250+ TOP MCQs on Microbes in Metal Containing Habitat and Answers

Environmental Biotechnology Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Microbes in Metal Containing Habitat”.

1. Which of the following can affect the microbial population?
a) Green algae
b) Kitchen waste
c) Heavy metals
d) Oxygen

Answer: c
Clarification: Heavy metals definitely can affect the microbial population in the habitat as they have the potential to degrade the organisms present in the environment. As metal polluted sites are contaminated and hence harmful to the environment. Green algae, Kitchen waste and oxygen are the compounds that are not harmful to the microbial population or the environment.

2. Which of the following terms is not relevant to affecting microbial population?
a) Reduction in abundance
b) Diversity of species
c) Color of species
d) Resistant population

Answer: c
Clarification: Color of species is not a relevant factor to consider for affecting microbial population and hence, it really doesn’t matter in a bigger prospective. Also, it doesn’t correlate with the metal contamination. Resistant population is selected over the original strain, that affects the microbial population, also, reduction in abundance, diversity of species are the other factors.

3. Tolerant microbes can grow better in metal stress.
a) True
b) False

Answer: a
Clarification: Tolerant microbes are actually those strains of microbes which have somehow become resistance to metal stress and they survive the condition and some even grow better under metal stress, also, the raw materials are easily available to them.

4. Which of the following soil pollution is not responsible for reduction in bacteria?
a) Copper
b) Cadmium
c) Zinc
d) Glass

Answer: d
Clarification: Glass contamination of the soil doesn’t lead to reduction in bacteria in the soil or any other microorganisms like fungi and actinomycetes. Copper, cadmium, mercury and zinc etc. are found in the soil which when contaminated leads to variable reduction in bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in the soil.

5. Which of the following population cannot be affected by heavy metals?
a) Cyanobacteria
b) Algae
c) Protozoan
d) Phytoremediation

Answer: d
Clarification: Phytoremediation is a technique not a population, also, used to degrade heavy metals in the environment using plants, so, they are definitely not affected by heavy metals that would lead to their reduction in the environment. Whereas, cyanobacteria, algae and protozoan are found to be affected by heavy metals in the environment.

6. What of the following is used to remove metals using plants?
a) Phyto-extraction
b) Mashing with Adhesives
c) Mashing with Fibers
d) Watering

Answer: a
Clarification: Phytoextraction is a process which comes under phytoremediation where plants can be used to remove hazardous elements from soil or may be water like heavy metals, whereas, mashing with adhesives or fibers is not related to the process of removal of metals from plants and watering doesn’t remove heavy metals.

7. How bacteria incorporate heavy metals inside them?
a) Slow transport inside the cell
b) Gasification
c) Incineration
d) Disposal

Answer: a
Clarification: Disposal is a method that is used for disposing waste, whereas, gasification is the degradation of organic matter in anaerobic conditions and incineration involves chemical reaction which burns the waste generated. Whereas, slow transport of metal inside the cell after binding to the surface ligand of the metals helps in incorporation of heavy metals inside microbes.

8. Which of the following can dissolve metals?
a) Biogeochemcial cycle
b) Microbial metabolic secretions
c) Afforestation
d) Deforestation

Answer: b
Clarification: Microbial metabolic secretions are the one which can dissolve the heavy metals present in the soil by secreting a special type of enzyme or any organic acid like low molecular weight. Whereas, biogeochemical cycle is crucial for methanogens, the natural release of biogas in the environment is due to the activity of methanogens, hence, it can’t dissolve metals. Also, afforestation and deforestation cannot dissolve metals.

9. What habitat is not a home for bacteria?
a) Arctic snow
b) Soil
c) Rocks
d) Distilled water

Answer: d
Clarification: Distilled water is a purified form of water with no or negligible amount of bacteria and hence, that is not a home for bacteria, whereas, arctic snow, soil and rocks can be home for many bacteria. There are near about ten times bacteria found in every habitat than the native organism itself. So, distilled water is the correct option.

10. Which of the following is a method of phytoextraction for removal of metals?
a) Absorption by plant roots
b) Absorption by water
c) Absorption by soil
d) Absorption by weathered rock

Answer: a
Clarification: Absorption by plant roots is the technique used in phyto-extraction for removal of metals by absorbing the heavy metals by the roots, thereby, removing it from the immediate environment, whereas, absorption by water, soil and weathered rocks cannot remove metals from the environment.

11. Plants cannot remove heavy metals.
a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Clarification: Plants can remove heavy metals for their immediate surroundings by a process called as phyto remediation, followed by a technique called as phyto-extraction for removal of metals by absorbing the heavy metals by the roots of the plants. These processes are really helpful of removal of heavy metals and it doesn’t cause any side effects to the environment.