Questions on Use of Fungi and Fungal Diseases
Multiple-Choice Questions – Use of Fungi and Fungal Diseases
1. Which of the following fungi is commonly used in the production of bread?
A) Penicillium notatum
B) Aspergillus niger
C) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
D) Candida albicans
E) Claviceps purpurea
2. The antibiotic penicillin is derived from which fungus?
A) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
B) Penicillium notatum
C) Rhizopus stolonifer
D) Candida glabrata
E) Neurospora crassa
3. Fungi are used in the fermentation industry mainly because they:
A) Produce lactic acid
B) Fix nitrogen
C) Are photosynthetic
D) Convert sugars into alcohol and CO₂
E) Break down plastics
4. Which of the following fungi is used in the production of soy sauce?
A) Aspergillus oryzae
B) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
C) Penicillium roqueforti
D) Rhizopus nigricans
E) Candida albicans
5. What is a common fungal disease that affects humans, especially the skin?
A) Ringworm
B) Malaria
C) Tuberculosis
D) Pneumonia
E) Typhoid
6. Athlete's foot is caused by a:
A) Bacterium
B) Protozoan
C) Virus
D) Fungus
E) Helminth
7. Which of these is a fungus that can cause respiratory infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals?
A) Aspergillus fumigatus
B) Penicillium camemberti
C) Saccharomyces boulardii
D) Candida kefyr
E) Rhizopus oryzae
8. Which fungus is commonly associated with yeast infections in humans?
A) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
B) Claviceps purpurea
C) Candida albicans
D) Aspergillus niger
E) Penicillium roqueforti
9. Fungi help plants through:
A) Photosynthesis
B) Fixing carbon
C) Mycorrhizal associations
D) Producing chloroplasts
E) Depleting soil nutrients
10. Ergot, a toxic fungus that infects rye, is produced by:
A) Penicillium species
B) Claviceps purpurea
C) Candida albicans
D) Aspergillus flavus
E) Fusarium oxysporum
11. Which of the following is a fungal disease that can be fatal to people with HIV/AIDS?
A) Athlete’s foot
B) Oral thrush
C) Coccidioidomycosis
D) Eczema
E) Psoriasis
12. What is the role of fungi in cheese production, such as blue cheese?
A) Preservative
B) Flavor and texture development
C) Sweetener
D) Coloration
E) Lactic acid production
13. Which of the following fungi is important in bioremediation?
A) Candida glabrata
B) Penicillium camemberti
C) Trametes versicolor
D) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
E) Claviceps purpurea
14. A common fungal disease of crops like corn and wheat is:
A) Rust and smut
B) Scabies
C) Mumps
D) Blight
E) Foot rot
15. Which fungal pathogen is a major cause of systemic infections in hospitals?
A) Penicillium notatum
B) Candida auris
C) Aspergillus oryzae
D) Fusarium solani
E) Trichoderma harzianum
16. Which statement best describes fungal diseases in plants?
A) They usually fix nitrogen.
B) They promote plant growth.
C) They can cause significant agricultural losses.
D) They are always beneficial.
E) They protect from insects.
17. Which of the following is used in the baking and brewing industries?
A) Rhizopus stolonifer
B) Penicillium roqueforti
C) Candida auris
D) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
E) Aspergillus flavus
18. Fungi are important in medicine because they:
A) Carry oxygen
B) Produce antibiotics
C) Cause cancer
D) Produce insulin
E) Digest DNA
19. Which fungi produce aflatoxins, toxic compounds found in contaminated food?
A) Candida albicans
B) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
C) Aspergillus flavus
D) Penicillium notatum
E) Claviceps purpurea
20. What type of symbiosis exists in mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots?
A) Parasitism
B) Commensalism
C) Mutualism
D) Predation
E) Competition
Answer Key with Explanations
1. C – Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) is used in bread making.
2. B – Penicillium notatum was the source of the first antibiotic, penicillin.
3. D – Yeasts convert sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide in fermentation.
4. A – Aspergillus oryzae is used in fermenting soy sauce.
5. A – Ringworm is a common skin infection caused by dermatophyte fungi.
6. D – Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection, commonly by Trichophyton species.
7. A – Aspergillus fumigatus causes respiratory infections, especially in immunocompromised people.
8. C – Candida albicans causes yeast infections and thrush.
9. C – Fungi help plants through mycorrhizal relationships that aid nutrient absorption.
10. B – Claviceps purpurea produces ergot, a toxic fungus.
11. C – Coccidioidomycosis ("Valley Fever") is dangerous for immunocompromised individuals.
12. B – Fungi like Penicillium roqueforti are used for flavoring in cheeses.
13. C – Trametes versicolor, the turkey tail fungus, is used in breaking down pollutants.
14. A – Rusts and smuts are common fungal crop diseases.
15. B – Candida auris is an emerging hospital-acquired fungal pathogen.
16. C – Fungal plant diseases can cause huge agricultural damage.
17. D – Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used in baking and brewing.
18. B – Fungi produce antibiotics like penicillin.
19. C – Aspergillus flavus can produce aflatoxins, dangerous to humans.
20. C – Mycorrhizal fungi and plants benefit mutually, so it's mutualism.
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