Cell Structure and Functions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q.1. Which instrument was essential for the study of cells?

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Answer: Microscope was essential for the study of cells.
Q.2. What is the basic similarity among all the living organism (plants and
animals)?

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Answer: The basic similarity among all the living organisms is that they all are made up
of cells.
Q.3. Name the scientist who observed a thin slice of cork through a microscope
and coined the team ‘cell’.

coined the term ‘cell’

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Answer: Robert Hooke in 1665 observed a thin slice of cork through a microscope and

Q.4. Name the outermost layer of an animal cell.

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Answer: Plasma membrane is the outermost layer of an animal cell.
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Q.5. Which part of the cell contains organelles?

Answer: Cell organelles are present in the cytoplasm.
Q.6. Name any two organelles present in a cell.
Answer: Mitochondria and Endoplasmic reticulum.
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Q.7. Which part of a cell carries out respiration?

Answer: Mitochondria is the site of respiration.
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Q.8. What are the units of inheritance in living organisms?

Answer: Gene is a unit of inheritance in living organisms.
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Q.9. Which is the largest floating body generally in the center of a cell?
Answer: Nucleus is the largest floating body generally in the center of a cell.
Q.10. What is the function of nucleus in a cell?
Answer: Nucleus controls all activities of the cell; hence it is also called Master or
Director of the cell.
Q.11. What do the chloroplasts contain?
Answer: They possess photosynthetic pigment called chlorophyll.
Q.12. What kind of cells are surrounded by a cell wall?
Answer: Plant cells are surrounded by a cell wall.
Q.13. What sort of cells do not have a cell wall around them?
Answer: Animal cells do not have a cell wall around them.

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Q.14. Name the layer which is outside the cell membrance of a plant cell.
Answer: Cell wall
Q.15. How is the outside of a plant cell different from that of an animal cell?

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Answer: Plant cells differ from animal cells in having an additional layer around the cell
membrane termed cell wall.
Q.16. Name the organelle of a plant cell where photosynthesis takes place.

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Answer: Chloroplast is the organelle of a plant cell where photosynthesis takes place.
Q.17. Which part of a plant cell protects outside of the cell?
Answer: Cell wall protects outside to the plant cell.
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Q.18. Which part of plant cell releases energy from food?
Answer: Mitochondria releases energy from food in the plant cell.
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Q.19. What causes the red colour in tomatoes?

Answer: Coloured plastid (Chromoplasts) gives the red colour in tomatoes.
Q.20. Which part of the two has a large vacuole: a plant cell or an animal cell?
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Answer: A plant cell has a large vacuole.

Q.21. Name any two parts which are present in a plant cell but not in an animal
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cell.
Answer: Cell wall and plastids are present only in a plant cell.
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Q.22. Which cells transmit message between the brain and other parts of the
body?
Answer: Nerve cell transmit message between the brain and other parts of the body.
Q.23. Which cells in the human body can contract (and relax)?
Answer: Muscle cells in the human body can contract and relax.
Q.24. Name the spindle-shaped cells present in the human body.
Answer: The spindle-shaped cells present in the human body are muscle cells.
Q.25. State an important characteristic of muscles cells.
Answer: A muscle cell is pointed at both ends and has a spindle shape.
Q.26. Name a single cell (other than Ameoba cell) which can change its shape.

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Answer: White blood cells present in human blood is a single cell (other than Ameoba
cell) which can change its shape.
Q.27. Name one ‘single cell’ which behaves like a complete organism.

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Answer: Amoeba is a single cell which behaves like a complete organism.
Q.28. Name one cell which can be seen easily with naked eye and one cell which
can be seen only through a microscape.
Answer: The bird’s egg are very large cell which can be seen easily with naked eye

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while bacterial cells are extremely small which can be seen only through a microscope.
Q.29. State whether the following statements are true or false:
(a) Unicellular organism have one- celled body.
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(b) Muscle cells are branched.
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(c) Amoeba has irregular shape.

(d) All the cells in our body are alike.
(e) A hen’s egg is a group of cells.
(f) The basic living unit of an organism is organ.
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Answer: (a) True, unicellular organisms (single celled organisms) are made up of only
one cell.
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(b) False, muscle cell are not branched.

(c) True, Amoeba have changing shape.
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(d) False, All the cells in our body exhibit variety of shapes and sizes so that they can
perform different functions.
(e) False, A hen’s egg is not a group of cells. It is a single cell.
(f) False, the basic living unit of an organism is cell.

Q.30. Name the smallest unit of life.

Answer: Cell is the smallest unit of life.
Q.31. What is a ‘cell’ in biology?
Answer: Cell is structural and functional unit of all living beings.
Q.32 A. What are the basic parts of all the cells?
Answer: The basic parts of all the cells are- cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus.

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Q.32 B. What parts are present only in plant cells?
Answer: The parts which are present only in plant cells are- Cell wall, chloroplasts and
large vacuole.

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Q.33. What controls the flow of substance in and out of a cell?
Answer: Plasma membrane controls the flow of substance in and out of a cell.
Q.34. Which part of a cell controls all the activities of the cell?

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Answer: Nucleus controls all the activities of the cell.
Q.35. Name the animal cell which is long and has thread-like branches.
Answer: Nerve cell is a long and has thread like branches.
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Q.36. What is the function of chloroplasts in a plant cell?
Answer: Chloroplasts help in the synthesis of food by the process of photosynthesis.
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Q.37. Name an organism which has no definite shape, and it keeps on changing
its shape.
Answer: Amoeba has no definite shape, and it keeps on changing its shape.
Q.38. Name one cell in human body which is spherical in shape.
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Answer: Red blood cell is spherical in shape.

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Q.39. Which organism has the smallest cell?

Answer: Bacteria mycoplasma is the smallest cell measuring 0.1 micrometer.
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Q.40. Name the biggest cell?

Answer: The largest cell measuring 170 mm ×130 mm, is the egg of an ostrich.

Q.41. Name two animal organs and two plant organs.

Answer: There are different animal organs. Some of the names are Heart, Stomach,
brain and lungs. Stem, Leaf, Roots etc. are plant organs.
Q.42. Name two plant organ which is responsible for:
(a) making of food.
(b) absorption if water and minerals.
Answer: (a) Leaves are responsible for synthesis of food.

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(b) Plant roots help in the absorption water and minerals.
Q.43. Which of the two does not have a true nucleus: prokaryotic cell or
eukaryotic cell?

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Answer: Prokaryotic cell does not have a true nucleus.
Q.44. Name one prokaryotic cell and one eukaryotic cell.
Answer: Prokaryotic cell – Blue green algae
Eukaryotic cell – Onion peel cell

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Q.45. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
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(a) Cells were first observed in cork by ………………… in 1665.
(b) What is brick to a house is …………. To an organism.
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(c) The cytoplasm and nucleus make up the ……………………………….

(d) The shape and size of a cell is related to its ………………………….
(e) The bacteria cells are ………... to ………………micrometer in length.
(f) The smallest unit of life is a ………
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(g) Tissues make up ………………...

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(h) Organ systems make up an …………

(i) Cells make up …………………………………
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(j) Organs make up …………………………...

Answer:
(a) Robert Hooke (b) Cell (c) protoplasm (d) function (e) 0.1; 0.5
(f) cell (g) organs (h) organism (i) tissue (j) organ system

Short Answer Type Questions

Q.46. Why are plant and animal specimens usually stained with dyes before
observing them through a microscope? Name one stain (or dye) used for this
purpose.
Answer: The various parts of the cell are colorless and hence, difficult to distinguish.
So, various stains are used to colour the parts of the cell to study the detailed structure
through a microscope.
The dyes (stains) which are used in the study of cell structure are methylene blue, dilute

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iodine solution, etc.
Q.47. What is a tissue? Give two examples of tissues.
Answer: A tissue is a group of similar cells performing a specific function.

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Examples – Epithelial tissue, muscle tissue.
Q.48. What is an organ? Give two examples of organs.
Answer: A organ is a group of different tissues which work together to perform a

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specific function in the body of an organism.
Examples – Organs in the animal body - Brain and kidney
Organs in the plant body - Root and leaves.
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Q.49. What is an organ system?
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(a) Give two examples of organ systems in animals.

(b) Name the two main organ systems in plants.
Answer: Organ system – A group of closely related organs that work together to
perform a specific function for the organism is called organ system.
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(a) Muscular system and digestive system are examples of organ systems in animals.
(b) Root system and shoot system are main organ systems in plants.
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Q.50. Which of the following are plant organs and which are animal organs?
Brain, Leaf, Lungs, Roots, Stem, Kidneys, Flower, Heart
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Answer:

Plant organs Animal organs

Leaf Brain
Roots Lungs
Stem Kidneys
Flower Heart
Q.51. What are the functions of the following organs?
(a) Heart (b) Brain
(c) Roots (d) Leaves
Answer: (a) Heart – It pumps blood throughout the body.

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(b) Brain – It controls the activities of other parts of the body.
(c) Roots – These help in absorption of water and minerals.
(d) Leaves – These are responsible for synthesis of food.

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Q.52. What is the shape of red blood cells in human blood? What function do red
blood cells perform?
Answer: Red blood cells (RBCs) are usually spherical in shape. The main function of
red blood cells is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues around the body.

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Q.53 A. State the difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Answer: Prokaryotes have nuclear material without nuclear membrane whereas
eukaryotes have well organized nucleus with a nuclear membrane.
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Q.53 B. Name two prokaryotes and two eukaryotes.
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Answer: Prokaryotes – Blue green algae and bacteria

Eukaryotes - Onion cells and cheek cells
Q.54 A. Why are nerve cells long and have branches?
Answer: Nerve cells (neurons) are long, branched and have thread-like projections so
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that they can connect other nerves cells and transmit messages over long distance
Q.54 B. What is the other name of a nerve cell?
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Answer: The other name of a nerve cell is neuron.

Q.55 A. Why could cells not be observed and studied for thousands of years?
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Answer: Most of cells are extremely small and cannot seen with naked eye, hence cells
could not be observed and studied for thousands of years.
Q.55 B. State the cell theory of organisms.
Answer: Two biologists, Schleiden (1839) and Schwann (1839) presented the cell
theory. This stated that all the plants and animals are composed of cells and the cell is
the basic unit of life.
Q.56. Explain the function of mitochondria in a cell.
Answer: Mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration or oxidation of food in a cell. It
uses glucose and oxygen to produce energy. Hence, it is knowns as “Powerhouse of
the cell”.
Q.57. Make a sketch of human nerve cell. What function do nerve cells perform?
Answer:

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The function of nerve cell: The nerve cell receives and transfers messages, thereby
helping to control and coordinate the working of different parts of the body.
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Q. 58. Make a sketch of the human muscle cell. What are the functions do
muscles cell perform?
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Answer:
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The muscle cells are responsible for movement in our body by contracting and relaxing.
Q.59. What are pseudopodia in Ameoba? What are the functions of pseudopodia?
Answer: The finger-like projection of varying lengths protruding out of the body of
Amoeba, is called pseudopodia. These projections appear and disappear as Amoeba
moves or feeds.
Thus, the function of pseudopodia is to facilitates movement and help in capturing food.
Q.60. Where are chromosomes found in a cell? State their function.
Answer: Chromosomes are thread-like structures usually present in the nucleus that
become visible only during cell divisions.
The function of chromosomes is to transfer the characters from parents to the off
springs through the genes located on them.
Q.61. What are genes? Where are genes located?

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Answer: Gene is a unit of inheritance in living organisms. It controls the transfer of a
hereditary characteristic from parents to offspring. Genes are located on chromosomes.
Q.62. What is a plastid? What is the name of green plastids present in plant cells?

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Answer: Plastids are major organelles found only in plant cells. The green coloured
plastids present in plant cells, are called chloroplast. It contains photosynthetic pigment
called chlorophyll which helps in the synthesis of food.

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Q.63. What is the size of an ostrich egg? Is it a single cell or a group of cells?
Answer: The size of an ostrich egg is 170mm x 130 mm. It is the largest cell. It is a
single cell called “fertilized egg cell” or “zygote”.
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Q.64. What is the function of cell wall in a plant cell?
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Answer: Cell wall provides shape and rigidity to the plant cell. It also provides
protection the cell.
Q.65. Name two cells which are found in animals and two which are found in
plants.
Answer: The cells which are found in animals are – Red blood cells (RBCs) and Muscle
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cells The cells which are found in plants are – Xylem cells and phloem cells
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Long Answer Type Questions

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Q.66 A. What is cytoplasm? What is its function?

Answer: Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance present between the cell membrane and
the nucleus. Cytoplasm contains many specialised cell organelles. Each of these
organelles performs a specific function for the cell. Cytoplasm contains a number of
minute living structure known as cell organelles. Each of these organelles performs a
specific function for the cell.
Most of the chemical reactions which are necessary to keep cell alive take place in the
cytoplasm.
Q.66 B. What is protoplasm? Name the elements which make up major part of
protoplasm.
Answer: Cell without its cell membrane is called Protoplasm. The Cytoplasm and
Nucleus taken together make up the protoplasm.
Q.67 A. What are unicellular organisms? Name two unicellular organisms.
Answer: The organisms made up of single cell are called unicellular organisms.

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Examples- Amoeba, Paramecium.
Q.67 B. What are multicellular organisms? Name two multicellular organisms.
Answer: The organisms made up of many cells are called multicellular organisms.

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Examples- Animal and plant.
Q.68 A. Draw the general diagram of an animal cell and label it.
Answer:

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Q.68 B. Draw the general diagram of a plant cell and label it.
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Answer:
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Q.68 C. Explain why, chloroplasts are found only in plant cells.
Answer: Chloroplasts are the green coloured plastids present in the cytoplasm of plant
cells. They possess photosynthetic pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs
energy from the sunlight during the process of photosynthesis. In the process of
photosynthesis, green plants make their own food in the presence of sunlight and
chlorophyll with the help of inorganic substances like carbon dioxide and water. Thus,
chloroplast help in the synthesis of food by green plants.

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Q.69 A. An Ameoba cell can change its shape and a white blood cell in human
blood can also changing its shapes. What is the difference between an Amoeba
cell and a white blood cell?

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Answer: An Ameoba cell can change its shape and a white blood cell in human blood
can also changing its shapes. The difference between an Amoeba cell and a white
blood cell is that the Amoeba cell is a full-fledged organism which is capable of
independent existence. While white blood cell is only a cell of human blood which is not
a full-fledged organism and hence cannot exist independently. White blood cells can
exist only inside the blood.

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Q.69 B. Out of Amoeba cell and white blood cell, which one is
(i) eukaryotic cell, and
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(ii) prokaryotic cell?
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Answer: Amoeba cell and White Blood Cell both are eukarytic cell because they have
well defined nucleus with a nuclear membrane.
Q.70 A. State three difference between a plant cell and animal cell?
Answer: Differences between a plant cell and animal cell:
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Plant cell Animal cell

A plant cell has a cell wall around its cell An animal cell does not have a cell wall
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membrane. Blue-green algae cell around it.

Plastids are present. Plastids are absent.

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Vacuoles either are absent or if present,

A single large vacuole is present.
they are smaller in size.

Q.70 B. Which of the following are prokaryotic cells and which are eukaryotic
cells?

Amoeba cell, Bacterium cell, Human cheek cell, Blue-green algae cell, onion peel
cell.
Answer:

Prokaryotic cells Eukaryotic cells

Bacterium cell Amoeba cell
Blue-green algae cell Human cheek cell
onion peel cell

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Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

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Q.71. The organelles which provide energy for all activities of a cell are:
Answer: Mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration or oxidation of food in a cell. It
uses glucose and oxygen to produce energy. Hence, it is knowns as “Powerhouse of
the cell”.

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Q.72. In a living cell, chromatin is present in:
Answer: Chromatin material is a tangled fibrous mass. The chromatin material
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condenses to form chromosomes during cell division.
Q.73. The cell wall in onion peel cell is made of:
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Answer: The cell wall in onion peel cell is made of cellulose.

Q.74. The group of similar cells which work together to perform a particular
function is called:
Answer: The group of similar cells which work together to perform a particular function
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is called tissue.
Q.75. A long and branched animal cell is:
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Answer: Nerve cells (neurons) are long, branched and have thread-like projections so
that they can connect other nerves cells and transmit messages over long distance
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Q.76. Which of the following is not a unicellular organism?

Answer: Amoeba, yeast and rhizobium are examples of unicellular organisms while
Yak is an example of multicellular organisms.
Q.77. Which of the following organelle is not found in the root cells of a plant?
Answer: Chloroplasts are found only in those plant cells which carry out photosynthesis
like the cells in green leaves. So, chloroplasts are not found in the root cells of a plant.
Q.78. The part of a cell which plays a role in inheritance is:
Answer: The correct answer is option (b) Nucleus.
Explanation: Nucleus contains thread-like structures called chromosomes. These carry
genes and help in inheritance or transfer of characters from the parents to the offspring.
Q.79. The basic similarity among all the living organisms is that they are made up
of:
Answer: The basic similarity among all the living organisms is that they are made up of

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cells. Cell is the structural and functional unit of life.
Q.80. The structural and functional unit of life called cell was discovered by:
Answer: The structural and functional unit of life called cell was discovered by Robert

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Hooke.
Q.81. Which of the following cell does not have a nucleus?
Answer: Red blood cell does not have a nucleus.

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Q.82. The parts which are not present in an animal cell are:
A) Cell membrane B) Chloroplast
C) Cell wall D) Mitochondria
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Answer: The correct option is B.
Explanation: The parts which are not present in an animal cell are cell wall and
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chloroplast. Plant cells have chloroplasts because they make their own food. Animal
cells do not make their food, so there is no chloroplast. And, cell wall provides the
stability and shape to the cell. Animal cells do not have cell walls because they don't
need them.
Q.83. All the living matter in a cell is called:
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Answer: The entire content of a living cell is known as protoplasm. It includes the
cytoplasm and the nucleus. Protoplasm is called the living substance of the cell.
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Q.84. Which of the following is a plant cell?

Answer: Epidermal cell is a plant cell while cartilage cell, neuron and epithelial cell are
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animal cells.
Q.85. The egg cell measuring about 17 cm X 13 cm is most likely that of:
Answer: The largest cell measuring 170 mm ×130 mm, is the egg of an ostrich.
Q.86. Which of the following have cell walls?
A) Epidermal cell B) Epithelial cell
C) Mesophyll cell D) Liver cell
Answer: Cell wall is a characteristics of plant cell only and absent in animal cell. It is an
outer, rigid, protective and supportive covering of plant cells. The cell wall lies outside of
the plasma membrane. Epidermal cell and mesophyll cell are examples of plant cells.
Thus, they have cell wall.
Q.87. Which of the following are prokaryotes?
Answer: Organisms which do not have true nucleus are called prokaryotes. Bacteria
and blue green algae are examples of prokaryotes.

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Q.88. Which of the following human system includes oesophagus?
Answer: Oesophagus is a part of human digestive system. It is a muscular tube which
connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is also known as food pipe.

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Q.89. Which of the following cells can change their shape?
A) White blood cell B) Amoeba cell
C) Red blood cell D) Euglena cell

shape.
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Answer: An amoeba cell and white blood cell present in human blood can change their

Q.90. The non-living part of a tomato cell is its:

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Answer: The non-living part of a tomato cell is its cell wall. Cell wall is the outer most
covering of a plant cell. It is a non-living and rigid.
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Questions Based on High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

Q.91. The part of P and Q are present only in plant cells, and they are not present
in animal cells. The part P contains a green pigment called R whereas part Q is
made of a tough material S. The part P takes part in the food making process
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whereas part Q gives shape and support to the plant cell.

(a) What is (i) P, and (ii) Q?
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(b) What is (i) R, and (ii) S?

Answer: (a) (i) The part P is Chloroplasts
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Chloroplasts are the food producers in plant cells and they are not present in animal
cells because animal cells do not make their own food.
(ii) The part Q is Cell wall
The cell wall is absent in the animal cells because they don't need cell walls. The main
purpose of a cell wall is to provide stability and stiffness to the cell. And it is made up of
cellulose.
(b) (i) The part R is Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is the green pigment present in the leaves.
(ii) The part S is Cellulose
Cellulose is a fiber and wood, cotton, etc. all contain cellulose.
Q.92. A, B, C and D are the basic part of all the cells. The part A contains thread-
like structures called E which transfer the characteristic from parents to their off
springs. The part B uses glucose and oxygen to produce energy whereas part C

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controls the movement of substance into the cell. The part D is a transparent,
jelly-like material. What could A, B, C, D and E be?
Answer: A is nucleus; B is mitochondria; C is cell membrane; D is cytoplasm; and E is
chromosomes.

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Q.93. X and Y are the two types of cells. The cells X have a well-organized
nucleus which is separated from the cytoplasm by the nuclear membrane on the
other hand, cells Y do not have a real nucleus, their nuclear material is in direct
contact with the cytoplasm.
(a) what type of cells are
(i) X, and (ii) Y?
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(b) Give one example each of cells like
(i) X, and (ii) Y?
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Answer: (a) (i) Eukaryotic cell (ii) Prokaryotic cell

(b) (i) Amoeba cell (ii) Bacterium cell
Q.94. The cytoplasm of the cells of a tomato plant contains organelles X having
different pigments which impart different colours to the leaves of tomato plants
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and its fruits.

(a) What is the general name of the organelles X?
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(b) What is the (i) name (ii) colour, and (iii) function, of organelles X present in the
leaves of Tomato plant?
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(c) What is the colour of organells X which are present in the ripe fruits of tomato
plant?
Answer: (a) The general name of the organelles X is plastids.
(b) (i) Chloroplasts (ii) green (iii) Chloroplasts (X) help in the synthesis of food by the
process of photosynthesis.
(c) The colour of organells X which are present in the ripe fruits of tomato plant is red.
Q.95. Cell make up A; A makeup B; B make up C, and finally C make up an
organism. What is A, B, and C?
Answer: A is tissue; B is organ; and C is organ system.

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