Year 9 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 20
Challenge Worksheet
Learning Goals
Find the mistake
A student wrote this summary of Year 9 Unit 1
"In this unit, we learned about infectious and non-infectious diseases. [1] Vaccines are used to treat existing infections by helping the immune system fight the pathogen more quickly. [2] The second line of defence is the specific immune response, it targets one particular pathogen using antibodies. The first and third lines are non-specific. When bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, [3] this is caused by patients becoming resistant to the antibiotic through repeated use. Herd immunity is a community-level protection that prevents disease from spreading. [4] Herd immunity requires 100% vaccination coverage in the population to be effective. Finally, [5] non-infectious diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease cannot cause death because they do not involve a pathogen attacking the body."
For each numbered error: (a) identify what is wrong, (b) write the correct statement, and (c) explain why this misconception is easy to make.
Error 1 "Vaccines treat existing infections."
What is wrong:
Correct statement:
Why this misconception is easy to make:
Error 2 "The second line of defence is the specific immune response."
What is wrong:
Correct statement:
Why this misconception is easy to make:
Error 3 "Antibiotic resistance is caused by patients becoming resistant."
What is wrong:
Correct statement:
Why this misconception is easy to make:
Error 4 "Herd immunity requires 100% vaccination coverage."
What is wrong:
Correct statement:
Why this misconception is easy to make:
Error 5 "Non-infectious diseases cannot cause death."
What is wrong:
Correct statement:
Why this misconception is easy to make:
Wrap Up
Which disease concept surprised you most in Unit 1, and how has it changed how you think about personal health decisions?