Reviewed 2026/2027
All 328 Questions with Answers
Guaranteed Pass A+
1. Numerical aperture - ANSWER -the ability of a lens to capture light
and impacts resolution
2. Which of the following colors on the electromagnetic spectrum (visible
light) has the shortest wavelength and highest energy? - ANSWER -
violet
3. Frequency has a(n) ________ relationship with wavelength, and a(n)
_________ relationship with energy. Check ALL relationships that apply -
ANSWER -indirect; direct, Inverse; direct
4. What is the total magnification of a compound microscope with a 8X ocular
lens and a 40X objective lens? Remember to include appropriate unit. -
ANSWER -320X
5. What cellular component differs between Gram-positive and Gram-negative
cells and results in different staining properties? - ANSWER -
peptidoglycan
6. As a microbiologist lab technician you have been tasked to characterize the
respiratory specimen (shown in image). After conducting a Gram Stain and
microscopic analysis, you concluded that this specimen is Gram-negative
and has a bacilli morphology. Hint: Cells are reddish-pink -
ANSWER -gram negative Bacilli
7. Which scientist was the first to observe structures that resembled a
honeycomb that he later termed a "cell"? - ANSWER -Robert Hooke
,8. This Greek physician is deemed the Father of Western Medicine and
credited as the author of an oath historically taken by new physicians. -
ANSWER -Hippocrates
9. The three currently accepted domains of life include: Bacteria, Eukarya, and
- ANSWER -archaea
10.Which individual first observed unicellular organisms that he termed
"animalcules" using a simple microscope he advanced? - ANSWER -
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
11.Which of the following represents a beneficial impact of microorganisms? -
ANSWER -food production/processing
Waste decomposition
Microbiota
All of the above
12.Which is the best description of the primary purpose of a phylogeny? -
ANSWER -Depicts evolutionary relatedness between organisms
13.Which individual formulated postulates to establish a connection between an
isolated microorganism and disease? - ANSWER -Robert Koch
14.The science of naming, identifying, and classifying organisms is called -
ANSWER -taxonomy
15.Which of the following is NOT a main characteristic of the Linnaean
taxonomical system of binomial nomenclature? - ANSWER -First
letter of both names are capitalized
16.Is the scientific study of fungal organisms. - ANSWER -mycology
17.Which of the following is a description of an acellular organism? Choose
ALL that apply - ANSWER -Replicate only in living host cell
18.Includes viral and prion organisms
19.Photons - ANSWER -element particles that deliver energy
, 20.Wavelength - ANSWER -distance between consecutive waves
21.Absorbance - ANSWER -a material captures energy of a light wave
length
22.Amplitude - ANSWER -the height of each peak or trough depth
23.Transmittance - ANSWER -a wave travels through material dependent
on material transparency and opacity
24.Refraction - ANSWER -a directional change of light waves upon entry
to new materials
25.Fluorescent dyes - ANSWER -absorb UV/blue light and emit photons
of different colors or of longer wavelengths
26.Frequency - ANSWER -the rate of vibration of wave or number of
wavelength per unit time
27.Stain - ANSWER -a solution of solvent and chromogen
28.Grams iodide - ANSWER -a mordant that complexes with crystal
violet stain
29.Safranin - ANSWER -counterstain that imparts color to gram negative
cells
30.Crystal violet - ANSWER -primary stain that imparts color to gram
positive cells
31.Alcohol - ANSWER -decolorizer that results in colorless gram
negative cells
32.Which scientist determined that bacterial cells preferentially take up and
retain certain stains during his examination of lung tissue from a patient with
pneumonia? - ANSWER -Hans Christian Gram