OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What is an outcome if a newborn does not have a properly developed fetal reflex?

1. They will cry to attract attention

2. They may suffocate if airways are blocked

3. They will instinctively crawl

4. They will learn to breathe independently

The correct answer is: They may suffocate if airways are blocked

The correct choice indicates that a newborn may suffocate if their airways are blocked, which is closely linked to the importance of properly developed reflexes at birth. Fetal reflexes, such as the gag reflex or the ability to cough, play a critical role in protecting the infant's airways. If these reflexes are not fully developed, the newborn might lack the necessary mechanisms to respond to airway obstruction, leading to a failure to clear the obstruction effectively. This situation can quickly become life-threatening, as newborns depend heavily on their reflexes for survival during the early stages of life. In contrast, while crying to attract attention and learning to breathe independently are significant behaviors, they do not directly relate to the presence or absence of fetal reflexes in the same critical way. Instinctive crawling is also a reflexive action but occurs later as an infant develops motor skills and coordination. Overall, the protection of airways is fundamentally linked to the immediate survival of newborns, making the significance of properly developed fetal reflexes crucial in this context.