Lesson 4.3.1.9

4.3.1.9 Discovery and development of drugs Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.3.1.9, Discovery and development of drugs: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 3: Infection and response, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What were traditional medical drugs extracted from?

    • Synthetic plastics
    • Metals and minerals
    • Fossil fuels
    • Plants and microorganisms

  2. The heart drug digitalis originates from which organism?

    • Foxgloves
    • Penicillium mould
    • Cocoa beans
    • Willow trees

  3. The painkiller aspirin originates from which source?

    • A fungus
    • Bread yeast
    • Foxglove
    • Willow

  4. Who discovered penicillin?

    • Gregor Mendel
    • Louis Pasteur
    • Edward Jenner
    • Alexander Fleming

  5. Penicillin was discovered from which source?

    • Yeast cells
    • Penicillium mould
    • Willow bark
    • Foxglove leaves

  6. How are most modern pharmaceutical drugs produced today?

    • Cultured in sunlight
    • Extracted from animals
    • Synthesised by chemists
    • Harvested from rocks

  7. Which type of microorganism produces the antibiotic penicillin?

    • Fungus
    • Virus
    • Bacterium
    • Algae

  8. Who takes part in clinical trials for new drugs?

    • Only chemists
    • Only children
    • Volunteers and patients
    • Only animals

  9. What size dose is given at the start of clinical trials?

    • Very low dose
    • Maximum safe dose
    • Lethal dose
    • Standard adult dose

  10. What substance is given to some patients in a double-blind trial?

    • A live pathogen
    • A placebo
    • A high-strength painkiller
    • An active antibiotic

  11. When are the results of drug trials published?

    • Immediately post-trial
    • Without scientific scrutiny
    • Before animal testing
    • After peer review

  12. What three factors are new drugs extensively tested for?

    • Colour, taste, smell
    • Toxicity, efficacy, dose
    • Solubility, mass, volume
    • Cost, profit, patent

  13. What term describes making a new drug from a plant starting material?

    • Combustion
    • Fermentation
    • Distillation
    • Synthesis

  14. What is the main purpose of testing new drugs on cells and animals?

    • Check taste
    • Check toxicity
    • Test cost
    • Improve colour

  15. When is the optimum dose of a new drug found during trials?

    • Later clinical trials
    • Initial dose stage
    • Preclinical testing
    • Discovery phase

  16. What is the purpose of a placebo in a drug trial?

    • Kills pathogens
    • Increases dosage
    • Speeds absorption
    • Provides comparison

  17. Why must natural medicinal drugs still undergo extensive testing?

    • Always pure
    • Already approved
    • Never toxic
    • To check safety

  18. What is the correct sequence of stages in clinical trials for a new drug?

    • Optimum then low
    • Public then lab
    • Patients then animals
    • Low dose then optimum

  19. What is the main purpose of peer review in scientific publishing?

    • Extract chemicals
    • Market drugs
    • Patent formulas
    • Scrutinise results

  20. Why are most new drugs synthesised by chemists rather than extracted?

    • No testing needed
    • Plants are toxic
    • They are cheaper
    • Reliable bulk production

All AQA Combined Science quizzes