Introduction to Cells: The Foundation of Life

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT consistent with the cell theory?

Accepted Answer

Cells can spontaneously generate from non-living matter.

Answer

Cells are the fundamental unit of life.

Answer

Cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Answer

Cells contain genetic information.

Question 2

Which characteristic is exclusive to prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Absence of membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Presence of a nucleus

Answer

Larger size compared to eukaryotic cells

Answer

Linear DNA molecule

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a major macromolecule found in cells?

Accepted Answer

Silicon

Answer

Carbohydrates

Answer

Lipids

Answer

Proteins

Question 4

Which technique is commonly used to visualize cells under a microscope?

Accepted Answer

Staining

Answer

Ultracentrifugation

Answer

Polymerase chain reaction

Answer

Flow cytometry

Question 5

Which of the following is the smallest living entity?

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Atom

Answer

Organelle

Answer

Tissue

Question 6

Which of the following is responsible for protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 7

Which of the following structures selectively controls the movement of materials into and out of the cell?

Accepted Answer

Plasma membrane

Answer

Cell wall

Answer

Nuclear membrane

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Question 8

Which of the following processes involves the movement of particles across a selectively permeable membrane without the use of energy?

Accepted Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Active transport

Answer

Endocytosis

Question 9

Which of the following is a type of cell division that results in the formation of four genetically distinct daughter cells?

Accepted Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Budding

Question 10

Which of the following techniques uses a beam of electrons to create a highly magnified image of a specimen?

Accepted Answer

Electron microscopy

Answer

Phase-contrast microscopy

Answer

Fluorescence microscopy

Answer

Atomic force microscopy

Question 11

Which characteristic is NOT shared by all cells?

Accepted Answer

Has a nuclear membrane

Answer

Contains genetic material

Answer

Has a selectively permeable membrane

Answer

Contains ribosomes

Question 12

Which type of cell is characterized by a large nucleus, distinct membrane-bound organelles, and complex internal structures?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic cell

Answer

Prokaryotic cell

Answer

Plant cell

Answer

Bacterial cell

Question 13

Which organelle is primarily responsible for protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Nucleus

Question 14

What does it mean that the cell membrane is selectively permeable?

Accepted Answer

Only specific molecules can pass through the membrane

Answer

Only water can pass through the membrane

Answer

Only small molecules can pass through the membrane

Answer

Nothing can pass through the membrane

Question 15

Which of the following is a primary function of the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Storing and protecting genetic material

Answer

Synthesizing proteins

Answer

Packaging and secreting proteins

Answer

Producing energy

Question 16

Which structure is involved in organizing and separating chromosomes during cell division?

Accepted Answer

Centrosome

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer

Lysosome

Answer

Vacuole

Question 17

Which type of cell is unique to plants and contains chloroplasts?

Accepted Answer

Palissade mesophyll cell

Answer

Red blood cell

Answer

Muscle cell

Answer

Nerve cell

Question 18

Which type of transport process requires energy in the form of ATP?

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Answer

Passive transport

Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Question 19

What is the main function of lysosomes?

Accepted Answer

Storing and breaking down waste materials and cellular debris

Answer

Synthesizing proteins

Answer

Packaging and secreting proteins

Answer

Producing energy

Question 20

Which organelle is the control center of the cell, containing genetic information such as DNA?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Cell membrane

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 21

What is the primary function of ribosomes in a cell?

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Cell division

Answer

Waste removal

Answer

Energy production

Question 22

Which type of cell lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, characteristic of more primitive organisms?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cell

Answer

Eukaryotic cell

Answer

Plant cell

Answer

Animal cell

Question 23

Define the key distinction between diffusion and osmosis, two passive transport processes in cells:

Accepted Answer

Diffusion involves the movement of particles from areas of high concentration to low concentration, while osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration.

Answer

Diffusion is the movement of particles from a high concentration to a low concentration, while osmosis is the movement of particles from a low concentration to a high concentration.

Question 24

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Possession of a cell wall made of peptidoglycan for structural support

Answer

Presence of a true nucleus bound by a nuclear envelope

Answer

Abundance of membrane-bound organelles compartmentalizing cellular functions

Question 25

Describe the primary function of the cell membrane:

Accepted Answer

Regulate the passage of substances into and out of the cell, maintaining cellular integrity and selectivity.

Answer

Store and transmit genetic information necessary for cellular activities.

Answer

Convert light energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis.

Question 26

Classify diffusion as a type of cell transport:

Accepted Answer

Passive transport

Answer

Endocytosis

Answer

Exocytosis

Answer

Active transport

Question 27

Explain the role of the cytoplasm in cells:

Accepted Answer

Contains and supports organelles, facilitating cellular reactions and maintaining cellular organization.

Answer

Houses the cell's genetic material, including DNA and RNA.

Answer

Synthesizes proteins essential for cellular functions.

Question 28

Identify the primary function of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells:

Accepted Answer

Energy production through cellular respiration, generating ATP.

Answer

Facilitate cell division through the formation of spindle fibers.

Answer

Synthesize proteins essential for cellular processes.

Answer

Remove waste products and maintain cellular homeostasis.

Question 29

Describe the key difference between plant and animal cells:

Accepted Answer

Plant cells possess a rigid cell wall made of cellulose for structural support and protection, and contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis, while animal cells lack these features.

Answer

Plant cells have a nucleus, while animal cells do not.

Answer

Plant cells are generally larger than animal cells.