Health: The Ultimate Treasure

Chapter 3 — Question Bank (NCERT Curiosity, Grade 8)

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (50)

1. As per WHO, health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and ___ well-being.
(A) Emotional (B) Social (C) Spiritual (D) Economic
Answer: B

2. Which of the following is NOT one of the three aspects of health shown in the chapter?
(A) Physical (B) Mental (C) Social (D) Financial
Answer: D

3. Diseases caused by pathogens are called:

(A) Non-communicable diseases (B) Deficiency diseases (C) Communicable diseases (D)
Chronic diseases
Answer: C

4. Which of these is a non-communicable disease?

(A) Typhoid (B) Measles (C) Diabetes (D) Chickenpox
Answer: C

5. Pathogens include all of the following EXCEPT:

(A) Bacteria (B) Viruses (C) Vitamins (D) Protozoa
Answer: C

6. Insects that spread pathogens, such as mosquitoes and houseflies, are called:
(A) Hosts (B) Vectors (C) Carriers (D) Parasites
Answer: B

7. A symptom is best described as:

(A) Something a doctor measures (B) Something the patient feels (C) A visible rash (D) A lab
test result
Answer: B

8. A sign of illness, as distinguished from a symptom, is:

(A) Pain (B) Tiredness (C) Fever (measured temperature) (D) Dizziness
Answer: C

9. Common cold and influenza are caused by:

(A) Bacteria (B) Virus (C) Protozoa (D) Worms
Answer: B

10. Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by:

(A) Virus (B) Bacteria (C) Protozoa (D) Fungus
Answer: B

11. Which organ is the main site of infection for Tuberculosis?

(A) Liver (B) Intestine (C) Lungs (D) Skin
Answer: C

12. Hepatitis A primarily affects which organ?

(A) Lungs (B) Liver (C) Kidney (D) Heart
Answer: B
13. Cholera is caused by:
(A) Virus (B) Bacteria (C) Worms (D) Protozoa
Answer: B

14. Ascariasis (roundworm infection) mainly affects the:

(A) Lungs (B) Skin (C) Intestine (D) Liver
Answer: C

15. Malaria is caused by:

(A) Bacteria (B) Virus (C) Protozoa (D) Fungus
Answer: C

16. Dengue fever is also known as:

(A) Breakbone fever (B) Yellow fever (C) Spotted fever (D) Rift fever
Answer: A

17. Malaria and dengue are both transmitted through:

(A) Contaminated water (B) Direct contact (C) Insects (mosquitoes) (D) Airborne droplets
Answer: C

18. Which disease spreads mainly through contaminated drinking water and food?
(A) Chickenpox (B) Cholera (C) Tuberculosis (D) Common cold
Answer: B

19. Diseases that last for more than three months are called:
(A) Communicable diseases (B) Deficiency diseases (C) Chronic diseases (D) Acute diseases
Answer: C

20. Deficiency diseases are caused by:

(A) Pathogens (B) Lack of specific nutrients in the diet (C) Airborne viruses (D) Contaminated
water
Answer: B

21. Which of these is an example of a deficiency disease?

(A) Scurvy (B) Cholera (C) Measles (D) Dengue
Answer: A

22. The natural ability of the body to fight diseases is called:

(A) Vaccination (B) Immunity (C) Sanitation (D) Metabolism
Answer: B

23. Protection developed after exposure to a pathogen or a vaccine is called:

(A) Innate immunity (B) Acquired immunity (C) Passive resistance (D) Herd immunity
Answer: B

24. Who discovered the first vaccine, using cowpox to protect against smallpox?
(A) Alexander Fleming (B) Louis Pasteur (C) Edward Jenner (D) Robert Koch
Answer: C

25. Jenner's smallpox vaccine was based on the observation that milkmaids with cowpox:
(A) Became seriously ill (B) Did not catch smallpox (C) Developed measles (D) Needed
antibiotics
Answer: B

26. The traditional Indian method of protecting against smallpox by using material from a smallpox sore
was called:
 (A) Ayurveda therapy (B) Variolation (C) Vaccination drive (D) Immunisation camp
Answer: B

27. People who performed variolation in India were known as:

(A) Vaids (B) Teekedaars (C) Hakims (D) Ayurvedacharyas
Answer: B

28. Vaccines work mainly by:

(A) Killing bacteria directly (B) Training the immune system to recognise and attack
pathogens (C) Replacing damaged organs (D) Reducing body temperature
Answer: B

29. Which statement about vaccines is TRUE?

(A) Vaccines are curative, not preventive (B) Vaccines are preventive, not curative (C) Vaccines
work against all diseases (D) Vaccines have no safety testing
Answer: B

30. A tetanus shot given after an injury contains:

(A) Live tetanus bacteria (B) An inactivated bacterial toxin (C) Only antibiotics (D) Only
painkillers
Answer: B

31. Medicines that kill bacteria and treat bacterial infections are called:
(A) Vaccines (B) Antibiotics (C) Antivirals (D) Antihistamines
Answer: B

32. Antibiotics are effective against:

(A) Viral infections only (B) Bacterial infections (C) Protozoal infections only (D) All types of
pathogens equally
Answer: B

33. Who discovered Penicillin, the first antibiotic?

(A) Edward Jenner (B) Alexander Fleming (C) Louis Pasteur (D) Robert Koch
Answer: B

34. Penicillin was discovered from:

(A) A synthetic chemical (B) A mould that stopped bacterial growth (C) A plant extract (D) An
animal vaccine
Answer: B

35. Antibiotic resistance occurs when:

(A) Bacteria are destroyed completely by antibiotics (B) Bacteria survive and multiply despite
antibiotic treatment (C) Vaccines stop working (D) The immune system becomes weak
Answer: B

36. Which practice helps reduce antibiotic resistance?

(A) Taking antibiotics without a prescription (B) Stopping the antibiotic course early once symptoms
reduce (C) Using antibiotics only when prescribed, in correct dose and duration (D) Giving
antibiotics routinely to healthy cattle
Answer: C

37. Which of these is a traditional Indian medicine system mentioned in the chapter?
(A) Homeopathy (B) Ayurveda (C) Allopathy (D) Naturopathy
Answer: B

38. In Ayurveda, the daily routine that helps maintain health is called:
 (A) Ritucharya (B) Dinacharya (C) Prakriti (D) Panchakarma
Answer: B

39. The seasonal routine in Ayurveda that supports health is called:

(A) Dinacharya (B) Ritucharya (C) Prakriti (D) Dosha
Answer: B

40. An individual's body constitution, as per Ayurveda, is called:

(A) Dinacharya (B) Ritucharya (C) Prakriti (D) Charya
Answer: C

41. Kamal Ranadive's research contributed to understanding the link between cancer and:
(A) Only genetics (B) Hormones and certain viruses (C) Only air pollution (D) Only diet
Answer: B

42. Maharaj Kishan Bhan played a key role in developing which vaccine?
(A) Polio vaccine (B) Rotavirus vaccine (C) BCG vaccine (D) Hepatitis B vaccine
Answer: B

43. Rotavirus vaccine primarily protects children from:

(A) Diarrhoea (B) Measles (C) Tuberculosis (D) Malaria
Answer: A

44. India's role in global vaccine production is best described as:

(A) A minor importer of vaccines (B) One of the world's largest vaccine producers (C) Not
involved in vaccine manufacturing (D) Focused only on traditional medicine
Answer: B

45. According to the chapter, most deaths in India today are caused by:
(A) Communicable diseases (B) Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (C) Deficiency diseases
only (D) Accidents only
Answer: B

46. A rise in NCDs like diabetes and heart disease in India is linked to:
(A) More outdoor physical activity (B) Processed food, less exercise, and longer lifespans (C)
Better sanitation only (D) Increased vaccination
Answer: B

47. Which lifestyle change is recommended to help stay healthy?

(A) Eating more processed and sugary food (B) Limiting screen time and staying physically
active (C) Sleeping very late every day (D) Avoiding all social interaction
Answer: B

48. Clean air quality is measured using the:

(A) BMI (Body Mass Index) (B) AQI (Air Quality Index) (C) ECG (D) WHO Index
Answer: B

49. Which of these is a way communicable diseases commonly spread?

(A) Only through genetics (B) Direct/indirect contact, air, food and water, insects, or animals (C)
Only through sleep deprivation (D) Only through stress
Answer: B

50. The community sanitation campaign example in the chapter, which reduced diarrhoea by increasing
toilet use, was from:
(A) Kerala (B) Bhadrak district, Odisha (C) Punjab (D) Rajasthan
Answer: B
Section B: One-Mark Questions (30)
1. Define health as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
Answer: Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of
disease.

2. What are pathogens?

Answer: Disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, worms, or protozoa.

3. Differentiate between a symptom and a sign (in one line).

Answer: A symptom is what a person feels (e.g. pain), while a sign is something that can be seen or
measured (e.g. fever).

4. What is a communicable disease? Give one example.

Answer: A disease caused by a pathogen that can spread from one person to another; e.g., typhoid,
dengue, or chickenpox.

5. What is a non-communicable disease? Give one example.

Answer: A disease not caused by a pathogen and not spread between people, usually linked to
lifestyle/diet/environment; e.g., diabetes, asthma, or cancer.

6. What are vectors? Give an example.

Answer: Insects that spread pathogens from an infected person/animal to a healthy one; e.g., mosquitoes or
houseflies.

7. Name the causal agent of malaria.

Answer: Protozoa (a single-celled parasite).

8. Name the causal agent of Tuberculosis.

Answer: Bacteria.

9. What is the site of infection for Hepatitis A?

Answer: The liver.

10. Name one disease that spreads through contaminated food and water.
Answer: Cholera (or Typhoid, or Hepatitis A, or Ascariasis).

11. What are deficiency diseases? Give an example.

Answer: Diseases caused by a lack of specific nutrients in the diet; e.g., scurvy, anaemia, or goitre.

12. What is meant by a chronic disease?

Answer: A disease that persists for a long time, generally more than three months, such as cancer, diabetes,
or asthma.

13. Define immunity.

Answer: The natural ability of the body to fight against diseases.

14. What is acquired immunity?

Answer: Protection developed after exposure to a pathogen or a vaccine.

15. Who discovered the smallpox vaccine, and how?

Answer: Edward Jenner; he observed that milkmaids infected with cowpox did not catch smallpox and used
cowpox material to develop immunity against it.

16. What is variolation?

Answer: A traditional Indian method of protecting against smallpox by using material from a smallpox sore to
scratch the skin and create mild immunity.
17. What were practitioners of variolation in India called?
Answer: Teekedaars.

18. Are vaccines preventive or curative? Explain in one line.

Answer: Vaccines are preventive, not curative — they help prevent disease before it happens but do not
cure an existing infection.

19. What are antibiotics?

Answer: Medicines that kill bacteria causing a disease.

20. Why don't antibiotics work against viral infections like the common cold?
Answer: Antibiotics target structures specific to bacterial cells, which viruses do not have, so antibiotics
cannot act on viruses.

21. Who discovered Penicillin and how?

Answer: Alexander Fleming; he noticed a mould on a discarded petri dish had stopped bacteria from
growing and released a bacteria-killing substance.

22. What is antibiotic resistance?

Answer: A condition where bacteria that were earlier killed by an antibiotic survive and multiply despite
treatment with that antibiotic.

23. Give one way to prevent antibiotic resistance.

Answer: Use antibiotics only when prescribed by a doctor, in the correct dose and for the full duration.

24. What is dinacharya in Ayurveda?

Answer: The daily routine that helps maintain a balance of body, mind, and surroundings.

25. What is ritucharya in Ayurveda?

Answer: The seasonal routine followed to maintain health according to Ayurveda.

26. Name one Indian scientist mentioned in the chapter who contributed to cancer research.
Answer: Kamal Ranadive.

27. Which vaccine did Maharaj Kishan Bhan help develop, and what does it protect against?
Answer: The Rotavirus vaccine, which protects children from diarrhoea.

28. State one lifestyle habit that helps maintain good health.
Answer: Eating a balanced diet (or exercising regularly, or getting enough sleep, or limiting screen time).

29. What is the Air Quality Index (AQI) used for?

Answer: It tells us how clean or polluted the air is.

30. Name two major causes of rising non-communicable diseases in India today.
Answer: Increased consumption of processed food and reduced physical activity (also longer lifespans).