How many NESA Biology questions cover Prevention, Treatment and Control?

AusGrader has 73 NESA Biology questions on Prevention, Treatment and Control, all with instant AI grading and detailed marking feedback.

NESA (HSC) Biology — Prevention, Treatment and Control Questions & Answers | AusGrader

Q2

2024

NESA

1 mark

Q2

1 mark

Resin produced by spinifex grass has long been used by Aboriginal Peoples. Spinifex resin is currently used to produce medicinal creams.

What is this an example of?

A

Biotechnology

B

Selective breeding

C

Artificial insemination

D

Genetically modified organisms

Q6

2025

NESA

1 mark

Q6

1 mark

Rabies is a viral disease spread by infected animals. If bitten by an infected animal, a person can be treated by receiving an injection of antibodies.

What type of immunity will this person have following the injection?

A

Innate active

B

Natural passive

C

Acquired active

D

Acquired passive

Q29

2025

NESA

6 marks

Q29

The Varroa mite is an external parasite of European honey bees and is considered to be the most serious pest of honey bees worldwide.

Q29a

2 marks

Why is Varroa mite infection considered to be an infectious disease?

Varroa mite is an infectious disease because the mite is a parasitic pathogen that is spread between bees and hives that come into direct contact with the pest.

Marking Criteria

Descriptor	Marks
Provides justification for Varroa mite infection being an infectious disease	2
Provides some relevant information	1
None of the above	0

Q29b

4 marks

In June 2022, the Varroa mite was detected for the first time in Australia at the Port of Newcastle. It then spread to surrounding areas.

Explain TWO procedures that could have been employed to prevent the spread of the Varroa mite in honey bees.

Measures used to prevent the spread of Varroa mite include:

Early identification of Varroa mite infestation ensures early detection and isolation of infected bee populations. This will stop them from spreading to healthy bees
Destroy infected hives. This will kill the mites and infected bees, preventing the spread of the mite to healthy hives.

Marking Criteria

Descriptor	Marks
Explains TWO procedures used to prevent the spread of Varroa mite	4
Explains ONE procedure OR Describes procedures used to prevent the spread of Varroa mite	3
Describes ONE procedure OR Outlines TWO procedures	2
Provides some relevant information	1
None of the above	0

Q39

2024

SCSA

20 marks

Q39

Crown gall is an infectious disease of plants that can cause significant economic losses.

Q39a

10 marks

For crown gall disease, explain how the pathogen invades the host and causes disease, and two distinctly different management strategies to prevent the spread of the disease.

The pathogen invade the host and cause disease by first invading the plant through a wound, and inserting plasmid into the host genome. This causes rapid division of host cells, causing galls. Galls disrupt water transport, reducing the ability of plants to resist stressful conditions such as drought.

Management strategies are (any 2 of):

Avoid damaging the plants, to stop transfer of pathogen from one plant to another.
Destroy infected plants, to kill bacteria in the environment.
Apply biosecurity measures at borders, to contain the disease to a certain area.
Educate people, so people can recognise the disease and act quickly.

Marking Criteria

How the pathogen invades the host and causes disease

Descriptor	Marks
1 mark for each correct point: bacterium/pathogen invades the plant through a wound inserts plasmid into host genome; causes rapid division of host cells causes galls (where the roots join the trunk, on the roots, or on the main stem or branches) galls disrupt water transport reduces ability of plants to resist stressful conditions such as drought	6

Management strategy 1

Marking Bands

Descriptor	Marks
Identifies a management strategy and explains its purpose (e.g., do not damage plants/clean tools to stop transfer; destroy infected plants to kill/reduce bacteria; apply biosecurity to contain disease; educate people so they can recognise/act)	2
Identifies a management strategy OR its purpose	1
None of the above	0

Management strategy 2

Marking Bands

Descriptor	Marks
Identifies a management strategy and explains its purpose (e.g., do not damage plants/clean tools to stop transfer; destroy infected plants to kill/reduce bacteria; apply biosecurity to contain disease; educate people so they can recognise/act)	2
Identifies a management strategy OR its purpose	1
None of the above	0

Q39b

10 marks

Animals have a variety of behavioural, physiological and structural adaptations to maintain water and salt balance.

Explain what would happen to a desert mammal if it drank saltwater and explain one physiological and one behavioural adaptation that desert mammals use to maintain water-salt balance. State which adaption is physiological and which is behavioural.

Drinking salt water disrupts homeostasis, as body fluids will have too much salt. Cells will lose water to body fluids by osmosis, making them dehydrate.

A physiological adaptation is (insert relevant example). This helps maintain water-salt balance by (any 1 of the following):

gaining water from food metabolism, where breakdown of fat produces water
producing hormones, which promote reabsorption of water by the kidneys

A behavioural adaptation is (insert relevant example). This helps maintain water-salt balance by (any 1 of the following):

being active at night when temperatures are lower, to minimise water loss by evaporation
burrowing creates humid microclimate to minimise water loss by evaporation

Marking Criteria

Effects of drinking salt water

Descriptor	Marks
1 mark for each correct point (any 4 of): disrupts homeostasis/osmoregulation/osmosis body fluids will have too much salt/hypertonic to cells or cells will be hypotonic to body fluids cells will lose water to body fluids (by osmosis) cells will shrink/wrinkle/dehydrate lack of water/high concentration of solutes will disrupt metabolic processes	4

Explanation of physiological adaptations

Marking Bands

Descriptor	Marks
States a physiological adaptation AND provides a complete explanation (e.g., gains water from food metabolism by breaking down fat/carbohydrates OR produces hormone/vasopressin/antidiuretic to promote reabsorption of water by kidney)	3
States a physiological adaptation AND provides a partial explanation	2
States a physiological adaptation	1
None of the above	0

Explanation of behavioural adaptations

Marking Bands

Descriptor	Marks
States a behavioural adaptation AND provides a complete explanation (e.g., nocturnal/active at night when temperatures are lower to minimise water loss by evaporation OR burrows to create humid microclimate/avoid high temperatures to minimise water loss by evaporation)	3
States a behavioural adaptation AND provides a partial explanation	2
States a behavioural adaptation	1
None of the above	0

Q38

2024

SCSA

20 marks

Q38

Xerophytic plants need to maintain water balance while allowing for gas exchange, and have a variety of adaptations to achieve this.

Q38a

10 marks

Explain why plants lose water to the environment during gas exchange and three distinctly different ways in which xerophytic plants minimise water loss from gas exchange.

Gas exchange occurs through stomata, which are pores in the leaf. When stomata are open, water is lost from the plant via transpiration/evaporation.

Ways to minimise water loss from gas exchange are (any 3 of):

Reduced stomata size, such that there's smaller area to lose water through.
Sunken stomata, which increases humidity around stomatal pore.
Closing stomata during the day, when temperatures are higher.
Rolled leaves, which protect stomata from the environment.

Marking Criteria

Water loss during gas exchange

Descriptor	Marks
gas exchange occurs through (open) stomata or plants release oxygen/take in carbon dioxide through (open) stomata	1
stomata are pores in the leaf (that are surrounded by guard cells)	1
water/water vapour is lost from plant when stomata are open	1
via transpiration or evaporation	1

Minimising water loss 1

Descriptor	Marks
Identifies a valid strategy to minimise water loss (e.g., fewer stomata/reduced size, sunken stomata/hairs in pit/rolled leaves, stomata open at night/close during day, less stomata on upper surface/more on lower surface)	1
Provides the corresponding explanation for how the identified strategy minimises water loss (e.g., fewer openings/smaller area, increases humidity/creates humid microclimate, open when temperatures are lower, protects stomata from environment/wind/sunlight)	1

Minimising water loss 2

Descriptor	Marks
Identifies a valid strategy to minimise water loss (e.g., fewer stomata/reduced size, sunken stomata/hairs in pit/rolled leaves, stomata open at night/close during day, less stomata on upper surface/more on lower surface)	1
Provides the corresponding explanation for how the identified strategy minimises water loss (e.g., fewer openings/smaller area, increases humidity/creates humid microclimate, open when temperatures are lower, protects stomata from environment/wind/sunlight)	1

Minimising water loss 3

Descriptor	Marks
Identifies a valid strategy to minimise water loss (e.g., fewer stomata/reduced size, sunken stomata/hairs in pit/rolled leaves, stomata open at night/close during day, less stomata on upper surface/more on lower surface)	1
Provides the corresponding explanation for how the identified strategy minimises water loss (e.g., fewer openings/smaller area, increases humidity/creates humid microclimate, open when temperatures are lower, protects stomata from environment/wind/sunlight)	1

Q38b

10 marks

The chance of an epidemic occurring depends on several factors.

Using influenza as an example, explain why urban areas are susceptible to epidemics and how vaccination and three other healthcare provisions can reduce disease transmission.

Influenza is easily spread via direct contact or airborne particles. Urban areas have high population density, which increases disease transmission, as uninfected people are more likely to come into contact with an infected person. Increased travel to urban areas also increases the chance of introducing a new strain with little resistance in the population.

Vaccines give people immunity without catching the disease, which reduces the chances of an individual catching the disease even if they are in contact with an infected individual. The spread of disease will slow if a large proportion of the population are vaccinated.

Other healthcare provisions include education about good hygiene. Healthcare can implement quarantine of infected people, and provide antiviral medication to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Monitoring and reporting can result in early detection and early implementation of control measures.

Marking Criteria

Urban areas

Descriptor	Marks
1 mark for each correct point (any 4 of): • Identifies that influenza is easily spread or transmitted via direct contact or airborne particles • States that urban areas have high population density • Explains that high density increases disease/influenza transmission • Describes that uninfected people are more likely to come into contact with an infected person • Explains that increased travel/migration to urban areas increases the chance of introducing a new strain (little resistance in population)	4

Descriptor

Marks

1 mark for each correct point (any 4 of):
• Identifies that influenza is easily spread or transmitted via direct contact or airborne particles
• States that urban areas have high population density
• Explains that high density increases disease/influenza transmission
• Describes that uninfected people are more likely to come into contact with an infected person
• Explains that increased travel/migration to urban areas increases the chance of introducing a new strain (little resistance in population)

4

Vaccinations

Descriptor	Marks
States that vaccines give people immunity (without catching the disease)	1
Explains that vaccination reduces the chances of an individual catching the disease (even if they are in contact with an infected individual)	1
Describes that the spread of disease will slow/transmission will be reduced if a large proportion of the population are vaccinated/immune/with herd immunity	1

Other healthcare provisions

Descriptor	Marks
1 mark for each correct point (any 3 of): Identifies education/advice about good hygiene/mask wearing/hand washing States that isolation/quarantine of infected people can be implemented Identifies antiviral medication to reduce severity/duration of symptoms Describes how monitoring/reporting can result in early detection/early implementation of control measures	3

NESA Biology Prevention, Treatment and Control

How the pathogen invades the host and causes disease

Management strategy 1

Management strategy 2

Effects of drinking salt water

Explanation of physiological adaptations

Explanation of behavioural adaptations

Water loss during gas exchange

Minimising water loss 1

Minimising water loss 2

Minimising water loss 3

Urban areas

Vaccinations

Other healthcare provisions

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