Cordyceps Fungus: Reality vs Fiction

What popular media brought the cordyceps fungus into the public eye?

• A documentary series

• A video game and TV adaptation

• A news report

• A scientific journal

Where are most cordyceps fungi found in the wild?

• Plains of North America

• Deserts of Africa

• Tropical jungles of Asia

• Mountains of Europe

How does the cordyceps fungus affect its insect hosts?

• It provides them with nutrients

• It controls their behavior

• It helps them reproduce

• It makes them immune to diseases

Why is it unlikely for cordyceps to infect humans as it does insects?

• Humans live in colder climates

• Humans have a different diet

• Humans are immune to all fungi

• Humans have a more complex brain

What is one reason cordyceps cannot survive in the human body?

• Human body temperature is too high

• Humans lack necessary nutrients

• Humans are too cold-blooded

• Humans are too small

What potential health benefit is associated with cordyceps?

• Increasing height

• Enhancing memory

• Reducing cholesterol

• Improving vision

How might ophiocordyceps be beneficial to humans?

• By producing antibacterial agents

• By enhancing athletic performance

• By improving digestion

• By increasing energy levels

Which fungus is known to cause ergotism in humans?

• Penicillium

• Ophiocordyceps

• Cordyceps

• Ergot

What historical event is possibly linked to ergot poisoning?

• The French Revolution

• The Salem Witch Trials

• The Black Death

• The Great Fire of London

What is the main reason cordyceps is not considered a threat to humans?

• It only affects plants

• It cannot survive in human hosts

• It is too rare

• It is easily destroyed by sunlight