Colorado Cosmetology Written Practice Exam

When bacteria is NOT active, it can:

1. Become antibiotics

2. Form protective spores

3. Multiply rapidly

4. Turn into a virus

The correct answer is: Form protective spores

The correct choice is that bacteria can form protective spores when they are not active. This process allows bacteria to survive in harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures, drought, or harmful chemicals. By forming spores, the bacteria can endure these unfavorable situations and can reactivate when conditions become suitable again for growth and reproduction. In contrast, the other options represent processes or pathways that do not occur when bacteria are inactive. For example, antibiotics are substances that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, but bacteria do not turn into antibiotics themselves. Rapid multiplication is characteristic of active bacteria that are in a favorable environment, while transforming into a virus is not a process that bacteria undergo, as they are distinct entities with different life cycles and characteristics.