Grade 8 · Science · Unit 2 of 5
Microbes & the Immune System
Germs, vaccines and pandemics
What your child practises
What makes something alive, helpful and harmful micro-organisms, how the immune system defends the body, how vaccines and antibiotics work, and the impact of epidemics and pandemics.
BC Curriculum learning standard: Characteristics of life; micro-organisms; basic functions of the immune system; vaccination, antibiotics, epidemics and pandemics
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What is herd immunity?
- When a vaccine is stored
- When enough people in a community are immune that diseases spread poorly
- When only one person is immune
- When animals get sick
Show answer
When enough people in a community are immune that diseases spread poorly
Hint: It helps protect people who can't be vaccinated, such as newborns.
Question 2
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
- An epidemic is widespread in a region; a pandemic spreads across many countries or the world.
- There is no difference.
- An epidemic is always harmless.
- A pandemic is only in one town.
Show answer
An epidemic is widespread in a region; a pandemic spreads across many countries or the world.
Hint: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020.
Question 3
What are antibodies?
- Types of red blood cells
- Medicines made from fungi
- Parts of the skin
- Proteins made by the immune system that attach to specific germs
Show answer
Proteins made by the immune system that attach to specific germs
Hint: Antibodies mark germs so white blood cells can destroy them.
Question 4
Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by…
- dust
- allergies
- bacteria
- viruses
Show answer
bacteria
Hint: Antibiotics do not work on viruses such as those that cause colds and flu.
Question 5
What is the body's first line of defence against germs?
- antibodies
- vaccines
- skin and mucus
- fever
Show answer
skin and mucus
Hint: Barriers like skin, tears, stomach acid and mucus keep many germs out.
Question 6
Living or non-living? Sort each item.
Sort into: 🌱 Living · 🪨 Non-living
- ☁️a cloud
- 🍞bread mould
- 🔥a flame
- 🌊a river
- ⭐a sea star
- 🪨a rock
- 🌲a cedar tree
- 🥛bacteria in yogurt
Show answer
🌱 Living: bread mould, a sea star, a cedar tree, bacteria in yogurt · 🪨 Non-living: a cloud, a flame, a river, a rock
Hint: Living things are made of cells, use energy, grow, reproduce and respond to their environment. Non-living things don't do these on their own, even if they move or change.