Diseases and immunity — IGCSE Biology (0970) questions by topic
Diseases and immunity questions distinguish direct from indirect pathogen transmission, interpret a diagram of an immune mechanism destroying a pathogen, define what makes a disease transmissible, and identify which body defences, such as stomach acid or white blood cells, protect against pathogens in food.
Choose, identify, state, calculate and explain span 1 to 14 marks across 24 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers. Because transmission routes and immune mechanisms are easily conflated under time pressure, submitting each answer for instant marking flags the specific confusion, such as direct versus indirect spread, before it affects related questions.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Which type of pathogen transmission is by direct contact? A contaminated air B contaminated blood C contaminated food D contaminated surfaces
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
How can the spread of disease be prevented? A leaving food uncovered B only washing hands after meals C using the same equipment to prepare raw and cooked food D washing hands…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 21
The diagram shows what happens in the body during active immunity. pathogens enter the body → W are detected → lymphocytes become active, leading to three outcomes: X destroy…
Answer this question and get it marked →Cholera is a disease caused by a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae which produces a toxin in the infected person's gut. What is the effect of this toxin? A The toxin causes loss of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 22
Three statements about immunity are listed. 1 The transfer of antibodies from mother to baby in breast milk is an example of passive immunity. 2 Passive immunity results in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 32
Pathogens are disease-causing organisms. Describe how gastric juice in the stomach helps to defend the body against pathogens in food.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
What is a direct way of transmitting a pathogen? A by contact with contaminated air B by contact with contaminated blood C by contact with contaminated food D by contact with…
Answer this question and get it marked →The graph shows the number of cases of MRSA in one country between 2001 and 2006. Between which years was the greatest change in the number of cases of MRSA? A 2002 and 2003 B…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
Which method of pathogen transmission is direct? A breathing in pathogens in air B eating contaminated food C transfusing contaminated blood D touching a door handle that has…
Answer this question and get it marked →What is HIV? A a bacterium B an enzyme C a pathogen D an antibody
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 21
One of the symptoms of the disease cholera is diarrhoea. This is due to water loss by osmosis caused by the cholera toxin. What is the effect of cholera toxins that results in…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statement about immunity is correct? A A part of the antibody molecule has the same shape as the antigen it acts on. B Babies develop passive immunity from the antibodies…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 22
The cholera bacterium produces a toxin which affects humans. What is an effect of this toxin on the human body? A the secretion of chloride ions from the blood into the lumen of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 31
Symptoms of the disease influenza may include sneezing. Fig. 4.1 shows a sign at a hospital reading 'Always wash hands after sneezing'. Explain why washing your hands after…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
Polio is a viral disease that can cause nerve damage in humans. In one area, polio vaccination began in 1957. Fig. 6.1 shows the number of cases of polio in this area between 1950…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
Some ways that diseases can be transmitted are listed. 1 airborne droplets 2 blood and needles 3 food and drink 4 unprotected sex Which ways can transmit HIV?
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 22
Which features of the human body protect against pathogens in food? red blood cells stomach acid white blood cells --- --- --- --- A yes yes no B yes no no C no yes yes D no no yes
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
What is an example of good personal hygiene in the kitchen? A cooking food at a high temperature B disposing of waste food in sealed containers C storing uncooked meat in a fridge…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statements about antibiotics are correct? 1 Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial infections. 2 Antibiotics can be used to treat viral infections. 3 Antibiotics are not…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
The table shows which antibiotics (numbered 1–6) are effective against different types of bacteria (MRSA, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Anaerobes); shaded areas show the antibiotic…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
The cholera bacterium toxin causes dehydration and loss of salts from the blood in humans. Which statement explains the reason for this? A Chloride ions are secreted into the…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
Cholera bacteria in the gut cause secretion of chloride ions which leads to diarrhoea. Diagrams A–D show the movement of chloride ions (Cl–) and water (H2O) between the gut and…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
Which statement describes a transmissible disease? A a disease caused when a pathogen passes from one host to another B a disease caused when a pathogen passes through a host's…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
When a pathogen enters the blood, the immune system uses different mechanisms to destroy the pathogen. The diagram shows one of these mechanisms, with structures X and Y and a…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE Biology topics
- Human nutrition (75)
- Organisms and their environment (64)
- Coordination and response (62)
- Reproduction (53)
- Organisation of the organism (cells) (50)
- Plant nutrition (42)
- Characteristics and classification of living organisms (40)
- Variation and selection (40)
- Transport in animals (39)
- Inheritance (39)
- Movement into and out of cells (38)
- Transport in plants (38)