STRAIGHTERLINE MICROBIOLOGY 2026
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes the sexually-
transmitted infection gonorrhea. Although it can be isolated from
the vagina, there are numerous normal biota in that location as well.
To generate a pure culture of this pathogenic bacterium, the best
choice is a(n) ______. Answer: selective medium
◉A fat is called _____ if all carbons of the fatty acid chain are single-
bonded to 2 other carbons and 2 hydrogens. Answer: saturated
◉Caring for patients infected with a new virus requires safety
precautions for medical personnel. Choosing appropriate
procedures is an example of a(n) ______ process. Answer: deductive
◉All of the following are diameters of cells that would be resolved in
a microscope with a limit of resolution of 0.2 µm except ______.
Answer: 0.1 µm
◉A pure culture contains Answer: only one identified species of
microorganism.
, ◉Microorganisms are best defined as organisms that Answer: are
too small to be seen with the unaided eye
◉All cells contain Answer: ribosomes for protein synthesis.
◉The process of sporangium formation and endospore maturation
requires 6-8 hours. What is most likely to result if the temperature
of the environment was raised to 100°C about 2 hours after the
process started? Answer: The endospore would not form properly
because it is not yet heat resistant.
◉Which of the following is not a characteristic of bacteria? Answer:
Organelles termed mitochondria are the site of ATP production.
◉The process of dissolving the envelope and capsid to release the
viral nucleic acid is ______. Answer: uncoating
◉A saprobe differs from a parasite in that Answer: a saprobe
derives nutrients from dead plants and animals, but a parasite
derives nutrients from living plants and animals.
◉You apply the acid-fast stain method to a patient's specimen, an
aspirate from the lungs. Microscopic examination reveals a large
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes the sexually-
transmitted infection gonorrhea. Although it can be isolated from
the vagina, there are numerous normal biota in that location as well.
To generate a pure culture of this pathogenic bacterium, the best
choice is a(n) ______. Answer: selective medium
◉A fat is called _____ if all carbons of the fatty acid chain are single-
bonded to 2 other carbons and 2 hydrogens. Answer: saturated
◉Caring for patients infected with a new virus requires safety
precautions for medical personnel. Choosing appropriate
procedures is an example of a(n) ______ process. Answer: deductive
◉All of the following are diameters of cells that would be resolved in
a microscope with a limit of resolution of 0.2 µm except ______.
Answer: 0.1 µm
◉A pure culture contains Answer: only one identified species of
microorganism.
, ◉Microorganisms are best defined as organisms that Answer: are
too small to be seen with the unaided eye
◉All cells contain Answer: ribosomes for protein synthesis.
◉The process of sporangium formation and endospore maturation
requires 6-8 hours. What is most likely to result if the temperature
of the environment was raised to 100°C about 2 hours after the
process started? Answer: The endospore would not form properly
because it is not yet heat resistant.
◉Which of the following is not a characteristic of bacteria? Answer:
Organelles termed mitochondria are the site of ATP production.
◉The process of dissolving the envelope and capsid to release the
viral nucleic acid is ______. Answer: uncoating
◉A saprobe differs from a parasite in that Answer: a saprobe
derives nutrients from dead plants and animals, but a parasite
derives nutrients from living plants and animals.
◉You apply the acid-fast stain method to a patient's specimen, an
aspirate from the lungs. Microscopic examination reveals a large
