MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1) Which nutrient is so vital to health that you wouldn't live more than a few days without it?
A) minerals B) protein C) vitamins D) water
Answer: D
2) Which of the following is not true about phytochemicals?
A) They have disease-fighting properties. B) They are essential nutrients.
C) They are nonnutritive compounds. D) They come from plant foods.
Answer: B
3) Which of the following causes of death in the United States is not nutrition related?
A) cancer B) respiratory diseases
C) stroke D) diabetes
Answer: B
4) Which of the following is not a reason why a food becomes a favorite?
A) food trends B) culture C) food color D) convenience
Answer: C
5) Which of the following does nutritional genomics study?
A) the precise amount of micronutrients the body needs
B) the genetic sequence of an individual's genome
C) the protein content of an individual
D) how certain nutrients affect an individual's gene expression
Answer: D
6) Which of the following are not macronutrients?
A) carbohydrates B) lipids C) vitamins D) proteins
Answer: C
7) Food insecurity is
A) the tendency of some foods to spoil more quickly than others.
B) the inability to satisfy the basic food needs of individuals.
C) uncertainty concerning whether a food might be harmful.
D) the tendency of highly desirable foods to be stolen from stores.
Answer: B
8) Which nutrient class supplies glucose as the major source of energy for the body?
A) proteins B) lipids C) carbohydrates D) vitamins
Answer: C
9) Which nutrient class is used to build body tissues and make enzymes?
A) lipids B) proteins C) carbohydrates D) vitamins
Answer: B
10) Which of the following is not a function of water in the body?
A) helps maintain body temperature B) functions as a coenzyme
C) lubricates joints D) helps transport nutrients and oxygen
Answer: B
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11) Which of the following foods contains phytochemicals?
A) salmon B) skim milk C) carrots D) eggs
Answer: C
12) All of the following are correct about the typical American diet except that it is
A) high in sodium. B) low in vitamin D. C) low in calcium. D) high in fiber.
Answer: D
13) Americans need to consume more
A) fruits and vegetables. B) oils and fewer vegetables.
C) meat and saltier foods. D) meat and refined grains.
Answer: A
14) What percentage of American adults are considered obese?
A) 15 percent B) 65 percent C) 42 percent D) 35 percent
Answer: D
15) Which of the following is the first step of the scientific method?
A) Conduct an experiment. B) Revise the hypothesis.
C) Observe and ask a question. D) Formulate a hypothesis.
Answer: C
16) The group given a specific treatment during an experiment is called the
A) blind group. B) control group.
C) experimental group. D) double-blind group.
Answer: C
17) Jim wants to improve his health and would like a professional to help him with his diet. Which of the following
people would be the best person to help Jim?
A) a registered dietitian nutritionist B) a registered nurse
C) a nutritionist D) a trainer at the gym
Answer: A
18) When obtaining information on the Internet, which ending for a URL is probably less reliable than the others?
A) .com B) .edu
C) .gov D) They are all equally reliable.
Answer: A
19) Which of the following questions is important to ask yourself when you view a nutrition-related website?
A) How does the site choose links to other sites? B) Who pays for the site?
C) Where does the information come from? D) All of these are important questions to ask.
Answer: D
20) Which of the following foods is commonly included in Indian meals?
A) fish B) mutton C) lentils D) corn
Answer: C
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21) Which of the following goals is not a proposed focus of Healthy People 2020?
A) Eliminate preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
B) Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all.
C) Support food industry efforts to obtain favorable health claims on nutrition labels.
D) Promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across every stage of life.
Answer: C
22) Which of the following is not an outcome for children who are food insecure?
A) increased incidence of colds and headaches B) delayed cognitive development
C) iron deficiency D) increased energy
Answer: D
23) Jane is sitting in the library, cramming for a nutrition test. She has eaten a plate full of brownies and is now
ordering a pizza. Which of the following factors is probably affecting the way Jane is eating?
A) emotions B) advertising C) culture D) cost
Answer: A
24) Which of the following statements about supplements is false?
A) People with dietary restrictions or greater nutrient needs could benefit from taking supplements.
B) Supplements always produce the same positive health effects as those gained by eating foods.
C) A well-balanced diet will meet the nutrient needs of many people.
D) A pregnant woman might benefit from taking an iron supplement.
Answer: B
25) Which of the following statements about milk is false?
A) It is approximately 80 percent water by volume.
B) It is a good source of the vitamins A, D, and riboflavin.
C) It contains the minerals potassium and calcium.
D) It contains a substantial variety of all six classes of nutrients.
Answer: A
26) Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding the energy-providing nutrients?
A) The energy nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
B) The amount of calories you need daily is based on your age, gender, and activity level.
C) Most of your daily calories should come from protein.
D) The energy nutrients are all organic.
Answer: C
27) The defining characteristic of an organic compound is that it
A) contains nitrogen. B) contains hydrogen.
C) contains carbon. D) is grown in rich soil.
Answer: C
28) Which of the following substances is organic?
A) salts B) water C) minerals D) vitamins
Answer: D
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29) If a scientist wants to design an experiment to measure the effect of vitamin C on colds, which of the following
would be an appropriate placebo?
A) a sugar pill that does not contain vitamin C
B) the recommended daily amount of vitamin D
C) half the recommended daily amount of vitamin C
D) the recommended daily amount of vitamin C
Answer: A
30) A well-balanced diet includes all of the following actions except
A) relying on dietary supplements. B) consuming phytochemicals and fiber.
C) consuming essential nutrients. D) eating a variety of foods.
Answer: A
31) Josephine is one of 20 participants in a clinical trial for a new weight loss drug. If Josephine receives a placebo
rather than the actual drug, to which group does Josephine belong?
A) experimental group B) hypothesis group
C) epidemiological group D) control group
Answer: D
32) Which of the following is not one of the essential nutrients?
A) water B) fats C) alcohol D) minerals
Answer: C
33) Darren's father, mother, and sister all have diabetes. Darren decides to seek help from a health professional so
he can avoid becoming diabetic as well. Who is the best person Darren should go to for nutrition advice?
A) a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)
B) a public health nutritionist
C) the salesperson at the vitamin and supplement store
D) his trainer at the gym
Answer: A
34) Maize is a staple in the diet of people living in which of the following places?
A) Mexico B) India C) China D) Alaska
Answer: A
35) Rice is a staple in the diet of which of the following ethnic groups?
A) Native American B) Alaskan C) Mexican D) Chinese
Answer: D
36) Fish is most likely to be a staple in the diet of which of the following ethnic groups?
A) Alaskan B) Indian C) Chinese D) Native American
Answer: A
37) Mutton is a staple in the diet of which of the following ethnic groups?
A) Chinese B) Native American C) Indian D) Alaskan
Answer: B
38) Lentils are a staple in the diet of which of the following ethnic groups?
A) Native American B) Indian C) Mexican D) Alaskan
Answer: B
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39) Experimental research is
A) a process involving one group of subjects that receives a specific treatment and a second group of subjects
that does not receive the treatment.
B) a stepwise process used by scientists to evaluate different types of experiments.
C) a process that involves looking at factors in two or more groups of subjects to see if there is a relationship
to certain outcomes.
D) an idea generated by scientists based on their observations.
Answer: A
40) A double-blind placebo-controlled study is
A) a stepwise process used by scientists to identify effective placebos.
B) an idea generated by scientists based on their observations.
C) research in which neither the subjects nor the scientists know which group received the treatment and
which group received a placebo.
D) research that involves looking at factors in two or more groups of subjects to see if there is a relationship to
certain outcomes.
Answer: C
41) A hypothesis is
A) research involving one group of subjects that receives a specific treatment and a second group of subjects
that does not receive the treatment.
B) a stepwise process used by scientists to generate sound research findings.
C) research that involves looking at factors in two or more groups of subjects to see if there is a relationship to
certain outcomes.
D) an idea generated by scientists based on their observations.
Answer: D
42) Observational research is defined as
A) a process involving one group of subjects that receives a specific treatment and a second group of subjects
that does not receive the treatment.
B) an idea generated by scientists based on their observations.
C) a process that involves looking at factors in two or more groups of subjects to see if there is a relationship
to certain outcomes.
D) a stepwise process used by scientists to evaluate different observational techniques.
Answer: C
43) The scientific method is
A) research involving one group of subjects that receives a specific treatment and a second group of subjects
that does not receive the treatment.
B) research in which neither the subjects nor the scientists know which group received the treatment and
which group received a placebo.
C) a stepwise process used by scientists to generate sound research findings.
D) an idea generated by scientists based on their observations.
Answer: C
TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.
44) Studies have shown that even at 8 years of age, children may not understand the persuasive intent of
advertisements.
Answer: True False
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45) The macronutrients include carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins.
Answer: True False
46) The micronutrients include lipids, vitamins, and minerals.
Answer: True False
47) Micronutrients are so named because they are less important than macronutrients.
Answer: True False
48) Alcohol is an essential nutrient because it contains energy.
Answer: True False
49) Minerals are inorganic because they do not contain carbon.
Answer: True False
50) According to Healthy People 2020, the body weights of Americans are decreasing.
Answer: True False
51) Some public health nutritionists are ineligible to take the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) exam.
Answer: True False
52) Being overweight is the same thing as being obese.
Answer: True False
53) People who are poor can be overfed in energy nutrients but malnourished in vitamins and minerals.
Answer: True False
54) If a study is done on lab animals, the results cannot be relevant to humans.
Answer: True False
55) It is not a good idea to change your diet based on a single study.
Answer: True False
56) For reporting research results, a regular magazine is just as credible as a peer-reviewed journal.
Answer: True False
57) The "gold standard" of research experiments is the double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Answer: True False
58) Epidemiological research looks at factors in two or more subject groups to see if there is a relationship to a
certain disease or another health outcome.
Answer: True False
59) The Human Genome Project determined the complete sequence of DNA in human cells.
Answer: True False
60) Chronic diseases are caused by genetic influences alone.
Answer: True False
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61) The foods you eat do not affect the expression of genes in your cells.
Answer: True False
62) A registered dietician nutritionist has passed an exam administered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
(AND).
Answer: True False
63) A quack is a person who promotes health-related products with false claims and information that are not based
in sound scientific research.
Answer: True False
64) One of the objectives of Healthy People 2020 is to reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are
considered obese by 30.5 percent.
Answer: True False
65) Over 65 percent of American adults are overweight and of those, approximately 50 percent are considered
obese.
Answer: True False
66) It is not important if a website does not tell you about their privacy policy.
Answer: True False
67) Carbohydrates, lipids, and alcohol can all provide the body with energy.
Answer: True False
68) Carbohydrates supply glucose, the simple sugar that body cells use as a major energy source.
Answer: True False
69) Compounds that contain carbon are called organic.
Answer: True False
70) A research journal in which fellow scientists review studies to assess whether they are accurate before they are
published is known as a peer-reviewed journal.
Answer: True False
71) The group given a placebo during an experiment is called the placebo group.
Answer: True False
72) An idea generated by scientists based on their observations is a hypothesis.
Answer: True False
73) A person with a BMI of 28 or higher is obese.
Answer: True False
74) The part of plant foods that isn't digested in the small intestine is fiber.
Answer: True False
75) Carrying extra weight on your body in relation to your height is called being overweight.
Answer: True False
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76) The promotion and selling of health products and services of questionable validity is known as the scientific
method.
Answer: True False
77) The substance that bathes the outside of your cells and also helps maintain body temperature is water.
Answer: True False
78) Substances that speed up reactions in your body are known as enzymes.
Answer: True False
79) There are five classes of nutrients.
Answer: True False
80) A nonnutritive compound in foods that may play a role in fighting chronic diseases is called fiber.
Answer: True False
81) The science that studies how the nutrients and compounds in foods affect your body's function and health is
called nutrition.
Answer: True False
82) Nutritional genomics studies the relationship between the components of food and gene expression.
Answer: True False
83) The energy value of foods is measured in units commonly referred to as nutrients.
Answer: True False
84) Fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are organic nutrients that provide energy.
Answer: True False
85) Only the energy nutrient carbohydrate contains the element nitrogen.
Answer: True False
86) When a nutrient such as a vitamin is lacking in the diet, a deficiency may result.
Answer: True False
ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
87) List the ten leading causes of death in the United States, and comment on which are nutrition related.
Answer: The ten leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases,
accidents, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, influenza/pneumonia, kidney disease, and intentional
self-harm. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are related to nutrition.
88) List the six classes of nutrients, noting which are organic and how much energy they contain, if any.
Answer: carbohydrates organic 4 calories/gram
lipids organic 9 calories/gram
protein organic 4 calories/gram
vitamins organic 0 calories/gram
minerals inorganic 0 calories/gram
water inorganic 0 calories/gram
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89) Claudia and Antonio are having friends over to watch a football game on television. Describe at least three
factors that may influence food choices during the game.
Answer: Influences include mood, peer pressure to eat, social influences (advertising) on what people eat
watching a sport (e.g. chicken wings, beer, chips), health (someone may prefer cut-up vegetables to
higher fat snacks), and convenience (ordering a pizza rather than preparing a meal).
90) What is the difference between a macronutrient and a micronutrient?
Answer: A macronutrient is an essential nutrient that is needed in larger quantities than is an essential
micronutrient. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients, and the energy nutrients (carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats) are macronutrients.
91) What are phytochemicals and why might they be important?
Answer: At least 900 different phytochemicals have been identified in plant foods so far. These nonnutritive
chemicals work with fiber, nutrients, or unknown substances in foods to provide synergistic effects on
health.
92) Explain how people who have less money are more, rather than less, prone to obesity.
Answer: Households with limited funds for monthly groceries tend to buy less of a variety of foods, and the
quality of the foods tends to be low in nutrients and high in calories. Individuals living in low-income
neighborhoods also tend to have limited access to supermarkets to purchase healthy foods at a
reasonable cost. Poorer neighborhoods also tend to be surrounded by convenience stores and fast-food
restaurants.
93) Marita and Adis are eating lunch in the school lunchroom. Adis says he wants to learn to eat healthier and will
be seeing a nutritionist he met at the deli last week. What advice should Marita give Adis about seeking sound
nutrition advice?
Answer: Adis should check the person's credentials and make sure he or she graduated from an accredited school.
He should also beware if the person giving advice is selling something (supplements, book, etc.).
94) Curtis is writing a paper for his nutrition class and is using the Internet as a resource. Describe what he should
consider when deciding whether a site is reliable or not.
Answer: If a site's URL ends in ".edu" or ".gov" it is probably a reliable site. If the site is not selling something, this
is also a good sign. If the people who sponsor the site are open about their credentials, such as their being
medical doctors or registered dieticians, then the site is likely more credible. A site sponsored by a
pharmaceutical company may be prone to promote their drugs or treatments and may be biased. Links
provided in the site should also be credible, and current information is likely preferable to older
information.
95) Describe a situation in which your emotions led you to make inappropriate food choices.
Answer: Boredom, loneliness, sadness, happiness, celebration, and anger may influence the types and quantities of
foods a person consumes.
96) Discuss how one's cultural background influences food choices.
Answer: Different cultural groups have different traditional foods; these cuisines are influenced in part by climate,
soils, native plants and animals, and which foodstuffs are plentiful and readily accessible.
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97) Describe an experiment you would design to test the following hypothesis: Vitamin C supplements cure colds.
Answer: An appropriate experiment would involve two groups of individuals of the same sex and age. All
individuals are exposed to cold viruses via inhalation. They then are divided into two groups: an
experimental group that receives identical doses of vitamin C supplements and a control group that gets
a placebo. The experiment is double-blind. Signs and symptoms of both groups are tracked over 10 days.
After data collection and analysis, conclusions are made as to whether the vitamin C had an effect on the
cold.
