The Mold Quiz

A moldy roof could affect air quality inside a home. When installing a new roof, we pay special attention to any signs that may reveal mold underneath the decking. Here is a short quiz to see how much you know about mold.

1. Which of the following is a characteristic of mold?
A. Mold uses chlorophyll to perform photosynthesis.
B. Mold’s main purpose is to break down organic material.
C. Mold can grow only in a few places on earth.
D. Mold is a part of the same biological kingdom as bacteria.

2. Mold spores die quickly when they land on a surface that does not satisfy all their requirements for growth.
A. True
B. False

3. Mold has a simple set of nutritional requirements, and most molds can grow easily if the following is present:
A. Chlorophyll and protein on a flowerpot at 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
B. Drywall and wallpaper in a dark room at 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
C. A dry, dusty windowpane in a warehouse at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
D. Damp carpet in a closet at room temperature.

4. Mold can grow almost anywhere, but we would not expect to find the same mold that typically occurs outdoors on wet grass to appear indoors on bread.
A. True
B. False

5. During the last 30 years, the trend toward energy efficiency and "tighter" building construction has helped the number of indoor mold spores.
A. True
B. False

6. The most practical way to inhibit mold growth is to:
A. Control moisture and air circulation.
B. Control temperature and food sources.
C. Design more loosely constructed buildings.
D. Control the outside airflow into HVAC systems.

7. Indoor air quality has been the number-one environmental health concern for more than a decade because:
A. People in industrialized nations are indoors a lot.
B. There are no USEPA regulations for mold.
C. Tight buildings can trap air pollutants indoors.
D. All of the above.

Answers

Answers
1. B
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. B
6. A
7. D