Lesson 3.2.4.1

3.2.4.1 Antigens and cell-surface recognition Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.4.1, Antigens and cell-surface recognition: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 2: Cells, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What type of molecule triggers a specific immune response as a non-self marker?

    • Antigen
    • Antibody
    • Histamine
    • Cytokine

  2. Which of the following is identified as non-self by cell-surface antigens?

    • Phagocytes
    • Red blood cells
    • Abnormal body cells
    • Healthy self cells

  3. Why does the influenza virus cause repeated infections in the same population?

    • Antibody destruction
    • Clonal deletion
    • Phagocytosis failure
    • Antigenic variation

  4. Which molecules on foreign cell membranes act as specific non-self antigens?

    • Glycoproteins
    • Phospholipids
    • Cholesterol
    • Triglycerides

  5. How does the immune system recognise abnormal body cells like cancer cells?

    • Reduced glucose uptake
    • Altered surface antigens
    • Thicker cell membranes
    • Decreased cell size

  6. Which cells produce antibodies in response to a bacterial toxin acting as an antigen?

    • Cytotoxic T cells
    • B lymphocytes
    • Phagocytes
    • Helper T cells

  7. What process requires vaccines for viruses like influenza to be updated regularly?

    • Herd immunity
    • Antigenic variability
    • Monoclonal production
    • Active immunisation

  8. Which molecule on cell surface membranes identifies cells as self or non-self?

    • Glycoprotein
    • Phospholipid
    • Cholesterol
    • Carrier protein

  9. Why can a mutated pathogen strain cause disease in a previously immune individual?

    • Memory cells unreactive
    • Helper T cells absent
    • Phagocytes destroyed
    • Antibodies digested

  10. Which enzymes inside a phagolysosome break down engulfed pathogens?

    • Lysozymes
    • Amylases
    • Ligases
    • Polymerases

  11. What markers on healthy body cells prevent an attack by the host immune system?

    • Antibodies
    • Toxins
    • Foreign antigens
    • Self antigens

  12. Why might antibodies against one bacterial strain fail to protect against a related strain?

    • Identical cell walls
    • Same lipid bilayer
    • Different surface antigens
    • Equal ribosome size

  13. What type of cell-surface molecule triggers a specific immune response?

    • Antigen
    • Antibody
    • Interferon
    • Histamine

  14. What form of pathogen is typically used in vaccines to prevent disease?

    • Attenuated pathogen
    • Virulent strain
    • Monoclonal antibody
    • Active exotoxin

  15. What type of molecule is produced in response to a foreign antigen?

    • Perforin
    • Antibody
    • Histamine
    • Cytokine

  16. What characteristic of cell-surface proteins allows identification of individual cell types?

    • Specific tertiary structure
    • Ester linkages
    • Phosphate groups
    • Peptide bond number

  17. Which region of an antibody provides specificity for a single antigen shape?

    • Disulphide bridge
    • Variable region
    • Hinge region
    • Constant region

  18. What feature on cancer cells allows the immune system to identify them?

    • Altered surface antigens
    • Increased cell walls
    • Reduced ATP synthesis
    • Lower ribosome count

  19. Why are organs transplanted between non-identical humans often rejected by the recipient?

    • Different cell walls
    • Foreign surface antigens
    • Mismatched blood sugars
    • Identical antibodies

  20. What process in pathogens leads to changes in their surface antigens?

    • Agglutination
    • Clonal selection
    • Phagocytosis
    • Antigenic variation

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