BIOD 171 Microbiology Module 1 Exam – Portage
Learning – 2026/2027 Edition – Questions and
Answers for Undergraduate Nursing and Pre-
Health Students
SECTION I: TRUE/FALSE
1. True or False: A virus is considered a microorganism.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Viruses are not living and as such are not considered microorganisms.
However, they can be classified as microbes, a more general term that includes
microorganisms and viruses .
2. True or False: The smallest biological unit of life is the molecule.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The smallest biological unit of life is the cell. Molecules are components
of cells but are not themselves considered living units .
3. True or False: Eukaryotic cells do not have a nucleus.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Eukaryotic cells do have a nucleus (prokaryotic cells do not). The
nucleus is a defining feature of eukaryotic cells .
4. True or False: Prokaryotic cells can be subdivided into Bacteria and Archaea.
,Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and are classified into two domains:
Bacteria and Archaea .
5. True or False: Archaea is noted for its ability to survive under harsh
conditions.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Archaea are known for surviving in extremely harsh environmental
conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions, high temperatures, and
oxygen-poor conditions .
6. True or False: The genetic material within a prokaryotic cell is contained
within a membrane-enclosed region.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Only eukaryotic cells contain their genetic material within a nucleus
(membrane-enclosed region). Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus .
7. True or False: All multicellular microorganisms classified as Animalia are
heterotrophic.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: All animals (Animalia) are heterotrophic—they obtain their energy by
consuming organic substances produced by other organisms .
8. True or False: A defining characteristic of Protista is the inability of colonies to
form tissue layers.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Protists are generally unicellular or colonial organisms that do not form
true tissues, unlike plants, animals, and fungi .
, 9. True or False: All multicellular microorganisms classified as Animalia are
autotrophic.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Animals are heterotrophic, not autotrophic. Autotrophs (like plants)
produce their own food through photosynthesis .
10. True or False: Viruses can be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Viruses are considered neither prokaryotic nor eukaryotic. They are not
considered living and do not replicate on their own, meaning they must replicate
within a host .
11. True or False: The plasma membrane restricts only the movement of
materials into the cell.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The plasma membrane restricts movement of materials both into and
out of the cell. It is a selective barrier that regulates the passage of substances in
both directions .
12. True or False: The smallest biological unit of life is the atom.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The cell is the smallest biological unit of life, not the atom or molecule .
13. True or False: Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles while
prokaryotic cells do not.
Learning – 2026/2027 Edition – Questions and
Answers for Undergraduate Nursing and Pre-
Health Students
SECTION I: TRUE/FALSE
1. True or False: A virus is considered a microorganism.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Viruses are not living and as such are not considered microorganisms.
However, they can be classified as microbes, a more general term that includes
microorganisms and viruses .
2. True or False: The smallest biological unit of life is the molecule.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The smallest biological unit of life is the cell. Molecules are components
of cells but are not themselves considered living units .
3. True or False: Eukaryotic cells do not have a nucleus.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Eukaryotic cells do have a nucleus (prokaryotic cells do not). The
nucleus is a defining feature of eukaryotic cells .
4. True or False: Prokaryotic cells can be subdivided into Bacteria and Archaea.
,Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and are classified into two domains:
Bacteria and Archaea .
5. True or False: Archaea is noted for its ability to survive under harsh
conditions.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Archaea are known for surviving in extremely harsh environmental
conditions such as high salt levels, acid conditions, high temperatures, and
oxygen-poor conditions .
6. True or False: The genetic material within a prokaryotic cell is contained
within a membrane-enclosed region.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Only eukaryotic cells contain their genetic material within a nucleus
(membrane-enclosed region). Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus .
7. True or False: All multicellular microorganisms classified as Animalia are
heterotrophic.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: All animals (Animalia) are heterotrophic—they obtain their energy by
consuming organic substances produced by other organisms .
8. True or False: A defining characteristic of Protista is the inability of colonies to
form tissue layers.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Protists are generally unicellular or colonial organisms that do not form
true tissues, unlike plants, animals, and fungi .
, 9. True or False: All multicellular microorganisms classified as Animalia are
autotrophic.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Animals are heterotrophic, not autotrophic. Autotrophs (like plants)
produce their own food through photosynthesis .
10. True or False: Viruses can be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Viruses are considered neither prokaryotic nor eukaryotic. They are not
considered living and do not replicate on their own, meaning they must replicate
within a host .
11. True or False: The plasma membrane restricts only the movement of
materials into the cell.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The plasma membrane restricts movement of materials both into and
out of the cell. It is a selective barrier that regulates the passage of substances in
both directions .
12. True or False: The smallest biological unit of life is the atom.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The cell is the smallest biological unit of life, not the atom or molecule .
13. True or False: Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles while
prokaryotic cells do not.
