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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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

What is a pandemic?

  1. AA single case of a rare disease
  2. BAn epidemic that spreads across several countries or continents
  3. CAn outbreak limited to one hospital ward
  4. DA disease that is always present at a low, stable level in a region
2.Easy

Which organism causes malaria?

  1. AToxoplasma
  2. BAnopheles
  3. CPlasmodium
  4. DTrypanosoma
3.Easy

What is a plasmid?

  1. AThe protein coat of a virus
  2. BA layer of sugar around the bacterial cell that protects it from phagocytosis
  3. CA small circle of DNA separate from the bacterial chromosome
  4. DA type of bacterial ribosome
4.Medium

How does an autoclave sterilise instruments?

  1. AWith alcohol vapour at room temperature
  2. BWith ultraviolet light only
  3. CWith steam under pressure at about 121 °C
  4. DWith dry heat at about 60 °C
5.Medium

Which vaccine contains live attenuated (weakened) viruses?

  1. ATetanus vaccine
  2. BInactivated influenza injection
  3. CMMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  4. DHepatitis B vaccine
6.Medium

Many antifungal drugs target ergosterol. Why does this work?

  1. AErgosterol is in fungal cell membranes but not in human cells
  2. BErgosterol is only found in viruses
  3. CErgosterol is the main structural component of bacterial cell walls
  4. DHuman cells use ergosterol to make energy
7.Hard

Joseph Lister reduced infection after surgery in the 1860s. What was his main innovation?

  1. AGiving sulfonamide antibiotics after every operation
  2. BVaccinating surgeons against staphylococci
  3. CUsing steam autoclaves to sterilise all surgical instruments before each operation
  4. DUsing carbolic acid (phenol) as an antiseptic on wounds and instruments
8.Hard

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

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

Answer key

  1. 1. B · An epidemic that spreads across several countries or continents
  2. 2. C · Plasmodium
  3. 3. C · A small circle of DNA separate from the bacterial chromosome
  4. 4. C · With steam under pressure at about 121 °C
  5. 5. C · MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  6. 6. A · Ergosterol is in fungal cell membranes but not in human cells
  7. 7. D · Using carbolic acid (phenol) as an antiseptic on wounds and instruments
  8. 8. A · It showed that cholera spreads through contaminated water, founding modern epidemiology

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