Final answer:
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a gram-negative diplococci (paired, spherical bacteria), which is correctly described in option a) Gram-negative cocci found in pairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked which statement is true about gonorrhea. The correct answer is a) Gram-negative cocci found in pairs. Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can be characterized as a gram-negative diplococci. This means the bacteria are gram-negative, which implies they have a thin peptidoglycan cell wall that does not retain the crystal violet stain during the Gram-staining process and appears pink or red. They are also cocci in shape, meaning they are spherical, and they are found in pairs (diplococci), often referred to as resembling coffee beans. The presence of these gram-negative diplococci to diagnose gonorrhea.