Question 1

A microorganism is named Staphylococcus aureus. The second word (aureus) is the

Accepted Answer

A)   strain.
B)   family.
C)   genus.
D)   species. D

Question 2

Which of the following approaches to taxonomy is based on the physical characteristics of organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)   Genotypic
B)   Phylogenic
C)   Phenotypic
D)   numerical C

Question 3

Microorganisms are classified by taxonomy in order to

Accepted Answer

A)   differentiate them based on phenotypic characteristics.
B)   allow scientists to share information on them in a universal language.
C)   categorize them as animal or plant.
D)   categorize them based on their mode of reproduction. B

Question 4

Eukaryotic cells differ from prokaryotic cells because eukaryotic cells have
1) a nuclear membrane.
2) a cell wall.
3) one chromosome.

Accepted Answer

A)   1 only
B)   2 only
C)   2 and 3
D)   1 and 3

Question 5

Which taxonomy term defines a group of microbes that have similar characteristics and are distinguished from other related strains?

Accepted Answer

A)   Order
B)   Class
C)   Genus
D)   Species

Question 6

The clinically significant yeast and moulds are found in the kingdoms
1) Bacteria.
2) Protozoa.
3) Fungi.
4) Chromista.

Accepted Answer

A)   3 only
B)   2 and 3
C)   3 and 4
D)   2, 3, and 4

Question 7

Which words in the two-word name for a microorganism should be capitalized and underlined or italicized?

Accepted Answer

A)   Species is capitalized and both are underlined or italicized.
B)   Genus is capitalized and both are underlined or italicized.
C)   Both are capitalized and underlined or italicized.
D)   Only the genus is capitalized and underlined or italicized.

Question 8

Which of the following inventions dramatically revolutionized the scientific community and organism taxonomy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Printing press
B)   The use of binomial names for classification
C)   Agar-based medium
D)   The inception of the "International Code of Botanical Nomenclature"

Question 9

Plesiomonas shigelloides, an oxidase positive gram-negative rod, was moved from the family Vibrionaceae to the family Enterobacteriaceae. This was probably done based on

Accepted Answer

A)   phenotypic characteristics.
B)   genetic history.
C)   serology testing using monoclonal antibodies.
D)   nucleic acid hybridization to measure relatedness.

Question 10

Prions differ from viruses because they are

Accepted Answer

A)   composed of protein and do not contain RNA or DNA.
B)   larger than viruses.
C)   able to infect the central nervous system.
D)   infective for vertebrates.

Question 11

Bacteria that live harmlessly in our bodies and protect us by preventing other microbes from attaching to and colonizing the human body are an example of

Accepted Answer

A)   hybridization.
B)   parasitism.
C)   mutualism.
D)   pathogenesis.

Question 12

Which of the following stem endings indicates a bacterial family?

Accepted Answer

A)   -aceae
B)   -idea
C)   -inae
D)   -ales

Question 13

Fungi differ from other microorganisms because they contain

Accepted Answer

A)   single circular chromosome.
B)   a cell wall of chitin.
C)   no cytoplasmic organelles.
D)   plasma membrane.

Question 14

An organism that lives on decaying matter for nutrition is called a(an)

Accepted Answer

A)   pathogen.
B)   eukaryote.
C)   saprophyte.
D)   prokaryote.

Question 15

Which of the following defines a bacterial species? A group of microorganisms that

Accepted Answer

A)   are based on the complete genotypic profile.
B)   share a considerable set of phenotypic characteristics.
C)   belong to the same evolutionary lineage.
D)   share the same antibiogram.

Question 16

Prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic cells because prokaryotic cells usually have
1) a nuclear membrane.
2) a cell wall.
3) one chromosome.

Accepted Answer

A)   1 only
B)   2 only
C)   2 and 3
D)   1 and 3

Question 17

A useful method of classifying viruses is based on the
1) site of infection.
2) type of nucleic acid.
3) symmetry of the protein coat.
4) presence of absence of an envelope.

Accepted Answer

A)   2, 3, and 4
B)   1, 2, and 3
C)   1, 3 and 4
D)   1, 2, and 4

Question 18

Which of the following individuals is credited with the current categorization of organisms as genus and species?

Accepted Answer

A)   Gutenberg
B)   van Leeuwenhoek
C)   Cavalier-Smith
D)   Linnaeus

Question 19

A microorganism is named Staphylococcus aureus. The first word (Staphylococcus) is the

Accepted Answer

A)   family.
B)   genus.
C)   species.
D)   group.

Exam 2: Taxonomy and Classification