Public Health Vocabulary Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on public health and epidemiology vocabulary: epidemic, herd immunity, quarantine, morbidity, surveillance, R number and more. B2 level.
This quiz focuses on how the target vocabulary for Public Health is actually used in context at B2 level, rather than testing bare definitions. Correct answers you will need to identify include terms such as pandemic, incubation, vector, quarantine and morbidity, each embedded in a full example sentence so you have to judge meaning from context, not just recognise an isolated word.
Working through all 12 questions and checking the explanations in the FAQ below is a quick way to spot any terms you are still unsure of. Revisiting the quiz again after a day or two, rather than only once, is one of the most reliable ways to move new vocabulary from passive recognition into words you can use confidently yourself in speaking and writing.
Keep building your public health vocabulary.
Public Health Vocabulary — FAQ
What is the difference between an 'epidemic' and a 'pandemic'?
An epidemic is a sudden increase in cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a specific region. A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread across multiple countries or continents. The World Health Organization (WHO) formally declares pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 is a recent example.
What is 'herd immunity'?
Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient proportion of a community has become immune to a disease — through vaccination or prior infection — so that the disease can no longer spread easily. Even those who are not immune are indirectly protected. The proportion needed varies by disease; for measles it is around 95%.
What is the difference between 'quarantine' and 'isolation'?
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to a disease but are not yet known to be ill. Isolation separates people who are already ill and infectious. Both measures prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
What is the difference between 'morbidity' and 'mortality'?
Morbidity refers to the state of being diseased, or to the rate of disease in a population. Mortality refers to death, or to the death rate. For example, influenza has a high morbidity rate but a relatively low mortality rate in healthy adults. Both are key measures in epidemiology.
What is an 'incubation period'?
The incubation period is the time between being exposed to a pathogen and the first appearance of symptoms. During this period a person may not yet know they are infected but may still be able to transmit the disease to others.
What is a 'vector' in public health?
A vector is a living organism (usually an insect or animal) that transmits an infectious pathogen from one host to another without becoming ill itself. Mosquitoes are vectors for malaria, and ticks are vectors for Lyme disease. Vector control is a key strategy in disease prevention.
What is 'disease surveillance'?
Disease surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection and analysis of health data to monitor the occurrence and spread of diseases. Public health authorities use surveillance to detect outbreaks early, track trends and allocate resources.
What does 'R number' (reproduction number) mean?
The R number represents the average number of people that one infected person will pass a disease on to. An R number above 1 means the disease is spreading; below 1 means it is declining. The R number became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is a 'determinant of health'?
Determinants of health are factors that influence a person's or population's health, including social factors (income, education, housing), environmental factors (air quality, clean water) and lifestyle behaviours (diet, exercise, smoking). Public health aims to address these determinants to reduce health inequalities.
What is 'contact tracing'?
Contact tracing is the process of identifying and managing people who have been exposed to an infectious disease to prevent further transmission. When someone tests positive, public health workers notify their recent close contacts and advise them to self-isolate or be tested. It is a cornerstone of outbreak control.