Fitness Mythbusters
Which of the following is the primary reason humans sweat during exercise?
A. To burn additional calories
B. To remove toxins from the bloodstream
C. To regulate body temperature
D. To prevent muscle soreness
C. To regulate body temperature
What is the largest muscle in the human body by volume?
A. Quadriceps femoris
B. Gluteus maximus
C. Latissimus dorsi
D. Gastrocnemius
B. Gluteus maximus
How long is a marathon?
A. 20.5 miles
B. 24.8 miles
C. 26.2 miles
D. 30 miles
C. 26.2 miles
Which macronutrient contains the most calories per gram?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Protein
C. Fat
D. All contain the same amount
C. Fat
You have 30 minutes available for exercise. Which activity generally burns the most calories during those 30 minutes, assuming typical recreational intensities?
A. Sitting at a desk
B. Casual walking
C. Brisk walking
D. Running
D. Running
What happens to muscle when someone stops exercising for an extended period?
A. Muscle turns into fat
B. Muscle can decrease in size
C. Muscle becomes bone
D. Muscle stays the same regardless of activity
B. Muscle can decrease in size
Which organ is primarily responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body?
A. Lungs
B. Brain
C. Heart
D. Liver
C. Heart
Which athlete is famously known for winning eight gold medals at a single Olympic Games?
A. Usain Bolt
B. Michael Phelps
C. Carl Lewis
D. Jesse Owens
B. Michael Phelps
Approximately how many calories are in one gram of protein?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 7
D. 9
B. 4
You're walking with a colleague and want to know whether you're exercising at moderate intensity. Which is the best practical indicator?
A. You cannot speak at all
B. You can talk but would struggle to sing
C. You can sing comfortably without any changes in breathing
D. You must be sweating heavily
B. You can talk but would struggle to sing
Which statement about the popular 10,000-steps-per-day goal is TRUE?
A. It was originally developed as a universal medical recommendation
B. Everyone must reach 10,000 steps to experience health benefits
C. Health benefits can occur with fewer than 10,000 steps
D. Walking more than 10,000 steps is harmful
C. Health benefits can occur with fewer than 10,000 steps
Which muscle is primarily responsible for inhalation during normal breathing?
A. Diaphragm
B. Rectus abdominis
C. Pectoralis major
D. Trapezius
A. Diaphragm
Which of the following sports was once part of the Summer Olympics?
A. Tug-of-war
B. Dodgeball
C. Bowling
D. Ultimate Frisbee
A. Tug-of-war (1900 - 1920)
Which nutrient is the body's preferred major fuel source during high-intensity exercise?
A. Dietary fiber
B. Carbohydrates
C. Vitamins
D. Minerals
B. Carbohydrates
You want to improve cardiovascular fitness but have a busy schedule. Which approach is most consistent with physical activity guidelines?
A. Exercise only counts if it lasts at least 30 consecutive minutes
B. Only running can improve cardiovascular fitness
C. Accumulating shorter periods of moderate-to-vigorous activity across the week
D. Exercise must be performed at maximum intensity to count
C. Accumulating shorter periods of moderate-to-vigorous activity across the week
Why might someone gain weight when beginning a new exercise program, even without gaining body fat?
A. Muscle immediately turns into fat
B. Exercise permanently slows metabolism
C. Temporary changes in water and glycogen storage
D. Sweat becomes stored as body fat
C. Temporary changes in water and glycogen storage
What is VO₂max most commonly used to evaluate?
A. Maximum muscular strength
B. Flexibility
C. Cardiorespiratory fitness
D. Body fat percentage
C. Cardiorespiratory fitness
What is the official distance of an Olympic track's standard outdoor lap, measured in lane one?
A. 200 meters
B. 300 meters
C. 400 meters
D. 440 meters
C. 400 meters
Which of the following generally has the greatest influence on the number of calories burned during a walk?
A. The color of your shoes
B. Whether you listen to music
C. Body mass, walking speed, incline, and duration
D. Whether you walk in the morning or evening
C. Body mass, walking speed, incline, and duration
Two faculty members run one mile at the same speed. One weighs 150 pounds and the other weighs 220 pounds. All else being equal, who will generally expend more energy?
A. The 150-pound individual
B. The 220-pound individual
C. Both expend exactly the same energy
D. Whichever individual sweats more
B. The 220-pound individual
Which of the following is TRUE about lactic acid and muscle soreness?
A. Lactate remains trapped in muscles for several days
B. Lactate accumulation is the main cause of delayed-onset muscle soreness
C. Lactate can be used by the body as an energy source
D. Lactate is only produced when oxygen is completely absent
C. Lactate can be used by the body as an energy source
During the first few seconds of an all-out sprint, which energy system provides the largest share of immediate ATP resynthesis?
A. Aerobic oxidation
B. ATP-phosphocreatine system
C. Fat oxidation
D. Protein metabolism
B. ATP-phosphocreatine system
What unusual item did runners sometimes consume as a performance aid during early Olympic marathons?
A. Raw eggs
B. Alcohol
C. Coffee beans
D. Saltwater
B. Alcohol (Some early marathon runners consumed brandy or other alcoholic drinks, mistakenly believing they could improve performance)
What is the primary form in which carbohydrates are stored in skeletal muscle?
A. Glucose-6-phosphate
B. Glycogen
C. Glucagon
D. Triglycerides
B. Glycogen
Two people have the same resting heart rate, but one has a much higher stroke volume. Assuming their resting heart rates are identical, which statement is correct?
A. Their cardiac outputs must be identical
B. The person with higher stroke volume has higher cardiac output
C. The person with higher stroke volume has lower cardiac output
D. Stroke volume has no relationship to cardiac output
B. The person with higher stroke volume has higher cardiac output