Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory in microbiology?

Accepted Answer

A law is a precise statement or mathematical formula that predicts a specific occurrence, while a theory explains how and why something occurs based on consistent, supporting conclusions.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT considered a microbe according to the definition provided in microbiology?

Accepted Answer

Mushrooms

Question 3

Louis Pasteur’s swan-neck flask experiment was important because it demonstrated that:

Accepted Answer

Air contains contaminating microbes, and life does not spontaneously arise in sterilized broth unless exposed to contamination.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes an opportunistic pathogen?

Accepted Answer

A microbe that causes disease only in a weakened host.

Question 5

A scientist isolates a new microorganism from a deep-sea vent. It is unicellular, lacks a nucleus, and thrives in extreme environments. To which domain does this organism most likely belong?

Accepted Answer

Archaea

Question 6

Which of the following is a function of the normal microbiota (normal flora) in humans?

Accepted Answer

Producing vitamins, training the immune system, and helping digest foods

Question 7

Which of the following is a key reason why biofilms are medically concerning?

Accepted Answer

Biofilms protect microbes from antibiotics and the immune system, making infections difficult to treat.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes Koch’s postulates?

Accepted Answer

A set of criteria used to identify the causative agent of a particular infectious disease.

Question 9

A patient develops a Clostridioides difficile infection after taking antibiotics for a urinary tract infection. This is most likely due to:

Accepted Answer

The antibiotics disrupting the normal microbiota, allowing C. difficile to proliferate.

Question 10

Which of the following is the correct order of the taxonomic hierarchy from broadest to most specific?

Accepted Answer

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 11

Which of the following statements about the Human Microbiome Project is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

It aims to characterize all of the microbes that live in and on our bodies.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of bioremediation?

Accepted Answer

Using bacteria to degrade petroleum oil spills into harmless substances such as $CO_2$

Question 13

Which of the following best describes transient microbiota?

Accepted Answer

Microbes that are picked up through contact and do not persist as stable residents

Question 14

Which of the following is a correct statement about the germ theory of disease?

Accepted Answer

It states that microbes cause infectious diseases.

Question 15

Which of the following is a key contribution of Florence Nightingale to microbiology and medicine?

Accepted Answer

She pioneered the use of aseptic techniques and improved hospital sanitation.

Question 16

Which of the following is a reason why we will probably never have a complete catalog of every infectious agent?

Accepted Answer

Microbes evolve new pathogenic capabilities and only about 2% of bacteria can be cultured.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the binomial nomenclature system established by Carl Linnaeus?

Accepted Answer

It uses two names: the genus (capitalized) and the species (lowercase), both italicized or underlined.

Question 18

A patient with sickle cell anemia is less likely to develop severe malaria. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A host-microbe interaction influencing human evolution.

Question 19

Which of the following units is the most appropriate for measuring the size of a typical bacterium?

Accepted Answer

Micrometer ($\mu$m)

Question 20

Which of the following statements about normal microbiota is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Normal microbiota can help protect us by crowding out potential pathogens.

chap 1 micro

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