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Science•SHS Integrated Science: Human Body Systems

Digestion & nutrition

Senior High 6 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What digestion & nutrition means

You learn how food is broken down, absorbed and used by the body. This helps you answer questions on digestive enzymes, food classes and why a balanced diet matters for health and energy.

What you will practise

  • Identify the enzyme that starts starch digestion in the mouth.
  • Choose the part of the gut where most nutrients are absorbed.
  • Match food classes to their main body functions.
  • Spot correct facts about digestion and balanced diets.

Before you start

You should already know the main human body systems and the basic parts of the digestive tract. It also helps if you can name common food classes such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

Which enzyme in saliva begins the digestion of starch?

  • Pepsin
  • Amylase
  • Lipase
  • Trypsin
Answer: Amylase

Working: Salivary amylase (ptyalin) breaks starch down into maltose in the mouth.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing the mouth with the stomach for starch digestion. Remember that saliva starts starch breakdown first.
  • Choosing the large intestine for most absorption. Most digested food is absorbed in the small intestine.
  • Saying proteins are the main energy source. Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy.
  • Mixing up balanced diet with eating a lot of one food group. A balanced diet needs different nutrients in the right amounts.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES SHS syllabusWASSCE

This topic usually appears in SHS biology or integrated science lessons on nutrition, digestion and the human body. In WASSCE preparation, it supports questions that test enzyme action, absorption and the role of a balanced diet.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other SHS Integrated Science: Human Body Systems skills in Science, at the same point in the course.

Other Science topics

My WorldLiving Things Around UsSHS SciencesUniversity ScienceBiologyChemistry

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Exams that assess digestion & nutrition

Senior High work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the Science topics that appear on it.

WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsFree WASSCE practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.GESGES practice questionsFree GES practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
DigiTransact Mastermind editorial team
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6 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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