Animal Nutrition is one of 10 topics in the Grade 11 Life Sciences CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Mechanical digestion is best described as:
The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces, without changing its chemical composition
The chemical breakdown of large molecules into smaller molecules using enzymes
The absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream
The elimination of undigested waste from the body
Answer: The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces, without changing its chemical composition — Mechanical digestion physically breaks food into smaller pieces (such as through chewing), increasing surface area for chemical digestion, without altering the chemical composition of the food itself.
Easy
2. Carnivores typically have well-developed, sharp, pointed teeth adapted for gripping and tearing flesh, called:
Canines
Molars only
Incisors only
Carnassials only, with no canines
Answer: Canines — Carnivores typically have well-developed, sharp, pointed canine teeth for gripping and killing prey and tearing flesh, along with specialised carnassial teeth for shearing meat.
Medium
3. Why do herbivores typically have well-developed, flat-surfaced molars and premolars?
For grinding tough, fibrous plant material, which requires extensive mechanical breakdown
For gripping and killing live prey
For shearing meat and bone efficiently
For producing digestive enzymes directly in the mouth
Answer: For grinding tough, fibrous plant material, which requires extensive mechanical breakdown — Herbivores need well-developed, flat-surfaced molars and premolars to grind tough, fibrous plant material extensively, since plant cell walls require significant mechanical breakdown before efficient chemical digestion can occur.
