Question 1

Which of the following is a beneficial action of microbes in the environment?

Accepted Answer

Decomposing organic waste and recycling nutrients

Question 2

Which scientific naming convention is correct for the bacterium that lives in the human colon and was named after its discoverer?

Accepted Answer

Escherichia coli

Question 3

Which group of microorganisms is characterized by the absence of peptidoglycan in their cell walls and often inhabits extreme environments?

Accepted Answer

Archaea

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the theory of biogenesis?

Accepted Answer

Living cells arise only from preexisting living cells

Question 5

Pasteur’s experiment with S-shaped flasks disproved spontaneous generation by showing that:

Accepted Answer

Microorganisms originate in air or fluids, not from nonliving matter

Question 6

Which scientist established experimental steps for directly linking a specific microbe to a specific disease, known as 'postulates'?

Accepted Answer

Robert Koch

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a domain in the three-domain system of classification?

Accepted Answer

Protista

Question 8

Which of the following statements about viruses is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Viruses consist of a DNA or RNA core surrounded by a protein coat

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of biotechnology that does NOT use recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

Use of Bacillus thuringiensis as an insecticide

Question 10

A patient develops a surgical wound infection after an operation. Which scientist’s work directly led to the use of antiseptics to prevent such infections?

Accepted Answer

Joseph Lister

Question 11

Which of the following best defines a biofilm?

Accepted Answer

A mass of microbes attached to a solid surface

Question 12

Which of the following is a correct match between a microbe and its industrial application?

Accepted Answer

Trichoderma – denim fading

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of normal microbiota in the human body?

Accepted Answer

Preventing the growth of pathogens

Question 14

Which of the following is a eukaryotic microorganism that absorbs organic chemicals for energy and has chitin cell walls?

Accepted Answer

Fungi

Question 15

Which of the following emerging infectious diseases is caused by a prion?

Accepted Answer

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the difference between microbial genetics and molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

Microbial genetics studies how microbes inherit traits; molecular biology studies how DNA directs protein synthesis

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct statement about Koch’s postulates?

Accepted Answer

They provide a framework to link a specific microbe to a specific disease

Question 18

Which of the following is a real-world example of bioremediation?

Accepted Answer

Using bacteria to degrade oil spills in the ocean

Question 19

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of protozoa?

Accepted Answer

They may be motile via pseudopods, cilia, or flagella

Question 20

Which of the following is a plausible reason why biofilms are important in medical settings?

Accepted Answer

They can cause infections and are often resistant to antibiotics

The Microbial World and You: Introduction to Microbiology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards