Final answer:
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus, forming grapelike clusters, and grows into opaque white to cream-colored colonies on blood agar.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus. In a Gram stain test, Staphylococcus aureus appears as spherical cells that form grapelike clusters. When cultured on blood agar, it typically results in opaque white to cream-colored colonies.
Also, Staphylococcus aureus is catalase-positive, differentiating it from Streptococcus species, which are also Gram-positive cocci but are catalase-negative. Based on this information, the correct answer to the student's question is 'a) Gram-positive coccus.'