Microbiology Fundamentals: A Clinical Approach, 3e
(Cowan) Chapter 1 Introduction to Microbes and
Their Building Blocks
1) When humans manipulate the genes of microorganisms, the process is called .
A) bioremediation
B) genetic engineering
C) epidemiology
D) immunology
E) taxonomy
Answer: B
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles; Basics of Genetic Engineering
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 04 Information Flow
ASM Objective: 04.05 Cell genomes can be manipulated to alter cell function.
2) Which of the following is not considered a microorganism?
A) Mosquito
B) Protozoan
C) Bacterium
D) Virus
E) Fungus
Answer: A
Section: 01.01
Topic: Taxonomy of Microorganisms
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.02 Mutations and horizontal gene transfer, along with the immense variety of
microenvironments, have resulted in a vast diversity of microorganisms.
3) All microorganisms are best defined as organisms that .
A) cause human disease
B) lack a cell nucleus
C) are infectious particles
D) are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
E) can only be found growing in laboratories
Answer: D
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.02 Mutations and horizontal gene transfer, along with the immense variety of
microenvironments, have resulted in a vast diversity of microorganisms.
1
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
,4) Which activity is an example of biotechnology?
A) Bacteria in the soil secreting an antibiotic to kill competitors
B) A microbiologist using the microscope to study bacteria
C) Egyptians using moldy bread on wounds
D) Escherichia coli producing human insulin
E) Public health officials monitoring diseases in a community
Answer: D
Section: 01.01
Topic: Basics of Genetic Engineering
Bloom's: 02. Understand
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.03 Humans utilize and harness microorganisms and their products.
5) Living things ordinarily too small to be seen with the unaided eye are termed .
A) bacteria
B) viruses
C) parasites
D) microorganisms
E) prokaryotes
Answer: D
Section: 01.01
Topic: Cellular Organization
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.02 Mutations and horizontal gene transfer, along with the immense variety of
microenvironments, have resulted in a vast diversity of microorganisms.
6) The microorganisms that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter and wastes are called
.
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Answer: A
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.01 Microbes are essential for life, as we know it, and the processes that
support life (e.g. in biogeochemical cycles and plant/animal microflora).
2
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
,7) Cells, like bacteria and archaea, that do not have a nucleus in their cells have traditionally been
called .
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Answer: B
Section: 01.01
Topic: Cellular Organization
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 02 Structure and Function
ASM Objective: 01.01 Cells, organelles (e.g. mitochondria and chloroplasts) and all major
metabolic pathways evolved from early prokaryotic cells.
8) The first cells appeared about billion years ago.
A) 5.2
B) 4.6
C) 3.8
D) 2.9
E) 1.5
Answer: C
Section: 01.01
Topic: History of Microbiology
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.01 Cells, organelles (e.g. mitochondria and chloroplasts) and all major
metabolic pathways evolved from early prokaryotic cells.
9) Which of the following is not a human use of microorganisms?
A) Making bread
B) Treating water and sewage
C) Manufacturing copper wire
D) Mass producing antibiotics
E) Cleaning up oil spills
Answer: C
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.03 Humans utilize and harness microorganisms and their products.
3
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
, 10) Using microbes to detoxify a site contaminated with heavy metals is an example of .
A) biotechnology
B) bioremediation
C) decomposition
D) immunology
E) epidemiology
Answer: B
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.03 Humans utilize and harness microorganisms and their products.
11) Disease-causing microorganisms are called .
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Answer: C
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 05.04 Microorganisms, cellular and viral, interact with both human and
non-human hosts in beneficial, neutral or detrimental ways.
12) The most prevalent worldwide infectious diseases are .
A) AIDS-related diseases
B) diarrheal diseases
C) malaria diseases
D) measles
E) respiratory diseases
Answer: E
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 05.04 Microorganisms, cellular and viral, interact with both human and
non-human hosts in beneficial, neutral or detrimental ways.
4
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
(Cowan) Chapter 1 Introduction to Microbes and
Their Building Blocks
1) When humans manipulate the genes of microorganisms, the process is called .
A) bioremediation
B) genetic engineering
C) epidemiology
D) immunology
E) taxonomy
Answer: B
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles; Basics of Genetic Engineering
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 04 Information Flow
ASM Objective: 04.05 Cell genomes can be manipulated to alter cell function.
2) Which of the following is not considered a microorganism?
A) Mosquito
B) Protozoan
C) Bacterium
D) Virus
E) Fungus
Answer: A
Section: 01.01
Topic: Taxonomy of Microorganisms
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.02 Mutations and horizontal gene transfer, along with the immense variety of
microenvironments, have resulted in a vast diversity of microorganisms.
3) All microorganisms are best defined as organisms that .
A) cause human disease
B) lack a cell nucleus
C) are infectious particles
D) are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
E) can only be found growing in laboratories
Answer: D
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.02 Mutations and horizontal gene transfer, along with the immense variety of
microenvironments, have resulted in a vast diversity of microorganisms.
1
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
,4) Which activity is an example of biotechnology?
A) Bacteria in the soil secreting an antibiotic to kill competitors
B) A microbiologist using the microscope to study bacteria
C) Egyptians using moldy bread on wounds
D) Escherichia coli producing human insulin
E) Public health officials monitoring diseases in a community
Answer: D
Section: 01.01
Topic: Basics of Genetic Engineering
Bloom's: 02. Understand
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.03 Humans utilize and harness microorganisms and their products.
5) Living things ordinarily too small to be seen with the unaided eye are termed .
A) bacteria
B) viruses
C) parasites
D) microorganisms
E) prokaryotes
Answer: D
Section: 01.01
Topic: Cellular Organization
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.02 Mutations and horizontal gene transfer, along with the immense variety of
microenvironments, have resulted in a vast diversity of microorganisms.
6) The microorganisms that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter and wastes are called
.
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Answer: A
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.01 Microbes are essential for life, as we know it, and the processes that
support life (e.g. in biogeochemical cycles and plant/animal microflora).
2
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
,7) Cells, like bacteria and archaea, that do not have a nucleus in their cells have traditionally been
called .
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Answer: B
Section: 01.01
Topic: Cellular Organization
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 02 Structure and Function
ASM Objective: 01.01 Cells, organelles (e.g. mitochondria and chloroplasts) and all major
metabolic pathways evolved from early prokaryotic cells.
8) The first cells appeared about billion years ago.
A) 5.2
B) 4.6
C) 3.8
D) 2.9
E) 1.5
Answer: C
Section: 01.01
Topic: History of Microbiology
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 01 Evolution
ASM Objective: 01.01 Cells, organelles (e.g. mitochondria and chloroplasts) and all major
metabolic pathways evolved from early prokaryotic cells.
9) Which of the following is not a human use of microorganisms?
A) Making bread
B) Treating water and sewage
C) Manufacturing copper wire
D) Mass producing antibiotics
E) Cleaning up oil spills
Answer: C
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.03 Humans utilize and harness microorganisms and their products.
3
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
, 10) Using microbes to detoxify a site contaminated with heavy metals is an example of .
A) biotechnology
B) bioremediation
C) decomposition
D) immunology
E) epidemiology
Answer: B
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 06.03 Humans utilize and harness microorganisms and their products.
11) Disease-causing microorganisms are called .
A) decomposers
B) prokaryotes
C) pathogens
D) eukaryotes
E) fermenters
Answer: C
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 05.04 Microorganisms, cellular and viral, interact with both human and
non-human hosts in beneficial, neutral or detrimental ways.
12) The most prevalent worldwide infectious diseases are .
A) AIDS-related diseases
B) diarrheal diseases
C) malaria diseases
D) measles
E) respiratory diseases
Answer: E
Section: 01.01
Topic: Microbial Roles
Bloom's: 01. Remember
ASM Topic: Module 06 Impact of Microorganisms
ASM Objective: 05.04 Microorganisms, cellular and viral, interact with both human and
non-human hosts in beneficial, neutral or detrimental ways.
4
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill
