RESPIRATORY SYSTEM WORKSHEET Answer Key
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM WORKSHEET Answer Key
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM WORKSHEET Answer Key
The exercises with the number in red are the priority ones to work in class, but ALL the
exercises are important.
During cellular respiration, apart from producing energy we also produce carbon dioxide,
which must be released, as it is toxic for our cells. Carbon dioxide will leave the blood during
gas exchange, which is also carried out by the respiratory system. Finally, the CO2 is
expelled during exhalation.
4. What is the relationship between the respiratory system and the digestive system?
For our body to produce energy by cellular respiration it needs O2 (provided by the
respiratory system) and glucose (provided by the digestion of nutrients by the digestive
system).
6. Tell if the following events happen during inhalation, exhalation or gas exchange.
Ventilation Gas
exchange
Inhalation Exhalation
Simple diffusion x
PROJECT
8. What is CO2? How can we measure it?
CO2 is a greenhouse effect gas (GEG) that is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels as
well as natural processes (f.ex. cellular respiration).
It can be measured with a carbon dioxide metre.
9. What is asthma?
Asthma is the result of a temporary narrowing of the bronchi. It can be caused by an allergic
reaction or anxiety. Asthma causes shortness of breath and fatigue.
12. Tell 3 individual actions that can be done to reduce air pollution.
- Reduce the use of private transports (cars)
- Buy local products, to reduce the emissions of pollutants derived from the transport.
- Get involved in community actions like planting trees.
13. Tell 3 actions that can be taken by the government to reduce air pollution.
- Create and protect green areas (f.ex. Parks, hills…)
- Promote the use of public transport by reducing the prices.
- Promote the use of renewable sources of energy to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
14. Tell 3 actions that can be taken by different states (i.e. global agreements) to reduce
air pollution.
- Limit the emissions of CO2 per country.
- Give financial aid for investment in green energy.
- Invest in science for capturing pollutants from the air.
c. Click on the link for the source of the graph. Is it a reliable source of
information?
Yes, the World Economic Forum is a reliable source of information, as it is officially
recognised by many countries. Also, in the link the information that is presented is based on
scientific literature from reliable centres (f.ex. National Centers for Environmental
Information) which we can access from the WEF website.
16. The following graphs show trends in prevalence and incidence of chronic respiratory
diseases from 1990 to 2017.
Source: Xie, M., Liu, X., Cao, X. et al. Trends in prevalence and incidence of chronic
respiratory diseases from 1990 to 2017. Respir Res 21, 49 (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-020-1291-8
a. Is the source reliable? Why or why not? Yes, it is reliable as it is a scientific paper
published in Springer Nature (an important science journal).
b. What does SDI mean? It means Socio-Demographic Index and it combines
information on the economy, education, and fertility rate of countries around the
world, as a representation of social and economic development.
c. Which countries have the greatest incidence of COPD? And the lowest incidence?
Highest incidence = low SDI. Lowest incidence = high SDI
d. Do you think that there is any relationship between the SDI and the incidence of
COPD? Why?
Lower SDI may be related to less investment in education and environmental policies, as
well as a worse healthcare system. Therefore, there is a higher risk of developing COPD.
e. Which countries have the greatest incidence of asthma? And the lowest incidence?
Greatest incidence = middle SDI; lowest = high-middle SDI
f. Do you think that there is any relationship between the SDI and the incidence of
asthma? Why?
In this case, the explanation given previously is not valid for explaining asthma prevalence.
Therefore, we might think that asthma incidence is not related to the SDI.
g. Compare the two graphs in this question with the graph on CO2 and temperature
levels on question number 17. Can you tell any relationship between the incidences
and CO2 or the temperature? Is it correlation, causality, both or none? Search for
information to justify your answer.
First of all, we must take into account the years included in each graph for comparison.
We cannot tell any correlation between them, as COPD and asthma incidences should
increase from the year 1990 to the year 2007 along with the rise in CO2 and temperature,
which does not happen.
IMPORTANT:
Scientific literature suggests that there might be a relationship between CO2 and asthma.
If CO2 levels increase, the greenhouse effect increases, therefore the global temperature
increases as well.
○ The increase in temperature stimulates the blooming of plants, so pollen is
released.
○ Pollen is one of the main asthma triggers. Asthma is a reaction of our body to
foreign molecules (f.ex. pollen).
○ Conclusion: the more CO2, the more prevalence of asthma.
In relation to COPD, we cannot tell any causality.