Microbiology worksheet with answers

Free printable Microbiology worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

How do bacteria usually reproduce?

  1. ABudding from a spore
  2. BMitosis with a nuclear membrane
  3. CMeiosis
  4. DBinary fission
2.Easy

What is the main purpose of bacterial endospores?

  1. ATo survive harsh conditions such as heat and drying
  2. BTo exchange DNA with other bacteria
  3. CTo move towards nutrients
  4. DTo reproduce quickly when nutrients and water are plentiful
3.Easy

Which type of microorganism causes athlete's foot?

  1. ABacterium
  2. BProtozoan
  3. CFungus
  4. DVirus
4.Medium

Which organism causes tuberculosis, and what makes it hard to stain with the Gram method?

  1. AStreptococcus pneumoniae, which has a capsule
  2. BMycoplasma pneumoniae, which has no cell wall to take up the stain
  3. CMycobacterium tuberculosis, which has a waxy mycolic acid wall
  4. DLegionella pneumophila, which lives inside amoebae
5.Medium

Cholera causes profuse "rice-water" diarrhoea. What is the most important treatment?

  1. AReplacing fluid and salts by oral or intravenous rehydration
  2. BStopping all oral fluid intake so that the bowel can rest and recover
  3. CAntiviral drugs
  4. DAntifungal drugs
6.Medium

Which antibody class is the first to rise in a new infection?

  1. AIgM
  2. BIgG
  3. CIgA
  4. DIgE
7.Hard

Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning starts only 1–6 hours after eating. Why so fast?

  1. AThe immune system reacts to the bacteria within minutes
  2. BThe bacteria multiply very fast inside the gut and invade the intestinal wall
  3. CThe bacteria made a heat-stable toxin in the food before it was eaten
  4. DThe bacteria invade the bloodstream immediately
8.Hard

Primary syphilis typically presents with:

  1. AA painless ulcer (chancre) at the site of infection
  2. BDamage to the heart and brain
  3. CA widespread rash on the palms and soles
  4. DA painful cluster of small blisters on the genitals or the mouth

Answer key

  1. 1. D · Binary fission
  2. 2. A · To survive harsh conditions such as heat and drying
  3. 3. C · Fungus
  4. 4. C · Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has a waxy mycolic acid wall
  5. 5. A · Replacing fluid and salts by oral or intravenous rehydration
  6. 6. A · IgM
  7. 7. C · The bacteria made a heat-stable toxin in the food before it was eaten
  8. 8. A · A painless ulcer (chancre) at the site of infection

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.