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

Which type of microorganism causes athlete's foot?

  1. AProtozoan
  2. BBacterium
  3. CFungus
  4. DVirus
2.Easy

Which of these is caused by a virus?

  1. ATuberculosis
  2. BInfluenza
  3. CMalaria
  4. DTetanus
3.Easy

What is a pandemic?

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

Which type of immunity is given by breast milk antibodies?

  1. ANatural passive immunity
  2. BNatural active immunity
  3. CArtificial active immunity
  4. DArtificial passive immunity
5.Medium

Tetanus and diphtheria vaccines are toxoids. What does that mean?

  1. AThey contain an inactivated toxin that still triggers an immune response
  2. BThey contain ready-made antibodies against the toxin, giving passive immunity
  3. CThey contain the bacterial DNA only
  4. DThey contain live bacteria that cannot make toxin
6.Medium

How does an autoclave sterilise instruments?

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

What did Pasteur's swan-neck flask experiment demonstrate?

  1. AMicroorganisms need light to grow
  2. BAir itself produces microorganisms
  3. CMicroorganisms come from other microorganisms, not from spontaneous generation
  4. DBoiling cannot kill microorganisms
8.Hard

Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes diphtheria only if it produces diphtheria toxin. When does it make this toxin?

  1. AWhen it carries a bacteriophage with the toxin gene
  2. BOnly when it is grown at high temperature
  3. COnly after it has conjugated with E. coli and received a plasmid
  4. DWhenever it is exposed to antibiotics

Answer key

  1. 1. C · Fungus
  2. 2. B · Influenza
  3. 3. C · An epidemic that spreads across several countries or continents
  4. 4. A · Natural passive immunity
  5. 5. A · They contain an inactivated toxin that still triggers an immune response
  6. 6. D · With steam under pressure at about 121 °C
  7. 7. C · Microorganisms come from other microorganisms, not from spontaneous generation
  8. 8. A · When it carries a bacteriophage with the toxin gene

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