Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2020

Last exams 2024

|

The Immune System (CIE AS Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours38 questions
11 mark

Which of the following statements describes the function of a macrophage?

  • They circulate in the blood and produce antigens in response to infection.

  • They are found in tissues and secrete cytokines in response to infection.

  • They can leave the blood and secrete cytotoxins when exposed to damaged cells.

  • They can leave the blood and accumulate at sites of inflammation.

Did this page help you?

21 mark

In the immune response, which cells become memory cells?

1 phagocytes
2 T-lymphocytes
3 B-lymphocytes
  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 2 only

  • 2 and 3

  • 1 only

Did this page help you?

31 mark

When a B-lymphocyte is activated by an antigen what action is taken?

  • It engulfs the infected body cell which displays a complementary antigen.

  • It secretes cytokines which stimulate T-lymphocytes to produce plasma cells.

  • It divides repeatedly to form clones of genetically identical plasma cells.

  • It attaches to the infected cell displaying the antigen and destroys it.

Did this page help you?

41 mark

What type of white blood cell is involved in the cell-mediated response?

  • B-lymphocytes

  • phagocytes

  • T-lymphocytes

  • pathogens

Did this page help you?

51 mark

Which of the following happens when people are injected with dead bacteria?

  • B-lymphocytes produce antigens

  • B-lymphocytes produce antibodies

  • T-lymphocytes produce antigens

  • T-lymphocytes produce antibodies

Did this page help you?

61 mark

Which of the following statements would be a correct definition of an antigen?

  • Non-self macromolecules that trigger an immune response.

  • Non-self macromolecules found only on bacteria that trigger the formation of antibodies.

  • Proteins that consist of two light and two heavy polypeptide chains.

  • Self macromolecules embedded in B-lymphocytes cell membranes.

Did this page help you?

71 mark

Which type of molecules are most important to identify a cell as non-self?

  • proteins

  • phospholipids

  • carbohydrates

  • nucleic acids

Did this page help you?

81 mark

When in a dusty environment a person inhales tiny minute particles.

What will be the correct effect on both B-lymphocytes and goblet cells?

  B-lymphocytes goblet cells
A less active more active
B more active more active
C less active less active
D more active less active

    Did this page help you?

    91 mark

    Monocytes are formed when stem cells divide and specialise in the bone marrow.

    Where in the body do these cells form macrophages?

    • lymph nodes

    • blood plasma

    • bone marrow

    • tissue fluid

    Did this page help you?

    101 mark

    T-killer cells can target and destroy body cells.

    What process do they use to do this?

    • phagocytosis

    • by secreting antibodies

    • by releasing anti toxins

    • through punching a hole in the target cell membrane

    Did this page help you?

    11 mark

    When a phagocyte responds to the presence of a pathogen the following events happen:

    1 enzymatic digestion
    2 exocytosis
    3 phagocytosis
    4 vacuole formation
    5 endocytosis

    Which of the following would be the correct order of events?

      first rightwards arrow rightwards arrow last
    A 5 1 4 3
    B 5 4 1 2
    C 3 2 5 1
    D 3 5 1 4

      Did this page help you?

      21 mark

      Two different molecules, when chemically bonded together, can form one type of antigen.

      Except for oxygen, which of the following elements would be found in this antigen?

      • carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

      • carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur

      • hydrogen and nitrogen only

      • carbon and hydrogen only

      Did this page help you?

      31 mark

      Which of these statements about phagocytes is not correct?

      • They have many mitochondria to produce ATP for endocytosis.

      • They have many lysosomes containing hydrolytic enzymes.

      • They provide specific defence against disease-causing organisms.

      • They are white blood cells with a lobed nucleus.

      Did this page help you?

      41 mark

      Which of these statements is correct about both B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes?

      • When active can divide to produce memory cells to respond to a specific antigen when exposed in the future.

      • They become active only when a specific antibody binds to their surface receptor.

      • They divide to form plasma cells.

      • They release hormone-like cytokines which stimulate the release of antibodies.

      Did this page help you?

      51 mark

      The following events happen during a primary immune response.

      1 Specific antibodies are produced.
      2 Some B-lymphocytes form plasma cells.
      3 B-lymphocytes with the specific cell surface receptors divide repeatedly by mitosis.
      4 Helper T cell identifies a specific antigen presented.
      5 Helper T cells secrete cytokines.

      Which is the correct order of events?

        first rightwards arrow rightwards arrow rightwards arrow last
      A 4 5 3 2 1
      B 5 4 3 2 1
      C 4 5 2 3 1
      D 4 5 2 1 3

        Did this page help you?

        61 mark

        Which of the following would be a correct difference between B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes, both of which are involved in an immune response?

          B-lymphocyte T-lymphocyte
        A stimulate macrophages to carry out phagocytosis do not stimulate macrophages to carry out phagocytosis
        B form plasma cells which secrete antibodies into the bloodstream do not form plasma cells
        C formed from bone marrow cells formed from cells in the thymus
        D do not produce memory cells produce memory cells

          Did this page help you?

          71 mark

          In an immune response, which of the following is a function of T-lymphocytes?

          1 secrete antibodies
          2 differentiate into memory cells
          3 destroy infected body cells
          • 3 only

          • 2 only

          • 1 and 2 only

          • 2 and 3 only

          Did this page help you?

          81 mark

          Which of the following rows correctly represents a description of B-lymphocytes?

            can act as antigen-presenting cells act in the cell-mediated response release antibodies immediately after formation processed in the thymus
          A x
          B x x
          C x x x
          D x x

          Key: ✓ = correct, x = incorrect

            Did this page help you?

            91 mark

            Macrophages have a cellular structure that enables them to destroy bacteria. Some bacteria can stop macrophages from working.

            Which of the following would be a structure affected by bacteria?

            • Vesicle

            • Ribosome

            • Golgi body

            • Lysosome

            Did this page help you?

            101 mark

            Which of the following statements about the body's defence against infectious disease is not correct?

            • A specific immune response involves activation of B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes following recognition of, and binding to, a specific antigen.

            • Following invasion by microorganisms, natural active immunity can be gained by initiating an immune response.

            • Lysosomes fuse with vacuoles that have been formed by phagocytes and which contain invading microorganisms.

            • Antibodies against specific antigens are produced by plasma cells in passive immunity, but the protection is short-lived as no memory cells are produced.

            Did this page help you?

            11 mark

            When a person receives a skin graft from another person there is a risk of rejection.

            Which of the following is a correct statement about graft rejection?

            • The graft is rejected by the B-lymphocytes because they make and release antibodies which react with the surface antigens on the graft cells

            • The graft is rejected by T-lymphocytes because the graft tissue causes T-lymphocytes to release antibodies.

            • The graft is rejected by T-lymphocytes because they circulate in the blood and can gather at the graft site.

            • The graft is rejected by B-lymphocytes because T-lymphocytes are not stimulated to produce antibodies.

            Did this page help you?

            21 mark

            Antigens on red blood cells determine a person's blood group. Most people will have antibodies even if they haven’t had a blood transfusion. Some blood transfusions can be unsafe due to the presence of these antibodies in the plasma.

            The table shows the antibodies and antigens in the blood of people with different blood groups.

            blood group antigens on red blood cells antibodies in plasma
            A A antibodies to B
            B B antibodies to A
            AB A and B no antibodies to A and B
            O neither A or B antibodies to A and B

            Which group of people can safely receive blood from a person with blood group A?

            • AB only

            • A and O

            • B and O

            • A and AB

            Did this page help you?

            31 mark

            Which of the pathways below shows the correct activity of a helper T cell?PzH9TW7p_image-1

              Did this page help you?

              41 mark

              The micrograph below shows human blood. There are three types of cells from the immune system labelled.lnked-blood-cells

              Which row in the table below correctly identifies the cells in the micrograph?

                1 2 3
              A lymphocyte phagocyte phagocyte
              B lymphocyte lymphocyte phagocyte
              C phagocyte lymphocyte phagocyte
              D lymphocyte lymphocyte phagocyte

                Did this page help you?

                51 mark

                Children can be born with a condition called Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID). This is a disease characterized by a lack of T-lymphocytes; individuals with SCID therefore are highly at risk from infectious disease.

                Which of the following would be a possible cure for SCID?

                • transfusion of antibodies

                • continual use of antibodies

                • bone marrow transplantation

                • vaccination against all diseases

                Did this page help you?

                61 mark

                Monocytes move from the blood to the connective tissue.

                Which phagocytic cell do they differentiate into?

                • Macrophage

                • Neutrophil

                • T-lymphocyte

                • B-lymphocyte

                Did this page help you?

                71 mark

                Which of the following is a characteristic of a secondary humoral response?

                • It happens only in the spleen.

                • It happens much more rapidly than a primary response.

                • It results in antibody secretion.

                • It results in less memory cell circulation.

                Did this page help you?

                81 mark

                Which cell is essential for an adaptive immune response?

                • plasma cells

                • Antibodies

                • T-lymphocytes

                • B-lymphocytes

                Did this page help you?

                91 mark

                What is a phagosome?

                • A vesicle containing lysozymes.

                • A white blood cell produces antibodies.

                • A white blood cell that ingests bacteria.

                • A vesicle containing an engulfed bacterium.

                Did this page help you?

                101 mark

                Which type of cell will destroy virally-infected cells?

                • phagocytic macrophages

                • activated B-lymphocytes

                • plasma cells

                • cytotoxic T-lymphocytes

                Did this page help you?