PORTAGE LEARNING MICROBIO 171 BIOD
PRACTICE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What is the smallest biological unit of life. Answer: A cell
◉ Classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller
subunits. Answer: Macromolecule
◉ What are the four main types of macromolecules? Answer: Proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids
◉ What various functions do proteins have in a cell? Answer: Proteins
may facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. Some can
act as enzymes that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical processes. Others
play a structural role while other proteins, such as filaments, enable
movement.
◉ what re the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? Answer:
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids
are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the cell.
DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is
responsible for the inheritable characteristics of living organisms. RNA
,is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and
using it to synthesize proteins.
◉ Serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the
cell from the outside surrounding environment. The plasma membrane
also restricts the movement of materials (water, nutrients, etc) either in
or out of the cell, thus allowing a cells to absorb and keep what is
needed (influx) while also preventing the escape (out flux) of lipids
(hydrophobic hydrocarbons). Answer: Plasma membrane and what it is
made up of
◉ carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include,
C6H10O5 (glucose) C12H22O11 (surcose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
Answer: The three main components of carbohydrates
◉ Contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell that
contains the genetic material. Answer: Eukaryotic cells
◉ Cells do not contain a nucleus and can be further classified as either
Bacteria and Archaea. Answer: Prokaryotic cells
◉ Coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), Vibrio (curved rod) or
spirillum (spiral/corkscrew). Answer: Main morphologies of bacteria
, ◉ Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under
harsh conditions? Answer: Archaea. They are able to survive in
extremely harsh environmental conditions such as high salt levels, acid
conditions, high temperatures and oxygen-poor conditions
◉ Animal, Plant, Fungi or Protista. Answer: The four main
classifications of Eukarya?
◉ Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Answer:
No
◉ The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what?
Answer: The cell membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of
amphipathic phospholipids, meaning they contain a polar hydrophilic
(water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (water fearing)
tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way where the non-
polar tail groups face inward thus orienting the polar head groups to
interact with water both outside and inside of the cell
◉ Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of protein synthesis), Golgi
(protein modification and distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal),
mitochondria (ATP generation) and chloroplasts (plants only; site of
photosynthesis). Answer: Primary cellular organelles
◉ An organism or virus too small to be seen without a microscope.
Answer: Microbe
PRACTICE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What is the smallest biological unit of life. Answer: A cell
◉ Classified as a complex molecule that is composed from smaller
subunits. Answer: Macromolecule
◉ What are the four main types of macromolecules? Answer: Proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids
◉ What various functions do proteins have in a cell? Answer: Proteins
may facilitate the movement of materials in or out of a cell. Some can
act as enzymes that catalyze, or speed up, biochemical processes. Others
play a structural role while other proteins, such as filaments, enable
movement.
◉ what re the two major types of nucleic acids and their roles? Answer:
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids
are chemical molecules that carry genetic information within the cell.
DNA contains a vast amount of hereditary information and is
responsible for the inheritable characteristics of living organisms. RNA
,is responsible for deciphering the hereditary information in DNA and
using it to synthesize proteins.
◉ Serves the cell as a surrounding barrier that separates the inside of the
cell from the outside surrounding environment. The plasma membrane
also restricts the movement of materials (water, nutrients, etc) either in
or out of the cell, thus allowing a cells to absorb and keep what is
needed (influx) while also preventing the escape (out flux) of lipids
(hydrophobic hydrocarbons). Answer: Plasma membrane and what it is
made up of
◉ carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Examples would include,
C6H10O5 (glucose) C12H22O11 (surcose) and C6H10O5 (cellulose).
Answer: The three main components of carbohydrates
◉ Contain a nucleus, a membrane enclosed region within the cell that
contains the genetic material. Answer: Eukaryotic cells
◉ Cells do not contain a nucleus and can be further classified as either
Bacteria and Archaea. Answer: Prokaryotic cells
◉ Coccus (round/spherical), bacillus (rod), Vibrio (curved rod) or
spirillum (spiral/corkscrew). Answer: Main morphologies of bacteria
, ◉ Which group of microbes is noted for its ability to survive under
harsh conditions? Answer: Archaea. They are able to survive in
extremely harsh environmental conditions such as high salt levels, acid
conditions, high temperatures and oxygen-poor conditions
◉ Animal, Plant, Fungi or Protista. Answer: The four main
classifications of Eukarya?
◉ Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Answer:
No
◉ The lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is composed of what?
Answer: The cell membrane is a bilayer composed primarily of
amphipathic phospholipids, meaning they contain a polar hydrophilic
(water loving) head group and a non-polar hydrophobic (water fearing)
tail region. The lipid bilayer is situated in such a way where the non-
polar tail groups face inward thus orienting the polar head groups to
interact with water both outside and inside of the cell
◉ Ribosomes (protein synthesis), ER (site of protein synthesis), Golgi
(protein modification and distribution), lysosomes (waste disposal),
mitochondria (ATP generation) and chloroplasts (plants only; site of
photosynthesis). Answer: Primary cellular organelles
◉ An organism or virus too small to be seen without a microscope.
Answer: Microbe
