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 an antigen?

  1. AA type of white blood cell
  2. BA protein made by plasma cells to fight infection
  3. CA molecule that the immune system recognises
  4. DA drug that blocks bacterial growth
2.Easy

Vaccines protect against disease mainly by:

  1. AKilling bacteria directly in the blood
  2. BProviding ready-made antibodies that remain in the blood for life
  3. CStimulating the immune system to form memory cells
  4. DBlocking all viruses from entering cells
3.Easy

Which type of microorganism causes athlete's foot?

  1. AVirus
  2. BBacterium
  3. CFungus
  4. DProtozoan
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. BMycobacterium tuberculosis, which has a waxy mycolic acid wall
  3. CLegionella pneumophila, which lives inside amoebae
  4. DMycoplasma pneumoniae, which has no cell wall to take up the stain
5.Medium

Which bacterium is the most common cause of stomach ulcers?

  1. AEscherichia coli
  2. BStaphylococcus aureus
  3. CHelicobacter pylori
  4. DClostridioides difficile
6.Medium

Which laboratory test separates Staphylococcus aureus from most other staphylococci?

  1. AThe coagulase test
  2. BThe catalase test
  3. CThe Gram stain
  4. DThe acid-fast stain
7.Hard

Which hepatitis viruses are mainly spread through contaminated food and water?

  1. AHepatitis C and E
  2. BHepatitis B and C
  3. CHepatitis B and D
  4. DHepatitis A and E
8.Hard

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

  1. AMicroorganisms come from other microorganisms, not from spontaneous generation
  2. BBoiling cannot kill microorganisms
  3. CAir itself produces microorganisms
  4. DMicroorganisms need light to grow

Answer key

  1. 1. C · A molecule that the immune system recognises
  2. 2. C · Stimulating the immune system to form memory cells
  3. 3. C · Fungus
  4. 4. B · Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has a waxy mycolic acid wall
  5. 5. C · Helicobacter pylori
  6. 6. A · The coagulase test
  7. 7. D · Hepatitis A and E
  8. 8. A · Microorganisms come from other microorganisms, not from spontaneous generation

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