Question 1

The propagation cycle that occurs in acid mine drainage is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  reduction of Fe³⁺ by sulfuric acid. 
B)  the oxidation of sulfide to sulfuric acid by microbial oxidation of iron (Fe³⁺). 
C)  microbial sulfate reduction. 
D)  low pH and high oxygen concentrations. 
A)  reduction of Fe³⁺ by sulfuric acid. 
B)  the oxidation of sulfide to sulfuric acid by microbial oxidation of iron (Fe³⁺). 
C)  microbial sulfate reduction. 
D)  low pH and high oxygen concentrations. B

Question 2

What chemical initiates the formation of acid mine drainage when pyrite is not disposed of properly?

Accepted Answer

A)  O₂ 
B)  Fe²⁺ 
C)  HS⁻ 
D)  SO₄²⁻ 
A)  O₂ 
B)  Fe²⁺ 
C)  HS⁻ 
D)  SO₄²⁻ A

Question 3

Which microorganisms commonly thrive in drinking water distribution systems and how might they impact human health?

Accepted Answer

Despite sufficient chlorination of drinking water, biofilms persist on the walls of pipes in water distribution systems. The biofilms consist mostly of non-pathogenic bacteria, but can harbor opportunistic pathogens such as Naegleria, Acanthamoeba, Legionella, Pseudomonas, and Mycobacterium species. There are also large numbers of protists present that graze on (eat) the bacteria in the biofilm. Legionella, Pseudomonas, and Mycobacterium species can live inside these protists, increasing their ability to persist in the environment. Although these organisms are present in drinking water systems, they are usually opportunistic pathogens and thus may not affect the health of people with normal immune systems. The impact of these organisms and how they might be distributed through showerheads and other mechanisms is an area of current research.

Question 4

What is souring of crude oil and how does the petroleum industry control it?

Accepted Answer

The souring of crude oil occurs when oil

Question 5

Chlorine is consumed when it reacts with organic materials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

To further reduce the possibility of biological contamination, most treatment plants treat the effluent with

Accepted Answer

A)  fluorine. 
B)  chlorine. 
C)  ozone. 
D)  extreme heat. 
A)  fluorine. 
B)  chlorine. 
C)  ozone. 
D)  extreme heat.

Question 7

The goal of tertiary wastewater treatment is to sharply reduce the levels of ________ from the final effluent.

Accepted Answer

A)  organic compounds 
B)  heavy metals 
C)  methane 
D)  inorganic nutrients 
A)  organic compounds 
B)  heavy metals 
C)  methane 
D)  inorganic nutrients

Question 8

Which process produces a gaseous product that can be used as fuel to provide heat or power for a wastewater treatment plant?

Accepted Answer

A)  trickling filter secondary wastewater treatment 
B)  aerobic secondary wastewater treatment 
C)  anaerobic secondary wastewater treatment 
D)  primary wastewater treatment 
A)  trickling filter secondary wastewater treatment 
B)  aerobic secondary wastewater treatment 
C)  anaerobic secondary wastewater treatment 
D)  primary wastewater treatment

Question 9

The goal of wastewater treatment is to

Accepted Answer

A)  produce potable water. 
B)  remove pathogens from wastewater before it is released. 
C)  reduce organic and inorganic materials in wastewater to a level that no longer supports microbial growth. 
D)  remove pathogens from wastewater to produce potable water. 
A)  produce potable water. 
B)  remove pathogens from wastewater before it is released. 
C)  reduce organic and inorganic materials in wastewater to a level that no longer supports microbial growth. 
D)  remove pathogens from wastewater to produce potable water.

Question 10

With increased levels of oxidizable materials, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) will

Accepted Answer

A)  increase. 
B)  decrease. 
C)  remain the same. 
D)  increase or decrease depending on the nature of the materials involved. 
A)  increase. 
B)  decrease. 
C)  remain the same. 
D)  increase or decrease depending on the nature of the materials involved.

Question 11

Secondary disinfection of drinking water is necessary to

Accepted Answer

A)  maintain sufficient residual in the water distribution system to inhibit microbial growth. 
B)  prevent the formation of biofilms on pipes in the water distribution system. 
C)  neutralize taste- and odor-producing organic compounds. 
D)  kill Cryptosporidium and other resistant pathogens. 
A)  maintain sufficient residual in the water distribution system to inhibit microbial growth. 
B)  prevent the formation of biofilms on pipes in the water distribution system. 
C)  neutralize taste- and odor-producing organic compounds. 
D)  kill Cryptosporidium and other resistant pathogens.

Question 12

Bioremediation of uranium depends on metal-reducing bacteria to change the oxidation state of the uranium to form insoluble uranium compounds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following can be completely degraded to carbon dioxide by microorganisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  petroleum 
B)  uranium 
C)  chlorinated organics 
D)  petroleum and chlorinated organics 
A)  petroleum 
B)  uranium 
C)  chlorinated organics 
D)  petroleum and chlorinated organics

Question 14

Subway air and water distribution systems harbor dangerous levels of pathogenic microorganisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Wastewater plants are usually constructed to handle both domestic and industrial wastes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Describe the general processes that occur in a sludge digester. What is an advantage of sludge digestion over activated sludge?

Accepted Answer

Secondary anaerobic wastewater treatment

Question 17

Microbes are involved in which step(s) of wastewater treatment?

Accepted Answer

A)  primary only 
B)  secondary and tertiary 
C)  secondary only 
D)  primary and secondary 
A)  primary only 
B)  secondary and tertiary 
C)  secondary only 
D)  primary and secondary

Question 18

To prevent the souring of crude oil, ________ is added to oil well injection water to encourage ________ instead of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen / aerobic respiration / sulfate reduction 
B)  sulfate / sulfate reduction / fermentation 
C)  sulfate / sulfate reduction / nitrate reduction 
D)  nitrate / nitrate reduction / sulfate reduction 
A)  oxygen / aerobic respiration / sulfate reduction 
B)  sulfate / sulfate reduction / fermentation 
C)  sulfate / sulfate reduction / nitrate reduction 
D)  nitrate / nitrate reduction / sulfate reduction

Question 19

Microbial plastics are composed of

Accepted Answer

A)  polysaccharides. 
B)  Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PAHs). 
C)  polyaromatic hydrocarbons. 
D)  xenobiotics. 
A)  polysaccharides. 
B)  Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PAHs). 
C)  polyaromatic hydrocarbons. 
D)  xenobiotics.

Question 20

Treatment of drinking water by UV irradiation is effective at ________, but is less effective at ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  killing bacteria and some cysts / killing iruses 
B)  killing viruses / killing bacteria and eukaryotic pathogens 
C)  removing order- and taste-altering organic compounds / killing bacteria 
D)  killing bacteria and viruses / killing eukaryotic pathogens 
A)  killing bacteria and some cysts / killing iruses 
B)  killing viruses / killing bacteria and eukaryotic pathogens 
C)  removing order- and taste-altering organic compounds / killing bacteria 
D)  killing bacteria and viruses / killing eukaryotic pathogens

Exam 22: Microbiology of the Built Environment

The propagation cycle that occurs in acid mine drainage is caused by

What chemical initiates the formation of acid mine drainage when pyrite is not disposed of properly?

Which microorganisms commonly thrive in drinking water distribution systems and how might they impact human health?

What is souring of crude oil and how does the petroleum industry control it?

Chlorine is consumed when it reacts with organic materials.

To further reduce the possibility of biological contamination, most treatment plants treat the effluent with

The goal of tertiary wastewater treatment is to sharply reduce the levels of ________ from the final effluent.

Which process produces a gaseous product that can be used as fuel to provide heat or power for a wastewater treatment plant?

The goal of wastewater treatment is to

With increased levels of oxidizable materials, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) will

Secondary disinfection of drinking water is necessary to

Bioremediation of uranium depends on metal-reducing bacteria to change the oxidation state of the uranium to form insoluble uranium compounds.

Which of the following can be completely degraded to carbon dioxide by microorganisms?

Subway air and water distribution systems harbor dangerous levels of pathogenic microorganisms.

Wastewater plants are usually constructed to handle both domestic and industrial wastes.

Describe the general processes that occur in a sludge digester. What is an advantage of sludge digestion over activated sludge?

Microbes are involved in which step(s) of wastewater treatment?

To prevent the souring of crude oil, ________ is added to oil well injection water to encourage ________ instead of ________.

Microbial plastics are composed of

Treatment of drinking water by UV irradiation is effective at ________, but is less effective at ________.

The Microbial World

Microbial Cell Structure and Function

Microbial Metabolism

Molecular Information Flow and Protein Processing

Microbial Growth and Its Control

Microbial Regulatory Systems

Molecular Biology of Microbial Growth

Viruses and Their Replication

Microbial Systems Biology

Viral Genomics, Diversity, and Ecology

Genetics of Bacteria and Archaea

Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Microbial Evolution and Systematics

Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms

Functional Diversity of Microorganisms

Diversity of Bacteria

Diversity of Archaea

Diversity of Microbial Eukarya

Taking the Measure of Microbial Systems

Microbial Ecosystems

Nutrient Cycles

Microbial Symbioses

Microbial Symbioses with Humans

Microbial Infection and Pathogenesis

Innate Immunity: Broadly Specific Host Defenses

Adaptive Immunity: Highly Specific Host Defenses

Clinical Microbiology and Immunology

Epidemiology

Person-to-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Vectorborne and Soilborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Waterborne and Foodborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Eukaryotic Pathogens: Fungi, Protozoans, and Helminths

Filters

To prevent the souring of crude oil, is added to oil well injection water to encourage instead of .

Treatment of drinking water by UV irradiation is effective at , but is less effective at .