Digestive System
Level 1 Examination (Recognition)
Time Limit: 20 minutes Total Marks: 30
Section A — Multiple Choice (1 mark each)
Choose the single best answer.
Q1. The primary function of the digestive system is to:
- A) Pump blood around the body
- B) Break down food into absorbable nutrients
- C) Filter waste from blood
- D) Exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
Q2. The correct order of food passing through the alimentary canal is:
- A) Mouth → stomach → oesophagus → small intestine → large intestine
- B) Mouth → oesophagus → stomach → small intestine → large intestine
- C) Mouth → oesophagus → stomach → large intestine → small intestine
- D) Mouth → stomach → small intestine → oesophagus → large intestine
Q3. Which of the following is an example of mechanical digestion?
- A) Amylase breaking down starch
- B) Chewing food with teeth
- C) Pepsin breaking down protein
- D) Bile emulsifying fat
Q4. The enzyme found in saliva that begins starch digestion is:
- A) Pepsin
- B) Lipase
- C) Salivary amylase
- D) Trypsin
Q5. Gastric juice in the stomach is strongly:
- A) Alkaline
- B) Neutral
- C) Acidic
- D) Basic
Q6. The tiny finger-like projections that increase the surface area of the small intestine are called:
- A) Villi
- B) Alveoli
- C) Nephrons
- D) Cilia
Q7. Bile is produced by the ______ and stored in the ______.
- A) pancreas; stomach
- B) liver; gall bladder
- C) gall bladder; liver
- D) small intestine; pancreas
Q8. Which enzyme digests proteins in the stomach?
- A) Amylase
- B) Lipase
- C) Pepsin
- D) Maltase
Q9. The main function of the large intestine is:
- A) Chemical digestion of fats
- B) Reabsorption of water
- C) Production of bile
- D) Secretion of gastric acid
Q10. The wave-like muscular contractions that move food along the gut are called:
- A) Diffusion
- B) Peristalsis
- C) Absorption
- D) Emulsification
Section B — Matching (1 mark each, 6 marks)
Q11. Match each structure/substance in Column X with its function in Column Y.
| Column X | Column Y |
|---|---|
| (a) Teeth | (i) Emulsifies fats |
| (b) Bile | (ii) Absorbs digested nutrients |
| (c) Villi | (iii) Mechanically break down food |
| (d) Pancreas | (iv) Reabsorbs water |
| (e) Large intestine | (v) Secretes digestive enzymes |
| (f) Pepsin | (vi) Digests protein in the stomach |
Section C — True / False with Justification (2 marks each: 1 for T/F, 1 for justification)
Q12. Chemical digestion uses enzymes to break large molecules into smaller ones.
Q13. Absorption of most nutrients takes place in the stomach.
Q14. Microvilli further increase the absorptive surface area of each villus.
Q15. Saliva only lubricates food and plays no chemical role.
Q16. Peristalsis can move food even when a person is lying down or upside down.
Q17. The pancreas secretes enzymes that digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Answer keyMark scheme & solutions
Section A — MCQ (10 marks)
Q1 — B. The digestive system's core role is to break food into small, absorbable nutrients. (1)
Q2 — B. Food travels mouth → oesophagus → stomach → small intestine → large intestine; the oesophagus precedes the stomach. (1)
Q3 — B. Chewing is physical breakdown (no chemical change); options A, C, D involve enzymes/chemicals. (1)
Q4 — C. Salivary amylase begins starch → maltose digestion in the mouth. (1)
Q5 — C. Gastric juice contains HCl, making the stomach strongly acidic (≈ pH 1.5–2), which activates pepsin and kills microbes. (1)
Q6 — A. Villi are the finger-like folds; alveoli/nephrons/cilia belong to other systems. (1)
Q7 — B. The liver produces bile; the gall bladder stores it. (1)
Q8 — C. Pepsin digests protein in the acidic stomach. (1)
Q9 — B. The large intestine mainly reabsorbs water (and some salts), forming faeces. (1)
Q10 — B. Peristalsis = rhythmic muscular contractions propelling food. (1)
Section B — Matching (6 marks, 1 each)
Q11.
- (a) Teeth → (iii) Mechanically break down food
- (b) Bile → (i) Emulsifies fats
- (c) Villi → (ii) Absorbs digested nutrients
- (d) Pancreas → (v) Secretes digestive enzymes
- (e) Large intestine → (iv) Reabsorbs water
- (f) Pepsin → (vi) Digests protein in the stomach
Award 1 mark per correct pair.
Section C — True/False with Justification (12 marks)
Q12 — TRUE. (1) Justification: enzymes (e.g., amylase, pepsin, lipase) catalyse the breakdown of large molecules (starch, protein, fat) into smaller absorbable units — this is the definition of chemical digestion. (1)
Q13 — FALSE. (1) Justification: most nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine (via villi/microvilli); the stomach mainly digests and absorbs very little (water, alcohol, some drugs). (1)
Q14 — TRUE. (1) Justification: each villus is covered in microvilli, which further multiply the surface area, maximising the rate of nutrient absorption. (1)
Q15 — FALSE. (1) Justification: saliva lubricates AND contains salivary amylase, which chemically begins starch digestion, so it has a chemical role too. (1)
Q16 — TRUE. (1) Justification: peristalsis relies on smooth-muscle contractions, not gravity, so it moves food regardless of body orientation. (1)
Q17 — TRUE. (1) Justification: the pancreas secretes pancreatic amylase (carbohydrates), trypsin/proteases (proteins), and lipase (fats), covering all three macronutrients. (1)
Total: 30 marks
[
{"claim": "Section A has 10 MCQs worth 1 mark each = 10 marks", "code": "mcq = 10*1; result = (mcq == 10)"},
{"claim": "Section B matching has 6 pairs worth 1 mark each = 6 marks", "code": "matching = 6*1; result = (matching == 6)"},
{"claim": "Section C has 6 T/F items worth 2 marks each = 12 marks", "code": "tf = 6*2; result = (tf == 12)"},
{"claim": "Total marks sum to 30", "code": "total = 10*1 + 6*1 + 6*2; result = (total == 30)"},
{"claim": "Total question count is 17 (10 MCQ + 1 matching + 6 T/F)", "code": "q = 10 + 1 + 6; result = (q == 17)"}
]