How the body defends itself: immunity, vaccines and antibiotics
Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.
Ari reads a graph for a vaccine at day 0 and a microbe with the same antigen at day 28. Which statement combines what the graph shows with why?
- The rise after day 28 matches the rise after day 0, since each exposure starts from nothing
- The level reaches 70 within 7 days, above the first peak of 6, since memory cells formed
- The level stays near 2 after day 28, since vaccine antibodies already cover the antigen
- The rise after day 28 is slower than after day 0, since the vaccine used up the antibodies
Microbe card (model data), 2 rows. Columns: microbe, antigen on its surface. P, X. Q, Y. Bo reads a microbe card. A vaccine with antigen X was given earlier, and antigen Y is not similar to X. Which statement fits both microbes?
- A fast response to microbe Q only, since a new antigen wakes the memory cells
- A fast response to microbe P only, since its antigen matches the memory cells
- A fast response to both microbes, since memory cells match any antigen
- A slow response to both microbes, since each exposure starts from nothing
Jun reads a shape card. A microbe's surface changes from antigen X to a new antigen Z. Which prediction fits the next response?
Shape card (model data), 2 rows. Columns: antigen, tip shape, fits the memory cells' antibodies. old antigen X, triangle, yes. new antigen Z, square, no. Shape card (model data), 2 rows. Columns: antigen, tip shape, fits the memory cells' antibodies. old antigen X, triangle, yes. new antigen Z, square, no. antigen tip shape fits the memory cells' antibodies old antigen X triangle yes new antigen Z square no Shape card (model data), 2 rows. - A slow, low rise like a first exposure, since the antibodies do not fit square tips
- A fast, high rise, because the microbe is still the same kind of microbe as before
- A fast, high rise like a second exposure, because memory cells' antibodies fit any tip
- No rise, because the first response cleared that microbe from the body for good
Kira reads a graph for one vaccine dose at day 0. In the model, a second dose is given at day 28. Which prediction fits the response after it?
Model graph of antibody level after a first vaccine dose (model data). Time since the first dose (days) across, 0 to 42, a mark every 7. Antibody level (arbitrary units) up, 0 to 40, a mark every 10. Antibody level joins (0, 0), (7, 2), (14, 8), (21, 5), (28, 3). A second dose of the same vaccine is given at day 28. Model graph of antibody level after a first vaccine dose (model data). Time since the first dose (days) across, 0 to 42, a mark every 7. Antibody level (arbitrary units) up, 0 to 40, a mark every 10. Antibody level joins (0, 0), (7, 2), (14, 8), (21, 5), (28, 3). A second dose of the same vaccine is given at day 28. Model graph of antibody level after a first vaccine dose (model data) 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 0 10 20 30 40 Time since the first dose (days) Antibody level (arbitrary units) A second dose of the same vaccine is given at day 28 - Higher and faster than after dose 1, because dose 2 acts like a second exposure
- Higher than after dose 1, because dose 2 delivers ready-made antibodies
- Lower than after dose 1, because the first dose used up the antigen in the vaccine
- The same as after dose 1, because memory cells reset after each dose of the vaccine
Read this first
Community card (model data)
time people immune people before 500 250 after 500 450 Luz reads a community card. Immune people rise from 250 to 450 of 500. Which prediction fits people in the community who are not immune?
- They become immune too, because immunity passes from person to person on contact
- No change for them, because protection stays with each immune person alone
- They are fully protected, because 450 of 500 is enough to stop the microbe completely
- They meet fewer people who can pass it on, though protection is not complete
Use this
Notebook (model data), 4 rows. Columns: line, what it says. 1, Skin and mucus are barriers at the body surface. 2, Antibodies are first-line defenses that act within minutes. 3, Inflammation, fever and phagocytes make up the second line. 4, Memory cells let a second response start sooner.
Milo reviews a classmate's notebook on the lines of defense. Exactly one line is wrong. Which line, and why?
- Line 1, because skin and mucus are second-line defenses that act after the antibodies
- Line 2, because antibodies are specific defenses that take days the first time
- Line 4, because memory cells make a second response slower than the first one
- Line 3, because phagocytes and inflammation are part of the first line, not the second
Use this
Notebook (model data), 4 rows. Columns: line, what it says. 1, A vaccine contains an antigen from a microbe. 2, After a vaccine, the body's own B cells make antibodies. 3, Memory cells can make a later response faster. 4, A vaccine gives the person ready-made antibodies.
Noah reviews a classmate's notebook on vaccines. Exactly one line is wrong. Which line, and why?
- Line 1, because a vaccine contains no antigen
- Line 3, because a vaccine cannot lead to memory cells
- Line 4, because the body makes its own antibodies after a vaccine
- Line 2, because the vaccine supplies the antibodies, not the B cells
Use this
Notebook (model data), 4 rows. Columns: line, what it says. 1, Antibiotics treat certain infections caused by bacteria. 2, Antibiotics work on the viruses that cause a cold or the flu. 3, Bacteria that survive an antibiotic can multiply and spread their resistance. 4, A vaccine prepares memory cells, which is different from what an antibiotic does.
Pia reviews a classmate's notebook on antibiotics. Exactly one line is wrong. Which line, and why?
- Line 4, because a vaccine and an antibiotic do the same job
- Line 3, because resistance is a trait of people, not of bacteria
- Line 1, because antibiotics treat any kind of germ
- Line 2, because antibiotics do not work on viruses
Ren reads a graph of antibody level after exposures at day 0 and day 28. Which statement does the graph support?
Model graph of antibody level after two exposures to one microbe (model data). Time since the first exposure (days) across, 0 to 49, a mark every 7. Antibody level (arbitrary units) up, 0 to 120, a mark every 20. Antibody level joins (0, 0), (7, 2), (14, 10), (21, 8), (28, 4), (35, 100), (42, 60), (49, 40). Exposures happen at day 0 and day 28. Model graph of antibody level after two exposures to one microbe (model data). Time since the first exposure (days) across, 0 to 49, a mark every 7. Antibody level (arbitrary units) up, 0 to 120, a mark every 20. Antibody level joins (0, 0), (7, 2), (14, 10), (21, 8), (28, 4), (35, 100), (42, 60), (49, 40). Exposures happen at day 0 and day 28. Model graph of antibody level after two exposures to one microbe (model data) 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Time since the first exposure (days) Antibody level (arbitrary units) exposure exposure - The second peak, 100, was 10 times the first peak, 10, but came later after its exposure
- The second peak, 100, matched the first peak, and came sooner after its exposure
- The second peak, 100, was 90 times the first peak, 10, and came sooner after its exposure
- The second peak, 100, was 10 times the first peak, 10, and came sooner after its exposure
Two communities card (model data)
community people immune people A 400 200 B 400 360 Tala reads a card on two communities. Which statement does the card support?
- Community A is better protected, since 200 immune people is a smaller number to protect
- Community B is 90 percent immune, so a microbe meets fewer people it can spread to
- Community B is fully protected, so each person in it is safe from the microbe
- In both communities each immune person is protected alone, so spread is equal