Practice questions
Q1Which set correctly separates macronutrients from micronutrients in a nutrition question?
A Macronutrients: vitamin A and iron; micronutrients: proteins and water
B Macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins and fats; micronutrients: vitamins and minerals such as iodine, iron, zinc and calcium
C Macronutrients: only calories; micronutrients: only protein and carbohydrates
D Macronutrients: iodine and zinc; micronutrients: carbohydrates and fats
Explanation Macronutrients are nutrients required in larger quantities, especially carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Micronutrients are required in smaller quantities but are essential for normal body functions; examples include vitamins and minerals such as iodine, iron, zinc and calcium. Confusing calorie units with nutrient classes is a common distractor.
Q2A village-level awareness poster says: "Use adequately iodized salt regularly, but do not increase salt intake." Which deficiency problem is this poster mainly trying to prevent?
A Scurvy due to low vitamin C intake
B Beri-beri due to thiamine deficiency
C Iodine deficiency disorders such as goitre and impaired mental development in children
D Anaemia due to folate and iron deficiency
Explanation Iodine is needed for thyroid hormone production and healthy brain development. Deficiency is visibly associated with thyroid enlargement or goitre and can harm children’s mental development. The preventive message is to use iodized salt as the usual household salt while still keeping total salt intake moderate.
Q3Which child-health observation most strongly suggests protein-energy malnutrition rather than an isolated vitamin deficiency?
A Poor intake over time with severe wasting or oedema, requiring restoration of adequate energy and protein along with care for associated illness.
B Bleeding gums after low fresh-fruit intake, corrected only by iodized salt.
C Enlarged thyroid from lack of iodine, corrected by avoiding pulses.
D Night blindness with normal growth, corrected by calcium tablets alone.
Explanation Protein-energy malnutrition is a broad undernutrition condition caused by inadequate energy and/or protein. In exams it is commonly linked with wasting forms such as marasmus and oedematous forms such as kwashiorkor. Prevention depends on adequate breastfeeding and complementary feeding, dietary diversity, infection control and timely treatment, not on a single vitamin tablet.
Q4Which option correctly connects calcium and vitamin D with a deficiency disease and prevention measure?
A Vitamin D deficiency causes goitre; prevention is by replacing salt with sugar.
B Low calcium intake or vitamin D deficiency can contribute to rickets; prevention includes adequate calcium intake and safe sunlight exposure.
C Calcium deficiency chiefly causes scurvy; prevention is by eating only citrus fruits.
D Calcium and vitamin D deficiency causes anaemia; prevention is by avoiding milk products.
Explanation Calcium and vitamin D work together in bone mineralisation. In children, inadequate vitamin D, inadequate calcium intake, or both can lead to nutritional rickets. Practical prevention therefore includes age-appropriate calcium-rich foods and safe sunlight exposure, with supplements only when indicated.
Q5A child is reported to see normally in daylight but has difficulty seeing in dim light. Which deficiency and prevention advice are most appropriate?
A Iron deficiency; avoid vitamin C-rich foods because they reduce iron absorption.
B Calcium deficiency; stop sunlight exposure and use only cereal-based meals.
C Vitamin A deficiency; ensure age-appropriate vitamin A supplementation and include green leafy and orange-yellow foods.
D Iodine deficiency; give non-iodized salt with every meal.
Explanation Difficulty seeing in darkness is the classic exam clue for night blindness, an early sign of vitamin A deficiency. Prevention combines programme-based prophylactic vitamin A doses for eligible children with regular dietary sources such as green leafy vegetables and dark yellow or orange fruits and vegetables.
More questions
6Which pairing of micronutrient, deficiency effect and prevention is correctly matched?
AZinc - goitre - use non-iodized salt regularly.
BVitamin D and calcium - rickets in children - ensure calcium-rich foods and adequate sunlight exposure where appropriate.
CVitamin A - anaemia - treat by stopping all green leafy vegetables.
DIron - night blindness - give only orange fruits and no iron-rich foods.
7A child with repeated diarrhoea is advised ORS along with zinc as per public-health guidance. What is the nutrition logic behind zinc in this context?
AZinc directly replaces lost blood and therefore treats anaemia faster than iron.
BZinc is given only to produce thyroid hormone, so it is a substitute for iodized salt.
CZinc prevents night blindness by storing vitamin A in the eye.
DZinc supports growth and immune function, and supplementation during diarrhoea can reduce episode duration and severity.
8Which statement best describes a balanced diet for a woman with moderate daily physical activity?
AIt should mainly contain cereals because calories alone are the most important requirement.
BIt should avoid fats completely because fats do not have any nutritional role.
CIt should rely on milk only because milk is a complete food for all adult nutrient needs.
DIt includes foods from different groups in suitable amounts so that energy, body-building nutrients, protective nutrients, fibre and water needs are met.
9In community nutrition counselling, which advice directly prevents iodine deficiency disorders such as goitre?
AAvoid pulses during adolescence because they interfere with thyroid growth.
BUse adequately iodized salt for routine household cooking and avoid replacing it with non-iodized common salt.
CIncrease polished rice intake because it is a rich iodine source.
DUse unrefined sugar instead of refined sugar in daily meals.
10For a women-and-child nutrition counselling session, which advice best reflects the idea of a balanced diet?
AChoose varied foods that meet energy, protein, fat, vitamin, mineral, fibre and water needs without excess salt, sugar or unhealthy fat.
BGive mainly cereal-based foods because carbohydrates alone are the safest source of daily calories.
CUse vitamin tablets as the main substitute for pulses, milk, vegetables and fruits.
DAvoid fats completely so that total calorie intake remains low in all age groups.
11A child has difficulty seeing in dim light, and the anganwadi worker links it to a vitamin deficiency. Which nutrient-deficiency pair is most appropriate?
AVitamin D deficiency causing night blindness
BIodine deficiency causing night blindness
CVitamin A deficiency causing night blindness
DIron deficiency causing night blindness
12In nutrition counselling for adolescent girls and pregnant women, which statement about iron is most accurate?
AIron deficiency is a common nutritional cause of anaemia, which may present with fatigue, weakness, dizziness or breathlessness.
BIron deficiency is unrelated to women’s health because haemoglobin needs do not change with menstruation or pregnancy.
CIron deficiency is prevented by avoiding pulses and green leafy vegetables because they interfere with haemoglobin formation.
DIron deficiency mainly causes goitre, so the best prevention is only iodized salt.
13A supervisor is explaining prevention of iron deficiency anaemia among adolescent girls. Which set of measures is the most appropriate?
APromote iron-folic acid supplementation, deworming where applicable, and intake of iron-rich foods with dietary diversification.
BAdvise fasting twice a week because low meal frequency improves haemoglobin.
CGive only calcium tablets and advise them to reduce all pulses.
DReplace green leafy vegetables with sweet beverages for quick energy.
