Consider the table.

Types of Bacteria
\begin{tabular}{|l|c|c|}
\hline Form & Shape & Associated disease \\
\hline Coccus & [tex]$X$[/tex] & Strep throat \\
\hline Bacillus & Rod shaped & [tex]$Y$[/tex] \\
\hline Spirillum & Spiral & Cholera \\
\hline \hline
\end{tabular}

Which best describes [tex]$X$[/tex] and [tex]$Y$[/tex]?

A. [tex]$X=$[/tex] Spherical; [tex]$Y=$[/tex] E. coli

B. [tex]$X=$[/tex] Comma shaped; [tex]$Y=$[/tex] Whooping cough

C. [tex]$X=$[/tex] Oval shaped; [tex]$Y=$[/tex] S. aureus

D. [tex]$X=$[/tex] Rod shaped; [tex]$Y=$[/tex] Pneumonia



Answer :

Let's go through each of the provided options carefully to determine the best descriptions for [tex]\( X \)[/tex] and [tex]\( Y \)[/tex].

1. Option 1: [tex]\( X = \)[/tex] Spherical; [tex]\( Y = \)[/tex] E. coli
- We need to identify what "Coccus" and "Bacillus" mean based on their shapes and associations.
- "Coccus" is known to refer to spherical or round-shaped bacteria.
- "Bacillus" refers to rod-shaped bacteria, and E. coli is indeed a rod-shaped bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals.

2. Option 2: [tex]\( X = \)[/tex] Comma shaped; [tex]\( Y = \)[/tex] Whooping cough
- "Coccus" does not refer to a comma shape; it refers to spherical or round shapes.
- "Bacillus" refers to rod-shaped bacteria, and though Bordetella pertussis (the agent causing whooping cough) is a coccobacillus (short rod-shaped form), this doesn't fit the typical description.

3. Option 3: [tex]\( X = \)[/tex] Oval shaped; [tex]\( Y = \)[/tex] S. aureus
- "Coccus" does not refer specifically to oval shapes but to spherical shapes.
- S. aureus is a coccus type of bacteria, not a bacillus, so this association is incorrect.

4. Option 4: [tex]\( X = \)[/tex] Rod shaped; [tex]\( Y = \)[/tex] Pneumonia
- As mentioned, "Coccus" refers to spherical shapes and not rod shaped.
- Pneumonia can be caused by various bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is coccus-shaped.

Thus, the best descriptions from the options would be:

- [tex]\( X = \)[/tex] Spherical (as "Coccus" refers to spherical)
- [tex]\( Y = \)[/tex] E. coli (as "Bacillus" refers to rod-shaped bacteria and E. coli fits this description)

Therefore, the correct option is:

[tex]\[ X = \text{Spherical}; Y = \text{E. coli} \][/tex]