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 is an example of a symbiotic relationship between a microbe and a plant?

A. Neither a nor b

B. Both a and b

C. Mycorrhizae

D. Rhizobia

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2. What is the role of biofilms in bioremediation?

A. They hinder bioremediation by protecting contaminants.

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

C. They enhance bioremediation by concentrating microbes and nutrients.

D. They have no significant role in bioremediation.

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

A. Microbes with low abundance but high functional significance

B. Microbes inhabiting extreme environments

C. Microbes resistant to all known antibiotics

D. Microbes exclusively found in marine ecosystems

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

A. ARGs can directly harm plant growth.

B. ARGs can increase the virulence of environmental microbes.

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

D. ARGs can accumulate in the food chain.

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

A. Nitrate

B. Sulfate

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

D. Oxygen

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

A. Sulfate-reducing bacteria

B. Syntrophic bacteria

C. Acetogenic bacteria

D. Methanogenic archaea

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7. What are the three domains of life?

A. Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

B. Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses

C. Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi

D. Plants, Animals, and Microbes

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

A. Bioventing

B. Phytoremediation

C. Biostimulation

D. Bioaugmentation

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

A. Microbes that are not yet sequenced or characterized

B. Microbes that thrive in low-light conditions

C. Microbes that are exclusively pathogenic

D. Microbes that are resistant to all known cultivation techniques

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10. 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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11. The rhizosphere is characterized by:

A. Lower nutrient availability compared to bulk soil

B. Increased microbial activity compared to bulk soil

C. Absence of plant-microbe interactions

D. Predominance of anaerobic microorganisms

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

A. pH

B. Moisture content

C. Temperature

D. Atmospheric pressure

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13. Quorum sensing in bacteria is primarily mediated by:

A. Signaling molecules called autoinducers

B. Exchange of genetic material

C. Environmental cues like temperature and pH

D. Direct physical contact between cells

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14. 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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15. 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. Present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals

C. Capable of causing disease in humans

D. Survives longer than pathogens in the environment

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

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

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

C. Autotrophs are bacteria, while heterotrophs are archaea.

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

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

A. Mineralization of organic phosphorus

B. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus

C. Fixation of atmospheric phosphorus

D. Solubilization of insoluble phosphorus

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

A. Mineral weathering

B. Nitrogen fixation

C. Hyphal entanglement

D. Exopolysaccharide production

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19. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

A. Sterilization uses heat, while disinfection uses chemicals.

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

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

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

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

A. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis

B. 16S rRNA gene sequencing

C. Electron microscopy

D. Gram staining

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The average score is 50%

Author

kanwar

Kanwar Bhan Godara UGC NET JRF Environmental Science
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