PORTAGE LEARNING
Microbiology — BIOL 271 / BIOL 271
BIOL 271 Module 6: Virology 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Module 6 Review
Question 1
What is the morphology of the smallpox virus?
A. Non-enveloped, ~30 nm in diameter
B. Enveloped, ~200 nm long, with a distinct dumbbell-shaped viral capsid
C. Enveloped, ~100 nm in diameter
D. Non-enveloped, ~200 nm long
Correct Answer B. Enveloped, ~200 nm long, with a distinct dumbbell-shaped viral capsid
Rationale:
Smallpox virus is enveloped, approximately 200 nm long, and has a characteristic dumbbell-shaped
viral capsid.
Question 2
Where does a viral envelope come from?
A. The host cell membrane
B. The viral capsid
C. The host cell nucleus
D. The viral genome
Correct Answer A. The host cell membrane
Rationale:
Enveloped viruses acquire their lipid envelope by budding through the host cell membrane,
incorporating host cell lipids.
, Question 3
What is a naked virus (non-enveloped virus)?
A. A virus lacking a capsid
B. A virus surrounded only by a capsid, lacking an envelope
C. A virus with no genetic material
D. A virus that has been inactivated
Correct Answer B. A virus surrounded only by a capsid, lacking an envelope
Rationale:
Naked viruses lack a lipid envelope and consist solely of the genome enclosed within a protein
capsid.
Question 4
What happens after uncoating?
A. The virus attaches to a host cell
B. The viral genome uses host machinery to replicate and make proteins
C. The virus exits the host cell
D. New virions are assembled
Correct Answer B. The viral genome uses host machinery to replicate and make proteins
Rationale:
After uncoating, the released viral genome directs the host cell's machinery to replicate the genome
and synthesize viral proteins.
Question 5
What is the main symptom of mumps?
A. Fever and rash with Koplik spots
B. Painful swelling of the parotid salivary glands
C. Itchy fluid-filled blisters
D. Paralysis
Correct Answer B. Painful swelling of the parotid salivary glands
Rationale:
Mumps is characterized by painful swelling of the parotid salivary glands (parotitis).
, Question 6
What is the genome of measles virus?
A. Linear, double-stranded DNA
B. Linear, single-stranded RNA
C. Circular, double-stranded DNA
D. Segmented RNA
Correct Answer B. Linear, single-stranded RNA
Rationale:
Measles virus has a linear, single-stranded RNA genome, which is characteristic of paramyxoviruses.
Question 7
Why are viruses considered dormant outside a host?
A. They have no metabolism and cannot use energy or nutrients
B. They are dead outside a host
C. They are inactive but can still replicate
D. They are waiting for a host to attach to
Correct Answer A. They have no metabolism and cannot use energy or nutrients
Rationale:
Viruses lack cellular machinery and metabolic processes; they are metabolically inert and cannot use
energy or nutrients outside a host cell.
Question 8
What is the measles vaccine?
A. MMR vaccine
B. IPV vaccine
C. OPV vaccine
D. DTaP vaccine
Correct Answer A. MMR vaccine
Rationale:
The measles vaccine is the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, a live-attenuated combination
vaccine.
, Question 9
What is an obligate intracellular parasite?
A. An organism that can replicate outside a living host cell
B. An organism that can only reproduce inside a living host cell
C. An organism that only replicates in dead cells
D. An organism that replicates in any environment
Correct Answer B. An organism that can only reproduce inside a living host cell
Rationale:
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they cannot replicate without hijacking the
metabolic machinery of a living host cell.
Question 10
How are viral genomes different from cellular genomes?
A. They are always double-stranded DNA
B. They can be single- or double-stranded, DNA or RNA, and circular or linear
C. They are always circular
D. They are always linear
Correct Answer B. They can be single- or double-stranded, DNA or RNA, and circular or linear
Rationale:
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity; they can be composed of DNA or RNA, single-stranded
or double-stranded, and circular or linear.
Question 11
What virus family does chickenpox belong to?
A. Paramyxovirus
B. Togaviridae
C. Herpesvirus
D. Orthomyxoviridae
Correct Answer C. Herpesvirus
Rationale:
Chickenpox (varicella) is caused by varicella-zoster virus, which belongs to the Herpesvirus family.
Microbiology — BIOL 271 / BIOL 271
BIOL 271 Module 6: Virology 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Module 6 Review
Question 1
What is the morphology of the smallpox virus?
A. Non-enveloped, ~30 nm in diameter
B. Enveloped, ~200 nm long, with a distinct dumbbell-shaped viral capsid
C. Enveloped, ~100 nm in diameter
D. Non-enveloped, ~200 nm long
Correct Answer B. Enveloped, ~200 nm long, with a distinct dumbbell-shaped viral capsid
Rationale:
Smallpox virus is enveloped, approximately 200 nm long, and has a characteristic dumbbell-shaped
viral capsid.
Question 2
Where does a viral envelope come from?
A. The host cell membrane
B. The viral capsid
C. The host cell nucleus
D. The viral genome
Correct Answer A. The host cell membrane
Rationale:
Enveloped viruses acquire their lipid envelope by budding through the host cell membrane,
incorporating host cell lipids.
, Question 3
What is a naked virus (non-enveloped virus)?
A. A virus lacking a capsid
B. A virus surrounded only by a capsid, lacking an envelope
C. A virus with no genetic material
D. A virus that has been inactivated
Correct Answer B. A virus surrounded only by a capsid, lacking an envelope
Rationale:
Naked viruses lack a lipid envelope and consist solely of the genome enclosed within a protein
capsid.
Question 4
What happens after uncoating?
A. The virus attaches to a host cell
B. The viral genome uses host machinery to replicate and make proteins
C. The virus exits the host cell
D. New virions are assembled
Correct Answer B. The viral genome uses host machinery to replicate and make proteins
Rationale:
After uncoating, the released viral genome directs the host cell's machinery to replicate the genome
and synthesize viral proteins.
Question 5
What is the main symptom of mumps?
A. Fever and rash with Koplik spots
B. Painful swelling of the parotid salivary glands
C. Itchy fluid-filled blisters
D. Paralysis
Correct Answer B. Painful swelling of the parotid salivary glands
Rationale:
Mumps is characterized by painful swelling of the parotid salivary glands (parotitis).
, Question 6
What is the genome of measles virus?
A. Linear, double-stranded DNA
B. Linear, single-stranded RNA
C. Circular, double-stranded DNA
D. Segmented RNA
Correct Answer B. Linear, single-stranded RNA
Rationale:
Measles virus has a linear, single-stranded RNA genome, which is characteristic of paramyxoviruses.
Question 7
Why are viruses considered dormant outside a host?
A. They have no metabolism and cannot use energy or nutrients
B. They are dead outside a host
C. They are inactive but can still replicate
D. They are waiting for a host to attach to
Correct Answer A. They have no metabolism and cannot use energy or nutrients
Rationale:
Viruses lack cellular machinery and metabolic processes; they are metabolically inert and cannot use
energy or nutrients outside a host cell.
Question 8
What is the measles vaccine?
A. MMR vaccine
B. IPV vaccine
C. OPV vaccine
D. DTaP vaccine
Correct Answer A. MMR vaccine
Rationale:
The measles vaccine is the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, a live-attenuated combination
vaccine.
, Question 9
What is an obligate intracellular parasite?
A. An organism that can replicate outside a living host cell
B. An organism that can only reproduce inside a living host cell
C. An organism that only replicates in dead cells
D. An organism that replicates in any environment
Correct Answer B. An organism that can only reproduce inside a living host cell
Rationale:
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they cannot replicate without hijacking the
metabolic machinery of a living host cell.
Question 10
How are viral genomes different from cellular genomes?
A. They are always double-stranded DNA
B. They can be single- or double-stranded, DNA or RNA, and circular or linear
C. They are always circular
D. They are always linear
Correct Answer B. They can be single- or double-stranded, DNA or RNA, and circular or linear
Rationale:
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity; they can be composed of DNA or RNA, single-stranded
or double-stranded, and circular or linear.
Question 11
What virus family does chickenpox belong to?
A. Paramyxovirus
B. Togaviridae
C. Herpesvirus
D. Orthomyxoviridae
Correct Answer C. Herpesvirus
Rationale:
Chickenpox (varicella) is caused by varicella-zoster virus, which belongs to the Herpesvirus family.
