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IGCSEBiologyCambridge (CIE)Exam Questions15. DrugsDrugs in Medicine

Drugs in Medicine (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology)

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Drugs in Medicine

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Drugs in Medicine

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1
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Which of the following gives the most accurate definition of a drug?

  • An addictive or harmful substance.

  • A substance taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions.

  • A plant extract that kills bacteria. 

  • A substance that produces side effects as well as therapeutic effects. 

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2
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Which table is correct in relation to antibiotics?

  •  

     

    Effective against:

     

     

    Bacteria

    Fungi

    Viruses

    Produced by:

    Bacteria

    ✔

     

     

    Fungi

    ✔

     

     

    Viruses

     

     

     

  •  

     

    Effective against:

     

     

    Bacteria

    Fungi

    Viruses

    Produced by:

    Bacteria

     

     

     

    Fungi

    ✔

     

    ✔

    Viruses

     

     

     

  •  

     

    Effective against:

     

     

    Bacteria

    Fungi

    Viruses

    Produced by:

    Bacteria

    ✔

    ✔

     

    Fungi

     

     

     

    Viruses

     

     

     

  •  

     

    Effective against:

     

     

    Bacteria

    Fungi

    Viruses

    Produced by:

    Bacteria

    ✔

     

    ✔

    Fungi

     

     

     

    Viruses

     

     

     

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3
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Which statement best describes the mode of action of antibiotic drugs?

  • Antibiotics interfere with cellular processes in bacteria, killing them straight away. 

  • Antibiotics interfere with cellular processes in all microorganisms, killing them straight away. 

  • Antibiotics interfere with cellular processes in bacteria, killing them straight away or preventing their reproduction.

  • Antibiotics interfere with cellular processes in all microorganisms, killing them straight away or preventing their reproduction.

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1
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Which of the following statements about antibiotics is not correct?

  • Some antibiotics are produced by fungi.

  • Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.

  • Antibiotics are used to treat diseases caused by viruses.

  • When taking antibiotics for an infection, the course of treatment should be completed.

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2
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Penicillin is an antibiotic that prevents bacteria growing by stopping them from forming cell walls.

Why does penicillin not affect viruses?

  • Viruses do not have cell walls.

  • Viruses do not contain cytoplasm.

  • Viruses become resistant to penicillin.

  • Viruses reproduce rapidly.

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3
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Extended only

In 1945, Sir Alexander Fleming warned about the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. There is currently an antibiotic resistance crisis.

Which of the following actions would worsen the situation?

  1. Patients not completing the course of prescribed antibiotics.

  2. The use of antibiotics for serious bacterial infections only.

  3. The careful selection of antibiotics to match the bacterial strain.

  4. Treating viral infections with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

  • 1 , 2 and 4

  • 1 only

  • 1 and 4

  • 2, 3 and 4

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4
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Which organ is involved in the metabolic breakdown of oral medication?

  • Stomach

  • Liver

  • Kidneys

  • Brain

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5
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Extended only

The graph below shows the number of deaths from MRSA per 100 000 people in a population of over-65’s from 2005 to 2012.

OFRaWUbT_image-4

Which of the following statements are possible explanations for the trend shown in the graph?

  • More effective antibiotics are being used to treat infected people.

  • A decrease in the size of the population of over-65 year olds.

  • Over-65 year olds are immune to MRSA infection.

  • Antibiotics do not affect viruses.

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1
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The data in the graph shows the effect of an antibiotic on the population of bacteria in the blood.

aaI_~vWY_image-1

What can be concluded from the data in the graph?

  • Antibiotics take 10 days to kill all bacteria.

  • Antibiotics cause a reduction in division of bacteria.

  • Antibiotics are effective against viral and bacterial infections.

  • Before the start of the antibiotic treatment the bacterial population was increasing.

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2
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The graph below shows the number of deaths from MRSA per 100 000 people in a population of over-65’s from 2005 to 2012.

OFRaWUbT_image-4

Which of the following is the correct value of the average annual rate of decrease in the number of deaths from MRSA infections in the over-65s per 100 000 people from 2005 to 2012?

  • 1.14 deaths yr-1 per 100 000 people

  • 1.86 deaths yr-1 per 100 000 people

  • 0.71 deaths yr-1 per 100 000 people

  • 5.00 deaths yr-1 per 100 000 people

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Extended only

Which of the following practices have contributed to the fall in antibiotic effectiveness in the late 20th - early 21st centuries?

  1. Large-scale use of preventative antibiotics in farm livestock

  2. Failing to complete the full course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor

  3. Treatment of known bacterial infections with antibiotics

  4. Treatment of viral infections with antibiotics

  • All of them

  • 2, 3 and 4

  • 1 and 2

  • 1, 2 and 4

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