Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following are true statements about all vitamins?

A. They are essential nutrients.

B. They are organic nutrients.

C. They are micronutrients.

D. All of the above are true of vitamins.

2. By the 1940s, the U.S. government mandated that vitamins be added to certain foods because of

A. the link between vitamin deficiencies and disease.

B. the decreasing nutritional quality of food.

C. the increased consumption of junk food.

D. the higher quality of synthetic vitamins.

3. How many compounds are classified as vitamins?

A. 10

B. 11

C. 12

D. 13

4. In addition to carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, some vitamins also contain

A. chlorine.

B. nitrogen.

C. iron.

D. sodium.

5. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and adipose tissue and their concentrations can rise to very high levels. If this happens, which of the following is true?

A. It is a sign of disruption in their metabolism.

B. It indicates that there is an imbalance in fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins in the body.

C. It can be toxic to the body.

D. It can never happen because fat-soluble vitamins are excreted regularly.

6. Vitamins from plant foods are less biologically available than those from animal foods because

A. animal foods contain vitamins in the correct proportions.

B. plant foods undergo more processing.

C. plants do not make the vitamins that we need.

D. fiber reduces their absorption.

7. Which of the following steps will best reduce the loss of vitamins through exposure to oxygen?

A. cooking vegetables in the microwave oven

B. storing fruits and vegetables in closed airtight containers as soon as they are purchased

C. cooking foods in a covered container

D. storing fruits and vegetables after they have been cut rather than whole

8. All of the following are antioxidants except

A. vitamins C and E.

B. carotenoids.

C. biotin.

D. flavonoids.

9. Preformed vitamins can be found in

A. fruits and vegetables.

B. nutritional/dietary supplements.

C. prepared foods.

D. all of the above

10. Dalila was speaking to her grandmother’s reading group about healthful eating habits. Mrs. Cortez asked Dalila about the recent increase in the popularity of berries. She had heard that they were rich in antioxidants. She wanted to know what they could do for her. What do you think would be Dalila’s best answer?

A. Antioxidants are not of any use if you are over 50 years of age.

B. Antioxidants are essential because they fight the damage caused by free radicals, especially those formed as a result of pollutants and from smoking.

C. Only people who live in higher altitudes benefit from taking antioxidants.

D. Antioxidants can cause oxidative stress.