Microbes in human welfare - fermentation industry, antibiotics, biogas, sewage treatment - Question Bank

1. Which antibiotic inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit?
A) Penicillin
B) Erythromycin
C) Tetracycline
D) Vancomycin
2. The 'sludge digester' in a sewage treatment plant primarily facilitates:
A) Oxidation of organic matter
B) Anaerobic digestion of sludge
C) Aerobic decomposition of sludge
D) Removal of heavy metals
3. Which of the following is a notable use of *Bacillus thuringiensis*?
A) Antibiotic production
B) Dairy fermentation
C) Biopesticide
D) Biogas production
4. The process of removing dissolved organic matter and suspended solids in sewage treatment is mainly achieved by:
A) Physical filtration
B) Chemical precipitation
C) Biological decomposition
D) UV radiation
5. Which fungus is commonly used to produce the enzyme glucoamylase?
A) Aspergillus niger
B) Penicillium roqueforti
C) Rhizopus
D) Saccharomyces
6. In biogas production, the initial breakdown of complex organic matter into simpler compounds is carried out by:
A) Methanogens
B) Acidogenic bacteria
C) Acetogenic bacteria
D) Aerobic bacteria
7. The antibiotic 'tetracycline' is produced by:
A) Penicillium chrysogenum
B) Streptomyces aureofaciens
C) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
D) Bacillus subtilis
8. Which of the following is a common example of a fermented beverage?
A) Milk
B) Juice
C) Beer
D) Water
9. The 'trickling filter' is a method used in which stage of sewage treatment?
A) Primary treatment
B) Secondary treatment
C) Tertiary treatment
D) Sludge treatment
10. Which enzyme, produced by microbes, is used to break down starch in industries?
A) Lipase
B) Protease
C) Amylase
D) Cellulase
11. The term 'biopesticides' refers to pesticides derived from:
A) Chemical synthesis
B) Microorganisms
C) Petroleum products
D) Mineral ores
12. Which of the following is an example of a fermented dairy product?
A) Ice cream
B) Butter
C) Yogurt
D) Whipped cream
13. In the context of biogas production, 'methanogens' are:
A) Aerobic bacteria
B) Anaerobic bacteria that produce methane
C) Fungi
D) Viruses
14. The antibiotic 'chloramphenicol' was originally isolated from:
A) Penicillium species
B) Streptomyces venezuelae
C) Bacillus species
D) Saccharomyces species
15. Which organism is used to produce 'tempeh', a fermented soybean food?
A) Rhizopus oligosporus
B) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
C) Lactobacillus
D) Penicillium
16. The primary goal of sewage treatment is to reduce the:
A) Dissolved oxygen content
B) Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
C) pH of the water
D) Temperature of the water
17. Which of the following is a broad-spectrum antibiotic?
A) Penicillin
B) Tetracycline
C) Erythromycin
D) Metronidazole
18. The 'secondary sludge' from the activated sludge process can be used as:
A) A source of antibiotics
B) Fertilizer
C) Fuel for power generation
D) A culture medium for viruses
19. Which microbe is used in the production of soy sauce?
A) Saccharomyces
B) Lactobacillus
C) Aspergillus oryzae
D) Penicillium
20. The 'digester' in a biogas plant is designed for:
A) Aerobic respiration
B) Anaerobic digestion
C) Photosynthesis
D) Chemosynthesis
21. Which of the following antibiotics inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis?
A) Tetracycline
B) Penicillin
C) Erythromycin
D) Chloramphenicol
22. The process of removing suspended solids from sewage in the primary treatment stage is called:
A) Filtration
B) Sedimentation
C) Digestion
D) Oxidation
23. Which is the primary organism used in the industrial production of ethanol for fuel and beverages?
A) Escherichia coli
B) Bacillus subtilis
C) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
D) Penicillium notatum
24. The process of converting organic matter into simpler inorganic substances by microbes is called:
A) Synthesis
B) Fermentation
C) Decomposition
D) Assimilation
25. Which antibiotic is produced by an actinomycete, *Streptomyces griseus*?
A) Penicillin
B) Erythromycin
C) Streptomycin
D) Tetracycline
26. The characteristic holes in Swiss cheese are due to the production of gas by which bacterium?
A) Lactobacillus
B) Propionibacterium shermanii
C) Streptococcus thermophilus
D) Saccharomyces
27. Which of the following is a common application of 'Single Cell Protein' (SCP)?
A) Food supplement for humans and livestock
B) Antibiotic production
C) Biogas generation
D) Sewage treatment
28. The 'activated sludge' in sewage treatment is rich in:
A) Viruses
B) Anaerobic bacteria
C) Aerobic bacteria and protozoa
D) Algae
29. Which microbe is used in the production of citric acid?
A) Lactobacillus
B) Aspergillus niger
C) Penicillium
D) Saccharomyces
30. In a biogas plant, the slurry of dung is mixed with water and then subjected to:
A) Aerobic fermentation
B) Anaerobic digestion
C) Oxidation
D) Nitrification
31. The antibiotic 'erythromycin' is derived from which group of microorganisms?
A) Actinomycetes
B) Yeasts
C) Molds
D) Cyanobacteria
32. Which of the following is NOT a product of fermentation used in food industry?
A) Bread
B) Cheese
C) Vinegar
D) Pasteurized milk
33. The term 'BOD' (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) in sewage treatment refers to the amount of:
A) Oxygen required by aerobic decomposers to break down organic matter
B) Oxygen produced by algae
C) Oxygen dissolved in water
D) Oxygen needed for nitrification
34. Which type of microorganism is primarily responsible for the production of enzymes like amylase and lipase used in industries?
A) Viruses
B) Bacteria and Fungi
C) Algae
D) Protozoa
35. The 'Gobar Gas' plant utilizes:
A) Aerobic decomposition
B) Anaerobic digestion of cattle dung
C) Photosynthesis
D) Composting
36. Which fungus is used to produce the antibiotic penicillin?
A) Aspergillus niger
B) Penicillium chrysogenum
C) Rhizopus nigricans
D) Mucor mucedo
37. What is the main function of the secondary treatment stage in sewage processing?
A) Removal of grit and large solids
B) Decomposition of dissolved organic matter
C) Sterilization of treated water
D) Removal of suspended solids
38. Which of the following gases is produced in significant amounts during the anaerobic digestion in a biogas plant?
A) Nitrogen
B) Hydrogen sulfide
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Ammonia
39. The antibiotic 'streptomycin' was discovered by:
A) Louis Pasteur
B) Selman Waksman
C) Howard Florey
D) Ernst Chain
40. Which microbe is responsible for the characteristic flavour and aroma of cheese?
A) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
B) Propionibacterium shermanii
C) Lactobacillus acidophilus
D) Penicillium roqueforti
41. The beverage 'Toddy' is traditionally fermented using:
A) Bacteria
B) Yeast from palm sap
C) Molds
D) Actinomycetes
42. Which organism is widely used as a 'single-cell protein' (SCP) source?
A) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
B) Penicillium roqueforti
C) Lactobacillus bulgaricus
D) Escherichia coli
43. In the activated sludge process of sewage treatment, flocs are formed by:
A) Viruses and bacteria
B) Protozoa and algae
C) Fungi and yeast
D) Bacteria and fungal filaments
44. The primary role of microbes in sewage treatment is to:
A) Increase the BOD of water
B) Decompose organic matter
C) Introduce harmful pathogens
D) Remove dissolved oxygen
45. Which group of microorganisms is essential for the anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas?
A) Aerobic bacteria
B) Fungi
C) Methanogens
D) Actinomycetes
46. Biogas is a mixture primarily composed of:
A) Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen
B) Methane and Carbon dioxide
C) Oxygen and Hydrogen
D) Ammonia and Carbon monoxide
47. Alexander Fleming is credited with the discovery of which antibiotic?
A) Tetracycline
B) Penicillin
C) Streptomycin
D) Erythromycin
48. Which of the following is a common source for producing antibiotics?
A) Viruses
B) Fungi
C) Algae
D) Protozoa
49. The process by which yeast converts sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide is called:
A) Respiration
B) Photosynthesis
C) Fermentation
D) Decomposition
50. Which bacterium is primarily used in the production of yogurt from milk?
A) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
B) Lactobacillus species
C) Penicillium notatum
D) Escherichia coli