TALARO FOUNDATIONS IN
MICROBIOLOGY 12TH EDITION 2026
COMPLETE REVIEW | CHAPTERS 1–27
STUDY COMPANION || NEW EDITION
Chapter 1: The Main Themes of Microbiology
1. Q: What type of microorganisms are considered acellular and require a host cell to
replicate?
A: a) Bacteria b) Fungi c) Viruses d) Protozoa
2. Q: Who is credited with developing the first microscope and observing "animalcules"?
A: a) Louis Pasteur b) Robert Koch c) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek d) Edward Jenner
3. Q: The process of deliberately exposing a person to material from smallpox lesions to
induce immunity is called:
A: a) Vaccination b) Variolation c) Antibiosis d) Serology
4. Q: Which scientist definitively disproved the theory of spontaneous generation for
microorganisms using swan-necked flasks?
A: a) Francesco Redi b) Louis Pasteur c) John Tyndall d) Robert Koch
5. Q: The study of the body's defenses against pathogens is known as:
A: a) Epidemiology b) Immunology c) Etiology d) Biotechnology
Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Biology
6. Q: What type of bond is formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms?
A: a) Ionic bond b) Hydrogen bond c) Covalent bond d) Van der Waals force
7. Q: A solution with a pH of 2 is considered:
A: a) Neutral b) Basic c) Acidic d) Alkaline
, 8. Q: The primary structure of a protein refers to its:
A: a) Three-dimensional folding b) Sequence of amino acids c) Association with
other polypeptide chains d) Local alpha-helix or beta-pleated sheets
9. Q: Which macromolecule is composed of nucleotide subunits and carries genetic
information?
A: a) Carbohydrate b) Lipid c) Protein d) Nucleic Acid
10. Q: Dehydration synthesis reactions typically result in the formation of:
A: a) Water b) Ions c) ATP d) Monomers
Chapter 3: Tools of the Laboratory
11. Q: A medium that contains substances to inhibit the growth of certain microbes while
allowing others to grow is called:
A: a) Selective medium b) Differential medium c) Reducing medium d) Complex
medium
12. Q: Which microscope achieves the highest magnification and resolution?
A: a) Compound light microscope b) Phase-contrast microscope c) Transmission Electron
Microscope (TEM) d) Fluorescence microscope
13. Q: The purpose of fixing a smear during staining is to:
A: a) Kill the microbes and adhere them to the slide b) Increase contrast c) Wash
away excess dye d) Decolorize the cells
14. Q: In the Gram stain, Gram-positive cells stain purple because they:
A: a) Have an outer membrane b) Lose the crystal violet-iodine complex during
decolorization c) Have a thick layer of peptidoglycan that retains the complex d)
Have a high lipid content
15. Q: A pure culture is best defined as:
A: a) A culture containing many types of microbes b) A culture containing only one
species of microbe c) A culture on a solid medium d) A culture in a liquid medium
Chapter 4: Bacteria and Archaea
16. Q: The rigid structure that provides shape and protection to most bacterial cells is the:
A: a) Cell membrane b) Capsule c) Peptidoglycan cell wall d) S-layer
, 17. Q: Small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules that confer extra traits like antibiotic
resistance are called:
A: a) Chromosomes b) Ribosomes c) Mitochondria d) Plasmids
18. Q: Bacterial flagella rotate by power derived from:
A: a) ATP hydrolysis b) The proton motive force c) Light energy d) Glucose
oxidation
19. Q: Archaea differ from bacteria in that they:
A: a) Have peptidoglycan in their cell walls b) Have membrane-bound nuclei c) Often live
in extreme environments and have unique cell wall/membrane chemistry d) Are
always pathogenic
20. Q: A dormant, highly resistant structure formed by some Gram-positive bacteria is a(n):
A: a) Capsule b) Endospore c) Cyst d) Inclusion body
Chapter 5: Eukaryotic Cells and Microorganisms
21. Q: Which organelle is the site of ATP production via aerobic respiration?
A: a) Golgi apparatus b) Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum c) Mitochondrion d)
Lysosome
22. Q: Fungi that are unicellular and reproduce by budding are commonly called:
A: a) Molds b) Yeasts c) Hyphae d) Septa
23. Q: The motile, feeding stage of a protozoan is called the:
A: a) Cyst b) Trophozoite c) Sporozoite d) Hypha
24. Q: Helminths are:
A: a) Microscopic algae b) Parasitic worms c) A type of fungus d) Photosynthetic
protists
25. Q: What structure, composed of microtubules, is essential for chromosome separation
during eukaryotic cell division?
A: a) Flagellum b) Centriole c) Mitotic spindle d) Cilium
Chapter 6: An Introduction to the Viruses
26. Q: The protein shell that surrounds the viral nucleic acid is called the:
A: a) Envelope b) Capsid c) Nucleocapsid d) Capsomere
, 27. Q: Bacteriophages that integrate their DNA into the host chromosome and replicate with
it are in which cycle?
A: a) Lytic cycle b) Lysogenic cycle c) Budding cycle d) Productive cycle
28. Q: In which stage of the animal viral multiplication cycle does the virion bind to specific
receptors on the host cell?
A: a) Penetration b) Biosynthesis c) Release d) Adsorption
29. Q: Persistent viral infections where the virus is continually present in the body are
exemplified by:
A: a) Influenza b) Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) c) Common cold (rhinovirus) d) Ebola
30. Q: Infectious proteins that cause neurological diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease are
called:
A: a) Viroids b) Bacteriophages c) Prions d) Complex viruses
Chapter 7: Microbial Nutrition, Ecology, and Growth
31. Q: An organism that uses organic carbon sources and obtains energy from chemical
compounds is a:
A: a) Photoautotroph b) Chemoautotroph c) Photoheterotroph d) Chemoheterotroph
32. Q: The temperature range at which an organism grows best is its:
A: a) Maximum temperature b) Minimum temperature c) Optimum temperature
d) Psychrophilic range
33. Q: A bacterium that grows in the presence of oxygen but does not use it for metabolism
is a(n):
A: a) Obligate aerobe b) Obligate anaerobe c) Facultative anaerobe d) Aerotolerant
anaerobe
34. Q: During which phase of the bacterial growth curve are cells dividing at a constant,
maximum rate?
A: a) Lag phase b) Exponential (log) phase c) Stationary phase d) Death phase
35. Q: An organism that requires high salt concentration for growth is a:
A: a) Thermophile b) Halophile c) Acidophile d) Mesophile
MICROBIOLOGY 12TH EDITION 2026
COMPLETE REVIEW | CHAPTERS 1–27
STUDY COMPANION || NEW EDITION
Chapter 1: The Main Themes of Microbiology
1. Q: What type of microorganisms are considered acellular and require a host cell to
replicate?
A: a) Bacteria b) Fungi c) Viruses d) Protozoa
2. Q: Who is credited with developing the first microscope and observing "animalcules"?
A: a) Louis Pasteur b) Robert Koch c) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek d) Edward Jenner
3. Q: The process of deliberately exposing a person to material from smallpox lesions to
induce immunity is called:
A: a) Vaccination b) Variolation c) Antibiosis d) Serology
4. Q: Which scientist definitively disproved the theory of spontaneous generation for
microorganisms using swan-necked flasks?
A: a) Francesco Redi b) Louis Pasteur c) John Tyndall d) Robert Koch
5. Q: The study of the body's defenses against pathogens is known as:
A: a) Epidemiology b) Immunology c) Etiology d) Biotechnology
Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Biology
6. Q: What type of bond is formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms?
A: a) Ionic bond b) Hydrogen bond c) Covalent bond d) Van der Waals force
7. Q: A solution with a pH of 2 is considered:
A: a) Neutral b) Basic c) Acidic d) Alkaline
, 8. Q: The primary structure of a protein refers to its:
A: a) Three-dimensional folding b) Sequence of amino acids c) Association with
other polypeptide chains d) Local alpha-helix or beta-pleated sheets
9. Q: Which macromolecule is composed of nucleotide subunits and carries genetic
information?
A: a) Carbohydrate b) Lipid c) Protein d) Nucleic Acid
10. Q: Dehydration synthesis reactions typically result in the formation of:
A: a) Water b) Ions c) ATP d) Monomers
Chapter 3: Tools of the Laboratory
11. Q: A medium that contains substances to inhibit the growth of certain microbes while
allowing others to grow is called:
A: a) Selective medium b) Differential medium c) Reducing medium d) Complex
medium
12. Q: Which microscope achieves the highest magnification and resolution?
A: a) Compound light microscope b) Phase-contrast microscope c) Transmission Electron
Microscope (TEM) d) Fluorescence microscope
13. Q: The purpose of fixing a smear during staining is to:
A: a) Kill the microbes and adhere them to the slide b) Increase contrast c) Wash
away excess dye d) Decolorize the cells
14. Q: In the Gram stain, Gram-positive cells stain purple because they:
A: a) Have an outer membrane b) Lose the crystal violet-iodine complex during
decolorization c) Have a thick layer of peptidoglycan that retains the complex d)
Have a high lipid content
15. Q: A pure culture is best defined as:
A: a) A culture containing many types of microbes b) A culture containing only one
species of microbe c) A culture on a solid medium d) A culture in a liquid medium
Chapter 4: Bacteria and Archaea
16. Q: The rigid structure that provides shape and protection to most bacterial cells is the:
A: a) Cell membrane b) Capsule c) Peptidoglycan cell wall d) S-layer
, 17. Q: Small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules that confer extra traits like antibiotic
resistance are called:
A: a) Chromosomes b) Ribosomes c) Mitochondria d) Plasmids
18. Q: Bacterial flagella rotate by power derived from:
A: a) ATP hydrolysis b) The proton motive force c) Light energy d) Glucose
oxidation
19. Q: Archaea differ from bacteria in that they:
A: a) Have peptidoglycan in their cell walls b) Have membrane-bound nuclei c) Often live
in extreme environments and have unique cell wall/membrane chemistry d) Are
always pathogenic
20. Q: A dormant, highly resistant structure formed by some Gram-positive bacteria is a(n):
A: a) Capsule b) Endospore c) Cyst d) Inclusion body
Chapter 5: Eukaryotic Cells and Microorganisms
21. Q: Which organelle is the site of ATP production via aerobic respiration?
A: a) Golgi apparatus b) Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum c) Mitochondrion d)
Lysosome
22. Q: Fungi that are unicellular and reproduce by budding are commonly called:
A: a) Molds b) Yeasts c) Hyphae d) Septa
23. Q: The motile, feeding stage of a protozoan is called the:
A: a) Cyst b) Trophozoite c) Sporozoite d) Hypha
24. Q: Helminths are:
A: a) Microscopic algae b) Parasitic worms c) A type of fungus d) Photosynthetic
protists
25. Q: What structure, composed of microtubules, is essential for chromosome separation
during eukaryotic cell division?
A: a) Flagellum b) Centriole c) Mitotic spindle d) Cilium
Chapter 6: An Introduction to the Viruses
26. Q: The protein shell that surrounds the viral nucleic acid is called the:
A: a) Envelope b) Capsid c) Nucleocapsid d) Capsomere
, 27. Q: Bacteriophages that integrate their DNA into the host chromosome and replicate with
it are in which cycle?
A: a) Lytic cycle b) Lysogenic cycle c) Budding cycle d) Productive cycle
28. Q: In which stage of the animal viral multiplication cycle does the virion bind to specific
receptors on the host cell?
A: a) Penetration b) Biosynthesis c) Release d) Adsorption
29. Q: Persistent viral infections where the virus is continually present in the body are
exemplified by:
A: a) Influenza b) Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) c) Common cold (rhinovirus) d) Ebola
30. Q: Infectious proteins that cause neurological diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease are
called:
A: a) Viroids b) Bacteriophages c) Prions d) Complex viruses
Chapter 7: Microbial Nutrition, Ecology, and Growth
31. Q: An organism that uses organic carbon sources and obtains energy from chemical
compounds is a:
A: a) Photoautotroph b) Chemoautotroph c) Photoheterotroph d) Chemoheterotroph
32. Q: The temperature range at which an organism grows best is its:
A: a) Maximum temperature b) Minimum temperature c) Optimum temperature
d) Psychrophilic range
33. Q: A bacterium that grows in the presence of oxygen but does not use it for metabolism
is a(n):
A: a) Obligate aerobe b) Obligate anaerobe c) Facultative anaerobe d) Aerotolerant
anaerobe
34. Q: During which phase of the bacterial growth curve are cells dividing at a constant,
maximum rate?
A: a) Lag phase b) Exponential (log) phase c) Stationary phase d) Death phase
35. Q: An organism that requires high salt concentration for growth is a:
A: a) Thermophile b) Halophile c) Acidophile d) Mesophile
