Mold Quiz

Take this quiz about mold to learn more about the dangers of mold and how you can prevent it.

Mold Busters Quiz

1 / 10

Evolutionary speaking, which group was the first to developed weapons against pathogenic molds?

a) Humans

b) Ants

c) Bees

b) Ants. For more than 50 million years, leaf-cutter ants have been cultivating certain fungi which form mushroom-like structures to feed their larvae. This food source is constantly being attacked by molds. In order to protect their crops, these ants have learned to additionally cultivate certain types of microorganisms, which have antibiotic properties against the pathogenic mold.

Atta columbica queen with workers on fungal substrate (Photo source: Christian R. Linder, Wikimedia)

b) Ants. For more than 50 million years, leaf-cutter ants have been cultivating certain fungi which form mushroom-like structures to feed their larvae. This food source is constantly being attacked by molds. In order to protect their crops, these ants have learned to additionally cultivate certain types of microorganisms, which have antibiotic properties against the pathogenic mold.

Atta columbica queen with workers on fungal substrate (Photo source: Christian R. Linder, Wikimedia)

2 / 10

Out of a hundred cases of chronic sinusitis (the most common chronic sinus infections), how many cases are mold-related?

a) 15

b) 56

c) 96

c) 96. A clinical survey discovered mold in mucus of 96% of patients suffering from chronic sinus infections, a disease which annually impacts more than 20 million adults U.S.

c) 96. A clinical survey discovered mold in mucus of 96% of patients suffering from chronic sinus infections, a disease which annually impacts more than 20 million adults U.S.

3 / 10

Why did the Italian botanist Pier Antonio Micheli give the genus Aspergillum its name?

a) Because fungi from the genus Aspergillum look like asparagus

b) Because fungi from the genus Aspergillum were discovered in the Asperg town, Germany

c) Because fungi from the genus Aspergillum look like the Christian Holy Water sprinkler device

a) they look like the Christian Holy Water sprinkler device, called aspergillum.

(up) Aspergillum (Photo Source: Pearson Scott Foresman, Wikipedia); (down) Aspergillus niger conidiophore (Photo source: Kathie Hodge, Flickr).

a) they look like the Christian Holy Water sprinkler device, called aspergillum.

(up) Aspergillum (Photo Source: Pearson Scott Foresman, Wikipedia); (down) Aspergillus niger conidiophore (Photo source: Kathie Hodge, Flickr).

4 / 10

What causes green mouldy bread?

a) Aspergillus fungi

b) Algae

c) Penicillium fungi

c). Penicillium fungi are the most frequent cause of the green mold spots on old bread. Mouldy bread is not safe to eat as some green mould species can produce mycotoxins.

(Photo source: Henry Mühlpfordt, Wikimedia)

c). Penicillium fungi are the most frequent cause of the green mold spots on old bread. Mouldy bread is not safe to eat as some green mould species can produce mycotoxins.

(Photo source: Henry Mühlpfordt, Wikimedia)

5 / 10

According to some statistical overviews, what percentage Canadian homes have mold-free bathrooms?

a) 13%

b) 26%

c) 54%

a) 13%, and the most common types (in more than half cases) are from the Penicillium/Aspergillus group.

a) 13%, and the most common types (in more than half cases) are from the Penicillium/Aspergillus group.

6 / 10

What are the chances of developing respiratory or asthma-related health problems due to the building dampness and mold exposure?

a) 30-50%

b) 1-5%

c) 100%

a) 30-50%. Studies show that consistent associations of dampness with adverse health effects, strongly suggesting a causation by dampness-related exposures.

a) 30-50%. Studies show that consistent associations of dampness with adverse health effects, strongly suggesting a causation by dampness-related exposures.

7 / 10

What is the difference between molds and slime molds?

a) Slime molds are aquatic molds

b) Molds are fungi, while slime molds are not

c) There is no difference

b). Molds are multicellular, filamentous fungi, while slime molds belong to a more primitive group of organisms called the Protista, which form unicellular or colonial forms such as amoebas and primitive algae.

(left) slime mold (right) mold (Photo source: D. Sadikovic, Mold Busters)

b). Molds are multicellular, filamentous fungi, while slime molds belong to a more primitive group of organisms called the Protista, which form unicellular or colonial forms such as amoebas and primitive algae.

(left) slime mold (right) mold (Photo source: D. Sadikovic, Mold Busters)

8 / 10

What is the molds function in an ecosystem?

a) To infect weaker organisms, thus strengthening a population

b) To recycle organic matter

c) To make symbiosis with plants and help them grow

b) To recycle organic matter through decomposition and mineralization. In fact, everything lignin-containing can only be dissolved by saprophytic fungi, without which life on this planet wouldn’t be possible due to sheer amounts of debris formed by undecomposed plant material.

Nutrient cycle (Photo source: Jakob Assmann)

b) To recycle organic matter through decomposition and mineralization. In fact, everything lignin-containing can only be dissolved by saprophytic fungi, without which life on this planet wouldn’t be possible due to sheer amounts of debris formed by undecomposed plant material.

Nutrient cycle (Photo source: Jakob Assmann)

9 / 10

What causes black mouldy bread?

a) Rhizopus fungi

b) Ants

c) Penicillium fungi

a). Rhizopus fungi create black mold spots on old bread. It is never safe to eat mouldy bread as ingesting black mold can cause nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions.

a). Rhizopus fungi create black mold spots on old bread. It is never safe to eat mouldy bread as ingesting black mold can cause nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions.

10 / 10

Molds are genetically closest to:

a) Plants

b) Humans

c) Bacteria

b). Humans because the latest molecular studies have placed the kingdom of Fungi (where molds belong) and the kingdom of Animalia (where humans belong) into a superkingdom named Opisthokonta

The Tree of Life of the planet's organisms. (Photo source: Micallen0713, Wikimedia).

b). Humans because the latest molecular studies have placed the kingdom of Fungi (where molds belong) and the kingdom of Animalia (where humans belong) into a superkingdom named Opisthokonta

The Tree of Life of the planet's organisms. (Photo source: Micallen0713, Wikimedia).

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