Jersey College HUN201 Nutrition Midterm Review
2026/2027 | Jersey College Nutrition Midterm
Exam Study Guide & Practice Questions | HUN201
Nutrition Review, Macronutrients, Micronutrients,
Digestion & Absorption, Vitamins, Minerals, Water,
Metabolism, Dietary Guidelines & Clinical Nutrition
Question 1: Which of the following best defines nutrition as it relates to
human health?
A. The study of food marketing and consumer behavior
B. The process of food digestion and elimination only
C. All processes involved in how organisms obtain, metabolize, and use
nutrients
D. The prevention of disease through pharmaceutical intervention only
CORRECT ANSWER: C. All processes involved in how organisms obtain,
metabolize, and use nutrients
Rationale: Nutrition encompasses the science of food and how it nourishes
the body, including ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, and
excretion of nutrients for growth, maintenance, and health.
Question 2: Which of the following is classified as an organic nutrient?
A. Water
B. Minerals
C. Vitamins
D. Sodium chloride
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Vitamins
Rationale: Organic nutrients contain carbon and hydrogen. Vitamins,
carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are organic, while water and minerals
are inorganic.
Question 3: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are designed to
meet the needs of what percentage of a healthy population?
A. 50%
B. 75%
,C. 97–98%
D. 100%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 97–98%
Rationale: The RDA is the average daily intake level estimated to meet the
needs of nearly all (97–98%) healthy people in a particular life stage and
gender group.
Question 4: Which Dietary Reference Intake value represents the
highest average daily intake level likely to pose no health risks?
A. Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
B. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
C. Adequate Intake (AI)
D. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
Rationale: The UL is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse
health effects. Exceeding this level regularly increases the risk of toxicity.
Question 5: What is the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range
(AMDR) for carbohydrates as a percentage of total daily calories?
A. 10–35%
B. 20–35%
C. 45–65%
D. 50–70%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 45–65%
Rationale: The AMDR for carbohydrates is 45–65% of total daily calories.
Fats are 20–35%, and proteins are 10–35%.
Question 6: Which macronutrient provides the most energy per gram?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Proteins
,C. Fats
D. Alcohol
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Fats
Rationale: Fats provide 9 calories per gram, while carbohydrates and
proteins each provide 4 calories per gram. Alcohol provides 7 calories per
gram but is not considered a nutrient.
Question 7: The term "nutrient density" refers to which of the
following?
A. The total number of calories in a food
B. The relative amount of nutrients per calorie of food
C. The weight of a food serving in grams
D. The cost of food per nutrient
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The relative amount of nutrients per calorie of
food
Rationale: Nutrient density describes the amount of beneficial nutrients
(vitamins, minerals, fiber) relative to the energy (calories) a food provides.
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the
digestive system?
A. Ingestion of food
B. Mechanical and chemical digestion
C. Synthesis of all vitamins
D. Absorption of nutrients
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Synthesis of all vitamins
Rationale: While gut bacteria synthesize some vitamin K and certain B
vitamins, this is not a primary function of the digestive system. Its main
roles are ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.
Question 9: The process by which nutrients are taken from the
gastrointestinal tract into the circulation is called:
, A. Digestion
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Peristalsis
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the physiological process by which molecules of
food cross from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream or lymphatic
system.
Question 10: Which enzyme initiates carbohydrate digestion in the oral
cavity?
A. Pepsin
B. Salivary amylase
C. Pancreatic lipase
D. Trypsin
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Salivary amylase
Rationale: Salivary amylase begins the chemical digestion of starches into
smaller polysaccharides and maltose in the mouth.
Question 11: Hydrochloric acid in the stomach performs which of the
following functions?
A. Emulsifies fats
B. Activates pepsinogen to pepsin
C. Absorbs vitamin B12
D. Digests carbohydrates
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Activates pepsinogen to pepsin
Rationale: Hydrochloric acid (HCl) denatures proteins and converts
inactive pepsinogen into active pepsin, which begins protein digestion.
Question 12: Where does the majority of nutrient absorption occur?
2026/2027 | Jersey College Nutrition Midterm
Exam Study Guide & Practice Questions | HUN201
Nutrition Review, Macronutrients, Micronutrients,
Digestion & Absorption, Vitamins, Minerals, Water,
Metabolism, Dietary Guidelines & Clinical Nutrition
Question 1: Which of the following best defines nutrition as it relates to
human health?
A. The study of food marketing and consumer behavior
B. The process of food digestion and elimination only
C. All processes involved in how organisms obtain, metabolize, and use
nutrients
D. The prevention of disease through pharmaceutical intervention only
CORRECT ANSWER: C. All processes involved in how organisms obtain,
metabolize, and use nutrients
Rationale: Nutrition encompasses the science of food and how it nourishes
the body, including ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, and
excretion of nutrients for growth, maintenance, and health.
Question 2: Which of the following is classified as an organic nutrient?
A. Water
B. Minerals
C. Vitamins
D. Sodium chloride
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Vitamins
Rationale: Organic nutrients contain carbon and hydrogen. Vitamins,
carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are organic, while water and minerals
are inorganic.
Question 3: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are designed to
meet the needs of what percentage of a healthy population?
A. 50%
B. 75%
,C. 97–98%
D. 100%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 97–98%
Rationale: The RDA is the average daily intake level estimated to meet the
needs of nearly all (97–98%) healthy people in a particular life stage and
gender group.
Question 4: Which Dietary Reference Intake value represents the
highest average daily intake level likely to pose no health risks?
A. Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
B. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
C. Adequate Intake (AI)
D. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
Rationale: The UL is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse
health effects. Exceeding this level regularly increases the risk of toxicity.
Question 5: What is the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range
(AMDR) for carbohydrates as a percentage of total daily calories?
A. 10–35%
B. 20–35%
C. 45–65%
D. 50–70%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 45–65%
Rationale: The AMDR for carbohydrates is 45–65% of total daily calories.
Fats are 20–35%, and proteins are 10–35%.
Question 6: Which macronutrient provides the most energy per gram?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Proteins
,C. Fats
D. Alcohol
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Fats
Rationale: Fats provide 9 calories per gram, while carbohydrates and
proteins each provide 4 calories per gram. Alcohol provides 7 calories per
gram but is not considered a nutrient.
Question 7: The term "nutrient density" refers to which of the
following?
A. The total number of calories in a food
B. The relative amount of nutrients per calorie of food
C. The weight of a food serving in grams
D. The cost of food per nutrient
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The relative amount of nutrients per calorie of
food
Rationale: Nutrient density describes the amount of beneficial nutrients
(vitamins, minerals, fiber) relative to the energy (calories) a food provides.
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the
digestive system?
A. Ingestion of food
B. Mechanical and chemical digestion
C. Synthesis of all vitamins
D. Absorption of nutrients
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Synthesis of all vitamins
Rationale: While gut bacteria synthesize some vitamin K and certain B
vitamins, this is not a primary function of the digestive system. Its main
roles are ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.
Question 9: The process by which nutrients are taken from the
gastrointestinal tract into the circulation is called:
, A. Digestion
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Peristalsis
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the physiological process by which molecules of
food cross from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream or lymphatic
system.
Question 10: Which enzyme initiates carbohydrate digestion in the oral
cavity?
A. Pepsin
B. Salivary amylase
C. Pancreatic lipase
D. Trypsin
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Salivary amylase
Rationale: Salivary amylase begins the chemical digestion of starches into
smaller polysaccharides and maltose in the mouth.
Question 11: Hydrochloric acid in the stomach performs which of the
following functions?
A. Emulsifies fats
B. Activates pepsinogen to pepsin
C. Absorbs vitamin B12
D. Digests carbohydrates
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Activates pepsinogen to pepsin
Rationale: Hydrochloric acid (HCl) denatures proteins and converts
inactive pepsinogen into active pepsin, which begins protein digestion.
Question 12: Where does the majority of nutrient absorption occur?
