,Test Bank Understanding Nutrition, 17th Edition (Whitney, Rolfes & Maier, 2025)
Chapter 1: An Overview of Nutrition (40 Questions)
1. Which of the following BEST defines the term "nutrition"?
• A) The study of how the body uses food to maintain health
• B) The study of how food is grown and processed
• C) The science of food and its impact on the human body
• D) The study of dietary supplements and their effects
Answer: C) The science of food and its impact on the human body
Explanation: Nutrition is defined as the science of food and its relationship to health. It
encompasses the study of nutrients, their digestion, absorption, metabolism, and their role in
maintaining health and preventing disease.
2. Which of the following are considered the SIX classes of nutrients?
• A) Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
• B) Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber
• C) Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, minerals, and water
• D) Sugars, fats, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and water
Answer: A) Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
Explanation: The six classes of nutrients essential for human health are carbohydrates, lipids
(fats), proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. These are divided into macronutrients
(carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals).
3. Which nutrients are classified as MACRONUTRIENTS?
• A) Vitamins and minerals
• B) Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins
• C) Proteins and vitamins
• D) Carbohydrates and water
,Answer: B) Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins
Explanation: Macronutrients are required in large amounts and provide energy. Carbohydrates
and proteins provide 4 kcal/g, while lipids provide 9 kcal/g. Vitamins and minerals are
micronutrients required in smaller amounts.
4. Which nutrient provides the MOST energy per gram?
• A) Carbohydrates
• B) Proteins
• C) Lipids (fats)
• D) Vitamins
Answer: C) Lipids (fats)
Explanation: Lipids provide 9 kilocalories per gram, more than double the energy provided by
carbohydrates and proteins, which provide 4 kcal/g. Alcohol provides 7 kcal/g but is not
considered a nutrient.
5. A food contains 10 grams of carbohydrate, 5 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fat. How
many total kilocalories does this food provide?
• A) 87 kcal
• B) 72 kcal
• C) 90 kcal
• D) 100 kcal
Answer: A) 87 kcal
Explanation: Carbohydrates = 10g × 4 = 40 kcal; Protein = 5g × 4 = 20 kcal; Fat = 3g × 9 = 27 kcal.
Total = 40 + 20 + 27 = 87 kcal.
6. Which of the following is an example of an ESSENTIAL nutrient?
• A) Glucose
• B) Linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid)
• C) Sucrose
, • D) Cholesterol
Answer: B) Linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid)
Explanation: Essential nutrients cannot be made in the body in sufficient amounts and must be
obtained from food. Essential fatty acids include linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid
(omega-3).
7. The term "organic" in chemistry refers to substances that contain:
• A) Carbon
• B) Nitrogen
• C) Oxygen
• D) Hydrogen
Answer: A) Carbon
Explanation: In chemistry, organic compounds are those that contain carbon. All nutrients
except water and minerals are organic because they contain carbon (carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, vitamins).
8. Which of the following is an example of an INORGANIC nutrient?
• A) Carbohydrate
• B) Protein
• C) Vitamin C
• D) Calcium
Answer: D) Calcium
Explanation: Inorganic nutrients do not contain carbon. Minerals (including calcium, iron,
sodium) and water are inorganic. Carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins are organic.
9. A nutrient that must be consumed in the diet because the body cannot make it at all or in
sufficient amounts is called:
• A) Organic
• B) Inorganic
Chapter 1: An Overview of Nutrition (40 Questions)
1. Which of the following BEST defines the term "nutrition"?
• A) The study of how the body uses food to maintain health
• B) The study of how food is grown and processed
• C) The science of food and its impact on the human body
• D) The study of dietary supplements and their effects
Answer: C) The science of food and its impact on the human body
Explanation: Nutrition is defined as the science of food and its relationship to health. It
encompasses the study of nutrients, their digestion, absorption, metabolism, and their role in
maintaining health and preventing disease.
2. Which of the following are considered the SIX classes of nutrients?
• A) Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
• B) Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber
• C) Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, minerals, and water
• D) Sugars, fats, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and water
Answer: A) Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
Explanation: The six classes of nutrients essential for human health are carbohydrates, lipids
(fats), proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. These are divided into macronutrients
(carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals).
3. Which nutrients are classified as MACRONUTRIENTS?
• A) Vitamins and minerals
• B) Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins
• C) Proteins and vitamins
• D) Carbohydrates and water
,Answer: B) Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins
Explanation: Macronutrients are required in large amounts and provide energy. Carbohydrates
and proteins provide 4 kcal/g, while lipids provide 9 kcal/g. Vitamins and minerals are
micronutrients required in smaller amounts.
4. Which nutrient provides the MOST energy per gram?
• A) Carbohydrates
• B) Proteins
• C) Lipids (fats)
• D) Vitamins
Answer: C) Lipids (fats)
Explanation: Lipids provide 9 kilocalories per gram, more than double the energy provided by
carbohydrates and proteins, which provide 4 kcal/g. Alcohol provides 7 kcal/g but is not
considered a nutrient.
5. A food contains 10 grams of carbohydrate, 5 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fat. How
many total kilocalories does this food provide?
• A) 87 kcal
• B) 72 kcal
• C) 90 kcal
• D) 100 kcal
Answer: A) 87 kcal
Explanation: Carbohydrates = 10g × 4 = 40 kcal; Protein = 5g × 4 = 20 kcal; Fat = 3g × 9 = 27 kcal.
Total = 40 + 20 + 27 = 87 kcal.
6. Which of the following is an example of an ESSENTIAL nutrient?
• A) Glucose
• B) Linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid)
• C) Sucrose
, • D) Cholesterol
Answer: B) Linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid)
Explanation: Essential nutrients cannot be made in the body in sufficient amounts and must be
obtained from food. Essential fatty acids include linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid
(omega-3).
7. The term "organic" in chemistry refers to substances that contain:
• A) Carbon
• B) Nitrogen
• C) Oxygen
• D) Hydrogen
Answer: A) Carbon
Explanation: In chemistry, organic compounds are those that contain carbon. All nutrients
except water and minerals are organic because they contain carbon (carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, vitamins).
8. Which of the following is an example of an INORGANIC nutrient?
• A) Carbohydrate
• B) Protein
• C) Vitamin C
• D) Calcium
Answer: D) Calcium
Explanation: Inorganic nutrients do not contain carbon. Minerals (including calcium, iron,
sodium) and water are inorganic. Carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins are organic.
9. A nutrient that must be consumed in the diet because the body cannot make it at all or in
sufficient amounts is called:
• A) Organic
• B) Inorganic
