TEST BANK FOR MICROBIOLOGY
FUNDAMENTALS: A CLINICAL
APPROACH BY MARJORIE KELLY
COWAN, HEIDI SMITH AND JENNIFER
LUSK, 2024 RELEASE| ALL CHAPTERS 1-
22| LATEST 2026
Chapter 1: Introduction to Microbes and Their Building Blocks
1. When humans manipulate the genes of microorganisms, the process is called
________.
A) bioremediation
B) epidemiology
C) genetic engineering
D) immunology
E) taxonomy
Rationale: Genetic engineering involves the intentional modification of an organism’s
genetic material. Bioremediation uses microbes to clean pollutants, epidemiology
studies disease patterns in populations, and taxonomy classifies organisms.
2. Which of the following is NOT considered a microorganism?
A) Protozoan
B) Bacterium
C) Virus
D) Fungus
E) Mosquito
Rationale: Mosquitoes are macroscopic arthropods visible to the unaided eye.
Microorganisms are defined as living things too small to be seen without a microscope,
including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses.
,3. All microorganisms are best defined as organisms that ________.
A) cause human disease
B) lack a cell nucleus
C) are infectious particles
D) are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
E) can only be found growing in laboratories
Rationale: The defining characteristic of microorganisms is their microscopic size—they
cannot be seen without magnification. While some lack a nucleus (prokaryotes) and
some cause disease, these are not universal features of all microorganisms.
4. The microorganisms that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter and
wastes are called ________.
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Rationale: Decomposers are essential for nutrient cycling—they break down dead
organic matter and recycle elements like carbon and nitrogen back into the ecosystem.
Chapter 2: Tools of the Laboratory
5. The Five I’s of studying microorganisms include all of the following EXCEPT
________.
A) inoculation
B) incubation
C) infection
D) isolation
E) identification
Rationale: The Five I’s are Inoculation, Incubation, Isolation, Inspection, and
Identification. “Infection” is a clinical term referring to pathogen invasion, not a
laboratory technique.
6. Which of the following is essential for development of discrete, isolated
colonies?
,A) Broth medium
B) Differential medium
C) Selective medium
D) Solid medium
E) Assay medium
Rationale: Solid media (typically containing agar) provide a physical surface that allows
bacteria to grow into distinct, separate colonies. Liquid media produce turbidity but
cannot isolate individual colonies.
Chapter 9: Physical and Chemical Control of Microbes
7. ________ destroys all viable organisms including viruses.
A) Sterilization
B) Antiseptic use
C) Disinfection
D) Sanitization
Rationale: Sterilization is the complete elimination or destruction of all forms of
microbial life, including bacterial endospores and viruses. Disinfection destroys
vegetative pathogens but not necessarily endospores.
8. A/n ________ is a chemical that destroys bacteria except for those in the
endospore stage.
A) bacteriostat
B) fungistat
C) bactericide
D) antibiotic
Rationale: A bactericide kills bacteria, but endospores are highly resistant structures
that may survive. A bacteriostat merely inhibits growth without killing.
9. Identify the form of nonionizing radiation from the list below.
A) gamma rays
B) X rays
C) cathode rays
D) ultraviolet rays
, Rationale: Ultraviolet (UV) rays are nonionizing radiation that damages microbial DNA
by forming pyrimidine dimers. Gamma rays and X-rays are ionizing forms of radiation.
Chapter 12: Host Defenses I
10. Surface protection is classified as ________.
A) second line defense
B) innate nonspecific
C) acquired specific
D) third line defense
Rationale: The first line of defense (surface protection) includes physical, chemical, and
genetic barriers that are innate (inborn) and nonspecific—they impede the entry of any
foreign agent regardless of its identity.
11. Nonspecific chemical defenses of the human host include ________.
A) myeloperoxidase
B) lysozyme
C) cytokines
D) antibodies
Rationale: Lysozyme is an enzyme found in tears and saliva that nonspecifically breaks
down bacterial cell walls. Antibodies are part of specific (adaptive) immunity.
12. Inflammation is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. Redness
matches the Latin term ________.
A) calor
B) tumor
C) dolor
D) rubor
Rationale: The four cardinal signs of inflammation are rubor (redness), calor (warmth),
tumor (swelling), and dolor (pain). Rubor corresponds to redness.
Chapter 3: Bacteria and Archaea
FUNDAMENTALS: A CLINICAL
APPROACH BY MARJORIE KELLY
COWAN, HEIDI SMITH AND JENNIFER
LUSK, 2024 RELEASE| ALL CHAPTERS 1-
22| LATEST 2026
Chapter 1: Introduction to Microbes and Their Building Blocks
1. When humans manipulate the genes of microorganisms, the process is called
________.
A) bioremediation
B) epidemiology
C) genetic engineering
D) immunology
E) taxonomy
Rationale: Genetic engineering involves the intentional modification of an organism’s
genetic material. Bioremediation uses microbes to clean pollutants, epidemiology
studies disease patterns in populations, and taxonomy classifies organisms.
2. Which of the following is NOT considered a microorganism?
A) Protozoan
B) Bacterium
C) Virus
D) Fungus
E) Mosquito
Rationale: Mosquitoes are macroscopic arthropods visible to the unaided eye.
Microorganisms are defined as living things too small to be seen without a microscope,
including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses.
,3. All microorganisms are best defined as organisms that ________.
A) cause human disease
B) lack a cell nucleus
C) are infectious particles
D) are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
E) can only be found growing in laboratories
Rationale: The defining characteristic of microorganisms is their microscopic size—they
cannot be seen without magnification. While some lack a nucleus (prokaryotes) and
some cause disease, these are not universal features of all microorganisms.
4. The microorganisms that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter and
wastes are called ________.
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Rationale: Decomposers are essential for nutrient cycling—they break down dead
organic matter and recycle elements like carbon and nitrogen back into the ecosystem.
Chapter 2: Tools of the Laboratory
5. The Five I’s of studying microorganisms include all of the following EXCEPT
________.
A) inoculation
B) incubation
C) infection
D) isolation
E) identification
Rationale: The Five I’s are Inoculation, Incubation, Isolation, Inspection, and
Identification. “Infection” is a clinical term referring to pathogen invasion, not a
laboratory technique.
6. Which of the following is essential for development of discrete, isolated
colonies?
,A) Broth medium
B) Differential medium
C) Selective medium
D) Solid medium
E) Assay medium
Rationale: Solid media (typically containing agar) provide a physical surface that allows
bacteria to grow into distinct, separate colonies. Liquid media produce turbidity but
cannot isolate individual colonies.
Chapter 9: Physical and Chemical Control of Microbes
7. ________ destroys all viable organisms including viruses.
A) Sterilization
B) Antiseptic use
C) Disinfection
D) Sanitization
Rationale: Sterilization is the complete elimination or destruction of all forms of
microbial life, including bacterial endospores and viruses. Disinfection destroys
vegetative pathogens but not necessarily endospores.
8. A/n ________ is a chemical that destroys bacteria except for those in the
endospore stage.
A) bacteriostat
B) fungistat
C) bactericide
D) antibiotic
Rationale: A bactericide kills bacteria, but endospores are highly resistant structures
that may survive. A bacteriostat merely inhibits growth without killing.
9. Identify the form of nonionizing radiation from the list below.
A) gamma rays
B) X rays
C) cathode rays
D) ultraviolet rays
, Rationale: Ultraviolet (UV) rays are nonionizing radiation that damages microbial DNA
by forming pyrimidine dimers. Gamma rays and X-rays are ionizing forms of radiation.
Chapter 12: Host Defenses I
10. Surface protection is classified as ________.
A) second line defense
B) innate nonspecific
C) acquired specific
D) third line defense
Rationale: The first line of defense (surface protection) includes physical, chemical, and
genetic barriers that are innate (inborn) and nonspecific—they impede the entry of any
foreign agent regardless of its identity.
11. Nonspecific chemical defenses of the human host include ________.
A) myeloperoxidase
B) lysozyme
C) cytokines
D) antibodies
Rationale: Lysozyme is an enzyme found in tears and saliva that nonspecifically breaks
down bacterial cell walls. Antibodies are part of specific (adaptive) immunity.
12. Inflammation is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. Redness
matches the Latin term ________.
A) calor
B) tumor
C) dolor
D) rubor
Rationale: The four cardinal signs of inflammation are rubor (redness), calor (warmth),
tumor (swelling), and dolor (pain). Rubor corresponds to redness.
Chapter 3: Bacteria and Archaea
