3 |
mouse B-lymphocytes that recognise the antigen become plasma cells |
|
4 |
mouse injected with antigen |
|
5 |
hybridoma cells making appropriate antibody cloned |
What would be the correct order for these statements?
|
first |
→ |
→ |
→ |
last |
|
|
A |
4 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
|
B |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
C |
3 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
|
D |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
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101 mark
The statements below describe different types of vaccines
|
1 |
contains part of a pathogen that induces an immune response |
|
2 |
contains antibodies for the pathogen |
|
3 |
contains a pathogen has been treated with heat or chemicals |
|
4 |
contains a weakened strain of the pathogen |
Which row of the table describes these types of vaccine?
|
live attenuated vaccine |
inactive vaccine |
subunit vaccine |
|
|
A |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
B |
1 |
4 |
2 |
|
C |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
D |
4 |
2 |
1 |
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