Chapter 7

Disease and Hygiene

Class 6 - Concise Biology Selina

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1

Malaria is caused by

1. Bacteria
2. Protozoan
3. Fungi
4. virus

Answer

Protozoan

Reason — Malaria is caused by protozoan Plasmodium which enters the human body
through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito.

Question 2

Deficiency of calcium causes

1. Poor growth of teeth and gums

2. Goitre
3. Anaemia
4. Polio

Answer

Poor growth of teeth and gums

Reason — Deficiency of calcium leads to poor growth of teeth and gums and brittle bones.

Question 3

Hay fever and asthma are

1. Deficiency diseases
 2. Genetic diseases
3. Organic diseases
4. Allergic diseases

Answer

Allergic diseases

Reason — Hay fever and asthma are Allergic disease because both disease are caused by
unpredictable reaction of the body to a particular substance.

Question 4

Infectious diseases can be prevented by

1. Medicines
2. Proper food
3. Immunisation
4. Exercise

Answer

Immunisation

Reason — Immunisation stimulates the body to produce antibodies that fight infection. In
this way immunisation gives protection against infectious diseases.

Question 5

Which one of the following is a genetic disease?

1. Scurvy
2. Leukemia
3. Goitre
4. Haemophilia

Answer

Haemophilia

Reason — Haemophilia is a genetic disease because it is inherited from parent to child.

Question 6

Which one of the following is a degenerative disease?

1. Thalassemia
2. Beri-beri
 3. Cataract
4. Diabetes

Answer

Cataract

Reason — Cataract is a degenerative disease because it is a age related eye disease which
affects older person.

Question 7

Pellagra is caused by the deficiency of

1. Vit. B3
2. Vit. B1
3. Vit. C
4. Vit. D

Answer

Vit. B3

Reason — Pellagra is caused by the deficiency of Vit. B3 (Niacin).

Question 8

Deficiency of Iodine in one's food can cause

1. Beri-beri
2. Goitre
3. Scurvy
4. Pellagra

Answer

Goitre

Reason — Deficiency of Iodine causes Goitre.

Question 9

Which one of the following mineral deficiency diseases can be cured by eating a diet which
includes green leafy vegetables, banana, cereals, egg yolk?

1. Goitre
2. Anaemia
3. Brittle bones
 4. Pain in muscles contraction

Answer

Anaemia

Reason — Anaemia is a iron deficiency disease which is an important component of

haemoglobin. The deficiency of iron can be compensated only by consuming green leafy
vegetables, banana, cereals, egg yolk.

Question 10

Which one of the following vitamin deficiency disease can be cured by eating a diet which
includes carrot, yellow fruits, vegetables, butter milk,fish?

1. Beri-beri
2. Dermatitis
3. Night blindness
4. Scurvy

Answer

Night blindness

Reason — Night blindness is caused by deficiency of Vitamin A. Sources of Vitamin A are

carrot, yellow fruits, vegetables, butter, milk, fish.

Question 11

Which one of the following is a communicable disease?

1. Measles
2. Cancer
3. Heart stroke
4. Allergy

Answer

Measles

Reason — Measles is a communicable disease because it is spread by direct contact with an

infected person.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1(a)

What is a non-communicable disease?

Answer

The diseases which are caused either due to improper functioning of the body organs or due
to the deficiency of certain minerals and vitamins in the body are known as non-
communicable diseases. These diseases are not caused by any germ, therefore these diseases
cannot spread from one person to another (i.e., they are non-transmissible). Examples —
rickets, diabetes, heart diseases, etc.

Question 1(b)

What is a deficiency disease?

Answer

A disease which is caused due to the deficiency of certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals in
the diet is called a deficiency disease. Example - Anaemia, Goitre.

Question 1(c)

What are communicable diseases?

Answer

The diseases that can easily spread from an infected person to a healthy person through
disease causing germs called pathogens are called communicable diseases.

Question 1(d)

Biting nails should be strictly avoided. Give reason.

Answer

Dirt and many disease causing pathogens get accumulated under the nails. It is difficult to
remove them even if we wash our hands frequently. Biting nails may cause these pathogens
to enter into our body through our mouth causing various diseases. Hence, biting nails should
be strictly avoided.

Question 1(e)

Regular exercise and proper rest is a must. Give reason.

Answer

Regular exercise keeps the body muscles active. It helps in the normal functioning of the
heart and lungs and also in better circulation of blood. Proper rest helps the body repair,
regenerate and recover.

Question 1(f)

Children eating more fast foods tend to suffer from obesity (overweight). Comment.
Answer

Fast foods are rich in fats and carbohydrates and deficient in vitamins. Eating more fast foods
results in the accumulation of fat in the body of children making them suffer from obesity.

Question 1(g)

How can you control the spreading of diseases by mosquitoes and houseflies?

Answer

We can control spreading of diseases by mosquitoes and houseflies by using repellents,

throwing garbage in covered bins, avoiding stagnation of water and covering all the drains
prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

Question 1(h)

Public hygiene is equally important as personal hygiene. Give reasons.

Answer

Maintaining public hygiene prevents the spread of communicable diseases like Malaria,
Dengue, Cholera, Diarrhoea, etc. Maintaining a clean environment controls the breeding of
mosquitoes, houseflies and other pathogens. Hence, public hygiene is equally important as
personal hygiene for good health and preventing diseases.

Question 2

Name the following:

(a) A bacterial disease caused due to contaminated water.

(b) A disease caused due to Plasmodium.

(c) A disease caused due to the bite of female Culex mosquito.

(d) A viral disease spread by the bite of a dog.

(e) Two diseases caused due to the deficiency of protein in the diet of a child.

(f) Any three water-borne disease.

Answer

(a) Cholera

(b) Malaria

(c) Elephantiasis

(d) Rabies/Hydrophobia
(e) Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

(f) Typhoid, Cholera, Jaundice

Question 3

Write short notes (1-2 sentences) on each of the following:

1. Disease

2. Pathogen

3. Allergy

Answer

1. Disease — Any physical or functional change in the body from a normal state which
causes discomfort or disability is called a disease. Disease is a departure from normal
health through structural or functional disorder of the body.

2. Pathogen — Micro-organisms which cause communicable diseases are

called pathogens. These germs are transmitted through various agencies like air,
insect bites, rodent, contaminated food or water, etc. Pathogens may be different kinds
of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa or worms.

3. Allergy — Allergy is an unpredictable reaction of the body to a particular substance

called allergen. A few common allergens are dust, spores, pollens, certain clothes,
particular medicines, cosmetics, etc. Asthma, Eczema, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Nausea,
etc. are some of the common allergic reactions.

Question 4

Fill in the blanks by selecting suitable words given below:

(goitre, insulin, rickets, iron, proteins)

(a) Anaemia is caused due to the deficiency of ...............

(b) Deficiency of Vit.D causes ............... in children.

(c) Deficiency of iodine in the diet may cause ...............

(d) Kwashiorkor is caused due to the deficiency of ...............

Answer

(a) Iron

(b) Rickets

(c) Goitre
(d) Proteins

Question 5

Find the odd one out:

(a) Typhoid, cholera, jaundice, tuberculosis, tetanus.

(b) Cold, malaria, measles, mumps.

(c) Scurvy, rickets, polio, pellagra, night blindness.

(d) Proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, cancer.

Answer

(a) Jaundice
Reason — Jaundice is not caused by bacteria while others are bacterial diseases.

(b) Malaria
Reason — Malaria is caused by a protozoan while others are viral diseases.

(c) Polio
Reason — Polio is a viral disease while others are vitamin deficiency diseases.

(d) Cancer
Reason — Cancer is a disease while others are food components.

Question 6

Fill in the blanks in the following table:

Name of the
Vitamin source of v
deficiency diseases

(a) Vitamin A ............... ...............

(b) ............... Beri-beri ...............

(c) Ascorbic acid ............... ...............

Rickets (in childhood)

(d) ............... ...............
bones turn soft

Answer
 Name of the
Vitamin source of vitamin
deficiency diseases

(a) Vitamin A Nightblindness, drying of cornea Carrot, yellow fruits, vegetables, butter,

(b) Vitamin B1 Beri-beri Whole grains, eggs, nuts, legumes, yeast

Scurvy
(c) Ascorbic acid Citrus fruits, tomatoes, germinating seed
(bleeding gums)

Rickets (in childhood)

(d) Vitamin D Egg yolk, fish liver oil, sunlight, milk, bu
bones turn soft

Long Answer Questions

Question 1

Describe the ways in which communicable diseases are transmitted through various indirect
methods.

Answer

Indirect method of transmission of communicable disease are:

1. From items used by the infected person — Touching and sharing items like towels,
handkerchiefs, combs, utensils, etc. of an infected person may spread the disease to a
healthy person.
2. Contaminated food and water — Houseflies carry germs from garbage and sewage
and deposit them on food. Contamination of drinking water even with little amount of
faeces or dung can cause a number of diseases.
3. Droplets through air — The droplets coming out when a person infected with
common cold, TB, etc. sneezes or coughs, transmit the disease causing germs through
the air spreading the disease to more people.
4. Vectors or carriers — Houseflies, mosquitoes, rodents, etc. also carry disease
causing germs.

Question 2

List 3 ways by which you should keep your environment clean.

Answer

Three ways to keep the environment clean are:

1. Maintain a clean environment to prevent the spreading of diseases due to the breeding
of mosquitoes, houseflies and pathogens.
2. Garbage should be kept in covered bins so that flies do not breed on it.
3. There should be proper sewer lines connected to sewage treatment plants.