BIOL 271 Microbiology w/ Lab Final Exam Review | LockDown
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250 original exam-style practice questions aligned to the published BIOL 271 Module 1–6 and laboratory outcomes. These are not reproduced live/proprietary
exam questions; they are original high-yield questions written to target the course concepts and lab skills.
REAL-PHOTO REFERENCE Human laboratory scientist examining a specimen under a microscope
Exam focus Microscopy • laboratory observation • safe technique
Real laboratory-scientist photo reference: Wikimedia Commons, “Scientist looking through microscope” (NIH, public domain).
1. Which feature most reliably distinguishes a prokaryotic cell from a eukaryotic cell?
• Presence of ribosomes
• Presence of DNA
■ Presence of a membrane-bound nucleus
• Presence of a plasma membrane
REAL MICROGRAPH REFERENCE
Staphylococcus aureus / microbial morphology
Exam focus Cocci • clusters • electron microscopy • scale
Real SEM reference: Staphylococcus aureus, CDC/NIAID image on Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
2. The nucleoid of a bacterial cell is best described as:
• A membrane-bound nucleus
■ The region containing the bacterial chromosome
• A storage granule
• A ribosome-producing organelle
3. Which macromolecule is composed of amino acid monomers?
■ Protein
• Nucleic acid
• Polysaccharide
• Phospholipid
4. The monomers of nucleic acids are called:
• Amino acids
• Fatty acids
■ Nucleotides
• Monosaccharides
5. Which organelle is the major site of ATP production in a typical eukaryotic cell?
• Golgi apparatus
■ Mitochondrion
• Lysosome
• Nucleolus
6. Which structure is present in bacteria and eukaryotes and is responsible for protein synthesis?
■ Ribosome
• Nucleus
• Golgi apparatus
• Mitochondrion
7. A bacterial plasmid is best described as:
• A viral capsid
■ A small, usually circular extrachromosomal DNA molecule
• A protein that forms the cell wall
• A membrane-bound organelle
BIOL 271 Microbiology w/ Lab — 250 Original Exam-Style Questions Page 1
, 8. Which cell wall component is characteristic of bacteria?
• Cellulose
• Chitin
■ Peptidoglycan
• Keratin
9. Gram-positive bacteria generally have:
■ A thick peptidoglycan layer
• An outer membrane containing LPS
• No cell wall
• A nucleus
10. The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria contains:
• Teichoic acid
■ Lipopolysaccharide
• Chitin
• Cellulose
11. Which bacterial appendage is primarily associated with attachment rather than motility?
• Flagellum
■ Fimbria
• Endospore
• Ribosome
12. Which structure is most directly responsible for bacterial motility?
• Capsule
■ Flagellum
• Plasmid
• Pilus
13. An endospore is best understood as:
• A reproductive cell
■ A highly resistant dormant structure
• A viral particle
• A membrane-bound nucleus
14. Which statement about bacterial endospores is correct?
• They are produced by all bacteria
■ They are highly resistant to environmental stress
• They increase bacterial genetic diversity by meiosis
• They are required for normal bacterial growth
15. The bacterial plasma membrane is primarily a:
■ Phospholipid bilayer containing proteins
• Peptidoglycan sheet
• Carbohydrate capsule
• DNA-protein complex
16. Which structure is found in eukaryotic cells but not in typical bacteria?
• 70S ribosomes
• Plasma membrane
■ Membrane-bound nucleus
• DNA
BIOL 271 Microbiology w/ Lab — 250 Original Exam-Style Questions Page 2
, 17. A 70S ribosome is typical of:
■ Bacteria
• Human nuclei
• Golgi vesicles
• Lysosomes
18. Which statement best describes archaea?
• They are eukaryotic pathogens
■ They are prokaryotes distinct from bacteria
• They always contain peptidoglycan
• They are viruses
19. A chemoheterotroph obtains energy primarily from:
• Light
■ Chemical compounds
• Only carbon dioxide
• Only inorganic minerals
20. An autotroph obtains its cellular carbon primarily from:
■ Carbon dioxide
• Amino acids only
• Glucose only
• Fatty acids only
21. Which term describes an organism that uses light as its energy source?
• Chemotroph
■ Phototroph
• Heterotroph
• Lithotroph
22. Which term describes an organism that obtains electrons from inorganic compounds?
■ Lithotroph
• Organotroph
• Phototroph
• Heterotroph
23. The glycocalyx may help a bacterium by:
• Destroying its chromosome
■ Promoting adhesion and resisting phagocytosis
• Replacing its ribosomes
• Preventing all metabolism
24. A capsule is:
■ A well-organized glycocalyx firmly attached to the cell
• A viral genome
• A type of ribosome
• A bacterial chromosome
25. Which structure is most associated with bacterial DNA transfer between cells?
■ Conjugative pilus
• Capsule
• Endospore
• Flagellar hook
BIOL 271 Microbiology w/ Lab — 250 Original Exam-Style Questions Page 3
Browser | Portage Learning
250 original exam-style practice questions aligned to the published BIOL 271 Module 1–6 and laboratory outcomes. These are not reproduced live/proprietary
exam questions; they are original high-yield questions written to target the course concepts and lab skills.
REAL-PHOTO REFERENCE Human laboratory scientist examining a specimen under a microscope
Exam focus Microscopy • laboratory observation • safe technique
Real laboratory-scientist photo reference: Wikimedia Commons, “Scientist looking through microscope” (NIH, public domain).
1. Which feature most reliably distinguishes a prokaryotic cell from a eukaryotic cell?
• Presence of ribosomes
• Presence of DNA
■ Presence of a membrane-bound nucleus
• Presence of a plasma membrane
REAL MICROGRAPH REFERENCE
Staphylococcus aureus / microbial morphology
Exam focus Cocci • clusters • electron microscopy • scale
Real SEM reference: Staphylococcus aureus, CDC/NIAID image on Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
2. The nucleoid of a bacterial cell is best described as:
• A membrane-bound nucleus
■ The region containing the bacterial chromosome
• A storage granule
• A ribosome-producing organelle
3. Which macromolecule is composed of amino acid monomers?
■ Protein
• Nucleic acid
• Polysaccharide
• Phospholipid
4. The monomers of nucleic acids are called:
• Amino acids
• Fatty acids
■ Nucleotides
• Monosaccharides
5. Which organelle is the major site of ATP production in a typical eukaryotic cell?
• Golgi apparatus
■ Mitochondrion
• Lysosome
• Nucleolus
6. Which structure is present in bacteria and eukaryotes and is responsible for protein synthesis?
■ Ribosome
• Nucleus
• Golgi apparatus
• Mitochondrion
7. A bacterial plasmid is best described as:
• A viral capsid
■ A small, usually circular extrachromosomal DNA molecule
• A protein that forms the cell wall
• A membrane-bound organelle
BIOL 271 Microbiology w/ Lab — 250 Original Exam-Style Questions Page 1
, 8. Which cell wall component is characteristic of bacteria?
• Cellulose
• Chitin
■ Peptidoglycan
• Keratin
9. Gram-positive bacteria generally have:
■ A thick peptidoglycan layer
• An outer membrane containing LPS
• No cell wall
• A nucleus
10. The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria contains:
• Teichoic acid
■ Lipopolysaccharide
• Chitin
• Cellulose
11. Which bacterial appendage is primarily associated with attachment rather than motility?
• Flagellum
■ Fimbria
• Endospore
• Ribosome
12. Which structure is most directly responsible for bacterial motility?
• Capsule
■ Flagellum
• Plasmid
• Pilus
13. An endospore is best understood as:
• A reproductive cell
■ A highly resistant dormant structure
• A viral particle
• A membrane-bound nucleus
14. Which statement about bacterial endospores is correct?
• They are produced by all bacteria
■ They are highly resistant to environmental stress
• They increase bacterial genetic diversity by meiosis
• They are required for normal bacterial growth
15. The bacterial plasma membrane is primarily a:
■ Phospholipid bilayer containing proteins
• Peptidoglycan sheet
• Carbohydrate capsule
• DNA-protein complex
16. Which structure is found in eukaryotic cells but not in typical bacteria?
• 70S ribosomes
• Plasma membrane
■ Membrane-bound nucleus
• DNA
BIOL 271 Microbiology w/ Lab — 250 Original Exam-Style Questions Page 2
, 17. A 70S ribosome is typical of:
■ Bacteria
• Human nuclei
• Golgi vesicles
• Lysosomes
18. Which statement best describes archaea?
• They are eukaryotic pathogens
■ They are prokaryotes distinct from bacteria
• They always contain peptidoglycan
• They are viruses
19. A chemoheterotroph obtains energy primarily from:
• Light
■ Chemical compounds
• Only carbon dioxide
• Only inorganic minerals
20. An autotroph obtains its cellular carbon primarily from:
■ Carbon dioxide
• Amino acids only
• Glucose only
• Fatty acids only
21. Which term describes an organism that uses light as its energy source?
• Chemotroph
■ Phototroph
• Heterotroph
• Lithotroph
22. Which term describes an organism that obtains electrons from inorganic compounds?
■ Lithotroph
• Organotroph
• Phototroph
• Heterotroph
23. The glycocalyx may help a bacterium by:
• Destroying its chromosome
■ Promoting adhesion and resisting phagocytosis
• Replacing its ribosomes
• Preventing all metabolism
24. A capsule is:
■ A well-organized glycocalyx firmly attached to the cell
• A viral genome
• A type of ribosome
• A bacterial chromosome
25. Which structure is most associated with bacterial DNA transfer between cells?
■ Conjugative pilus
• Capsule
• Endospore
• Flagellar hook
BIOL 271 Microbiology w/ Lab — 250 Original Exam-Style Questions Page 3
