WGU D311 MICROBIOLOGY KNOWLEDGE EXAM 2025
WITH 160 ANSWERED QUESTIONS
1. Describe the role of fungi in causing skin infections like athlete's foot and
ringworm.
Fungi help maintain skin health by preventing infections.
Fungi are involved in the digestion of skin cells.
Fungi are responsible for producing toxins that damage skin cells.
Fungi produce dermatophytes that infect the skin, leading to
conditions such as athlete's foot and ringworm.
2. If a laboratory technician is analyzing a sample and omits the safranin
step in the Gram staining procedure, how might this oversight affect the
diagnosis of a bacterial infection?
It will have no effect on the diagnosis.
It may lead to misidentification of the bacteria present in the
sample.
It will make all bacteria appear gram-positive.
It will enhance the identification of gram-negative bacteria.
3. Which beneficial role do viruses have in the environment?
Integrating into plant genomes to increase drought tolerance
Fixing nitrogen at plant roots to promote growth
Releasing light through bioluminescence to be used for
photosynthesis
Decomposing biomaterials to provide plants with soil nutrients
,4. If a restaurant uses a disinfectant that is ineffective against certain
bacteria, what potential risk could arise for customers?
, Increased risk of foodborne illness
Improved food safety
Enhanced flavor of food
No impact on customer health
5. What type of diseases are found in higher numbers than expected in
local populations?
pandemic
endemic
epidemic
sporadic
6. What is the term for the process used by microorganisms to convert
sugars into alcohol or acids, commonly used in food production?
photosynthesis
fermentation
decomposition
respiration
7. What is the primary reason that desiccation is effective in controlling
microbial growth?
It increases the temperature of the environment
It enhances nutrient availability for microbes
It introduces toxic chemicals to the microorganisms
Water concentration decreases below what is required for
microbial survival
, 8. Why is it important that an antibiotic used therapeutically have a narrow
spectrum?
They are associated with reduced toxicity
They selectively target the pathogen and not the host
They minimize bacterial resistance to the antibiotic
They minimize the disruption of normal microflora in the patient
9. What is the term used to describe the swelling that occurs due to
increased capillary permeability during inflammation?
necrosis
edema
ischemia
hypertrophy
10. Describe the role of fungi in the context of human pathogens and
microsporidia.
Fungi are primarily beneficial and do not produce pathogens.
Fungi can produce human pathogens that spread via
microsporidia, which are a type of spore-forming organism.
Fungi do not play a role in human health.
Fungi are only involved in noncommunicable diseases.
11. What is the significance of the molecule that makes up the bilayer
formed in the plasma membrane of most bacterial and eukaryotic cells?
Phospholipids help maintain hydrophobic and hydrophilic
environments
Mitochondria help maintain the energy required for the diffusion
of nutrients
WITH 160 ANSWERED QUESTIONS
1. Describe the role of fungi in causing skin infections like athlete's foot and
ringworm.
Fungi help maintain skin health by preventing infections.
Fungi are involved in the digestion of skin cells.
Fungi are responsible for producing toxins that damage skin cells.
Fungi produce dermatophytes that infect the skin, leading to
conditions such as athlete's foot and ringworm.
2. If a laboratory technician is analyzing a sample and omits the safranin
step in the Gram staining procedure, how might this oversight affect the
diagnosis of a bacterial infection?
It will have no effect on the diagnosis.
It may lead to misidentification of the bacteria present in the
sample.
It will make all bacteria appear gram-positive.
It will enhance the identification of gram-negative bacteria.
3. Which beneficial role do viruses have in the environment?
Integrating into plant genomes to increase drought tolerance
Fixing nitrogen at plant roots to promote growth
Releasing light through bioluminescence to be used for
photosynthesis
Decomposing biomaterials to provide plants with soil nutrients
,4. If a restaurant uses a disinfectant that is ineffective against certain
bacteria, what potential risk could arise for customers?
, Increased risk of foodborne illness
Improved food safety
Enhanced flavor of food
No impact on customer health
5. What type of diseases are found in higher numbers than expected in
local populations?
pandemic
endemic
epidemic
sporadic
6. What is the term for the process used by microorganisms to convert
sugars into alcohol or acids, commonly used in food production?
photosynthesis
fermentation
decomposition
respiration
7. What is the primary reason that desiccation is effective in controlling
microbial growth?
It increases the temperature of the environment
It enhances nutrient availability for microbes
It introduces toxic chemicals to the microorganisms
Water concentration decreases below what is required for
microbial survival
, 8. Why is it important that an antibiotic used therapeutically have a narrow
spectrum?
They are associated with reduced toxicity
They selectively target the pathogen and not the host
They minimize bacterial resistance to the antibiotic
They minimize the disruption of normal microflora in the patient
9. What is the term used to describe the swelling that occurs due to
increased capillary permeability during inflammation?
necrosis
edema
ischemia
hypertrophy
10. Describe the role of fungi in the context of human pathogens and
microsporidia.
Fungi are primarily beneficial and do not produce pathogens.
Fungi can produce human pathogens that spread via
microsporidia, which are a type of spore-forming organism.
Fungi do not play a role in human health.
Fungi are only involved in noncommunicable diseases.
11. What is the significance of the molecule that makes up the bilayer
formed in the plasma membrane of most bacterial and eukaryotic cells?
Phospholipids help maintain hydrophobic and hydrophilic
environments
Mitochondria help maintain the energy required for the diffusion
of nutrients
