Cell Biology Quizzes: Test Your Understanding of Cells

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a component of the plasma membrane?

Accepted Answer

Cellulose

Answer

Phospholipid bilayer

Answer

Cholesterol

Answer

Glycoproteins

Question 2

What is a distinguishing characteristic of eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Lack of a nucleus

Answer

Smaller size than prokaryotic cells

Answer

Absence of ribosomes

Question 3

Which of the following accurately describes the size difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cells are smaller than eukaryotic cells.

Answer

Prokaryotic cells are larger than eukaryotic cells.

Answer

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are about the same size.

Answer

The size difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is negligible.

Question 4

What feature distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

A nucleus

Answer

A cell membrane

Answer

Ribosomes

Question 5

What feature distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Membrane-bound nucleus

Answer

No membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Lack of ribosomes

Question 6

What feature distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Membrane-bound nucleus

Answer

Circular DNA

Answer

Absence of membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Cell wall

Question 7

Which of the following is the membrane-bound structure that houses the cell's DNA?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Vacuole

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Lysosome

Question 8

What is the primary function of ribosomes within cells?

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Lipid synthesis

Answer

ATP production

Answer

DNA replication

Question 9

Which type of cell lacks a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cell

Answer

Fungal cell

Answer

Plant cell

Answer

Animal cell

Question 10

During which phase of mitosis do the chromosomes align at the cell's equator?

Accepted Answer

Metaphase

Answer

Telophase

Answer

Anaphase

Answer

Prophase

Question 11

What is the process by which a cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells called?

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Binary fission

Question 12

Which characteristic describes the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Selectively permeable

Answer

Only allows large molecules to pass

Answer

Completely impermeable

Answer

Does not participate in cell signaling

Question 13

What is the name of the gel-like substance that fills the cell, excluding the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Etoplasm

Answer

Nucleoplasm

Answer

Protoplasm

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a type of passive transport?

Accepted Answer

Endocytosis

Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Question 15

What is the primary function of the Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Processing and packaging of proteins

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Cell division

Answer

ATP production

Question 16

Which organelle is responsible for cellular respiration?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Chloroplasts

Question 17

The primary component of the cell membrane is:

Accepted Answer

Phospholipids

Answer

Cellulose

Answer

Chitin

Answer

Protein

Question 18

The collective processes by which cells obtain, transform, and utilize energy are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Metabolism

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Respiration

Question 19

Which organelle is responsible for the synthesis of proteins?

Accepted Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Question 20

A defining characteristic of eukaryotic cells is the presence of a:

Accepted Answer

Membrane-bound nucleus

Answer

Circular DNA

Answer

Absence of ribosomes

Answer

Binary fission as the primary mode of cell division

Question 21

The primary molecule that serves as the energy source for cellular processes is:

Accepted Answer

ATP

Answer

ADP

Answer

NADH

Question 22

A major function of the Golgi apparatus is:

Accepted Answer

Protein modification and trafficking

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

DNA replication

Answer

Cellular respiration

Question 23

The process of cell division that results in the production of genetically identical daughter cells is termed:

Accepted Answer

Cell division

Answer

Cell migration

Answer

Cell differentiation

Answer

Cell growth

Question 24

Which of the following is the primary function of the cell membrane?

A. Regulates the passage of materials into and out of the cell
B. Produces ribosomes
C. Stores genetic information
D. Synthesizes proteins

Accepted Answer

A. Regulates the passage of materials into and out of the cell

Answer

B. Produces ribosomes

Answer

D. Synthesizes proteins

Answer

C. Stores genetic information

Question 25

Which organelle is primarily responsible for protein synthesis?

A. Ribosome
B. Mitochondria
C. Endoplasmic reticulum
D. Golgi apparatus

Accepted Answer

A. Ribosome

Answer

B. Mitochondria

Answer

C. Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer

D. Golgi apparatus

Question 26

Which of the following is a key difference between plant and animal cells?

A. Plant cells have a cell wall
B. Plant cells have a larger nucleus
C. Animal cells have a vacuole
D. Animal cells have chloroplasts

Accepted Answer

A. Plant cells have a cell wall

Answer

C. Animal cells have a vacuole

Answer

D. Animal cells have chloroplasts

Answer

B. Plant cells have a larger nucleus

Question 27

Which of the following is a function of the Golgi apparatus?

A. Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins
B. Produces ribosomes
C. Stores DNA
D. Synthesizes proteins

Accepted Answer

A. Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins

Answer

D. Synthesizes proteins

Answer

C. Stores DNA

Answer

B. Produces ribosomes

Question 28

Which cellular component is the primary repository of genetic information?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Chloroplast

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 29

Which cellular structure is responsible for synthesizing proteins?

Accepted Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Nucleolus

Answer

Lysosome

Question 30

Plant cells are distinguished by the presence of which semipermeable barrier?

Accepted Answer

Cell wall

Answer

Plasma membrane

Answer

Nuclear envelope

Answer

Vacuole

Question 31

Which of the following aptly describes a key characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Absence of a nucleus

Answer

Contains mitochondria

Answer

Possession of ribosomes

Answer

Presence of a cytoskeleton

Question 32

Cellular respiration is the process through which cells harness energy from:

Accepted Answer

Glucose

Answer

Proteins

Answer

Lipids

Answer

Nucleic acids

Question 33

Which function is primarily carried out by the plasma membrane?

Accepted Answer

Regulates movement of substances across the cell boundary

Answer

Synthesizes proteins

Answer

Contains genetic material

Answer

Packages and releases cellular products

Question 34

Microtubules play a significant role in:

Accepted Answer

Cell division and maintaining cell shape

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Answer

Lipid metabolism

Question 35

Which choice does not represent a stage in the cell cycle?

Accepted Answer

Dormancy

Answer

Interphase

Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Mitosis

Question 36

Which type of cell is characterized by a large nucleus, abundant ribosomes, and a prominent Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Protein-secreting cell

Answer

Nerve cell

Answer

Muscle cell

Answer

Adipocyte

Question 37

Which of the following structures is exclusively found in eukaryotic cells but not in prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Membrane-bound nucleus

Answer

Cell membrane

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Ribosomes

Question 38

The process by which a cell divides into two identical daughter cells is known as:

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Meiosis

Question 39

Which organelle is responsible for synthesizing proteins and is found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 40

The primary site of photosynthesis in plant cells is the:

Accepted Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Vacuole

Question 41

Which type of cell division produces four haploid cells from a single diploid cell?

Accepted Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Mitosis

Question 42

The main function of the cell membrane is to:

Accepted Answer

Regulate the movement of substances into and out of the cell

Answer

Produce proteins

Answer

Generate energy

Answer

Store genetic material

Question 43

Which of the following is a characteristic unique to eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Membrane-bound nucleus containing genetic material

Answer

Presence of a cell wall

Answer

Small size

Answer

Lack of organelles

Question 44

The process by which cells engulf nutrients from their surroundings is called:

Accepted Answer

Endocytosis

Answer

Exocytosis

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Diffusion

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a type of passive transport?

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Question 46

Which of the following characteristics is NOT associated with prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of a nucleus enclosed by a nuclear envelope

Answer

Lack of membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Presence of ribosomes

Answer

Smaller size compared to eukaryotic cells

Question 47

The process of converting light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose is known as:

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Chemiosmosis

Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Glycolysis

Question 48

Which organelle is solely responsible for protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Question 49

When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, it will:

Accepted Answer

Gain water and swell due to the influx of water

Answer

Lose water and shrink due to the outflow of water

Answer

Remain unchanged as the water potential is balanced

Answer

Explode due to excessive water intake

Question 50

The process by which cells break down glucose to produce ATP is called:

Accepted Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Fermentation

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Glycolysis

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a distinct stage of mitosis?

Accepted Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Metaphase

Answer

Prophase

Answer

Anaphase

Question 52

The vast majority of a cell's genetic material is primarily contained within the:

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Ribosomes

Question 53

During which phase of the cell cycle does DNA replication occur?

Accepted Answer

S phase

Answer

G2 phase

Answer

G1 phase

Answer

M phase

Question 54

Which of the following accurately describes a key difference between plant and animal cells?

Accepted Answer

Plant cells have a rigid cell wall, while animal cells do not.

Answer

Animal cells have chloroplasts, while plant cells do not.

Answer

Plant cells are consistently larger than animal cells.