Question 1

Which of the following is a microbe but NOT a microorganism?

Accepted Answer

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus)

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the term 'microbiome'?

Accepted Answer

The community of microbes that live stably in and on the human body

Question 3

Which of the following statements about normal microbiota is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

They help prevent the growth of pathogenic microbes

Question 4

Which of the following is the correct order of taxonomic classification from most inclusive to least inclusive?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Which of the following groups is NOT classified as a domain in the three-domain system?

Accepted Answer

Viruses

Question 6

Which of the following statements about prokaryotes is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

They include Bacteria and Archaea

Question 7

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of fungi?

Accepted Answer

They have chitin cell walls

Question 8

Which of the following best describes viruses?

Accepted Answer

They are acellular and require a living host cell to replicate

Question 9

Which scientist is credited with first observing 'animalcules' (microbes) using a microscope?

Accepted Answer

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Question 10

Which experiment provided the strongest evidence against spontaneous generation?

Accepted Answer

Pasteur's swan-neck flask experiment

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a contribution made by Louis Pasteur?

Accepted Answer

Developing the first antibiotic

Question 12

Koch’s postulates are important because they:

Accepted Answer

Provide a framework to demonstrate that a specific microbe causes a specific disease

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of bioremediation?

Accepted Answer

Using bacteria to degrade oil spills in the ocean

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a biofilm?

Accepted Answer

A mass of microbes attached to a solid surface

Question 15

Which of the following is a characteristic of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs)?

Accepted Answer

They are new or increasing in incidence

Question 16

Which of the following is TRUE about Archaea?

Accepted Answer

They often live in extreme environments

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct example of scientific nomenclature?

Accepted Answer

Escherichia coli

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing vitamins and aiding digestion

Question 19

Which of the following statements about prions is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

They are infectious proteins that lack nucleic acids

Question 20

Which of the following best explains why biofilms are a concern in medical settings?

Accepted Answer

They are resistant to antibiotics and can cause persistent infections

Introduction to Microbiology: Microbes, Classification, and Historical Foundations

Study Guide - Practice Questions