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.

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1.Easy

What is the main function of bacterial flagella?

  1. AAttachment to host cells
  2. BMovement
  3. CStorage of nutrients
  4. DProtection against drying out
2.Easy

Which structure do bacteria have but human cells do not?

  1. AA phospholipid cell membrane
  2. BRibosomes
  3. CA peptidoglycan cell wall
  4. DDNA
3.Easy

The HPV vaccine mainly protects against:

  1. AHerpes simplex infection
  2. BHepatitis B and liver cancer
  3. CHIV infection
  4. DCervical and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus
4.Medium

What is the main difference between innate and adaptive immunity?

  1. AAdaptive immunity is specific and forms memory; innate immunity does not
  2. BAdaptive immunity acts within minutes of infection
  3. CInnate immunity develops only after vaccination
  4. DInnate immunity uses antibodies and forms memory; adaptive immunity does not
5.Medium

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a person with advanced HIV is an example of:

  1. AA zoonotic infection
  2. BAn opportunistic infection
  3. CA vector-borne infection
  4. DA food-borne infection
6.Medium

Which vaccine contains live attenuated (weakened) viruses?

  1. ATetanus vaccine
  2. BHepatitis B vaccine
  3. CMMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  4. DInactivated influenza injection
7.Hard

In 1854 John Snow traced a cholera outbreak in London to the Broad Street water pump. Why is this study important?

  1. AIt led directly to the first cholera vaccine
  2. BIt showed that cholera spreads through contaminated water, founding modern epidemiology
  3. CIt proved that cholera is caused by a virus
  4. DIt showed that cholera spreads through "bad air" (miasma)
8.Hard

Which process can produce a completely new influenza A subtype that causes a pandemic?

  1. ALysogenic conversion by a bacteriophage
  2. BAntigenic shift through reassortment of gene segments
  3. CTransformation with free DNA
  4. DAntigenic drift through gradual accumulation of point mutations

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Movement
  2. 2. C · A peptidoglycan cell wall
  3. 3. D · Cervical and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus
  4. 4. A · Adaptive immunity is specific and forms memory; innate immunity does not
  5. 5. B · An opportunistic infection
  6. 6. C · MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  7. 7. B · It showed that cholera spreads through contaminated water, founding modern epidemiology
  8. 8. B · Antigenic shift through reassortment of gene segments

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