Lesson T1.4.3

T1.4.3 Exercise, asthma and smoking Quiz: KS3 Biology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T1.4.3, Exercise, asthma and smoking: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Biology (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Structure and function of living organisms, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Why does a person breathe harder after running?

    • The body needs less oxygen and produces less carbon dioxide
    • The heart stops pumping blood during hard exercise
    • The lungs need to make more blood to cope with the effort
    • The body needs more oxygen and must remove more carbon dioxide

  2. What is asthma?

    • A disorder of blood clotting that causes bleeding
    • A problem with a heart valve that restricts blood flow
    • A condition where the airways become inflamed and narrowed
    • A disease that destroys the lining of the stomach

  3. Which symptom is typical of an asthma attack?

    • Wheezing and tightness in the chest
    • Swollen ankles with a raised heart rate
    • Loss of taste and smell after a cold
    • Yellow skin and blue lips, with a fever

  4. Why does an asthma attack make breathing harder?

    • The diaphragm stops moving and the lungs collapse
    • The ribs become stronger and stop the chest moving
    • The airways become narrow and swollen, restricting airflow
    • The alveoli fill with bile and cannot take in air

  5. Which harmful substance in cigarette smoke damages the cilia and lung tissue?

    • Oxygen
    • Vitamin C
    • Tar
    • Glucose

  6. Which chemical in cigarette smoke reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen?

    • Nitrogen
    • Carbon monoxide
    • Water vapour
    • Carbon dioxide

  7. What does tar from smoking do to the lungs?

    • It coats the lining and damages the cilia
    • It removes all mucus from the airways
    • It makes the cilia stronger and more active
    • It improves gas exchange in the alveoli

  8. Which disease can result from smoking because the alveoli are damaged?

    • Scurvy
    • Anaemia
    • Rickets
    • Emphysema

  9. Why is smoking harmful to the heart?

    • Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen carried in the blood, so the heart must work harder
    • Smoke protects the heart from damage by coating its walls with tar
    • Smoke makes the heart beat more slowly and steadily at all times of day
    • Smoke removes blood from the heart so less blood reaches the body

  10. Which effect does nicotine have on smokers?

    • It increases oxygen in the blood
    • It is addictive
    • It makes the cilia move faster
    • It makes the lungs grow bigger

  11. A long-term smoker develops a persistent cough. Which part of the airways is most likely damaged?

    • The diaphragm
    • The ribs
    • The rings of the trachea
    • Cilia

  12. An asthma inhaler is used to

    • Remove all mucus
    • Increase blood pressure
    • Stop the diaphragm moving
    • Open narrowed airways quickly

  13. Why is regular exercise good for the gas exchange system?

    • It stops mucus forming so the airways stay completely clear
    • It reduces the need for oxygen during daily activity
    • It strengthens the breathing muscles and improves lung capacity
    • It makes the alveoli smaller and reduces their surface area

  14. Why do smokers often have a higher risk of lung infections?

    • Smoke makes the lungs produce more cilia to fight infection
    • Cilia and mucus are damaged, so dust and microbes are not cleared
    • Smoke removes the need for mucus and so the airways stay clear
    • Smoke kills all bacteria in the lungs and so is harmless

  15. What is the effect of regular exercise on the lungs over time?

    • The lungs lose their elasticity permanently with age
    • The alveoli shrink permanently with each season of training
    • The cilia stop working and mucus builds up in the airways
    • The lungs and breathing muscles become stronger and more efficient

  16. A non-smoker and a smoker both exercise hard. Which is more likely to have difficulty breathing?

    • The smoker, because of damaged lungs and less oxygen carried in the blood
    • They have identical breathing because they exercise equally hard
    • Neither would breathe harder than normal during the exercise
    • The non-smoker, because of stronger lungs and a larger capacity

  17. What is one benefit of stopping smoking for the lungs?

    • The alveoli can grow bigger instantly
    • Tar is added to the lungs
    • The cilia can recover and clear mucus better
    • The lungs produce more carbon monoxide

  18. Which measurement would show the effect of smoking on lung function?

    • Blood sugar measured with a glucose test
    • Lung volume measured with a spirometer
    • Bone density measured with a scan
    • Heart rate measured after eating

  19. Which two effects of exercise increase the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the body?

    • Deeper and faster breathing
    • Stopping breathing briefly
    • Shallower breathing and a slower heart rate
    • No change in breathing

  20. Which part of the airways is narrowed during an asthma attack?

    • The bronchi and bronchioles
    • The ribs
    • The diaphragm
    • The alveoli only

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