Worksheets Name
Midterm Review Class
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 27mins Date
1. MacConkey’s agar allows Gram-negative bacteria to grow and differentiates them based on their ability to ferment
lactose. This type of medium is considered:
a) Differential media only b) Selective media only
c) Both selective and differential media d) Simple media
2. When transferring a bacterial colony from an agar plate to a nutrient agar slant for a stock culture, why is it
important to gently touch the colony's surface with a cooled, sterile loop instead of digging into the agar?
a) To ensure that only actively growing cells from the b) To pick up a small and manageable number of cells
top of the colony are transferred. for successful transfer and growth.
c) To prevent contamination of the stock culture with d) To avoid damaging the inoculating loop.
agar.
3. If a fungus is observed to form a symbiotic association with plant roots, enhancing the plant's uptake of phosphate
and water in exchange for carbohydrates, this interaction would be classified as:
a) Lichen b) Parasitism
c) Mycorrhizae d) Saprophytism
4. During a microbiology lab session, a student accidentally spills a broth culture containing a non-pathogenic
bacterium on the workbench. Following aseptic technique guidelines, the FIRST and MOST critical step the
student should take is to:
a) spray the spill area liberally with disinfectant and b) Both B and C.
allow it to sit for the appropriate contact time and
disposed properly.
c) immediately wipe up the spill with a dry paper towel. d) cover the spill with paper towels to absorb the liquid
before further disinfection.
5. A patient is diagnosed with a systemic fungal infection. Microscopic examination of tissue samples reveals budding
yeast cells at 37°C. The culture of a sample from the patient at 25°C on nutrient media yields filamentous growth
with sporulation. Based on this information, the causative agent is MOST likely a:
a) Fungus that only produces asexual spores b) Yeast that reproduces only by budding
c) Mold with coenocytic hyphae d) Dimorphic fungus
6. What is the role of mycorrhizae in the relationship between fungi and plants?
a) Causing diseases b) Facilitating mineral uptake
c) Decomposing organic matter d) Producing toxins
7. Nursing students are preparing Mueller-Hinton agar for a Kirby-Bauer antibiotic susceptibility experiment. There
are 10 groups of students, and each group requires two petri plates. The instructions on the Mueller-Hinton agar
bottle state that the recommended concentration is 38 grams of powder per 1000 mL of medium. Assuming each
petri plate requires 20 mL of agar, how many grams of Mueller-Hinton agar powder do the students need to weigh
out in total?
a) 15 g b) 15.2 g
c) 7.6 g d) 38 g
8. Which of the following is a dimorphic fungus?
a) Histoplasma capsulatum b) Penicillium
c) Saccharomyces cerevisiae d) Rhizopus stolonifer
9. What are the cell walls of fungi primarily composed of?
a) Chitin b) Cellulose
c) Protein d) Lignin
10. A nursing student observes a wet mount of a mold prepared with lactophenol cotton blue. They note the presence
of numerous darkly stained hyphae lacking cross-walls and observe sac-like structures containing many spores at
the tips of some hyphae. Based on these observations, which conclusion about the mold's structure and
reproduction is likely correct?
a) The dark staining indicates the presence of thick b) The lack of staining in the spore structures suggests
chitinous cell walls, and the spores are likely sexual they are a unique type of sexual spore not typically
basidiospores. visualized with lactophenol cotton blue.
c) The mold has septate hyphae and reproduces d) The mold has aseptate hyphae and is likely
asexually via conidia. reproducing asexually using sporangiospores.
11. A culture medium that contains 2% agar is best described as:
a) Enriched broth b) Semisolid medium
c) Solid medium d) Liquid medium
12. What is the correct order of steps for proper use and cleanup when using an oil immersion objective (OIO)?
a) Add immersion oil, focus on the specimen, rotate b) Focus on the specimen, add immersion oil, rotate
the objective to a lower power, and clean the the objective to a lower power, and clean the
objective with lens paper by dabbing. objective with lens paper by dabbing.
c) Focus on the specimen, add immersion oil, clean d) Add immersion oil, focus on the specimen, clean the
the objective with lens paper by dabbing, and rotate objective with lens paper by dabbing, and rotate the
the objective to a lower power. objective to a lower power.
13. What is the primary mode of reproduction for yeasts?
a) Sporulation b) Fragmentation
c) Budding d) Binary fission
14. Which of the following best explains how an autoclave effectively sterilizes materials?
a) By employing steam under pressure to achieve a b) By applying chemical disinfectants, such as those
high temperature (121ºC) that kills microorganisms, used for disinfecting work areas, at elevated
including bacterial endospores, typically within a temperatures.
short period (15 minutes).
c) By using high dry heat to denature microbial d) Exposing materials to ultraviolet (UV) radiation,
proteins over an extended period, similar to a hot air which damages microbial DNA, like the germicidal
oven. lamp in a Laminar Hood.
15. You need to prepare 250 mL of Nutrient Agar (NA). The instructions on the NA bottle state to use 20 g per 1000
mL of medium. How much NA powder do you need to weigh out?
a) 5 g b) 20 g
c) 15 g d) 10 g
16. Your lab protocol requires 150 mL of motility medium with 0.5% agar. If the final medium concentration is 10 g/L,
how much powdered medium should you weigh out?
a) 5 g b) 1.5 g
c) 7.5 g d) 0.75 g
17. What principle of the streak plate method allows for isolating individual bacterial colonies from a mixed sample?
a) Selectively inhibiting the growth of unwanted b) Providing different nutrient concentrations in each
microorganisms. quadrant of the plate.
c) Increasing the temperature gradient across the agar d) Gradually diluting the bacterial sample through a
plate. series of streaks on the agar surface.
18. What type of hyphae is characterized by the presence of septa?
a) Coenocytic hyphae b) Septate hyphae
c) Rhizoidal hyphae d) Aerial hyphae
19. Thioglycollate broth is a type of medium used to determine the oxygen requirements of bacteria. Bacteria grow at
different levels in the broth depending on their need for oxygen. Based on its use, it can be considered a:
a) Physiological test medium b) Selective medium
c) Transport medium d) Differential medium
20. What structural component is significantly thicker in Gram-positive bacteria compared to Gram-negative bacteria,
contributing to their differential staining?
a) Cell membrane b) Peptidoglycan layer
c) Lipopolysaccharide layer d) Outer membrane
21. When performing a quadrant streak plate, the purpose of flaming the loop between each quadrant is to:
a) create a temperature gradient on the plate that b) dilute the number of bacteria being spread in each
encourages the growth of different species in subsequent section to obtain isolated colonies
different areas.
c) prevent the loop from damaging the agar surface d) ensure that the bacteria are evenly distributed
during streaking across the entire plate surface.
22. A lichen grows on a rock surface in a polluted urban area. If the lichen shows signs of significant damage or
absence compared to lichens in a cleaner area, this would MOST strongly suggest that:
a) The lichen is sensitive to pollutants in the b) The rock surface lacks the necessary nutrients for
environment. fungal growth
c) The algal or cyanobacterial component of the lichen d) The fungal component of the lichen is no longer
is outcompeting the fungus. photosynthetic.
23. A nursing student observes a fungal colony under a microscope and notes the presence of septate hyphae and
phialospores. Based on this observation, the fungus is LEAST likely to be classified as a:
a) Zygomycete b) Mold
c) Deuteromycete d) Ascomycete
24. A nursing student needs to transfer a bacterial sample from a culture tube to a microscope slide for smearing.
Which sterilized equipment is best for this task?
a) A magnetic stirrer b) An inoculating loop or needle
c) A micropipette with a sterile tip d) A Petri dish
25. A nursing student performs a broth-to-broth transfer of Escherichia coli. After incubation, the new broth culture
shows no growth. What is the MOST likely error made by the student?
a) The student incubated the new broth culture at room b) The student did not flame the mouth of the original
temperature instead of 37°C culture tube after removing the inoculum.
c) The student forgot to label the new broth tube. d) The student failed to cool the inoculating loop
thoroughly after sterilization before picking up the E.
coli culture.
26. A microbiologist is tasked with identifying an unknown mold culture. They prepare a wet mount with lactophenol
cotton blue and observe septate hyphae and vase-shaped cells producing spores. Based on the observation,
which of the following genera is the mold most likely to belong to?
a) Penicillium, where phialides produce phialospores. b) Agaricus, a mushroom that produces basidiospores
c) Candida, which forms chlamydospores. d) Rhizopus, known for forming zygospores.
27. In a microbiology lab where students work with various bacterial cultures, what is the MAIN reason for strict
adherence to aseptic techniques?
a) To enhance the growth rate of the microorganisms. b) To ensure the accuracy of experimental results by
preventing cross-contamination of cultures.
c) To prolong the viability of the bacterial cultures being d) To simplify the process of identifying different
studied. bacterial species.
28. Blood agar, which has blood added to a basal medium to support the growth of fastidious organisms, is classified
as a/an:
a) Selective medium b) Differential medium
c) Simple medium d) Enriched medium
29. A researcher is studying a newly isolated bacterium that grows on a medium with only glucose and inorganic
salts. This bacterium can be classified as a(n):
a) heterotrophs requiring organic carbon sources. b) complex organism requiring numerous growth
factors.
c) autotroph capable of synthesizing complex d) fastidious organism requiring blood or serum
molecules from simple ingredients. components.
30. The Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) you are using has a suggested concentration of 39 g/1000 mL. You want to
prepare 500 mL of PDA. How many grams of PDA powder should you weigh?
a) 78 g b) 49.5 g
c) 19.5 g d) 39 g
31. Eosin-methylene blue (EMB) agar is an example of a:
a) Selective media b) Both B and C
c) Indicator media d) Enriched medium
32. Blood agar is often used to cultivate bacteria with complex nutritional requirements, specifically fastidious
microorganisms. Based on its description, blood agar is an example of a/an:
a) Selective medium. b) Enriched medium.
c) Simple medium. d) Indicator medium.
33. A nursing student obtains isolated colonies on a quadrant streak plate but notices overlapping colonies in the third
and fourth quadrants. What procedural error during the streak plate method likely caused this?
a) The student pressed the loop too hard into the agar b) The student flamed the loop for too long between
surface. quadrants.
c) The student failed to re-flame per streak, resulting in d) The student cooled the loop for too long before
inadequate dilution and high cell concentration in the streaking each quadrant.
quadrants.
34. Which group of fungi is primarily aquatic and produces flagellated zoospores?
a) Ascomycetes b) Chytridiomycetes
c) Basidiomycetes d) Zygomycetes
35. Which of the following represents the correct order of reagents used in the Gram staining procedure after heat
fixation of the bacterial smear?
a) Crystal violet → Gram's iodine → Decolorizer → b) Gram's iodine → Crystal violet → Decolorizer →
Safranin Safranin
c) Decolorizer → Crystal violet → Gram's iodine → d) Crystal violet → Safranin → Gram's iodine →
Safranin Decolorizer
36. A nursing student is Gram-staining a bacterial smear and forgets to apply the iodine mordant after the crystal
violet. What would be the most likely appearance of Gram-positive bacteria at the end of the staining procedure?
a) Pink or red. b) Dark purple.
c) Purple. d) Colorless.
37. Which step in the Gram staining procedure involves the use of crystal violet?
a) Mordanting b) Decolorization
c) Primary staining d) Counterstaining
38. What is the primary purpose of Gram staining?
a) To visualize the internal structures of bacteria. b) To determine the motility of bacterial cells.
c) To measure the size of bacterial colonies. d) To classify bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-
negative based on cell wall properties.
39. A selective medium contains sodium chloride at a concentration that inhibits the growth of most bacteria but
allows Staphylococcus species to grow. If a mixed sample containing both Staphylococcus and E. coli is
inoculated onto this medium, what would you expect to observe after incubation?
a) No bacterial growth on the medium. b) Growth of only Staphylococcus colonies.
c) Growth of only E. coli colonies. d) Growth of both Staphylococcus and E. coli colonies.
40. A nursing student is using the streak plate method to establish a pure culture. After incubation, they see confluent
growth (a solid lawn of bacteria) in all quadrants. What procedural error likely prevented the isolation of individual
colonies?
a) The student did not flame the inoculating loop b) The student used too much inoculum from the
sufficiently before the initial streaking. original mixed culture.
c) The student failed to flame the loop between d) The student incubated the plate at the incorrect
streaking each quadrant. temperature.
41. If a student prepares a bacterial smear that is too thick, how might this most significantly hinder their ability to
achieve the objectives of the Gram staining exercise?
a) It will take longer for the smear to air dry, and the b) Both B and C.
heat fixation step will be less effective.
c) It will be difficult to differentiate individual bacterial d) The stains may not penetrate all layers of cells
cells and their arrangements, potentially leading to evenly, affecting the accuracy of the Gram reaction.
misinterpretations of morphology.
42. A medium that contains a substance that causes a visible change (e.g., color change) in the medium when a
particular biochemical reaction occurs is known as:
a) Differential media b) Indicator media
c) Enriched media d) Selective media
43. What is the role of Gram's iodine in the Gram staining procedure?
a) To stain Gram-negative bacteria pink. b) To fix the bacterial cells to the slide.
c) To decolorize Gram-negative bacteria. d) To act as a mordant and form a complex with crystal
violet.
44. A nursing student performs an exposure sampling by leaving a Petri dish containing nutrient agar open on a
windowsill for 30 minutes. After incubation, the plate shows a lawn of bacterial growth. To obtain isolated colonies
for further study, the student should have initially:
a) Incubated the plate for a longer period. b) Used a selective medium instead of nutrient agar.
c) Added antibiotics to the nutrient agar plate to inhibit d) Used a slalom pattern to swab the windowsill, then
excessive growth streaked a fresh agar plate.
45. A nursing students needs to determine if a bacterial species can ferment a particular sugar, leading to a change in
pH. What type of culture medium would be most suitable for this investigation?
a) A selective medium b) An enriched medium
c) A simple nutrient d) An indicator medium
46. Why is it important to use thin smears in Gram staining?
a) To make the heat-fixing process more effective. b) To increase the number of bacteria on the slide.
c) To ensure the bacteria are actively growing. d) To allow for better visualization of individual cells
and prevent entrapment of stain.
47. Which of the following can lead to Gram-positive bacteria appearing pink after staining?
a) Forgetting to apply Gram's iodine. b) Over-decolorization.
c) Using a young bacterial culture. d) Insufficient application of crystal violet.
48. A nursing student wants to grow only Gram-positive bacteria from a mixed sample. Which type of culture medium
would be most useful for this purpose?
a) Selective medium b) Enriched medium
c) Simple medium d) Differential medium
49. Consider two petri dishes containing nutrient agar that were both exposed to the air in the same room for 30
minutes. One plate was incubated upright, while the other was incubated upside down. After incubation, the
upright plate shows a film of moisture on the agar surface with some bacterial growth, while the inverted plate
shows well-isolated colonies without significant moisture. What is the PRIMARY reason for this difference?
a) Condensation formed on the lid of the upright plate b) Gravity caused more airborne bacteria to settle on
and dripped onto the agar surface, potentially the upright plate.
spreading the deposited bacteria.
c) Condensation formed on the lid of the inverted plate d) Incubating upright allowed for better oxygen
and dripped onto the agar surface, inhibiting growth. diffusion into the agar medium.
50. What type of spores are produced by the fusion of gametes in fungi?
a) Asexual spores b) Conidia
c) Sporangiospores d) Zygospores
Answer Keys
1. c) Both selective and differential 2. b) To pick up a small and 3. c) Mycorrhizae
media manageable number of cells
for successful transfer and
growth.
4. b) Both B and C. 5. d) Dimorphic fungus 6. b) Facilitating mineral uptake
7. b) 15.2 g 8. a) Histoplasma capsulatum 9. a) Chitin
10. d) The mold has aseptate 11. c) Solid medium 12. c) Focus on the specimen, add
hyphae and is likely immersion oil, clean the
reproducing asexually using objective with lens paper by
sporangiospores. dabbing, and rotate the
objective to a lower power.
13. c) Budding 14. a) By employing steam under 15. a) 5 g
pressure to achieve a high
temperature (121ºC) that
kills microorganisms,
including bacterial
endospores, typically within
a short period (15
minutes).
16. b) 1.5 g 17. d) Gradually diluting the 18. b) Septate hyphae
bacterial sample through a
series of streaks on the
agar surface.
19. a) Physiological test medium 20. b) Peptidoglycan layer 21. b) dilute the number of
bacteria being spread in
each subsequent section to
obtain isolated colonies
22. a) The lichen is sensitive to 23. a) Zygomycete 24. b) An inoculating loop or
pollutants in the needle
environment.
25. d) The student failed to cool 26. a) Penicillium, where phialides 27. b) To ensure the accuracy of
the inoculating loop produce phialospores. experimental results by
thoroughly after sterilization preventing cross-
before picking up the E. coli contamination of cultures.
culture.
28. d) Enriched medium 29. c) autotroph capable of 30. c) 19.5 g
synthesizing complex
molecules from simple
ingredients.
31. b) Both B and C 32. b) Enriched medium. 33. c) The student failed to re-
flame per streak, resulting in
inadequate dilution and high
cell concentration in the
quadrants.
34. b) Chytridiomycetes 35. a) Crystal violet → Gram's 36. a) Pink or red.
iodine → Decolorizer →
Safranin
37. c) Primary staining 38. d) To classify bacteria into 39. b) Growth of only
Gram-positive and Gram- Staphylococcus colonies.
negative based on cell wall
properties.
40. c) The student failed to flame 41. b) Both B and C. 42. b) Indicator media
the loop between streaking
each quadrant.
43. d) To act as a mordant and 44. d) Used a slalom pattern to 45. d) An indicator medium
form a complex with crystal swab the windowsill, then
violet. streaked a fresh agar plate.
46. d) To allow for better 47. b) Over-decolorization. 48. a) Selective medium
visualization of individual
cells and prevent
entrapment of stain.
49. a) Condensation formed on 50. d) Zygospores
the lid of the upright plate
and dripped onto the agar
surface, potentially
spreading the deposited
bacteria.
