CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
2 MAXE
CU
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
BIOS 242: Fundamentals of Microbiology
EXAMINATION II — METABOLISM, CONTROL, ANTIMICROBIALS & PATHOGENESIS
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 II — Comprehensive Assessment
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
80 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 microbial nutrition and growth, metabolism, physical and chemical control methods,
antimicrobial agents, host-microbe interactions, disease transmission, and epidemiology.
▸ All questions are weighted equally unless otherwise noted.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 80 Questions
,1. How do chemotrophs obtain their energy?
A. From sunlight
B. From chemicals
C. From organic molecules only
D. From CO₂ fixation
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. From chemicals
RATIONALE:
Chemotrophs obtain energy by oxidizing chemical compounds, which can be either organic
(chemoorganotrophs) or inorganic (chemolithotrophs). Phototrophs (A) use sunlight. Option C describes a
subset (chemoorganotrophs). CO₂ fixation (D) is a carbon acquisition method, not energy acquisition.
2. How do phototrophs obtain their energy?
A. From sunlight
B. From chemicals
C. From organic matter
D. From inorganic minerals
CORRECT ANSWER:
A. From sunlight
RATIONALE:
Phototrophs capture light energy through photosynthesis. They include photoautotrophs (plants, algae,
cyanobacteria) and photoheterotrophs (purple and green photosynthetic bacteria). Chemotrophs (B) use
chemical energy sources. Options C and D are carbon source distinctions.
, 3. An organism that gets energy from chemicals and carbon from organic molecules is a:
A. Photoautotroph
B. Chemoautotroph
C. Chemoheterotroph
D. Photoheterotroph
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Chemoheterotroph
RATIONALE:
Chemoheterotrophs use chemical energy sources and organic carbon sources. This is the most common
nutritional type among microorganisms and includes all human pathogens, fungi, and many bacteria.
Photoautotrophs (A) use light and CO₂. Chemoautotrophs (B) use chemicals and CO₂. Photoheterotrophs (D) use
light and organic carbon.
4. Where do photoautotrophs get their energy, and what are examples?
A. Chemicals; methanogens
B. Sunlight; algae and plants
C. Organic compounds; fungi
D. Inorganic minerals; thiobacillus
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Sunlight; algae and plants
RATIONALE:
Photoautotrophs use light as energy and CO₂ as carbon. Examples include algae, plants, and cyanobacteria.
Option A describes chemoorganic autotrophs (methanogens). Option C describes chemoheterotrophs. Option D
describes chemolithoautotrophs.
2 MAXE
CU
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
BIOS 242: Fundamentals of Microbiology
EXAMINATION II — METABOLISM, CONTROL, ANTIMICROBIALS & PATHOGENESIS
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 II — Comprehensive Assessment
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
80 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 microbial nutrition and growth, metabolism, physical and chemical control methods,
antimicrobial agents, host-microbe interactions, disease transmission, and epidemiology.
▸ All questions are weighted equally unless otherwise noted.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 80 Questions
,1. How do chemotrophs obtain their energy?
A. From sunlight
B. From chemicals
C. From organic molecules only
D. From CO₂ fixation
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. From chemicals
RATIONALE:
Chemotrophs obtain energy by oxidizing chemical compounds, which can be either organic
(chemoorganotrophs) or inorganic (chemolithotrophs). Phototrophs (A) use sunlight. Option C describes a
subset (chemoorganotrophs). CO₂ fixation (D) is a carbon acquisition method, not energy acquisition.
2. How do phototrophs obtain their energy?
A. From sunlight
B. From chemicals
C. From organic matter
D. From inorganic minerals
CORRECT ANSWER:
A. From sunlight
RATIONALE:
Phototrophs capture light energy through photosynthesis. They include photoautotrophs (plants, algae,
cyanobacteria) and photoheterotrophs (purple and green photosynthetic bacteria). Chemotrophs (B) use
chemical energy sources. Options C and D are carbon source distinctions.
, 3. An organism that gets energy from chemicals and carbon from organic molecules is a:
A. Photoautotroph
B. Chemoautotroph
C. Chemoheterotroph
D. Photoheterotroph
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Chemoheterotroph
RATIONALE:
Chemoheterotrophs use chemical energy sources and organic carbon sources. This is the most common
nutritional type among microorganisms and includes all human pathogens, fungi, and many bacteria.
Photoautotrophs (A) use light and CO₂. Chemoautotrophs (B) use chemicals and CO₂. Photoheterotrophs (D) use
light and organic carbon.
4. Where do photoautotrophs get their energy, and what are examples?
A. Chemicals; methanogens
B. Sunlight; algae and plants
C. Organic compounds; fungi
D. Inorganic minerals; thiobacillus
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Sunlight; algae and plants
RATIONALE:
Photoautotrophs use light as energy and CO₂ as carbon. Examples include algae, plants, and cyanobacteria.
Option A describes chemoorganic autotrophs (methanogens). Option C describes chemoheterotrophs. Option D
describes chemolithoautotrophs.
