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. What is the difference between autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms?

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

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

C. Autotrophs are bacteria, while heterotrophs are archaea.

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

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2. 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. Rhizobia

D. Mycorrhizae

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

A. Nitrogen fixation

B. Denitrification

C. Anammox

D. Nitrification

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

A. Mineral weathering

B. Nitrogen fixation

C. Exopolysaccharide production

D. Hyphal entanglement

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

A. Sulfate

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

C. Nitrate

D. Oxygen

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

A. Fixation of atmospheric phosphorus

B. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus

C. Mineralization of organic phosphorus

D. Solubilization of insoluble phosphorus

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7. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

A. Sterilization uses heat, while disinfection uses chemicals.

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

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

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

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

A. Iron oxidation

B. Methanogenesis

C. Nitrogen fixation

D. Sulfate reduction

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9. 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 directly harm plant growth.

C. ARGs can increase the virulence of environmental microbes.

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

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

A. Phytoremediation

B. Bioventing

C. Bioaugmentation

D. Biostimulation

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12. What are the three domains of life?

A. Plants, Animals, and Microbes

B. Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi

C. Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses

D. Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

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13. What is the role of biofilms in bioremediation?

A. They enhance bioremediation by concentrating microbes and nutrients.

B. They hinder bioremediation by protecting contaminants.

C. They have no significant role in bioremediation.

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

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

A. Microbes with low abundance but high functional significance

B. Microbes exclusively found in marine ecosystems

C. Microbes inhabiting extreme environments

D. Microbes resistant to all known antibiotics

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15. The rhizosphere is characterized by:

A. Predominance of anaerobic microorganisms

B. Lower nutrient availability compared to bulk soil

C. Increased microbial activity compared to bulk soil

D. Absence of plant-microbe interactions

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

A. Gram staining

B. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis

C. Electron microscopy

D. 16S rRNA gene sequencing

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

A. Microbes that thrive in low-light conditions

B. Microbes that are exclusively pathogenic

C. Microbes that are not yet sequenced or characterized

D. Microbes that are resistant to all known cultivation techniques

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

A. Capable of causing disease in humans

B. Present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals

C. Survives longer than pathogens in the environment

D. Easy to detect and quantify

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

A. pH

B. Temperature

C. Moisture content

D. Atmospheric pressure

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20. Quorum sensing in bacteria is primarily mediated by:

A. Environmental cues like temperature and pH

B. Signaling molecules called autoinducers

C. Exchange of genetic material

D. Direct physical contact between cells

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The average score is 50%

Author

kanwar

Kanwar Bhan Godara UGC NET JRF Environmental Science
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