Reproductive Health – Competency-Based Questions

Class 12 Biology Competency-Based Questions Chapter 4

1 Mark Questions

1. Which of the following is an indicator of a reproductively unhealthy society?

1. Increase in infant mortality rate
2. Decline in maternal mortality rate
3. Widespread awareness of contraceptive methods
4. Detection and cure of sexually transmitted diseases

Ans: A. increase in infant mortality rate

2. Amniocentesis is a medical procedure where some of the amniotic fluid of the developing foetus is drawn to analyse the foetal cells and dissolved substances. It was banned in India around 1994 under the Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act in order to stop female foeticides. Which of the following highlights the importance of amniocentesis despite the ban?

1. Identification of a decline in sex ratio
2. prevention of sexually transmitted diseases
3. determination of biological sex of the unborn baby
4. detection of genetic disorders

Ans: D. detection of genetic disorders

3. Two statements are given below – one is an Assertion (A) and the other is a Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Periodic abstinence is a natural method of birth control where couples avoid intercourse from day 10 to 17 of the menstrual cycle.

Reason (R): Ovulation occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle.

Which of the following is correct?

1. Both A and R are true, and R is a correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A.
3. A is true, but R is false.
4. A is false, but R is true.

Ans: A. Both A and R are true, and R is a correct explanation of A.

4. Which of the following methods of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can be a more viable process of pregnancy in a woman after menopause?

1. Gamete intrafallopian transfer
2. Zygote intrafallopian transfer
3. Artificial insemination
4. Pregnancy is not possible after menopause

Ans: B. zygote intrafallopian transfer

5. Vasectomy is a permanent contraception method where the vasa deferentia are cut and tied.

Which of the following does a vasectomy prevent?

1. Entry of urine into the urethra
2. Spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules
3. Release of spermatozoa into the sperm ducts
4. Secretion of prostaglandins by the seminal vesicles

Ans: C. release of spermatozoa into the sperm ducts

2 Marks Questions

6. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2017 dictates that a pregnancy may be terminated on certain grounds within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy on the opinion of one registered medical practitioner. If the pregnancy has lasted more than 12 weeks but fewer than 24 weeks, two registered medical practitioners must be of the opinion, formed in good faith, that the required ground exists.

[Note: Grounds refer to circumstances or conditions.]

Describe two grounds under which medical termination of pregnancy is permitted.

Ans: 

• If pregnancy is continued, it would threaten the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the pregnant woman.
• There is a possibility that the infant would suffer from physical or mental abnormalities that can be serious handicaps.
• The pregnancy is unwanted by the pregnant woman.

7. Given below are two statements. State whether each of them is true or false and justify, using examples.

(a) All contraceptives have the added advantage of protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

(b) Natural birth control methods have negligible side effects.

Ans: 

• (a) False. Contraceptives like IUDs and pills do NOT protect against STDs.
• (b) The statement is true. No medicines or devices are used in natural birth control options such as periodic abstinence, lactational amenorrhea, and coitus interruptus.

8. As a volunteer for creating sexual health awareness in rural areas, you have been asked to create a poster highlighting birth control options available to males.

State two contraceptive methods with negligible chances of failure available to males. For each method, mention the working principle briefly.

Ans: 

• Method: condoms
• Working: acts as a barrier between sperm and ovum
• Method: sterilisation/surgical method/vasectomy
• Working: blocks the transport of sperm to the urethra

3 Marks Questions

9. Answer the following questions:

(i) Based on the site of fertilisation, state one difference between Intra-Uterine Transfer (IUT) of an embryo and Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI).

(ii) All Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) require the extraction of the female gamete from the ovary. Is this statement TRUE or FALSE? Give a reason.

(iii) State one characteristic each of the donor and recipient’s reproductive system that enables them to participate in Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer (GIFT).

Ans: 

• (i)
  • In IUT, fertilisation is in vitro/outside the body/in the laboratory
  • In IUI, fertilisation is in vivo/inside the body
• (ii) The statement is FALSE. In artificial insemination, only semen is transferred to the female reproductive tract. The ovum is not extracted.
• (iii)
  • The donor can produce an ovum/cannot conceive/cannot support a full term of pregnancy
  • The receiver can support fertilisation/support pregnancy/cannot produce an ovum.

10. Write down three ways by which an adult human can contract HIV. 

Ans: 

(i) sharing of injection needles or surgical instruments with an infected person,

(ii) blood transfusion from an infected person

(iii) sexual contact with an infected person

11. Shown below are some details pertaining to an oral contraceptive pill. Carefully study them and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Name ANY TWO reproductive processes blocked by the oral pill shown below.

(b) A patient X took the pills as instructed for one month. Why is there a gap of 7 days after the 21st day indicated on the pack?

(c) Patient X suspects that her partner is suffering from hepatitis B. In such a situation:

(i) Would you recommend her to use oral pills shown above as the ONLY contraceptive? Support your answer with a reason.

(ii) What is an alternative contraceptive that can be suggested to patient X and her partner?

Ans: 

• (a)
  • Ovulation
  • Implantation
  • Entry of sperm through the cervix
• (b) After 21st day, when the patients stop taking the pills, menstruation occurs.
• (c)
  • (i) No. Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease. Oral pills do not prevent the transmission of STDs.
  • (ii) Condom

Additional Study Materials

• Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants- Competency-Based Questions
• Human Reproduction  – Competency-Based Questions