O Level Biology 5090 · Topic 8

Human nutrition: past paper questions

159 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: State, Describe, Name, Explain, Suggest

Real questions on human nutrition

The newest 20 of 87 written questions, plus 72 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5090/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4b(i)[1]
Name an organ that secretes lipase into the duodenum. (i)
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5090/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4b(ii)[2]
Name the substrate and products of lipase. substrate
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5090/22 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(i)[5]
5-mark question — its maths and diagrams are best seen on the paper.
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5090/22 · October/November 2025 · Q6b(ii)[2]
Using Fig. 6.1, suggest why giving the patient this solution to drink is an effective treatment for diarrhoea.
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
In each box write the letter that has been used to label these parts of the digestive system. The part where starch digestion starts.
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3a(ii)[3]
Describe the roles of organs B and C in lipid digestion.
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(i)[3]
If a child with coeliac disease is not treated, their growth may be reduced. Use Fig. 3.2 to explain why.
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5090/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(ii)[3]
Scientists are investigating a new treatment for coeliac disease. They have produced an enzyme that will digest gluten when it reaches organ E. They plan to put the enzyme into a tablet which can be swallowed. To make this treatment work, the tablet must have a coating that will dissolve in alkaline conditions but not...
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5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2a(i)[3]
The vegetables and fruits provide some of the protein, carbohydrates and lipids needed in a balanced diet. Name three other components of a balanced diet that can be obtained from vegetables and fruits.
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5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2a(ii)[2]
State two reasons why plant oils and other lipids are important in the human diet.
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5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2b(i)[2]
Use Table 2.1 to calculate the percentage that plant protein sources contribute to the recommended average daily protein intake for humans. Space for working. %
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5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2b(ii)[2]
The global average daily human intake of red meat is approximately 300% of the recommended amount. Calculate how much red meat an average human eats in a year (365 days). Give your answer in kilograms. average yearly intake = kg
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5090/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2c[2]
It is more energy efficient for humans to eat plants. Explain why.
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5090/22 · October/November 2024 · Q2b[2]
Pathogens may be transmitted to humans either by direct contact or indirectly. List two of the human body’s barriers to the entry of pathogens.
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q2a(i)[4]
A man eats a piece of brown bread. In his digestive system, the starch in the bread is chemically digested to maltose and then to glucose. Describe where and how this digestion takes place as the bread travels through his digestive system.
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q2a(ii)[2]
Describe what happens to the fibre as it passes through his digestive system.
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q2b[2]
Glucose passes from the digestive system into the blood by diffusion and active transport. Give two ways in which active transport is different from diffusion.
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q2c(i)[1]
There is already glucose in the blood when the starch is eaten. Explain how Fig. 2.1 shows this.
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q2c(ii)[2]
Both graph lines show an initial increase in blood glucose concentration followed by a decrease. Suggest two reasons why the blood glucose concentrations decrease.
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5090/21 · May/June 2024 · Q2c(iii)[2]
Use information from Fig. 2.1 to suggest which type of starch is healthier to have in the diet. Give a reason for your answer.
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What examiners said

There were some excellent descriptions of the roles of teeth and saliva and explanations of the difference between physical and chemical digestion.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q5(a)(iii) (Cambridge)

Again, many candidates showed an excellent knowledge of processes in the stomach involving hydrochloric acid, pepsin and in some cases rennin. However, some candidates concentrated on the role of hydrochloric acid in killing pathogens rather than in providing an acidic pH for pepsin.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/21 Q5(b)(i) (Cambridge)

Many appreciated that since lichenan is a carbohydrate it will provide the reindeer with a good supply of energy.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5090/22 Q2(b)(ii) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise human nutrition

In the syllabus

8.1 Diet

List the principal sources of, and describe the dietary importance of, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins (C and D only), mineral salts (calcium and iron only), fibre (roughage) and water
Name the diseases and describe the symptoms resulting from deficiencies of vitamin C (scurvy), vitamin D (rickets), calcium (rickets) and iron (anaemia)
Understand the concept of a balanced diet

8.2 Human digestive system

Identify the main regions of the digestive system: mouth, salivary glands, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum and ileum), pancreas, liver, gall bladder and large intestine (colon, rectum and anus)
Explain why most foods must be digested before they can be absorbed
Describe physical digestion as the breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change to the food molecules
Describe chemical digestion as the breakdown of large molecules into small molecules
State that physical digestion increases the surface area of food for the action of enzymes in chemical digestion
Identify the types of human teeth (incisors, canines, premolars and molars)
Describe the structure of human teeth, limited to: enamel, dentine, pulp, nerves and cement, and understand that teeth are embedded in the gum
Describe the functions of the types of human teeth in physical digestion of food
Describe the functions of the main regions of the digestive system, limited to: (a) mouth – ingestion, physical digestion, chemical digestion of starch by amylase (b) salivary glands – secretion of saliva containing amylase (c) stomach – physical digestion, chemical digestion of protein by protease, presence of hydrochloric acid in gastric secretions (d) small intestine (duodenum and ileum) – chemical digestion of starch by amylase, maltose by maltase, protein by protease and lipids by lipase (e) liver – production of bile and storage of glycogen (f) gall bladder – storage of bile (g) pancreas – alkaline secretion containing amylase, protease and lipase (h) ileum and colon – absorption (i) rectum and anus – egestion
Describe the functions of amylase, maltase, protease and lipase, listing the substrates and end- products, limited to: (a) amylase breaks down starch to maltose (b) maltase breaks down maltose to glucose (c) protease (pepsin and trypsin) breaks down protein to amino acids (d) lipase breaks down lipids to fatty acids and glycerol
Describe the function of hydrochloric acid in the stomach as killing ingested bacteria
Understand that the different proteases present in the stomach and the duodenum work best at different pH levels

8.3 Absorption and assimilation

State that the small intestine is the region where nutrients are absorbed
Understand that absorption (by diffusion, osmosis and active transport) is the movement of nutrients from the intestines into cells lining the digestive system and then into the blood
Understand that assimilation is the uptake and use by cells of nutrients from the blood
Describe the structure of a villus and the roles of capillaries and lacteals
Explain the significance of villi and microvilli in increasing the internal surface area of the ileum
Understand that water is absorbed from the lumen of the small intestine and the colon, but that most absorption of water happens in the small intestine
State the function of the hepatic portal vein as the route taken to the liver by most of the molecules and ions absorbed from the ileum

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