PORTAGE LEARNING
Microbiology — BIOL 271 / BIOL 271
BIOL 271 Module 4: Respiratory, Skin & Digestive 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Module 4 Review
Question 1
What causes mumps?
A. Measles virus
B. Mumps virus
C. Rubella virus
D. Varicella-Zoster virus
Correct Answer B. Mumps virus
Rationale:
Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, a paramyxovirus that primarily affects the salivary glands.
Question 2
What type of microbe causes cholera?
A. Virus
B. Bacteria
C. Fungus
D. Parasite
Correct Answer B. Bacteria
Rationale:
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
, Question 3
Is there a vaccine for the common cold?
A. Yes
B. No
Correct Answer B. No
Rationale:
There is no vaccine for the common cold due to the large number of causative viruses and their
antigenic diversity.
Question 4
What is the causative agent of pneumococcal pneumonia?
A. Streptococcus pyogenes
B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
C. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
D. Klebsiella pneumoniae
Correct Answer B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Rationale:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium and the most common cause of
community-acquired pneumonia.
Question 5
What is the treatment for tuberculosis?
A. Penicillin
B. Isoniazid and rifampin
C. Antivirals
D. Antifungals
Correct Answer B. Isoniazid and rifampin
Rationale:
TB is treated with a combination of antibiotics, typically isoniazid and rifampin, along with other
drugs for drug-resistant strains.
, Question 6
What are the symptoms of Tineas (Ringworm)?
A. Bumps, red, itchy, pus-filled lesions
B. Skin redness, peeling skin
C. Red, ring-shaped rash, scales, blister, oozing
D. Vesicles or pustules
Correct Answer C. Red, ring-shaped rash, scales, blister, oozing
Rationale:
Tinea infections present with annular, scaly, erythematous lesions that may blister or ooze, commonly
known as ringworm.
Question 7
What causes Coccidioidomycosis?
A. Histoplasma capsulatum
B. Coccidioides immitis
C. Cryptococcus neoformans
D. Dermatophytes
Correct Answer B. Coccidioides immitis
Rationale:
Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis, found in desert soils of
the southwestern United States.
Question 8
What causes Enterohemorrhagic Enteritis?
A. Salmonella species
B. Shigella species
C. E. coli
D. Vibrio cholerae
Correct Answer C. E. coli
Rationale:
Enterohemorrhagic enteritis is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, including the O157:H7 strain.
, Question 9
What are the key symptoms of cholera?
A. Stomach cramps, fever, watery/bloody diarrhea
B. Fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea
C. Severe diarrhea, fluid loss, leads to shock, renal failure, and death
D. Diarrhea, nausea, cramps, gas, greasy stool
Correct Answer C. Severe diarrhea, fluid loss, leads to shock, renal failure, and death
Rationale:
Cholera causes profuse watery diarrhea ("rice water" stools) leading to severe dehydration,
hypovolemic shock, and death if untreated.
Question 10
What parts of the respiratory tract do not have normal microbiota?
A. Nose and nasal cavity
B. Nasopharynx
C. Trachea and bronchi
D. Pharynx
Correct Answer C. Trachea and bronchi
Rationale:
The lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi, and lungs) is typically sterile due to defense mechanisms
like the mucociliary escalator and alveolar macrophages.
Question 11
Is there a vaccine for rubella?
A. Yes, attenuated vaccine (MMR)
B. No
C. Yes, toxoid vaccine
D. Yes, subunit vaccine
Correct Answer A. Yes, attenuated vaccine (MMR)
Rationale:
The rubella vaccine is a live attenuated virus vaccine, administered as part of the MMR combination
vaccine.
Microbiology — BIOL 271 / BIOL 271
BIOL 271 Module 4: Respiratory, Skin & Digestive 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Module 4 Review
Question 1
What causes mumps?
A. Measles virus
B. Mumps virus
C. Rubella virus
D. Varicella-Zoster virus
Correct Answer B. Mumps virus
Rationale:
Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, a paramyxovirus that primarily affects the salivary glands.
Question 2
What type of microbe causes cholera?
A. Virus
B. Bacteria
C. Fungus
D. Parasite
Correct Answer B. Bacteria
Rationale:
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
, Question 3
Is there a vaccine for the common cold?
A. Yes
B. No
Correct Answer B. No
Rationale:
There is no vaccine for the common cold due to the large number of causative viruses and their
antigenic diversity.
Question 4
What is the causative agent of pneumococcal pneumonia?
A. Streptococcus pyogenes
B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
C. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
D. Klebsiella pneumoniae
Correct Answer B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Rationale:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium and the most common cause of
community-acquired pneumonia.
Question 5
What is the treatment for tuberculosis?
A. Penicillin
B. Isoniazid and rifampin
C. Antivirals
D. Antifungals
Correct Answer B. Isoniazid and rifampin
Rationale:
TB is treated with a combination of antibiotics, typically isoniazid and rifampin, along with other
drugs for drug-resistant strains.
, Question 6
What are the symptoms of Tineas (Ringworm)?
A. Bumps, red, itchy, pus-filled lesions
B. Skin redness, peeling skin
C. Red, ring-shaped rash, scales, blister, oozing
D. Vesicles or pustules
Correct Answer C. Red, ring-shaped rash, scales, blister, oozing
Rationale:
Tinea infections present with annular, scaly, erythematous lesions that may blister or ooze, commonly
known as ringworm.
Question 7
What causes Coccidioidomycosis?
A. Histoplasma capsulatum
B. Coccidioides immitis
C. Cryptococcus neoformans
D. Dermatophytes
Correct Answer B. Coccidioides immitis
Rationale:
Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis, found in desert soils of
the southwestern United States.
Question 8
What causes Enterohemorrhagic Enteritis?
A. Salmonella species
B. Shigella species
C. E. coli
D. Vibrio cholerae
Correct Answer C. E. coli
Rationale:
Enterohemorrhagic enteritis is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, including the O157:H7 strain.
, Question 9
What are the key symptoms of cholera?
A. Stomach cramps, fever, watery/bloody diarrhea
B. Fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea
C. Severe diarrhea, fluid loss, leads to shock, renal failure, and death
D. Diarrhea, nausea, cramps, gas, greasy stool
Correct Answer C. Severe diarrhea, fluid loss, leads to shock, renal failure, and death
Rationale:
Cholera causes profuse watery diarrhea ("rice water" stools) leading to severe dehydration,
hypovolemic shock, and death if untreated.
Question 10
What parts of the respiratory tract do not have normal microbiota?
A. Nose and nasal cavity
B. Nasopharynx
C. Trachea and bronchi
D. Pharynx
Correct Answer C. Trachea and bronchi
Rationale:
The lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi, and lungs) is typically sterile due to defense mechanisms
like the mucociliary escalator and alveolar macrophages.
Question 11
Is there a vaccine for rubella?
A. Yes, attenuated vaccine (MMR)
B. No
C. Yes, toxoid vaccine
D. Yes, subunit vaccine
Correct Answer A. Yes, attenuated vaccine (MMR)
Rationale:
The rubella vaccine is a live attenuated virus vaccine, administered as part of the MMR combination
vaccine.
