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

Certain molds can use one of the following to stimulate their growth:

a) Certain sound frequencies

b) Radiation

c) Fear hormones

b). Radiation. Some melanin-producing molds, such as Cladosporium sphaerospermum, can use radiation to increase the rate of their metabolism, eat more and grow several times faster. Interestingly, experiments conducted on the International Space Station showed the potential of these molds to be used for radiation shielding during long space flights.

Melanin-producing Cladosporium sphaerospermum colony (Photo source: Medmyco, Wikimedia)

b). Radiation. Some melanin-producing molds, such as Cladosporium sphaerospermum, can use radiation to increase the rate of their metabolism, eat more and grow several times faster. Interestingly, experiments conducted on the International Space Station showed the potential of these molds to be used for radiation shielding during long space flights.

Melanin-producing Cladosporium sphaerospermum colony (Photo source: Medmyco, Wikimedia)

2 / 10

The first antibiotic was extracted from:

a) A mushroom

b) A mold

c) A rare plant

b). Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was isolated and discovered in 1928 by Dr. Alexander Fleming from Penicillium mold.

b). Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was isolated and discovered in 1928 by Dr. Alexander Fleming from Penicillium mold.

3 / 10

Treating mold on walls using bleach will:

a) Kill the mold

b) Stop the mold from spreading

c) Contaminate the space with dangerous evaporations

c). Applying bleach to a mouldy wall will only contaminate the space with dangerous evaporations. Bleach only destroys the superficial part of the organism, while the rest of the mold and its spores can survive and continue to spread.

c). Applying bleach to a mouldy wall will only contaminate the space with dangerous evaporations. Bleach only destroys the superficial part of the organism, while the rest of the mold and its spores can survive and continue to spread.

4 / 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)

5 / 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.

6 / 10

Chemical structure of cellular walls of mold fungi is similar to:

a) Plants

b) Lobsters

c) Armadillos

b) Lobsters, because the shell of arthropods (crustations, insects, spiders, and such animals) and the cell walls of fungi (molds) are made of chitin, a structural polysaccharide (sugar) molecule.

The cell wall structure of Fungi (Photo source: Maya and Rike, Wikimedia)

b) Lobsters, because the shell of arthropods (crustations, insects, spiders, and such animals) and the cell walls of fungi (molds) are made of chitin, a structural polysaccharide (sugar) molecule.

The cell wall structure of Fungi (Photo source: Maya and Rike, Wikimedia)

7 / 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)

8 / 10

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

a) 8%

b) 50%

c) 60%

The correct answer is 8%, and the most common types (in two-thirds of cases) belong to the Penicillium/Aspergillus group.

The correct answer is 8%, and the most common types (in two-thirds of cases) belong to the Penicillium/Aspergillus group.

9 / 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)

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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