Search SchoolNGR

Saturday, 09 May 2026
Register . Login

(a) Explain why an athlete in a race would be given a glucose drink rather than a piece ...

(a) Explain why an athlete in a race would be given a glucose drink rather than a piece of bread.
(b) Outline the test for starch in a given food substance.
(c) State five reasons why water is important in human diet.
Take Free Practice Test On 2026 JAMB UTME, Post UTME, WAEC SSCE, GCE, NECO SSCE
    Correct Answer: Option n
    Explanation:
    (a)Why an athlete should be given glucose drink: Glucose is the simplest form of carbohydrates/soluble form of carbohydrate; an energy-giving food substance which does not require any form of digestion. - hence it is absorbed in the ileum/small intestine. - where it diffuses/enters into the blood stream/circulatory system. - it is then assimilated; and oxidized. - within the shortest time/quickly/immediately. - to give energy to the athlete. - bread is a complex carbohydrate/polysaccharide/starch. - which will require a series of digestive processes/hydrolysis. - which starts in the mouth; and ends in small intestine/ileum. - this takes a longer time to produce energy for use/cannot give immediate energy.
    (b) Test for starch: -

    Macerate/crush a piece of the food substance.
    add water to the crushed food to form a solution/suspension/take a piece of food substance.
    put a few drops of the solution/suspension/ piece of food.
    on a white tile/watch glass/in test tube
    add one or two drops of iodine solution
    the solution/piece of food will turn blue black
    indicating the presence of starch.

    (c) Importance of water in human diet: -

    Water is an essential part of living protoplasm; blood
    it acts as a solvent; and transport medium in the body for food substances/gases/hormones.
    transports waste excretory products
    it is a medium for chemical reactions/digestive processes
    it function in distribution of body heat
    it is the main component of the synovial fluid of joints; amniotic fluid
    serves a protective function in the brain
    allows easy movement of food through the digestive tract.

    Share question on: