LAB 1ST DEPEX SAMPLE QUESTIONS Flashcards
What is the study of organisms and agents too small to be seen by the naked eye called?
A. Botany
B. Microbiology
C. Virology
D. Parasitology
B. Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of organisms less than 1mm in size that require a microscope for visualization.
Which of the following is the smallest known microbe?
A. Epulopiscium
B. Circovirus
C. SARS-CoV-2
D. Escherichia coli
B. Circovirus
Circovirus is 20 nm in diameter, making it the smallest known microbe.
Who was the first person to observe microorganisms?
A. Louis Pasteur
B. Robert Koch
C. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
D. Joseph Lister
C. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
Leeuwenhoek first observed bacteria and protozoa using a microscope he designed.
Which of the following is NOT one of the five major groups of microorganisms?
A. Bacteria
B. Fungi
C. Viruses
D. Plants
D. Plants
Plants are macroscopic and not included in the five major groups of microorganisms.
What part of the microscope connects the base to the head and supports the eyepiece tube?
A. Base
B. Arm
C. Nosepiece
D. Condenser
B. Arm
The arm connects the base and head of the microscope and aids in carrying it.
Which of the following is used to adjust the focus for high-definition imaging on a microscope?
A. Coarse adjustment knob
B. Fine adjustment knob
C. Condenser adjustment knob
D. Aperture
B. Fine adjustment knob
The fine adjustment knob is used for precise focusing, especially under high magnification.
Which microscope feature allows users to switch between objective lenses?
A. Nosepiece
B. Stage
C. Aperture
D. Condenser
A. Nosepiece
The nosepiece holds and rotates the objective lenses, allowing for changes in magnification.
What is the main cause if you see a completely black field in the ocular lens?
A. Dirty objective lens
B. The slide is upside down
C. The microscope is unplugged
D. The condenser is too low
C. The microscope is unplugged
A lack of power would result in no light being transmitted to the ocular lens.
If the image is blurred while using a microscope, which of the following is a possible cause?
A. The slide is upside down
B. The condenser is too low
C. The objective lens is dirty
D. The microscope is unplugged
C. The objective lens is dirty
A dirty objective lens can blur the image observed through the microscope.
Which part of the microscope controls the width of the light beam?
A. Field diaphragm
B. Condenser
C. Iris diaphragm
D. Aperture
A. Field diaphragm
The field diaphragm controls the width of the light beam entering the condenser.
What is the total magnification if you are using an eyepiece with 10x magnification and an objective lens with 40x magnification?
A. 100x
B. 400x
C. 40x
D. 10x
B. 400x
Total magnification is calculated by multiplying the magnification of the eyepiece by the objective lens (10x * 40x = 400x).
Which of the following has the highest magnification power?
A. LPO
B. HPO
C. OIO
D. Ocular lens
C. OIO
The oil immersion objective (OIO) typically has a magnification of 100x, the highest among the objective lenses.
Which type of microscope is best for viewing live, unstained cells?
A. Brightfield microscope
B. Phase-contrast microscope
C. Fluorescent microscope
D. Electron microscope
B. Phase-contrast microscope
Phase-contrast microscopes enhance contrast in unstained, live specimens.
What is the primary use of a fluorescent microscope?
A. To visualize the 3D structure of tissues
B. To view live cells in real-time
C. To detect antigen-antibody reactions
D. To examine internal cellular structures
C. To detect antigen-antibody reactions
Fluorescent microscopes are commonly used in immunofluorescence to detect antigen-antibody interactions.
Which microscope can provide the highest magnification?
A. Phase-contrast microscope
B. Fluorescent microscope
C. Scanning electron microscope
D. Transmission electron microscope
D. Transmission electron microscope
Transmission electron microscopes (TEM) provide magnifications up to 1,000,000x, higher than other microscopes.
Which of the following describes the process of destroying all living cells, spores, and viruses?
A. Antisepsis
B. Disinfection
C. Sterilization
D. Pasteurization
C. Sterilization
Sterilization is the absolute destruction or removal of all microbial life forms, including spores and viruses.
Which method of sterilization uses high-temperature steam under pressure?
A. Dry heat
B. Filtration
C. Moist heat
D. Pasteurization
C. Moist heat
Moist heat sterilization uses steam under pressure to destroy resistant forms such as endospores.
Which method of sterilization is most appropriate for heat-sensitive fluids like antibiotics?
A. Filtration
B. Direct flaming
C. Dry heat
D. Pasteurization
A. Filtration
Filtration is suitable for sterilizing heat-sensitive substances by physically removing microorganisms from fluids.
Which of the following is NOT an absolute sterilization technique?
A. Direct heat
B. Filtration
C. Disinfection
D. Moist heat
C. Disinfection
Disinfection does not guarantee the complete elimination of all forms of life, as some spores and viruses may remain.
Which biosafety level is required for handling microbes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
A. BSL-1
B. BSL-2
C. BSL-3
D. BSL-4
C. BSL-3
BSL-3 is required for handling microbes that can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases through respiratory transmission.
Which of the following media is both selective and differential for Staphylococcus species?
A. MacConkey Agar
B. Blood Agar
C. Mannitol Salt Agar
D. Nutrient Agar
C. Mannitol Salt Agar
Mannitol Salt Agar is selective for Staphylococcus due to its high salt concentration and differential due to mannitol fermentation.
What is the purpose of an enrichment media?
A. To suppress the growth of unwanted microbes
B. To promote the growth of most organisms
C. To increase the number of desired microorganisms
D. To differentiate between microbial species
C. To increase the number of desired microorganisms
Enrichment media are designed to increase the number of a particular microorganism to detectable levels.
Which of the following biosafety levels requires the use of a full body, air-supplied positive pressure suit?
A. BSL-1
B. BSL-2
C. BSL-3
D. BSL-4
D. BSL-4
BSL-4 is the highest level of containment, requiring specialized facilities and personal protective equipment, including a positive pressure suit.
If the microscope’s light flickers while in use, what is the most probable cause?
A. Dirty objective lens
B. The slide is upside down
C. The wiring is damaged
D. The condenser is too low
C. The wiring is damaged
Flickering light often indicates a problem with the electrical wiring or a bulb nearing the end of its life.
Which of the following is a possible cause of partial illumination in a microscope?
A. The objective lens is dirty
B. The condenser is not centered correctly
C. The slide is upside down
D. The coarse adjustment knob is used
B. The condenser is not centered correctly
Partial illumination can happen if the condenser is not properly aligned to focus light onto the specimen.
If you encounter difficulty focusing the microscope, what could be a potential reason?
A. The slide is not seated properly on the stage
B. The objective lens is not clicked into place
C. The microscope is unplugged
D. The diaphragm is closed
A. The slide is not seated properly on the stage
If the slide is not correctly positioned on the stage, the image might be out of focus.
Which of the following is NOT a recommended practice in a microbiology laboratory?
A. Wearing gloves and lab coats while working
B. Storing personal items like journals in the lab
C. Reporting any spills or accidents immediately
D. Keeping the laboratory clean and organized
B. Storing personal items like journals in the lab
Personal items should be kept out of the lab to prevent contamination and maintain a sterile environment.
Which of the following best describes aseptic techniques?
A. Techniques to sterilize all equipment
B. Methods to prevent contamination of cultures
C. Methods to kill all microorganisms
D. Techniques to disinfect surfaces
B. Methods to prevent contamination of cultures
Aseptic techniques are used to prevent the introduction of unwanted microorganisms into a culture or sterile environment.
Which of the following is an example of a physical method of sterilization?
A. Antisepsis
B. Filtration
C. Use of disinfectants
D. Use of antibiotics
B. Filtration
Filtration is a physical method where microorganisms are physically removed from liquids or gases.
Which of the following forms of heat sterilization is most effective for sterilizing heat-sensitive liquids?
A. Dry heat sterilization
B. Flaming
C. Moist heat sterilization
D. Filtration
D. Filtration
Filtration is used for sterilizing heat-sensitive liquids such as enzymes and antibiotics that would be damaged by heat.
Which of the following is the correct definition of disinfection?
A. The complete elimination of all forms of microbial life
B. The reduction or inhibition of microbial growth
C. The process of removing all viruses
D. The destruction of spores
B. The reduction or inhibition of microbial growth
Disinfection reduces or inhibits microbial growth but does not necessarily kill all microorganisms or spores.
Which form of sterilization is commonly used to sterilize wire loops and needles in microbiology labs?
A. Dry heat in an oven
B. Direct flaming
C. Pasteurization
D. Filtration
B. Direct flaming
Direct flaming is commonly used to sterilize metal instruments like wire loops and needles by burning them in a flame.
What type of medium is MacConkey Agar?
A. Selective only
B. Differential only
C. Both selective and differential
D. General purpose
C. Both selective and differential
MacConkey Agar is selective for Gram-negative bacteria and differentiates lactose fermenters from non-lactose fermenters.
What is the primary purpose of using a semi-solid medium?
A. To grow a large number of microorganisms
B. To test for bacterial motility
C. To isolate pure colonies
D. To differentiate bacterial species
B. To test for bacterial motility
Semi-solid media have a lower concentration of agar and are used to observe bacterial motility.
Which of the following is a general-purpose medium used for growing most microorganisms?
A. Blood Agar
B. Nutrient Agar
C. Mannitol Salt Agar
D. Eosin Methylene Blue Agar
B. Nutrient Agar
Nutrient Agar supports the growth of a wide range of non-fastidious organisms and is used for general purposes.
A culture medium that contains exact concentrations of known chemicals is called a:
A. Complex medium
B. Defined medium
C. Selective medium
D. Differential medium
B. Defined medium
Chemically-defined media contain specific amounts of pure chemicals, unlike complex media where the exact composition is unknown.