NSC 3103 MCQ Exam Questions with
100% Correct Answers Latest
Versions 2025 Graded A+
Week 1 – Microbiology 1
Rod-shaped bacteria are called:
a) cocci;
b) vibrios;
c) bacilli;
d) endospores.
e) eubacteria;
Antenatal screening for which of the following diseases is routinely carried out to
minimise the risk of congenital defects?
a) Rubella.
b) Hepatitis C.
c) Hepatitis B.
d) HIV.
e) Group B streptococcal infection.
1. The term ‘notifiable disease’ refers to
a) an infectious disease that is required to be reported to health authorities.
b) a disease that must be reported to the police.
c) any infectious disease diagnosed in a hospital or other healthcare facility.
d) a disease that can spread in epidemic or pandemic form.
2. Which of the following has had a major impact in reducing mortality due to
infectious diseases?
a) Mass immunisation.
b) The ability to identify the microorganisms responsible for infections.
c) The discovery of antibiotics.
d) Improvements in standards of sanitation facilities and quality of water supply.
e) All of the above.
The outbreak of a new strain of influenza which occurs each year is due to:
a) climatic conditions which activate the virus;
, b) a lack of antiviral drugs;
c) mutations in the influenza virus;
d) global travel.
e) a lack of influenza vaccine;
3. The most important components of primary healthcare that directly affect the
incidence of infectious diseases in the community are
a) health education and good nutrition.
b) preventative screening programs and immunisation.
c) the provision of health education and appropriate treatment.
d) antibiotics and the provision of family planning information.
4. The true incidence of HIV infection in Australia is not known because
a) infected people may be asymptomatic for a long period.
b) it is not a notifiable disease.
c) a proportion of people receive treatment before the diagnosis is confirmed.
d) it can’t be diagnosed with any certainty.
e) all of the above.
5. The highest rate of notifications of communicable diseases in Australia each year
usually comes from
a) NSW.
b) Queensland.
c) Northern Territory.
d) Victoria.
e) South Australia.
1. One of the functions of a bacterial capsule is to
a) assist the organism to avoid phagocytosis.
b) prevent the bacteria from getting stuck to surfaces.
c) protect the organism from osmosis.
d) protect the cell from drying out.
e) all of the above.
2. Gram-positive bacteria differ from Gram-negative bacteria because Gram-positives
a) have a different cell wall structure.
b) contain a thicker layer of peptidoglycan.
c) stain blue with the Gram stain.
d) are generally more susceptible to penicillin.
e) all of the above.
,3. Which of the following organisms is a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory
tract, but can cause otitis media and meningitis?
a) Group B streptococci
b) Streptococcus pneumoniae.
c) Staphylococci.
d) Escherichia coli.
e) Normal inhabitants don’t cause disease.
4. Which of the following is TRUE about viruses?
a) They are composed of cells.
b) They metabolise nutrients.
c) They reproduce outside a living cell.
d) They have RNA or DNA.
e) All of the above.
5. Which of the following is TRUE?
a) Viruses that infect humans never infect other animals.
b) All viruses can only attack one type of cell.
c) Each virus attaches to a specific receptor site on its target cells.
d) Viruses that infect birds do not infect humans.
e) All of the above.
7. Which of the following statements about retroviruses is TRUE?
a) They usually synthesise DNA from viral RNA.
b) They all contain an enzyme called reverse transcriptase.
c) Their replication can be inhibited with nucleotide analogues.
d) The human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus.
e) All of the above.
f)
8. Which of the following predisposes a person to a fungal infection?
a) Neutropenia.
b) Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs
c) Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
d) Diabetes.
e) All of the above.
9. The organisms that cause parasitic infections
a) infect only humans.
b) produce resistant spores in soil and water supplies.
c) have a simple life cycle.
d) are protozoa, helminths or arthropods
e) all of the above.
, 10. Which of the following protozoa causes malaria?
a) Plasmodium.
b) Cryptosporidium.
c) Trichomonas
d) Toxoplasma
1. Protozoal diseases are most often acquired by
a) sharing of contaminated eating utensils.
b) intravenous drug abusers.
c) the bite of a blood-sucking insect.
d) unprotected sex with an infected person.
e) close contact with an infected person.
2. Which of the following is TRUE about malaria?
a) It can be life-threatening.
b) It can be acquired in developed countries like Australia.
c) The parasite has developed resistance to some antimalarial drugs.
d) Only Anopheles mosquitoes transmit the disease.
e) All of the above.
The term ‘public health’ refers to:
a) bulk billing by doctors in general practice;
b) free medical services available at hospitals;
c) the role of the non-government organisations in healthcare;
d) the promotion of health services and disease control in the community.
e) the control of infectious diseases.
Fungal infections of humans:
a) are mostly subcutaneous infections;
b) occur only in immunocompromised patients;
c) are relatively easy to treat;
d) are very rare;
e) can be caused by yeasts or moulds.
3. Helminth infections
a) are always serious, causing significant morbidity.
b) only occur in developing countries.
c) are always transmitted person to person.
d) have humans as the definitive host.
100% Correct Answers Latest
Versions 2025 Graded A+
Week 1 – Microbiology 1
Rod-shaped bacteria are called:
a) cocci;
b) vibrios;
c) bacilli;
d) endospores.
e) eubacteria;
Antenatal screening for which of the following diseases is routinely carried out to
minimise the risk of congenital defects?
a) Rubella.
b) Hepatitis C.
c) Hepatitis B.
d) HIV.
e) Group B streptococcal infection.
1. The term ‘notifiable disease’ refers to
a) an infectious disease that is required to be reported to health authorities.
b) a disease that must be reported to the police.
c) any infectious disease diagnosed in a hospital or other healthcare facility.
d) a disease that can spread in epidemic or pandemic form.
2. Which of the following has had a major impact in reducing mortality due to
infectious diseases?
a) Mass immunisation.
b) The ability to identify the microorganisms responsible for infections.
c) The discovery of antibiotics.
d) Improvements in standards of sanitation facilities and quality of water supply.
e) All of the above.
The outbreak of a new strain of influenza which occurs each year is due to:
a) climatic conditions which activate the virus;
, b) a lack of antiviral drugs;
c) mutations in the influenza virus;
d) global travel.
e) a lack of influenza vaccine;
3. The most important components of primary healthcare that directly affect the
incidence of infectious diseases in the community are
a) health education and good nutrition.
b) preventative screening programs and immunisation.
c) the provision of health education and appropriate treatment.
d) antibiotics and the provision of family planning information.
4. The true incidence of HIV infection in Australia is not known because
a) infected people may be asymptomatic for a long period.
b) it is not a notifiable disease.
c) a proportion of people receive treatment before the diagnosis is confirmed.
d) it can’t be diagnosed with any certainty.
e) all of the above.
5. The highest rate of notifications of communicable diseases in Australia each year
usually comes from
a) NSW.
b) Queensland.
c) Northern Territory.
d) Victoria.
e) South Australia.
1. One of the functions of a bacterial capsule is to
a) assist the organism to avoid phagocytosis.
b) prevent the bacteria from getting stuck to surfaces.
c) protect the organism from osmosis.
d) protect the cell from drying out.
e) all of the above.
2. Gram-positive bacteria differ from Gram-negative bacteria because Gram-positives
a) have a different cell wall structure.
b) contain a thicker layer of peptidoglycan.
c) stain blue with the Gram stain.
d) are generally more susceptible to penicillin.
e) all of the above.
,3. Which of the following organisms is a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory
tract, but can cause otitis media and meningitis?
a) Group B streptococci
b) Streptococcus pneumoniae.
c) Staphylococci.
d) Escherichia coli.
e) Normal inhabitants don’t cause disease.
4. Which of the following is TRUE about viruses?
a) They are composed of cells.
b) They metabolise nutrients.
c) They reproduce outside a living cell.
d) They have RNA or DNA.
e) All of the above.
5. Which of the following is TRUE?
a) Viruses that infect humans never infect other animals.
b) All viruses can only attack one type of cell.
c) Each virus attaches to a specific receptor site on its target cells.
d) Viruses that infect birds do not infect humans.
e) All of the above.
7. Which of the following statements about retroviruses is TRUE?
a) They usually synthesise DNA from viral RNA.
b) They all contain an enzyme called reverse transcriptase.
c) Their replication can be inhibited with nucleotide analogues.
d) The human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus.
e) All of the above.
f)
8. Which of the following predisposes a person to a fungal infection?
a) Neutropenia.
b) Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs
c) Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
d) Diabetes.
e) All of the above.
9. The organisms that cause parasitic infections
a) infect only humans.
b) produce resistant spores in soil and water supplies.
c) have a simple life cycle.
d) are protozoa, helminths or arthropods
e) all of the above.
, 10. Which of the following protozoa causes malaria?
a) Plasmodium.
b) Cryptosporidium.
c) Trichomonas
d) Toxoplasma
1. Protozoal diseases are most often acquired by
a) sharing of contaminated eating utensils.
b) intravenous drug abusers.
c) the bite of a blood-sucking insect.
d) unprotected sex with an infected person.
e) close contact with an infected person.
2. Which of the following is TRUE about malaria?
a) It can be life-threatening.
b) It can be acquired in developed countries like Australia.
c) The parasite has developed resistance to some antimalarial drugs.
d) Only Anopheles mosquitoes transmit the disease.
e) All of the above.
The term ‘public health’ refers to:
a) bulk billing by doctors in general practice;
b) free medical services available at hospitals;
c) the role of the non-government organisations in healthcare;
d) the promotion of health services and disease control in the community.
e) the control of infectious diseases.
Fungal infections of humans:
a) are mostly subcutaneous infections;
b) occur only in immunocompromised patients;
c) are relatively easy to treat;
d) are very rare;
e) can be caused by yeasts or moulds.
3. Helminth infections
a) are always serious, causing significant morbidity.
b) only occur in developing countries.
c) are always transmitted person to person.
d) have humans as the definitive host.
