Spherical bacteria that grow in pairs and can cause pneumonia are called what?

• A. Diplococci
• B. Streptococci
• C. Staphylococci
• D. Spirochetes

Answer: (A)

Think about how bacteria are described by shape and how they group after division. Spherical bacteria are cocci, and when they pair up, they form diplococci. This arrangement is classic for the pneumonia-causing Streptococcus pneumoniae, which appears as paired cocci under the microscope. Other terms describe different groupings or shapes: streptococci are cocci in chains, staphylococci form grape-like clusters, and spirochetes are spiral-shaped, not spherical.