Noesis
Level 1 — RecognitionEndocrine System

Endocrine System

⏱ 20 minutes40 marksprintable — key stays hidden on paper

Level 1: Recognition (MCQ, Matching, True/False with Justification)

Time Limit: 20 minutes Total Marks: 40

Section A — Multiple Choice (1 mark each) — 10 marks

Choose the ONE best answer.

Q1. Which feature best distinguishes an endocrine gland from an exocrine gland?

  • A) Endocrine glands secrete enzymes; exocrine glands secrete hormones
  • B) Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete into the blood; exocrine glands use ducts
  • C) Endocrine glands are always larger than exocrine glands
  • D) Only exocrine glands are found in the digestive system

Q2. Which of the following is a steroid hormone?

  • A) Insulin
  • B) Cortisol
  • C) Glucagon
  • D) Growth hormone

Q3. Peptide hormones typically act by:

  • A) Diffusing through the cell membrane and binding intracellular receptors
  • B) Binding surface receptors and activating a second messenger such as cAMP
  • C) Being directly incorporated into DNA
  • D) Entering the nucleus without any receptor

Q4. The "master gland" that is controlled by the hypothalamus is the:

  • A) Thyroid gland
  • B) Adrenal gland
  • C) Pituitary gland
  • D) Pancreas

Q5. Which hormone lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake into cells?

  • A) Glucagon
  • B) Insulin
  • C) Cortisol
  • D) Thyroxine

Q6. Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) mainly function to:

  • A) Increase metabolic rate
  • B) Lower body temperature only
  • C) Reduce oxygen consumption
  • D) Stimulate milk production

Q7. The main hormone released by the adrenal medulla during the immediate "fight-or-flight" response is:

  • A) Aldosterone
  • B) Cortisol
  • C) Adrenaline (epinephrine)
  • D) Insulin

Q8. In negative feedback control, a rise in the final hormone usually:

  • A) Increases the release of its stimulating hormones
  • B) Inhibits the release of its stimulating hormones
  • C) Has no effect on upstream glands
  • D) Destroys the target gland

Q9. The surge in which hormone triggers ovulation in the menstrual cycle?

  • A) Progesterone
  • B) FSH
  • C) Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • D) Oxytocin

Q10. Which gland is located in the neck, wrapped around the trachea?

  • A) Pancreas
  • B) Thyroid
  • C) Pituitary
  • D) Adrenal

Section B — Matching (1 mark each) — 10 marks

Match each gland/hormone in Column X to its correct description in Column Y. Write the letter.

Column X Column Y
Q11. Pancreas (islets) A) Regulates metabolic rate via T3/T4
Q12. Thyroid gland B) Secretes glucagon and insulin
Q13. Adrenal cortex C) Stimulates thyroid via TSH
Q14. Anterior pituitary D) Secretes cortisol (stress hormone)
Q15. Hypothalamus E) Releasing hormones controlling pituitary
Q16. Ovaries F) Produce oestrogen and progesterone
Q17. Glucagon G) Raises blood glucose
Q18. Insulin H) Lowers blood glucose
Q19. Adrenaline I) Fast-acting; increases heart rate
Q20. FSH J) Stimulates follicle development in ovary

Section C — True/False WITH Justification (2 marks each: 1 T/F + 1 justification) — 20 marks

State True or False AND give a one-line reason.

Q21. Steroid hormones can diffuse directly through the plasma membrane. (2)

Q22. Insulin and glucagon are both secreted by the same cells of the pancreas. (2)

Q23. The hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary using releasing and inhibiting hormones. (2)

Q24. During negative feedback, high thyroid hormone levels stimulate more TSH release. (2)

Q25. Exocrine glands release their products through ducts onto surfaces or into cavities. (2)

Q26. Cortisol is released from the adrenal medulla during long-term stress. (2)

Q27. A rise in blood glucose after a meal stimulates insulin secretion. (2)

Q28. Progesterone levels rise after ovulation to help maintain the uterine lining. (2)

Q29. Peptide hormones are lipid-soluble and bind receptors inside the nucleus. (2)

Q30. The pituitary gland sits at the base of the brain, below the hypothalamus. (2)

Answer keyMark scheme & solutions

Section A — MCQ (1 mark each)

Q1. B — Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into blood; exocrine glands secrete via ducts (defining distinction). (1)

Q2. B — Cortisol is a steroid (derived from cholesterol). Insulin, glucagon, GH are peptides/proteins. (1)

Q3. B — Peptide hormones are water-soluble, cannot cross the membrane, so bind surface receptors and trigger second messengers (e.g., cAMP). (1)

Q4. C — The pituitary is the "master gland," directly regulated by the hypothalamus. (1)

Q5. B — Insulin promotes cellular glucose uptake, lowering blood glucose. (1)

Q6. A — Thyroid hormones raise basal metabolic rate. (1)

Q7. C — Adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal medulla drives the immediate fight-or-flight response. (1)

Q8. B — The final hormone inhibits upstream stimulating hormones — the essence of negative feedback. (1)

Q9. C — An LH surge triggers ovulation. (1)

Q10. B — The thyroid wraps around the trachea in the neck. (1)

Section B — Matching (1 mark each)

Q Answer
Q11 Pancreas B — secretes glucagon and insulin
Q12 Thyroid A — regulates metabolic rate via T3/T4
Q13 Adrenal cortex D — secretes cortisol
Q14 Anterior pituitary C — stimulates thyroid via TSH
Q15 Hypothalamus E — releasing hormones controlling pituitary
Q16 Ovaries F — produce oestrogen and progesterone
Q17 Glucagon G — raises blood glucose
Q18 Insulin H — lowers blood glucose
Q19 Adrenaline I — fast-acting, increases heart rate
Q20 FSH J — stimulates follicle development

Each correct match = 1 mark; total 10.

Section C — True/False with Justification (1 + 1)

Q21. TRUE (1) — Steroids are lipid-soluble so pass through the phospholipid membrane and bind intracellular/nuclear receptors. (1)

Q22. FALSE (1) — They come from different cells: insulin from β-cells, glucagon from α-cells of the islets of Langerhans. (1)

Q23. TRUE (1) — The hypothalamus secretes releasing/inhibiting hormones into the hypophyseal portal system to control the anterior pituitary. (1)

Q24. FALSE (1) — High thyroid hormone inhibits TSH (and TRH) via negative feedback, reducing further release. (1)

Q25. TRUE (1) — By definition exocrine glands use ducts to release products onto surfaces/into cavities (e.g., sweat, saliva). (1)

Q26. FALSE (1) — Cortisol is released from the adrenal cortex, not the medulla (which releases adrenaline). (1)

Q27. TRUE (1) — Rising blood glucose stimulates β-cells to secrete insulin to restore normal levels. (1)

Q28. TRUE (1) — The corpus luteum secretes progesterone after ovulation, maintaining the endometrium. (1)

Q29. FALSE (1) — Peptide hormones are water-soluble and bind surface (membrane) receptors, not nuclear receptors. (1)

Q30. TRUE (1) — The pituitary lies in the sella turcica at the brain base, just below and connected to the hypothalamus. (1)

Total: 10 (A) + 10 (B) + 20 (C) = 40 marks

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  {"claim": "Section A has 10 questions worth 1 mark each = 10 marks", "code": "result = (10*1 == 10)"},
  {"claim": "Section B has 10 matches worth 1 mark each = 10 marks", "code": "result = (10*1 == 10)"},
  {"claim": "Section C has 10 T/F questions worth 2 marks each = 20 marks", "code": "result = (10*2 == 20)"},
  {"claim": "Total paper marks = 40", "code": "result = (10 + 10 + 20 == 40)"}
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