Lesson T1.6.1

T1.6.1 Recreational drugs and health Quiz: KS3 Biology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T1.6.1, Recreational drugs and health: 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. Which recreational drug is a depressant that slows reaction times and affects judgement?

    • Glucose
    • Nicotine
    • Caffeine
    • Alcohol

  2. Which substance in tobacco smoke is addictive?

    • Tar
    • Nicotine
    • Ethanol
    • Carbon monoxide

  3. Which gas from cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry?

    • Ethanol, the alcohol found in many drinks and medicines
    • Tar, a sticky mixture of chemicals that coats the lungs
    • Carbon monoxide
    • Nicotine, the addictive drug found in tobacco smoke

  4. What does tar in cigarette smoke do to the lungs?

    • Thickens the blood and stops it from clotting
    • Makes the lungs produce extra oxygen for the blood
    • Makes the heart beat more slowly during rest
    • Coats the airways and can lead to cancer

  5. Why is alcohol classed as a depressant?

    • It increases the production of red blood cells in the marrow
    • It slows down activity in the brain and nervous system
    • It makes the muscles stronger for a short time during activity
    • It speeds up the heartbeat and increases the breathing rate in the body

  6. Long-term heavy drinking can seriously damage which organ?

    • The skin
    • The large intestine
    • The spleen
    • The liver

  7. Caffeine is a stimulant. Which effect is most likely after drinking a strong coffee?

    • Loss of memory for the rest of the day
    • Lower blood pressure and deep sleep
    • A faster heartbeat and less tiredness
    • Slower reactions and drowsiness

  8. A student's reaction time is tested after drinking alcohol. Which result is most likely?

    • A faster reaction time only in bright light
    • The same reaction time as before drinking
    • A longer reaction time than before drinking
    • A shorter reaction time than before drinking

  9. What effect does nicotine have on heart rate and blood pressure?

    • Both tend to increase
    • Neither is affected at all
    • Heart rate rises but blood pressure falls
    • Both tend to decrease

  10. Why is smoking during pregnancy harmful to the unborn baby?

    • The foetus's heart beats faster to remove the smoke
    • Chemicals stay in the mother's lungs and never reach the blood
    • Chemicals can pass through the placenta and affect the foetus
    • The placenta makes extra oxygen to cancel out the smoke

  11. What does substance misuse mean?

    • Eating foods that contain caffeine in drinks like cola or tea
    • Using a drug in a way that harms health, behaviour or life
    • Drinking plenty of water after vigorous exercise each day
    • Taking a prescribed medicine exactly as the label on the box says

  12. What are solvent fumes, such as glue vapour, able to cause when inhaled?

    • Stronger muscles and faster running over long distances
    • Lower body temperature for a long time after exposure
    • Better concentration and memory for school work and tests
    • Loss of consciousness and damage to the brain

  13. Why can drugs affect judgement and decision making?

    • They change how chemical signals work in the brain
    • They make the eyes produce extra tears in bright light
    • They increase the size of the stomach and its digestive rate
    • They block sound from reaching the inner ear and drum

  14. A person's heart rate rises after taking a stimulant. Which body system is affected most directly?

    • The excretory system that removes waste from the body
    • The digestive system that breaks down food in the gut
    • The skeletal system that supports and protects the body
    • The circulatory system

  15. Which is a long-term effect of regular smoking on the airways?

    • Permanently wider bronchioles that let in more air
    • Bigger lungs with many more alveoli for gas exchange
    • Stronger cilia that clear mucus from the airways faster
    • Chronic bronchitis and damage to the airways

  16. Why is it dangerous to drink alcohol and then drive?

    • Alcohol makes the tyres grip the wet road surface much more firmly
    • Reactions and judgement are impaired, raising crash risk
    • Alcohol improves eyesight so drivers can see the road better
    • Alcohol makes the car engine run faster and hotter than usual

  17. Why are recreational drugs taken?

    • To repair damaged tissues after an injury or accident
    • To control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes
    • To fight off bacterial infections that cause illness
    • For pleasure or to change how someone feels

  18. A friend offers a drug to a teenager. Which action best protects their health?

    • Refusing, and telling a trusted adult if pressured
    • Trying it once with friends to see what it feels like
    • Mixing it with alcohol to make the effect feel much stronger
    • Taking it only when no one else is watching you closely

  19. Why does tobacco smoke increase the risk of heart disease?

    • Nicotine stops the heart from contracting properly at all
    • Carbon dioxide dissolves into the blood and lowers its pH level greatly
    • Tar makes the heart valves grow larger and thicker over time
    • Nicotine narrows blood vessels and carbon monoxide cuts oxygen

  20. Which statement about drug addiction is correct?

    • Addictive drugs are only dangerous to people who are already ill
    • Addiction only happens with drugs that are injected into the body
    • Once stopped, addiction never affects the brain again in life
    • Some drugs cause a strong need to keep taking them

All KS3 Biology quizzes