Quiz: Environmental Microbiology

Created on July 14, 2024

The Environmental Microbiology Challenge

Delve into the unseen world where microbes shape our planet. Test your mastery of the microscopic forces that drive ecosystems, remediate pollution, and influence global cycles.

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1. Which of the following microbial processes is crucial for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants?

A. Nitrification

B. Nitrogen fixation

C. Denitrification

D. Anammox

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2. The concept of ‘rare biosphere’ primarily refers to:

A. Microbes resistant to all known antibiotics

B. Microbes inhabiting extreme environments

C. Microbes with low abundance but high functional significance

D. Microbes exclusively found in marine ecosystems

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3. The rhizosphere is characterized by:

A. Lower nutrient availability compared to bulk soil

B. Increased microbial activity compared to bulk soil

C. Predominance of anaerobic microorganisms

D. Absence of plant-microbe interactions

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4. What are the three domains of life?

A. Plants, Animals, and Microbes

B. Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses

C. Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi

D. Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

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5. In anaerobic digestion, the conversion of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to methane is primarily carried out by:

A. Sulfate-reducing bacteria

B. Methanogenic archaea

C. Syntrophic bacteria

D. Acetogenic bacteria

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6. Which of the following is NOT a primary mechanism by which microbes contribute to soil aggregate formation?

A. Mineral weathering

B. Hyphal entanglement

C. Exopolysaccharide production

D. Nitrogen fixation

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7. Which of the following is a major concern associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment?

A. ARGs can accumulate in the food chain.

B. ARGs can be transferred to human pathogens, making infections harder to treat. b) d)

C. ARGs can directly harm plant growth.

D. ARGs can increase the virulence of environmental microbes.

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8. Which of the following is NOT a common method for identifying microorganisms?

A. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis

B. Electron microscopy

C. 16S rRNA gene sequencing

D. Gram staining

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9. What is the primary electron acceptor in dissimilatory metal reduction?

A. Oxygen

B. A metal cation (e.g., Fe3+)

C. Nitrate

D. Sulfate

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10. Quorum sensing in bacteria is primarily mediated by:

A. Exchange of genetic material

B. Signaling molecules called autoinducers

C. Environmental cues like temperature and pH

D. Direct physical contact between cells

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11. The primary role of fungi in the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus is:

A. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus

B. Fixation of atmospheric phosphorus

C. Solubilization of insoluble phosphorus

D. Mineralization of organic phosphorus

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12. What is the difference between autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms?

A. Autotrophs are bacteria, while heterotrophs are archaea.

B. Autotrophs use organic carbon, while heterotrophs use inorganic carbon.

C. Autotrophs are found in soil, while heterotrophs are found in water.

D. Autotrophs produce their own food, while heterotrophs consume other organisms.

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13. Which of the following is an example of a symbiotic relationship between a microbe and a plant?

A. Neither a nor b

B. Mycorrhizae

C. Rhizobia

D. Both a and b

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14. Which type of microbial metabolism is used to treat acid mine drainage?

A. Methanogenesis

B. Sulfate reduction

C. Nitrogen fixation

D. Iron oxidation

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15. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

A. Sterilization is used on living tissue, while disinfection is used on inanimate objects.

B. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.

C. Sterilization kills all microorganisms, while disinfection only reduces their number.

D. Sterilization uses heat, while disinfection uses chemicals.

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16. The concept of ‘microbial dark matter’ refers to:

A. Microbes that are not yet sequenced or characterized

B. Microbes that are exclusively pathogenic

C. Microbes that thrive in low-light conditions

D. Microbes that are resistant to all known cultivation techniques

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17. Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects the microbial diversity in soil?

A. Atmospheric pressure

B. pH

C. Temperature

D. Moisture content

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18. What is the role of biofilms in bioremediation?

A. They only play a role in bioremediation in aquatic environments.

B. They have no significant role in bioremediation.

C. They hinder bioremediation by protecting contaminants.

D. They enhance bioremediation by concentrating microbes and nutrients.

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19. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good indicator organism for fecal contamination in water?

A. Easy to detect and quantify

B. Capable of causing disease in humans

C. Survives longer than pathogens in the environment

D. Present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals

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20. Which of the following bioremediation strategies primarily relies on enhancing the indigenous microbial population to degrade contaminants?

A. Bioventing

B. Biostimulation

C. Phytoremediation

D. Bioaugmentation

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The average score is 50%

Author

kanwar

Kanwar Bhan Godara UGC NET JRF Environmental Science
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