- Which of the following microbes is most commonly used for plastic biodegradation? a) Escherichia coli
b) Bacillus subtilis
c) Pseudomonas putida
d) Saccharomyces cerevisiaeAnswer: c) Pseudomonas putida
- What is the primary factor that influences plastic biodegradation by microbes? a) Temperature
b) pH
c) Type of plastic
d) All of the aboveAnswer: d) All of the above
- Which of the following types of plastic is most difficult for microbes to biodegrade? a) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
b) Polystyrene
c) Polyethylene
d) Biodegradable plasticsAnswer: a) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Which process do microbes use to break down plastics? a) Photodegradation
b) Chemical degradation
c) Biological degradation
d) Mechanical degradationAnswer: c) Biological degradation
- What is the role of enzymes in plastic biodegradation by microbes? a) To physically break down the plastic
b) To accelerate chemical reactions that degrade plastic
c) To produce methane
d) To increase plastic strengthAnswer: b) To accelerate chemical reactions that degrade plastic
- Which plastic is known to be biodegraded by Pseudomonas fluorescens? a) Polystyrene
b) Polyethylene
c) Polyvinyl chloride
d) PolyurethaneAnswer: b) Polyethylene
- Which of the following microbes is known for degrading polystyrene? a) Bacillus megaterium
b) Streptomyces griseus
c) Ideonella sakaiensis
d) Pseudomonas putidaAnswer: b) Streptomyces griseus
- What by-product is produced when microbes degrade plastic polymers? a) Oxygen
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Nitrogen
d) AmmoniaAnswer: b) Carbon dioxide
- The plastic-degrading bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis is capable of breaking down which polymer? a) Polypropylene
b) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
c) Polyvinyl chloride
d) PolyamideAnswer: b) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- Which of the following is an environmental benefit of plastic biodegradation using microbes? a) Increased plastic production
b) Reduced plastic pollution
c) Increased plastic durability
d) Decreased microbial activityAnswer: b) Reduced plastic pollution
- What is the main function of Bacillus licheniformis in plastic biodegradation? a) Breaking down cellulose
b) Degrading polyurethane plastics
c) Breaking down polystyrene
d) Enhancing biodegradation of PETAnswer: b) Degrading polyurethane plastics
- What is the initial step in the microbial biodegradation of plastic? a) Physical shredding of plastic
b) Enzymatic attack on polymer chains
c) Sunlight exposure
d) Thermal treatmentAnswer: b) Enzymatic attack on polymer chains
- Which of the following is a potential challenge to using microbes for plastic biodegradation? a) Lack of oxygen
b) Slow degradation rates
c) High cost of enzymes
d) Lack of plastic availabilityAnswer: b) Slow degradation rates
- Which of the following plastics is biodegradable by Pseudomonas aeruginosa? a) Polyethylene
b) Polypropylene
c) Polyurethane
d) PolystyreneAnswer: c) Polyurethane
- Which factor increases the rate of microbial plastic degradation? a) Low temperatures
b) High oxygen concentration
c) High levels of nitrogen
d) High plastic densityAnswer: b) High oxygen concentration
- Which type of plastic is most commonly used by microbes for plastic biodegradation studies? a) Polyethylene
b) Polystyrene
c) Polyvinyl chloride
d) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)Answer: d) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- What enzyme does Ideonella sakaiensis produce to degrade PET plastic? a) PETase
b) Lipase
c) Amylase
d) ProteaseAnswer: a) PETase
- Which of the following microbial groups is primarily responsible for plastic biodegradation? a) Viruses
b) Bacteria
c) Fungi
d) Both b and cAnswer: d) Both b and c
- Which characteristic of plastic makes it challenging for microbes to degrade it? a) High molecular weight
b) Solubility in water
c) High biodegradability
d) Low melting pointAnswer: a) High molecular weight
- Which of the following is an example of a plastic that can be biodegraded using naturally occurring microbes? a) Biodegradable plastics made from cornstarch
b) Polystyrene
c) Polyethylene
d) NylonAnswer: a) Biodegradable plastics made from cornstarch
- Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing microbial plastic biodegradation? a) Temperature
b) pH
c) UV radiation
d) Presence of other chemicalsAnswer: c) UV radiation
- What is one limitation of using plastic-degrading microbes on a large scale? a) The microbes require expensive nutrients
b) The process is very fast
c) The microbes can only degrade a small amount of plastic
d) The microbes need high temperaturesAnswer: c) The process is very fast
- How can genetic engineering improve microbial plastic biodegradation? a) By increasing the plastic size
b) By creating microbes that degrade plastics faster
c) By slowing down the degradation process
d) By changing the color of the plasticsAnswer: b) By creating microbes that degrade plastics faster
- Which of the following is an advantage of using microbial biodegradation of plastics? a) It is an energy-intensive process
b) It can occur under mild conditions
c) It leads to the production of harmful by-products
d) It is not eco-friendlyAnswer: b) It can occur under mild conditions
- Which of the following is a disadvantage of plastic biodegradation by microbes? a) It may require large amounts of oxygen
b) It can lead to the release of toxic by-products
c) It is a non-reversible process
d) It leads to increased plastic accumulationAnswer: b) It can lead to the release of toxic by-products
- What is the role of fungi in plastic biodegradation? a) To degrade cellulose and sugars
b) To produce enzymes that break down plastic polymers
c) To physically break down plastics
d) To enhance plastic durabilityAnswer: b) To produce enzymes that break down plastic polymers
- Which of the following factors is most critical for effective microbial plastic degradation? a) The plastic’s size
b) Presence of microbes with the necessary enzymes
c) Type of polymer used
d) The temperature of the environmentAnswer: b) Presence of microbes with the necessary enzymes
- Which microbial process helps convert plastic into carbon dioxide and other by-products? a) Fermentation
b) Photosynthesis
c) Biodegradation
d) RespirationAnswer: c) Biodegradation
- What happens to plastic during microbial degradation? a) It becomes more toxic
b) It is converted into organic compounds
c) It becomes stronger
d) It remains unchangedAnswer: b) It is converted into organic compounds
- Which of the following is an ideal application of microbial plastic biodegradation? a) Reducing plastic waste in landfills
b) Increasing plastic production
c) Enhancing plastic durability
d) Increasing chemical pollutionAnswer: a) Reducing plastic waste in landfills
These MCQs and their corresponding answers provide insights into the fascinating role of microbes in plastic biodegradation, a crucial field for addressing plastic pollution and promoting environmental sustainability.
