BIOL 121 | BIOL121 Module 1: Nutrition Updated
and Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale - Portage Learning
1. Which of the following is the best definition of nutrition?
A. The study of how muscles move during exercise
B. The science that links food to health and disease
C. The process of preparing food for commercial sale
D. The chemical analysis of soil for crop production
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Nutrition specifically investigates how the nutrients in food affect the
human body’s health. It encompasses the entire process from ingestion and digestion to
absorption and excretion. Other fields like kinesiology focus on physical movement rather
than chemical intake. Food science might deal with commercial preparation, but nutrition
focuses on biological impact. Thus, it serves as a bridge between dietary habits and
physiological outcomes.
2. Which of the following is considered a macronutrient?
A. Vitamin C
B. Iron
C. Carbohydrates
D. Calcium
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Macronutrients are required by the body in large amounts to provide
energy and structural support. Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are the three primary
classes of macronutrients found in the diet. Vitamins and minerals are classified as
micronutrients because they are needed in much smaller quantities. Iron and calcium are
specific minerals, while Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. Therefore, carbohydrates
represent the energy-yielding large-scale nutrient in this list.
3. How many calories are provided by one gram of lipids (fats)?
A. 4 kcal
B. 9 kcal
C. 7 kcal
D. 0 kcal
,Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Lipids are the most energy-dense macronutrient, providing 9 calories
per gram consumed. Carbohydrates and proteins only provide 4 calories per gram, making
them less dense. Alcohol provides 7 calories per gram but is not considered a necessary
nutrient for health. Micronutrients like vitamins and minerals provide no calories at all.
Knowing these values is essential for calculating the total energy intake from various food
sources.
4. Which physiological drive prompts a person to find and eat food?
A. Appetite
B. Hunger
C. Satiety
D. Cravings
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Hunger is the internal, physiological drive that signals the body needs
energy or nutrients. It is regulated by internal cues such as hormones and the nervous
system. Appetite, by contrast, is a psychological desire to eat specific foods often triggered
by external cues. Satiety refers to the feeling of fullness that occurs after eating has satisfied
hunger. Therefore, hunger is the primary biological signal for survival and maintenance.
5. Which of the following is an organic compound that does not provide energy?
A. Minerals
B. Water
C. Proteins
D. Vitamins
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Vitamins are organic compounds because they contain carbon-
carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. While they are essential for regulating body processes,
they do not provide any kilocalories of energy. Minerals are inorganic substances and do
not contain carbon in their chemical structure. Water is also inorganic and provides no
energy but is vital for hydration. Proteins are organic and provide 4 calories per gram,
excluding them from this category.
6. A food contains 10 grams of protein, 10 grams of fat, and 20 grams of carbohydrates. How
many total calories are in this food?
A. 160 kcal
B. 210 kcal
, C. 250 kcal
D. 300 kcal
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: To find the total calories, you multiply each macronutrient by its
specific energy value. Proteins and carbohydrates provide 4 kcal/g, while fats provide 9
kcal/g. Calculation: (10g protein x 4) + (10g fat x 9) + (20g carb x 4) equals 40 + 90 + 80.
This results in a total of 210 kilocalories for the specified food item. Using standard energy
conversion factors is the standard method for nutritional analysis.
7. Which of the following is a primary function of proteins in the body?
A. Primary source of quick energy
B. Inorganic catalyst for bone growth
C. Main storage form of excess calories
D. Structural component and tissue repair
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Proteins are essential for building and maintaining body structures
like muscles and organs. They also serve as enzymes and hormones that regulate
biochemical reactions within cells. While they can provide energy, the body prefers to use
carbohydrates and fats for that purpose. Excess protein is not stored as protein but is
converted to fat or excreted. Thus, their structural role is their most critical and unique
contribution to health.
8. What is the term for a feeling of satisfaction that halts the urge to eat?
A. Thermic effect
B. Satiety
C. Appetite
D. Bulimia
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Satiety is the state of being full or satisfied after a meal, which signals
the brain to stop eating. It is the opposite of hunger and is influenced by the volume of food
and nutrient composition. Appetite refers to the external desire for food rather than the
internal signal of fullness. Thermic effect relates to the energy used during digestion rather
than the psychological feeling of fullness. Understanding satiety helps in managing portion
control and overall energy balance.
and Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale - Portage Learning
1. Which of the following is the best definition of nutrition?
A. The study of how muscles move during exercise
B. The science that links food to health and disease
C. The process of preparing food for commercial sale
D. The chemical analysis of soil for crop production
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Nutrition specifically investigates how the nutrients in food affect the
human body’s health. It encompasses the entire process from ingestion and digestion to
absorption and excretion. Other fields like kinesiology focus on physical movement rather
than chemical intake. Food science might deal with commercial preparation, but nutrition
focuses on biological impact. Thus, it serves as a bridge between dietary habits and
physiological outcomes.
2. Which of the following is considered a macronutrient?
A. Vitamin C
B. Iron
C. Carbohydrates
D. Calcium
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Macronutrients are required by the body in large amounts to provide
energy and structural support. Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are the three primary
classes of macronutrients found in the diet. Vitamins and minerals are classified as
micronutrients because they are needed in much smaller quantities. Iron and calcium are
specific minerals, while Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. Therefore, carbohydrates
represent the energy-yielding large-scale nutrient in this list.
3. How many calories are provided by one gram of lipids (fats)?
A. 4 kcal
B. 9 kcal
C. 7 kcal
D. 0 kcal
,Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Lipids are the most energy-dense macronutrient, providing 9 calories
per gram consumed. Carbohydrates and proteins only provide 4 calories per gram, making
them less dense. Alcohol provides 7 calories per gram but is not considered a necessary
nutrient for health. Micronutrients like vitamins and minerals provide no calories at all.
Knowing these values is essential for calculating the total energy intake from various food
sources.
4. Which physiological drive prompts a person to find and eat food?
A. Appetite
B. Hunger
C. Satiety
D. Cravings
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Hunger is the internal, physiological drive that signals the body needs
energy or nutrients. It is regulated by internal cues such as hormones and the nervous
system. Appetite, by contrast, is a psychological desire to eat specific foods often triggered
by external cues. Satiety refers to the feeling of fullness that occurs after eating has satisfied
hunger. Therefore, hunger is the primary biological signal for survival and maintenance.
5. Which of the following is an organic compound that does not provide energy?
A. Minerals
B. Water
C. Proteins
D. Vitamins
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Vitamins are organic compounds because they contain carbon-
carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. While they are essential for regulating body processes,
they do not provide any kilocalories of energy. Minerals are inorganic substances and do
not contain carbon in their chemical structure. Water is also inorganic and provides no
energy but is vital for hydration. Proteins are organic and provide 4 calories per gram,
excluding them from this category.
6. A food contains 10 grams of protein, 10 grams of fat, and 20 grams of carbohydrates. How
many total calories are in this food?
A. 160 kcal
B. 210 kcal
, C. 250 kcal
D. 300 kcal
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: To find the total calories, you multiply each macronutrient by its
specific energy value. Proteins and carbohydrates provide 4 kcal/g, while fats provide 9
kcal/g. Calculation: (10g protein x 4) + (10g fat x 9) + (20g carb x 4) equals 40 + 90 + 80.
This results in a total of 210 kilocalories for the specified food item. Using standard energy
conversion factors is the standard method for nutritional analysis.
7. Which of the following is a primary function of proteins in the body?
A. Primary source of quick energy
B. Inorganic catalyst for bone growth
C. Main storage form of excess calories
D. Structural component and tissue repair
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Proteins are essential for building and maintaining body structures
like muscles and organs. They also serve as enzymes and hormones that regulate
biochemical reactions within cells. While they can provide energy, the body prefers to use
carbohydrates and fats for that purpose. Excess protein is not stored as protein but is
converted to fat or excreted. Thus, their structural role is their most critical and unique
contribution to health.
8. What is the term for a feeling of satisfaction that halts the urge to eat?
A. Thermic effect
B. Satiety
C. Appetite
D. Bulimia
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Satiety is the state of being full or satisfied after a meal, which signals
the brain to stop eating. It is the opposite of hunger and is influenced by the volume of food
and nutrient composition. Appetite refers to the external desire for food rather than the
internal signal of fullness. Thermic effect relates to the energy used during digestion rather
than the psychological feeling of fullness. Understanding satiety helps in managing portion
control and overall energy balance.
