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Biology Quiz - Unit 1 - Resistance of Pathogens to Antibiotics (H) (Questions)

This GCSE Biology quiz looks at antibiotic resistance, showing how mutations and natural selection can make some pathogens survive treatment while others are killed.

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Fascinating Fact:

When an antibiotic is used, susceptible bacteria are killed or slowed, but resistant bacteria survive and reproduce, increasing the resistant population.

In GCSE Biology, you learn that antibiotic resistance develops when random mutations and selection pressures allow some pathogens to survive treatment. These resistant strains then spread, making infections harder to treat.

Key Terms

Pathogen: A microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus or fungus, that causes disease.
Antibiotic resistance: When bacteria are no longer killed or slowed by an antibiotic that used to be effective against them.
Selection pressure: A factor, such as antibiotic use, that makes some organisms more likely to survive and reproduce than others.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is antibiotic resistance in GCSE Biology?

Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria change so that antibiotics no longer kill them or stop them growing. Resistant strains then survive treatment and can spread to other people.

How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?

Bacteria become resistant through random mutations in their DNA. When antibiotics are used, resistant bacteria survive and reproduce, so the resistant genes become more common in the population.

Why is the overuse of antibiotics a problem?

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics give more chances for resistant bacteria to be selected. This can lead to infections that are difficult to treat and require stronger or fewer available drugs.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Antibiotic resistance can lead to what?

[ ]	New viral strains
[ ]	Bacteria which are immune to antibiotics
[ ]	Viruses which are resistant to antibiotics
[ ]	New strains of bacteria which cannot be destroyed

2.

What do we call individual pathogens which antibiotics can kill?

[ ]	Pathogens which are non-resistant
[ ]	Pathogens which are non-immune
[ ]	Pathogens which are non-pathogenic
[ ]	Pathogens which are non-living

3.

Individual pathogens survive, reproduce and can form new strains by which process?

[ ]	The process of natural selection
[ ]	The process of natural wastage
[ ]	The process of unnatural means
[ ]	The process of sexual reproduction

4.

How have doctors tried to reduce antibiotic resistance?

[ ]	By prescribing more antibiotics
[ ]	By prescribing weaker antibiotics
[ ]	By prescribing fewer antibiotics
[ ]	By not giving antibiotics at all

5.

Which of the following would be the usual medical advice for a sore throat?

[ ]	Take antibiotics
[ ]	Bed rest, fluids and antibiotics
[ ]	Avoid antibiotics unless absolutely necessary
[ ]	Pain killers, antibiotics and throat spray

6.

Why can it be dangerous if you do not complete your course of antibiotics?

[ ]	The bacteria may all die
[ ]	Not all of the bacteria are killed so the infection continues
[ ]	The remaining bacteria may become resistant
[ ]	You become immune to the antibiotic

7.

What does MRSA stand for?

[ ]	Medically resistant susceptible antibiotics
[ ]	Methicillin-resistant Streptococcus antibodies
[ ]	Multiple resistant Staphylococcus aureus
[ ]	Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

8.

Resistance to antibiotics in bacteria is controlled by what?

[ ]	Hormones
[ ]	White blood cells
[ ]	Genes
[ ]	Viruses

9.

Antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria spread quickly. Why is this?

[ ]	Because they have a selective advantage and are better adapted
[ ]	Because they are not adapted to survive
[ ]	Because they have lower optimum temperature
[ ]	Because they do not grow in the presence of the antibiotic

10.

How have we slowed down the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

[ ]	By ignoring the problem
[ ]	With more careful prescribing of antibiotics
[ ]	By banning antibiotics
[ ]	By inventing new painkillers

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Treating, curing and preventing disease

Biology Quiz - Unit 1 - Resistance of Pathogens to Antibiotics (H) (Answers)

1.

Antibiotic resistance can lead to what?

[ ]	New viral strains
[ ]	Bacteria which are immune to antibiotics
[ ]	Viruses which are resistant to antibiotics
[x]	New strains of bacteria which cannot be destroyed

Dangerous strains of bacteria are possible due to antibiotic resistance

2.

What do we call individual pathogens which antibiotics can kill?

[x]	Pathogens which are non-resistant
[ ]	Pathogens which are non-immune
[ ]	Pathogens which are non-pathogenic
[ ]	Pathogens which are non-living

Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria only but some will kill infections of single celled parasites like Giardia

3.

Individual pathogens survive, reproduce and can form new strains by which process?

[x]	The process of natural selection
[ ]	The process of natural wastage
[ ]	The process of unnatural means
[ ]	The process of sexual reproduction

Bacteria reproduce rapidly. Amongst the new generations, there will be some bacteria whose genes have mutated - natural selection does the rest

4.

How have doctors tried to reduce antibiotic resistance?

[ ]	By prescribing more antibiotics
[ ]	By prescribing weaker antibiotics
[x]	By prescribing fewer antibiotics
[ ]	By not giving antibiotics at all

Doctors prescribe antibiotics only when the body has not been able to fight off a bacterial infection on its own

5.

Which of the following would be the usual medical advice for a sore throat?

[ ]	Take antibiotics
[ ]	Bed rest, fluids and antibiotics
[x]	Avoid antibiotics unless absolutely necessary
[ ]	Pain killers, antibiotics and throat spray

Honey can help soothe a sore throat, your immune system deals with the infection

6.

Why can it be dangerous if you do not complete your course of antibiotics?

[ ]	The bacteria may all die
[ ]	Not all of the bacteria are killed so the infection continues
[x]	The remaining bacteria may become resistant
[ ]	You become immune to the antibiotic

Resistant bacteria cannot be killed using antibiotics

7.

What does MRSA stand for?

[ ]	Medically resistant susceptible antibiotics
[ ]	Methicillin-resistant Streptococcus antibodies
[ ]	Multiple resistant Staphylococcus aureus
[x]	Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Soap and water, alcohol based hand gels and bleach can all destroy this dangerous bacteria

8.

Resistance to antibiotics in bacteria is controlled by what?

[ ]	Hormones
[ ]	White blood cells
[x]	Genes
[ ]	Viruses

Scientists are constantly developing new antibiotics to deal with these resistant strains of bacteria

9.

Antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria spread quickly. Why is this?

[x]	Because they have a selective advantage and are better adapted
[ ]	Because they are not adapted to survive
[ ]	Because they have lower optimum temperature
[ ]	Because they do not grow in the presence of the antibiotic

It is for this reason that antibiotics should only be prescribed when absolutely necessary - the fewer strains of resistant bacteria, the better

10.

How have we slowed down the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

[ ]	By ignoring the problem
[x]	With more careful prescribing of antibiotics
[ ]	By banning antibiotics
[ ]	By inventing new painkillers

Resistant strains are encouraged to develop by the overuse of antibiotics