Cells: The Basic Unit of Life - Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which statement about the cell cycle is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Both internal and external factors regulate the cell cycle.

Answer

Interphase is the sole phase of the cell cycle.

Answer

Interphase is when cytokinesis occurs.

Answer

Mitosis encompasses the entirety of the cell cycle.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a function of the endoplasmic reticulum?

Accepted Answer

Carbohydrate synthesis

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Lipid synthesis

Answer

Calcium storage

Question 3

What is the main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, while prokaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells have a nucleus, while eukaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Eukaryotic cells have a cell wall, while prokaryotic cells do not.

Question 4

What is the main role of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell

Answer

Provides structural support

Answer

Stores the cell's genetic information

Answer

Generates energy for the cell

Question 5

Which of the following statements about cells is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

Individual cells do not function independently.

Answer

Cells possess genetic information (DNA).

Answer

Cells undergo cell division for growth and repair.

Answer

Cells contain specialized structures called organelles.

Question 6

Which organelle is primarily responsible for protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Nucleolus

Answer

Lysosomes

Question 7

Which type of cell is distinguished by the presence of a cell wall and a prominent central vacuole?

Accepted Answer

Plant cells

Answer

Animal cells

Answer

Bacterial cells

Answer

Fungal cells

Question 8

Which process enables cells to generate energy by breaking down glucose?

Accepted Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Fermentation

Answer

Glycolysis

Question 9

What property of the cell membrane allows it to control the passage of different substances?

Accepted Answer

Selectivity

Answer

Permeability

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Question 10

What is the name of the hereditary material found within cells?

Accepted Answer

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Answer

Protein

Answer

Carbohydrate

Question 11

Which organelle is commonly referred to as the 'powerhouse of the cell'?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 12

What is the primary function of the nucleus in a cell?

Accepted Answer

Storage of genetic material

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Answer

Regulation of cell division

Question 13

Which of the following is considered the fundamental building block of living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Tissue

Answer

Organ

Answer

Organelle

Question 14

What mechanism involves the movement of substances across a cell membrane against a concentration gradient, requiring energy?

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Endocytosis

Question 15

How does cell signaling help cells work together and keep the body in balance?

Accepted Answer

Cell signaling lets cells sense and react to changes around them, so they can work together to keep a steady internal environment.

Answer

Cell signaling mainly sends genetic information from one cell to another.

Answer

Cell signaling only happens between cells that are touching each other.

Answer

Cell signaling is not needed for living things with more than one cell to survive.

Question 16

Which organelle is responsible for generating most of the energy the cell needs?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 17

What is the name of the thin, flexible barrier that surrounds the cell and controls what enters and exits?

Accepted Answer

Cell membrane

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Nucleolus

Answer

Vacuole

Question 18

What is the main function of ribosomes in the cell?

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Answer

Waste removal

Answer

Cell division

Question 19

Which molecule stores the instructions for making proteins and other important molecules in the cell?

Accepted Answer

Nucleic acids

Answer

Proteins

Answer

Lipids

Answer

Carbohydrates

Question 20

Which of the following is a waste product of cellular respiration that is released from the cell?

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide

Answer

Oxygen

Answer

Water

Answer

Glucose

Question 21

What is the primary function of the Golgi apparatus in the cell?

Accepted Answer

Packaging and releasing proteins and other molecules

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Lipid synthesis

Answer

Carbohydrate synthesis

Question 22

Which of the following is **not** a characteristic of living cells?

Accepted Answer

They are composed solely of non-living matter.

Answer

They have a nucleus.

Answer

They carry out metabolism.

Answer

They reproduce.

Question 23

Which organelle is primarily responsible for protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Lysosome

Question 24

The cell membrane is selectively permeable. This means that it allows:

Accepted Answer

Only small molecules and ions to pass through.

Answer

Only water and oxygen to pass through.

Answer

Only large molecules to pass through.

Answer

All substances to pass through without restriction.

Question 25

Which of the following is the **primary** difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, while prokaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells have a nucleus, while eukaryotic cells do not.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells are larger than eukaryotic cells.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells are more complex than eukaryotic cells.

Question 26

Which of the following is the primary function of mitochondria?

Accepted Answer

Energy production

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Waste disposal

Answer

Cell division

Question 27

Which of the following is **not** a function of the Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizes lipids

Answer

Modifies proteins

Answer

Packages and secretes substances

Answer

Forms lysosomes

Question 28

The smallest unit of life that can exist independently is a:

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Atom

Answer

Molecule

Answer

Organ

Question 29

In animal cells, which organelle is the largest?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 30

What is the main function of the cell membrane in cells?

Accepted Answer

Nutrient exchange

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Answer

Waste removal

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a distinction between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of ribosomes

Answer

Presence of a nucleus

Answer

Size of the cell

Answer

Number of chromosomes

Question 32

In animal cells, what is the function of the Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Modification and packaging of proteins

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Lipid synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Question 33

Which organelle is responsible for cellular respiration in animal cells?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Chloroplast

Answer

Lysosome

Answer

Nucleolus

Question 34

What is the function of chromosomes in cells?

Accepted Answer

Genetic material storage

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Answer

Waste removal

Question 35

What is the process by which most cells divide?

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Replication

Answer

Translation

Question 36

Which of the following is considered the basic unit of life?

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Atom

Answer

Molecule

Answer

Tissue

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living cells?

Accepted Answer

Capable of movement

Answer

Contains genetic material (DNA or RNA)

Answer

Possesses a cell membrane

Answer

Able to maintain internal balance (homeostasis)

Question 38

The structure within the cell responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information is the:

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 39

Which of the following is the main function of ribosomes?

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Answer

Waste removal

Answer

Cell division

Question 40

The process by which cells divide to create genetically identical daughter cells is called:

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Karyokinesis

Question 41

Which type of cell is unique to plants and plays a role in providing structural support?

Accepted Answer

Cell with a cell wall

Answer

Red blood cell

Answer

Nerve cell

Answer

Muscle cell

Question 42

The movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration is known as:

Accepted Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Endocytosis

Answer

Exocytosis

Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT a function of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Storing genetic information

Answer

Protecting the cell

Answer

Regulating the movement of substances

Answer

Communicating with other cells

Question 44

The metabolic process by which cells generate energy from glucose is known as:

Accepted Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Fermentation

Question 45

According to the fundamental principle of biology, the smallest unit capable of carrying out all life functions is the:

Accepted Answer

Cell

Answer

Atom

Answer

Molecule

Answer

Tissue

Question 46

The theory that proposes that all living organisms are composed of cells and that new cells arise from existing cells is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Cell Theory

Answer

Evolutionary Theory

Answer

Germ Theory

Answer

Mendelian Theory

Question 47

In a eukaryotic cell, where does protein synthesis take place?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 48

Which type of cell lacks a true nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cell

Answer

Eukaryotic cell

Answer

Animal cell

Answer

Plant cell

Question 49

A key role of the cell membrane is to:

Accepted Answer

Regulate the passage of substances into and out of the cell

Answer

Synthesize proteins

Answer

Store genetic information

Question 50

Which process is responsible for cell division?

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Meiosis

Question 51

Which type of microscope utilizes light to generate an image?

Accepted Answer

Light microscope

Answer

Confocal microscope

Answer

Electron microscope

Answer

Scanning probe microscope

Question 52

Within the nucleus, what is the fluid-filled space called?

Accepted Answer

Nucleoplasm

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Question 53

The process by which plants utilize sunlight to produce energy is termed:

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Fermentation

Answer

Respiration