Question 1

Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes Archaea from Bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Archaea often inhabit extreme environments and have cell walls made of polysaccharides, while Bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan.

Question 2

Which scientist is credited with refuting the theory of spontaneous generation by boiling solutions and sealing them in glass vials?

Accepted Answer

Spallanzani

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of fungi?

Accepted Answer

Capable of locomotion using flagella

Question 4

Gram developed a staining technique to differentiate bacteria based on which cellular feature?

Accepted Answer

Cell wall composition

Question 5

Which of the following best describes viruses?

Accepted Answer

Acellular entities containing protein and nucleic acids, obligate parasites

Question 6

Which application of microbiology is most directly related to environmental science?

Accepted Answer

Using microorganisms to clean polluted areas

Question 7

Which of the following statements about protozoa is correct?

Accepted Answer

Protozoa are eukaryotic, unicellular, and most reproduce asexually.

Question 8

Which historical figure pioneered the use of solid media for growing microbes in pure culture and determined the etiology of Anthrax and Tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

Robert Koch

Question 9

A hospital is experiencing high rates of childbed fever among new mothers. Which microbiologist's work would be most relevant to reducing these rates?

Accepted Answer

Semmelweis's requirement of handwashing before assisting in childbirth

Question 10

Which of the following is a correct description of algae?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic, unicellular or multicellular, can be autotrophic or heterotrophic, reproduce asexually and sexually, cell walls made of polysaccharides

Question 11

Which of the following is a plausible reason why spontaneous generation was widely accepted before being disproved?

Accepted Answer

Living organisms appeared to arise from non-living matter in everyday processes.

Question 12

Which equation best represents the process of microbial fermentation as studied by Pasteur?

Accepted Answer

$$\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6$ \rightarrow 2C_2H_5OH + 2CO_2}$$

Question 13

A scientist is trying to differentiate two bacterial species based on their cell wall composition. Which staining technique should they use?

Accepted Answer

Gram staining

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a direct application of microbiology in industry?

Accepted Answer

Differentiating bacteria using Gram staining

Question 15

Which of the following cell wall compositions is unique to fungi?

Accepted Answer

Chitin and/or glucomannan

Question 16

Which of the following is a multi-step process that Koch used to determine the causative agent of a disease?

Accepted Answer

Isolate the microorganism, grow it in pure culture, introduce it into a healthy host, and observe if the same disease develops

Question 17

Which of the following microorganisms is most likely to be found in extreme environments such as hot springs or salt lakes?

Accepted Answer

Archaea

Question 18

Which scientist promoted aseptic surgery and used carbolic acid (phenol) to disinfect surgical tools?

Accepted Answer

Lister

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct description of parasitic worms?

Accepted Answer

Multicellular, obligate parasites

Question 20

Which of the following best explains why handwashing is effective in reducing maternal deaths from childbed fever?

Accepted Answer

It kills pathogenic microorganisms that can be transmitted during childbirth.

microbio ch 1

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