Free Practice Quiz Question List

2 Microbiology Laboratory Foundations Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 2 Microbiology Laboratory Foundations, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

Choose one

1 point

When viewing a specimen at high power on a compound brightfield microscope, which focusing approach is appropriate?

A
Use the coarse-focus knob at high power to make large focus adjustments.
B
Use the fine-adjustment knob at high power.
C
Use the coarse-focus knob at every magnification.
D
Avoid focusing at high power.

True or false

1 point

A loop that was sterilized can still become contaminated if it touches a nonsterile surface before being used.

A
True
B
False

Fill in the blank

1 point

A simple stain uses dye to reveal cell shape and arrangement.

Choose one

1 point

A researcher needs to observe cells without staining them. Which microscopy method described in the material can provide this contrast?

A
Darkfield microscopy
B
Phase-contrast microscopy
C
Oil-immersion microscopy
D
Simple staining

True or false

1 point

A microorganism's identity can be established from the visible appearance of its colony alone. True or false?

A
True
B
False

Fill in the blank

1 point

In the streak-plate method, spreading an inoculum across successive areas can produce well-separated colonies.

Choose one

1 point

A lab wants to use a medium that favors growth of some microbes over others. Which type should it choose?

A
Media that support many organisms without favoring particular microbes
B
Media that favor some microbes over others
C
Media that supply additional growth factors
D
Media that make growth or metabolic traits visible

Written response

1 point

What type of culture medium is designed to favor the growth of some microbes over others? Enter the medium type.

Choose all

1 point

Before selecting biosafety practices for a laboratory task, which factors should be considered in a risk assessment? Select all correct choices.

A
The organism being handled
B
The color of the laboratory benches
C
The procedure being performed
D
The number of microscope objectives available
E
Possible routes of exposure
F
Available protective equipment and containment

Choose all

1 point

A laboratory is comparing evidence to narrow the possible identity of an isolate. Which kinds of observations can contribute to the identification? Select all correct choices.

A
Cell shape and arrangement
B
Staining results
C
A single colony's appearance treated as conclusive proof
D
Growth on selective or differential media
E
Biochemical reactions

Open ended

1 point

Explain the difference between aseptic technique and sterilization. Then apply the distinction to explain how a loop sterilized before use could nevertheless become contaminated.

Choose one

1 point

Why can oil immersion improve resolution when using a high-magnification objective?

A
It increases the number of organisms on the slide.
B
It reduces light refraction between the slide and objective lens.
C
It stains cells without using a dye.
D
It makes magnification and resolution identical.

True or false

1 point

If a culture spill or exposure occurs, the appropriate response is to alert the instructor or supervisor promptly and follow the local emergency procedure.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A student needs to observe cells without staining them. Which microscopy method is suited to this task?

A
Brightfield microscopy
B
Darkfield microscopy
C
Phase-contrast microscopy
D
Oil-immersion microscopy

Written response

1 point

What type of stain uses one dye to reveal microbial cell shape and arrangement?

Choose one

1 point

A compound microscope has a $100\times$ objective and a $10\times$ ocular lens. What is the total magnification?

A
$100\times$
B
$1{,}000\times$
C
$10{,}000\times$
D
$110\times$

Written response

1 point

What agar isolation method spreads an inoculum across successive plate areas so that fewer cells are deposited in each area?

Choose one

1 point

A well-isolated colony has a distinctive appearance. What is the most reliable conclusion from that observation alone?

A
It proves the species identity if the colony is well isolated.
B
It must have originated from exactly one cell.
C
It can provide useful clues but does not, by itself, establish identity.
D
It cannot provide any useful information about the culture.

Choose one

1 point

A laboratory wants a visible color change to indicate whether a microbe ferments a carbohydrate. Which type of medium best serves this purpose?

A
General-purpose medium
B
Enriched medium
C
Differential medium
D
Sterilizing medium

Written response

1 point

A specimen appears larger after switching to a higher-power objective, but two nearby bacterial cells still cannot be distinguished as separate points. Which microscope property is insufficient?