Practice Quiz
Microbes, Food Spoilage, and
Food Preservation
Directions
• Click anywhere on the screen or hit the
down arrow to move to the next slide.
• Write each answer on a piece of paper to
test yourself. Count the number correct.
• Study the ideas and words that you get
wrong. Good Luck!
Question 1:
Which microbes are most likely to spoil food
and make us sick?
Answer:
Bacteria
Question 2:
What are the two types of bacteria?
Answer:
Archaebacteria and Eubacteria
Question 3:
What conditions are best for bacterial
reproduction?
Answer:
A. Nutrients
B. Moist Environment (Water)
C. Proper temperature (danger zone)
D. Proper pH
Question 4:
What is the temperature “danger zone” that
is best for bacterial reproduction?
Answer:
40° to 140° F
Question 5:
What is the pH “danger zone” that is best for
bacterial reproduction?
Answer:
pH 4.6 to 10, but pH closest to 7 is best for
bacteria
Question 6:
What are the “4 C’s” to prevent foodborne
illness?
Answer:
•
•
•
•
Cook
Chill
Clean
Combat Cross Contamination
Question 7:
What is the range of pH on the pH scale?
Answer:
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14
Question 8:
What pH is an acid?
Answer:
Any substance with a pH below 7 is an acid.
Question 9:
What is a base?
Answer:
Any substance with a pH above 7 is a base.
Question 10:
What are the two main goals of food
preservation?
Answer:
A. Prevent food spoilage
B. Prevent the growth of pathogens in food
Question 11:
What is a pathogen?
Answer:
A pathogen is a microbe that can cause
disease.
Question 12:
What are the three main shapes of bacteria?
Answer:
• Bacilli = rod-shaped
• Cocci = sphere-shaped
• Spirilla = spiral-shaped
Question 13:
Where are bacteria normally found in the
human body?
Answer:
Harmless and helpful bacteria are found in our
mouths, sinuses, throats, and intestines.
Question 14:
About what percentage of bacteria are
pathogens?
Answer:
Approximately 1% of bacteria are
pathogens.
Question 15:
How fast can bacteria reproduce in perfect
conditions?
Answer:
Some bacteria can reproduce every 20
minutes in perfect conditions.
Question 16:
What is a flagellum?
Answer:
A flagellum is a whip-like structure on the
outside of a bacterium. The flagellum
helps the bacterium move.
Question 17:
List at least two examples of ways in which
bacteria help us.
Answer:
1. Bacteria turn milk into yogurt and cheese.
2. Bacteria help digest food in our intestines.
3. Some bacteria are decomposers. That
is, they feed on decaying matter and break
it down.
Question 18:
What is Binary fission?
Answer:
Binary fission is the process by which a
bacterium divides into two cells. Each cell
is an exact copy of the original cell.
Question 19:
Why is a bacterium considered to be a
prokaryote?
Answer:
A bacterium is considered to be a
prokaryote because it does not have a
nucleus.
Question 20:
Which method of food preservation lowers
temperatures between 32° F and 40 ° F ?
Answer:
Refrigeration
Question 21:
Which method of food preservation lowers
temperatures below 32° F?
Answer:
Freezing
Question 22:
Which method of food preservation uses
acid to change the food and prevent
bacterial reproduction ?
Answer:
°F
Fermentation
Question 23:
Which method of food preservation involves
high energy which kills microbes ?
Answer:
°F
Irradiation
Question 24:
Which method of food preservation removes
water from food to prevent bacterial growth?
Answer:
° F (or drying)
Dehydration
Question 25:
Which method of food preservation heats
food (usually liquid) to a high heat for a
short time to kill most microbes?
Answer:
°F
Pasteurization
How many did you get correct?
23-25 - Awesome! You’re ready - continue
your review.
20-22 - Pretty good. You’re ready, but
should review a bit more.
17-19 - Hmm. You need to study more.
< 17 - You really need to study your
definitions and practice problems.