Public Health & Sanitation Quiz: Questions and Answers
Test your knowledge on key concepts in public health, sanitation, and hygiene with this detailed quiz. Each question includes a clear explanation to enhance your understanding.
Q1. Most Common Water-Borne Disease
Which of the following is the most common water‑borne disease caused by ingestion of contaminated water?
- (a) Malaria
- (b) Tuberculosis
- (c) Cholera
- (d) Dengue
Answer: (c) Cholera
Explanation: Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and spreads mainly through drinking water contaminated with fecal matter.
Q2. Importance of Hand-Washing
The practice of washing hands with soap before meals primarily helps to prevent:
- (a) Respiratory infections
- (b) Skin allergies
- (c) Gastrointestinal infections
- (d) Eye infections
Answer: (c) Gastrointestinal infections
Explanation: Hand‑washing removes pathogens that can be ingested, reducing diarrheal and other GI infections.
Q3. Biodegradable Waste
Which of the following wastes is considered biodegradable?
- (a) Plastic bottles
- (b) Glass jars
- (c) Fruit peels
- (d) Metal cans
Answer: (c) Fruit peels
Explanation: Fruit peels decompose naturally by microorganisms, whereas plastic, glass, and metal are non‑biodegradable.
Q4. Open Defecation and Disease
Open defecation contributes most directly to the spread of which disease?
- (a) Hepatitis B
- (b) Typhoid fever
- (c) HIV/AIDS
- (d) Asthma
Answer: (b) Typhoid fever
Explanation: Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi, spreads through the fecal‑oral route when human waste contaminates water or food.
Q5. Vector-Borne Disease Definition
The term “vector‑borne disease” refers to infections transmitted by:
- (a) Contaminated air
- (b) Infected water
- (c) Living organisms such as mosquitoes
- (d) Direct person‑to‑person contact
Answer: (c) Living organisms such as mosquitoes
Explanation: Vectors (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks) carry pathogens from one host to another.
Q6. Solid Waste Management Components
Which of the following is NOT a component of solid waste management?
- (a) Collection
- (b) Segregation
- (c) Incineration without pollution control
- (d) Recycling
Answer: (c) Incineration without pollution control
Explanation: Proper solid waste management includes collection, segregation, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal; uncontrolled incineration pollutes air.
Q7. Focus of Swachh Bharat Mission
The “Swachh Bharat Mission” primarily focuses on:
- (a) Increasing industrial production
- (b) Promoting afforestation
- (c) Eliminating open defecation and improving solid waste management
- (d) Expanding railway networks
Answer: (c) Eliminating open defecation and improving solid waste management
Explanation: Launched in 2014, the mission aims to make India open‑defecation free and improve municipal solid waste handling.
Q8. Preventing Respiratory Infections
Which personal hygiene practice is most effective in preventing the spread of respiratory infections like influenza?
- (a) Wearing sunglasses
- (b) Using hand sanitizer after touching surfaces
- (c) Drinking boiled water only
- (d) Eating spicy food
Answer: (b) Using hand sanitizer after touching surfaces
Explanation: Hand sanitizer kills viruses on hands, reducing transmission via touch to the face.
Q9. Pit Latrine Waste Treatment
The safe disposal of human excreta in a pit latrine is an example of:
- (a) Chemical waste treatment
- (b) Biological waste treatment
- (c) Mechanical waste treatment
- (d) Thermal waste treatment
Answer: (b) Biological waste treatment
Explanation: Pit latrines rely on anaerobic decomposition by microorganisms—a biological process.
Q10. Symptom of Dengue Fever
Which of the following is a common symptom of dengue fever?
- (a) Persistent cough
- (b) High fever with severe joint and muscle pain
- (c) Bluish discoloration of lips
- (d) Chronic diarrhea
Answer: (b) High fever with severe joint and muscle pain
Explanation: Dengue is characterized by sudden high fever, headache, retro‑orbital pain, and severe joint/muscle pain (“break‑bone fever”).
Q11. Definition of Grey Water
In the context of sanitation, “grey water” refers to:
- (a) Wastewater from toilets
- (b) Rainwater collected from rooftops
- (c) Used water from sinks, showers, and laundry (excluding fecal contamination)
- (d) Industrial effluents containing heavy metals
Answer: (c) Used water from sinks, showers, and laundry (excluding fecal contamination)
Explanation: Grey water is relatively low‑contaminant domestic wastewater that can be reused for irrigation after simple treatment.
Q12. Prevention with Bed Nets
Which disease is primarily prevented by the use of insecticide‑treated bed nets?
- (a) Tuberculosis
- (b) Malaria
- (c) Hepatitis C
- (d) Diabetes
Answer: (b) Malaria
Explanation: Bed nets prevent mosquito bites, reducing transmission of Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria.
Q13. Process of Vermicomposting
The process of converting biodegradable organic waste into compost is known as:
- (a) Pyrolysis
- (b) Vermicomposting
- (c) Esterification
- (d) Saponification
Answer: (b) Vermicomposting
Explanation: Vermicomposting uses earthworms to decompose organic waste into nutrient‑rich compost.
Q14. Unsafe Drinking Water Method
Which of the following is NOT a recommended method for safe drinking water at household level?
- (a) Boiling for at least 1 minute
- (b) Adding chlorine tablets
- (c) Storing water in an open container exposed to sunlight
- (d) Using a ceramic filter
Answer: (c) Storing water in an open container exposed to sunlight
Explanation: Open storage can lead to re‑contamination; safe methods include boiling, chlorination, filtration, or solar disinfection in sealed containers.
Q15. Definition of Zoonosis
The term “zoonosis” refers to diseases that:
- (a) Spread only among humans
- (b) Are transmitted from animals to humans
- (c) Originate from plants
- (d) Are caused by genetic mutations
Answer: (b) Are transmitted from animals to humans
Explanation: Examples include rabies, avian influenza, and leptospirosis.
Q16. Reducing Mosquito Breeding
Which of the following practices helps reduce mosquito breeding in peri‑urban areas?
- (a) Storing water in uncovered tanks
- (b) Regularly cleaning and covering water storage containers
- (c) Dumping solid waste in open drains
- (d) Using scented candles indoors
Answer: (b) Regularly cleaning and covering water storage containers
Explanation: Eliminating stagnant water prevents Aedes and Culex mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Q17. Objective of Social Forestry
The primary objective of “social forestry” in relation to public health is to:
- (a) Increase timber export
- (b) Provide shade, reduce air pollution, and improve community well‑being
- (c) Replace agricultural land with forests
- (d) Generate revenue from wildlife hunting
Answer: (b) Provide shade, reduce air pollution, and improve community well‑being
Explanation: Social forestry creates green belts that lower particulate matter, offer recreational spaces, and enhance mental health.
Q18. Characteristic of a Sanitary Landfill
Which of the following is a characteristic of a “sanitary landfill”?
- (a) Open dumping without any cover
- (b) Waste placed in layers, compacted, and covered with soil daily
- (c) Burning waste to generate electricity without emission controls
- (d) Dumping waste directly into rivers
Answer: (b) Waste placed in layers, compacted, and covered with soil daily
Explanation: Sanitary landfills isolate waste from the environment using liners, daily cover, and leachate collection systems.
Q19. Importance of Menstrual Hygiene
Personal hygiene during menstruation is important to prevent:
- (a) Hair loss
- (b) Urinary tract infections and skin irritation
- (c) Increased appetite
- (d) Improved vision
Answer: (b) Urinary tract infections and skin irritation
Explanation: Proper menstrual hygiene reduces risk of infections and dermatitis in the genital area.
Q20. Chemical Hazard in Solid Waste
Which of the following is an example of a “chemical hazard” in solid waste?
- (a) Food scraps
- (b) Used batteries
- (c) Paper napkins
- (d) Cotton cloth
Answer: (b) Used batteries
Explanation: Batteries contain heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium) that can leach into soil and water, posing chemical hazards.
Q21. The F-Diagram in Public Health
The “F‑diagram” in public health illustrates the transmission pathways of fecal‑oral diseases. Which of the following is NOT one of the Fs?
- (a) Fluids
- (b) Fingers
- (c) Flies
- (d) Fire
Answer: (d) Fire
Explanation: The Fs are fluids, fingers, flies, fields, food, and feces; fire is not part of the diagram.
Q22. Preventing COVID-19 Spread
Which measure is most effective in preventing the spread of COVID‑19 in a community setting?
- (a) Taking vitamin C supplements daily
- (b) Wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and hand hygiene
- (c) Eating only raw vegetables
- (d) Avoiding all forms of exercise
Answer: (b) Wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and hand hygiene
Explanation: Masks reduce droplet transmission, distancing limits close contact, and hand hygiene removes virus from surfaces.
Q23. The 3Rs in Waste Management
In waste management, the “3Rs” stand for:
- (a) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- (b) Remove, Replace, Renew
- (c) Recover, Refine, Reclaim
- (d) Repair, Return, Reinvest
Answer: (a) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Explanation: The 3Rs hierarchy aims to minimize waste generation by first reducing, then reusing, and finally recycling materials.
Q24. Disease from Fluoride Deficiency
Which of the following diseases is primarily associated with inadequate fluoride in drinking water?
- (a) Dental caries
- (b) Goiter
- (c) Anemia
- (
