Illinois Nail Technician Practice Exam

What is another term for fungus?

1. Spores

2. Yeast

3. Mold, mildew, and parasites

4. Algae

The correct answer is: Mold, mildew, and parasites

Fungus encompasses a wide range of organisms, and mold, mildew, and parasites are all types of fungi. In the context of fungi, mold refers to multicellular fungal organisms that grow in multicellular structures called hyphae and can often be seen on food or organic material. Mildew is a term that typically describes certain kinds of mold, particularly flat and often white or gray in appearance, that grows on surfaces. Parasites, while not all fungi are parasitic, some fungi derive their nutrients by feeding on other living organisms. This connection to mold, mildew, and parasites makes the term comprehensive, as it captures several different forms of fungi. Other answer choices lead to misunderstandings about the classification of fungi. Spores are the reproductive units of fungi but do not encapsulate the entire group. Yeast is indeed a type of fungus, but it only represents one aspect of the larger fungal kingdom. Algae, while related to aquatic organisms, are not classified as fungi; they are distinct groups of organisms, primarily photosynthetic and not directly pertaining to fungi.