CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
1 MAXE
CU
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
BIOS 242: Fundamentals of Microbiology
EXAMINATION I — FOUNDATIONS OF MICROBIAL LIFE & LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
INSTITUTION PROGRAM
Chamberlain University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE
BIOS 242 Fundamentals of Microbiology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE
2025–2026 Examination I — Foundations of Microbial Life
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
65 Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best Answer
General Instructions
▸ Read each question carefully before selecting your answer.
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice item.
▸ This examination covers foundational microbiology concepts including microbial classification, microscopy,
genetics, and microbial structures.
▸ All questions are weighted equally unless otherwise noted.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 65 Questions
,1. What are the six branches of microbiology?
A. Medical, surgical, pediatric, geriatric, obstetric, psychiatric
B. Medical, public health, immunology, industrial, agricultural, environmental
C. Bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, phycology, protozoology
D. Clinical, research, forensic, pharmaceutical, veterinary, marine
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Medical, public health, immunology, industrial, agricultural, environmental
RATIONALE:
The six recognized branches of microbiology are medical (disease-causing microbes in humans/animals), public
health (disease spread in populations), immunology (immune response to infection), industrial (microbes in
food/water/production), agricultural (microbes and plants/animals), and environmental (microbes in natural
settings). Option C lists fields organized by organism type, not branches. Options A and D list unrelated or
incorrect categories.
2. What does medical microbiology study?
A. Microbes in food production
B. Microbes that cause disease in humans and animals
C. Microbes in soil ecosystems
D. The immune response to allergens
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Microbes that cause disease in humans and animals
RATIONALE:
Medical microbiology focuses specifically on pathogenic microorganisms that cause disease in humans and
animals, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Option A describes industrial microbiology. Option C
describes environmental microbiology. Option D relates to immunology, which studies the broader immune
response including allergies.
,3. What does public health microbiology study?
A. The biochemistry of microbial metabolism
B. Monitoring and controlling disease spread in populations
C. The genetic structure of viruses
D. Industrial fermentation processes
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Monitoring and controlling disease spread in populations
RATIONALE:
Public health microbiology focuses on epidemiology — tracking, monitoring, and controlling the spread of
infectious diseases within populations. This branch informs public policy, vaccination programs, and outbreak
investigations. Options A, C, and D describe other microbiological disciplines (biochemistry, virology, industrial).
4. What does immunology study?
A. The structure of bacterial cell walls
B. The immune response to infection
C. The use of microbes in agriculture
D. The classification of fungi
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. The immune response to infection
RATIONALE:
Immunology is the branch of microbiology that studies how the immune system responds to infectious agents,
including innate and adaptive immunity, antibodies, T-cells, B-cells, and immunological memory. Options A, C,
and D pertain to bacteriology, agricultural microbiology, and mycology respectively.
, 5. What does industrial microbiology study?
A. Disease transmission in hospitals
B. Use of microbes in food, water, and production
C. Microbial life in extreme environments
D. The effect of antibiotics on bacteria
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Use of microbes in food, water, and production
RATIONALE:
Industrial microbiology harnesses microorganisms for practical applications including food production (yogurt,
cheese, bread), water treatment, fermentation (beer, wine), and production of enzymes, antibiotics, and other
commercial products. Option A is healthcare epidemiology. Option C is extremophile research. Option D is
pharmacology/medical microbiology.
6. What does agricultural microbiology study?
A. Human pathogens only
B. Microbes and their relationship with plants and animals
C. Viral replication cycles
D. Antibiotic resistance in hospitals
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Microbes and their relationship with plants and animals
RATIONALE:
Agricultural microbiology examines the relationships between microorganisms and agricultural systems,
including nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil, plant pathogens, animal diseases, and beneficial microbes used in
crop production and livestock health. Option A is medical microbiology. Options C and D are virology and
clinical microbiology.
1 MAXE
CU
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
BIOS 242: Fundamentals of Microbiology
EXAMINATION I — FOUNDATIONS OF MICROBIAL LIFE & LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
INSTITUTION PROGRAM
Chamberlain University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE
BIOS 242 Fundamentals of Microbiology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE
2025–2026 Examination I — Foundations of Microbial Life
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
65 Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best Answer
General Instructions
▸ Read each question carefully before selecting your answer.
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice item.
▸ This examination covers foundational microbiology concepts including microbial classification, microscopy,
genetics, and microbial structures.
▸ All questions are weighted equally unless otherwise noted.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 65 Questions
,1. What are the six branches of microbiology?
A. Medical, surgical, pediatric, geriatric, obstetric, psychiatric
B. Medical, public health, immunology, industrial, agricultural, environmental
C. Bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, phycology, protozoology
D. Clinical, research, forensic, pharmaceutical, veterinary, marine
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Medical, public health, immunology, industrial, agricultural, environmental
RATIONALE:
The six recognized branches of microbiology are medical (disease-causing microbes in humans/animals), public
health (disease spread in populations), immunology (immune response to infection), industrial (microbes in
food/water/production), agricultural (microbes and plants/animals), and environmental (microbes in natural
settings). Option C lists fields organized by organism type, not branches. Options A and D list unrelated or
incorrect categories.
2. What does medical microbiology study?
A. Microbes in food production
B. Microbes that cause disease in humans and animals
C. Microbes in soil ecosystems
D. The immune response to allergens
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Microbes that cause disease in humans and animals
RATIONALE:
Medical microbiology focuses specifically on pathogenic microorganisms that cause disease in humans and
animals, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Option A describes industrial microbiology. Option C
describes environmental microbiology. Option D relates to immunology, which studies the broader immune
response including allergies.
,3. What does public health microbiology study?
A. The biochemistry of microbial metabolism
B. Monitoring and controlling disease spread in populations
C. The genetic structure of viruses
D. Industrial fermentation processes
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Monitoring and controlling disease spread in populations
RATIONALE:
Public health microbiology focuses on epidemiology — tracking, monitoring, and controlling the spread of
infectious diseases within populations. This branch informs public policy, vaccination programs, and outbreak
investigations. Options A, C, and D describe other microbiological disciplines (biochemistry, virology, industrial).
4. What does immunology study?
A. The structure of bacterial cell walls
B. The immune response to infection
C. The use of microbes in agriculture
D. The classification of fungi
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. The immune response to infection
RATIONALE:
Immunology is the branch of microbiology that studies how the immune system responds to infectious agents,
including innate and adaptive immunity, antibodies, T-cells, B-cells, and immunological memory. Options A, C,
and D pertain to bacteriology, agricultural microbiology, and mycology respectively.
, 5. What does industrial microbiology study?
A. Disease transmission in hospitals
B. Use of microbes in food, water, and production
C. Microbial life in extreme environments
D. The effect of antibiotics on bacteria
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Use of microbes in food, water, and production
RATIONALE:
Industrial microbiology harnesses microorganisms for practical applications including food production (yogurt,
cheese, bread), water treatment, fermentation (beer, wine), and production of enzymes, antibiotics, and other
commercial products. Option A is healthcare epidemiology. Option C is extremophile research. Option D is
pharmacology/medical microbiology.
6. What does agricultural microbiology study?
A. Human pathogens only
B. Microbes and their relationship with plants and animals
C. Viral replication cycles
D. Antibiotic resistance in hospitals
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Microbes and their relationship with plants and animals
RATIONALE:
Agricultural microbiology examines the relationships between microorganisms and agricultural systems,
including nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil, plant pathogens, animal diseases, and beneficial microbes used in
crop production and livestock health. Option A is medical microbiology. Options C and D are virology and
clinical microbiology.
