Deck 5: Cells: the Working Units of Life

Question 1

The surface area-to-volume ratio of a cell

A) increases with increasing volume of the cell.
B) decreases with decreasing surface area of the cell.
C) accounts for the size limit of cells.
D) is of little significance in maintaining cell homeostasis.
E) affects how molecules are distributed across the cell.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Refer to the figure below. Which letter is paired with the correct label?

A) 1 = cell wall
B) 2 = flagellum
C) 4 = capsule
D) 5 = nucleoid
E) 7 = chromosome

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Though science fiction has produced stories like The Blob, we do not see many large, single-celled organisms.Which is a reason for the limitation to cell size?

A) The difficulty of maintaining a continuous membrane around a large cell
B) The difficulty of reproducing a large cell
C) The difficulty of moving molecules rapidly within a large cell
D) The difficulty of DNA replication in a large cell
E) The difficulty of synthesizing proteins in a large cell

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which is a difference between a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell?

A) The DNA in a prokaryotic cell is not enclosed in a membrane-bound nucleus.
B) A prokaryotic cell does not use DNA as its genetic material.
C) Cellular processes in a prokaryotic cell are compartmentalized, whereas compartmentalization is absent in a eukaryotic cell.
D) A prokaryotic cell does not use ribosomes for protein synthesis, whereas a eukaryotic cell does.
E) A prokaryotic cell is not enclosed by a cell membrane, and a eukaryotic cell is enclosed.

Question 5

Which cell carries out the most chemical activity within a minute (all else being equal)?

A) A spherical cell 1 m in diameter
B) A spherical cell 2 m in diameter
C) A spherical cell 3 m in diameter
D) A spherical cell 4 m in diameter
E) A nonspherical cell of any diameter

Question 6

Five statements comparing prokaryotes and eukaryotes are given.Which statement provides evidence that supports the claim that all cells share a common ancestor?

A) Prokaryotes and eukaryotes use the same genetic code.
B) There are many examples of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes that use flagella for locomotion.
C) The DNA present in mitochondria of eukaryotes shares more overlap with prokaryotic DNA than with eukaryotic nuclear DNA.
D) Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells.
E) DNA in eukaryotic cells is enclosed in a membrane-bound nucleus, and DNA in prokaryotic cells resides in the nucleoid, which is not separated from the cytoplasm.

Question 7

Which cell exchanges the most substances and waste products with its environment relative to its internal chemical activity?

A) A spherical cell 1 m in diameter
B) A spherical cell 2 m in diameter
C) A spherical cell 3 m in diameter
D) A spherical cell 4 m in diameter
E) A nonspherical cell of any diameter

Question 8

Which statement is one of the tenets of cell theory?

A) All cells take in energy and matter from the environment.
B) Cells are separated from their environment by a cell membrane.
C) All cells come from preexisting cells.
D) All cells contain mitochondria.
E) Cells sustain the living state through chemical transformations.

Question 9

A student suggests that prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells must be about the same size since both types of cells can be observed using a light microscope.Which statement provides the best response to this suggestion?

A) The suggestion is reasonable because all cells are much smaller than 200 m, which is the size of the smallest object that a human can see without aid.
B) The suggestion is reasonable because all cells have an upper limit on size that results from limitations to molecular movement in and out of the cell.
C) The suggestion is reasonable because prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells share the same fundamental structure of an internal cytoplasm surrounded by a cell membrane.
D) The suggestion is not reasonable because eukaryotic cells are found in both unicellular and multicellular organisms, whereas all prokaryotes are unicellular.
E) The suggestion is not reasonable because light microscopes can allow a wide range of cell sizes to be seen.

Question 10

A general function of all cellular membranes is to

A) regulate which materials can enter or leave the cell.
B) support the cell and determine its shape.
C) produce energy for the cell.
D) produce proteins for the cell.
E) move the cell.

Question 11

A student claims that the study of cell biology can be considered the same as studying life.Which statement makes the best response to this student's claim?

A) No, the claim is not correct because many organisms are composed of many cells, and so the study of cells alone is not sufficient to study life.
B) No, the claim is not correct because cells are microscopic and do not represent most living things as we observe them in nature.
C) Yes, the claim is correct because cells are the smallest biological unit that expresses all of the same principles of life found in all organisms.
D) Yes, the claim is correct because individual cells are easier to study than multicellular organisms that have complex intercellular interactions.
E) Yes, the claim is correct because all cells share similar characteristics that allow them to be studied as a group.

Question 12

Prokaryotic cells

A) do not share a common ancestor with eukaryotic cells.
B) are too small to be seen using light microscopy.
C) contain fewer membrane-bound organelles than eukaryotic cells.
D) do not use ribosomes to synthesize proteins as eukaryotes do.
E) are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells.

Question 13

The technique of _______ microscopy can be used to visualize the embedded components of a cell membrane.

A) light
B) scanning electron
C) freeze-fracture
D) phase-contrast
E) confocal

Question 14

Which technique would be best suited to a study of normal cell migration during embryonic development?

A) Direct visual observation
B) Light microscopy
C) Electron microscopy
D) Cell fractionation
E) Experimentation on mutants

Question 15

Many pieces of evidence support the claim that all modern cells share the same ancestor in their evolutionary histories.If a living organism is discovered on another planet or moon, what data would biologists collect to determine whether this organism also shares the common ancestor that all cells on Earth share?

A) The organism's ability to survive in Earth's atmosphere
B) The ability of the organism to reproduce itself
C) The chemical composition of the organism's hereditary molecules
D) The presence of water in the organism's internal environment
E) The organism's ability to extract energy from its external environment

Question 16

How does the surface area-to-volume ratio of a sphere 1 mm in diameter compare with the surface area-to-volume ratio of a sphere 3 mm in diameter?

A) The comparison depends on the components of the two spheres.
B) The 3 mm sphere has a higher ratio than the 1 mm sphere.
C) The 1 mm sphere has a ratio that is one-third that of the 3 mm sphere.
D) The 1 mm sphere has a ratio three times larger than that of the 3 mm sphere.
E) The ratios are the same.

Question 17

A student claims that the image below demonstrates that life is continuous. Which statement best evaluates the student's claim?

A) The claim is supported because the image shows how the cell acquires matter from the environment.
B) The claim is supported because the image provides information about how the cell obtains energy from its surroundings.
C) The claim is supported because the image illustrates how a cell can respond to its environment.
D) The claim is not supported because the image does not show how the cell reproduces to form new daughter cells.
E) The claim is not supported because the image does not show how the cell transforms matter to make it useful for its continued survival.

Question 18

Researchers must use _______ to distinguish the structure of a ribosome from that of a Golgi apparatus.

A) direct examination with the naked eye
B) a handheld magnifying glass
C) a bright-field microscope
D) a phase-contrast microscope
E) an electron microscope

Question 19

The cytosol and _______ are two components of the cytoplasm in a prokaryotic cell.

A) Golgi apparatus
B) chloroplasts
C) mitochondria
D) ribosomes
E) smooth ER

Question 20

Most plant and animal cells are

A) smaller than a chloroplast.
B) smaller than most bacteria.
C) larger than most fungal cells.
D) large enough to be seen with the unaided eye.
E) large enough to be seen with a light microscope.

Question 21

Which structure would require the greatest centrifugal force to settle to the bottom of a centrifuge tube?

A) Mitochondrion
B) Nucleus
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Chloroplast
E) Whole cell

Question 22

Of the following structures of an animal cell, the one with the largest volume is the

A) cilium.
B) mitochondrion.
C) lysosome.
D) nucleus.
E) ribosome.

Question 23

In some prokaryotic organisms, the plasma membrane folds to form an internal membrane system that is able to

A) carry out photosynthesis.
B) engulf and phagocytize bacteria.
C) synthesize proteins.
D) propel the cell.
E) hydrolyze carbohydrates to ATP.

Question 24

A hospital nurse notices a slick spot on an IV needle and suspects bacterial contamination.Which structure might have helped these bacterial cells attach to one another and stick to the needle?

A) Capsule
B) Cell wall
C) Cytoplasm
D) Flagellum
E) Ribosome

Question 25

Some bacteria are able to propel themselves through liquid by means of a structure called the

A) flagellum.
B) pilus.
C) cytoplasm.
D) cell wall.
E) peptidoglycan molecule.

Question 26

A large organelle that genetically controls a eukaryotic cell's activities is the

A) chloroplast.
B) nucleus.
C) flagellum.
D) vacuole.
E) centriole.

Question 27

The cytoplasm of a prokaryotic cell

A) is a static region of the cell.
B) organizes the DNA.
C) contains substances that are constantly in motion.
D) supports the cell and determines its shape.
E) chemically modifies proteins and other molecules.

Question 28

If you removed the pili from a bacterial cell, the bacterium would

A) no longer be able to swim.
B) lose some of its ability to adhere to other cells.
C) no longer be able to regulate the movement of molecules into and out of the cell.
D) dry out.
E) change its shape.

Question 29

The _______ is a major feature of a prokaryotic cell.

A) chloroplast
B) internal membrane system
C) flagellum
D) nucleoid
E) cytoskeleton

Question 30

If the organelles of an animal cell were separated by centrifugation, which organelles would require the least centrifugal force to settle to the bottom of the centrifuge tube?

A) Mitochondria
B) Nuclei
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosomes
E) Chloroplasts

Question 31

Membrane-bound organelles are present in eukaryotes but not in prokaryotes.These structures

A) provide structural support for the eukaryotic cell.
B) decrease the flow of materials into and out of the eukaryotic cell.
C) increase the efficiency of cellular activities in eukaryotes.
D) provide a means of cellular reproduction in eukaryotes.
E) regulate the flow of traffic inside the eukaryotic cell.

Question 32

Which statement about the nuclear envelope is true?

A) It contains pores for the passage of large molecules.
B) It is composed of a single membrane.
C) It contains ribosomes on the inner surface.
D) It allows proteins to freely pass through.
E) It cannot be separated from other subcellular structures by cell fractionation.

Question 33

Which represents the order of the outer layers in some prokaryotes, starting at the interior and moving to the exterior?

A) Cell membrane, peptidoglycan cell wall, polysaccharide-rich phospholipid membrane, capsule
B) Cell membrane, polysaccharide-rich phospholipid membrane, peptidoglycan cell wall, capsule
C) Capsule, polysaccharide-rich phospholipid membrane, peptidoglycan cell wall, cell membrane
D) Capsule, cell membrane, peptidoglycan cell wall, polysaccharide-rich phospholipid membrane
E) Peptidoglycan cell wall, cell membrane, polysaccharide-rich phospholipid membrane, capsule

Question 34

Refer to the figure below. Which statement accurately classifies the two cells and provides correct reasons for the classifications?

A) Cell A and cell B are both prokaryotes, because each is surrounded by a cell membrane and DNA is located in each cell interior.
B) Cell A and cell B are both eukaryotes, because ribosomes are present in each cell's cytoplasm.
C) Cell A and cell B are both eukaryotes, because they have about equal amounts of DNA in their nuclei.
D) Cell B is a eukaryote and cell A is a prokaryote, because cell B contains a cell wall and cell A does not.
E) Cell A is a eukaryote and cell B is a prokaryote, because cell A contains membrane-bound organelles and internal membranes and cell B does not.

Question 35

An unidentified membrane-bound body containing no membrane-bound organelles is placed in cell culture, but it does not grow or divide there.However, when it is placed inside a cell that has had its own genetic information removed, both this body and the cell begin to divide.This unidentified body is most likely a

A) prokaryote.
B) nucleus.
C) peroxisome.
D) mitochondrion.
E) chloroplast.

Question 36

Which statement about a prokaryotic cell wall is true?

A) It is made exclusively of proteins.
B) It is located inside the cell membrane.
C) It provides a barrier to infection for a cell.
D) It is a specialized structure found in most prokaryotes.
E) It is a semirigid structure that provides support in eukaryotes but not in prokaryotes.

Question 37

The _______ is a specialized structure surrounding the cell wall in some prokaryotes.

A) ribosome
B) cytosol
C) mitochondrion
D) capsule
E) chloroplast

Question 38

The DNA of prokaryotic cells is found in the

A) plasma membrane.
B) nucleus.
C) ribosomes.
D) nucleoid.
E) mitochondria.

Question 39

Ribosomes are made up of

A) DNA and RNA.
B) DNA and proteins.
C) RNA and proteins.
D) proteins only.
E) DNA only.

Question 40

A ribosome is a cell structure but is not considered an organelle because it

A) does not contain its own genetic material.
B) does not produce its own energy.
C) lacks a membrane.
D) is present in prokaryotes.
E) is not made up of proteins.

Question 41

The _______ is an organelle that functions in energy transformations and consists of a series of flattened sacs stacked somewhat like pancakes or pita bread.

A) mitochondrion
B) peroxisome
C) chloroplast
D) rough endoplasmic reticulum
E) Golgi apparatus

Question 42

Rough endoplasmic reticulum and smooth endoplasmic reticulum differ

A) only in terms of the presence (in RER) or absence (in SER) of ribosomes.
B) in their function, and also in terms of the presence (in RER) or absence (in SER) of ribosomes.
C) only in terms of their microscopic appearance.
D) only in their function.
E) in terms of their evolutionary origins.

Question 43

The folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane

A) increase the volume of the mitochondrial matrix.
B) create membrane-enclosed compartments within the mitochondrion.
C) increase the surface area of the membrane.
D) anchor the mitochondrial DNA.
E) have no known purpose.

Question 44

The function of the nuclear pores is to

A) synthesize and repair DNA.
B) assemble ribosomes from raw materials that are synthesized in the nucleus.
C) communicate with components of the endomembrane system.
D) regulate movement of materials across the nuclear membrane.
E) support the nuclear envelope.

Question 45

Steroids are synthesized by

A) chloroplasts.
B) lysosomes.
C) the Golgi apparatus.
D) mitochondria.
E) smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

Question 46

Homogenization of rat liver cells results in the rupture of the cell membranes.Centrifugation of this homogenate compacts some of the homogenate into a pellet in the bottom of the centrifuge tube.Bathing this pellet with a solution containing succinate (a four-carbon organic compound), phosphate ions, oxygen, and ADP yields metabolic activity, including the production of ATP and the uptake of oxygen.This pellet most likely contains

A) peroxisomes.
B) mitochondria.
C) lysosomes.
D) Golgi apparatus.
E) endoplasmic reticulum.

Question 47

Proteins that are transported in vesicles are made by

A) the Golgi apparatus.
B) ribosomes within the mitochondrion.
C) the smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
D) ribosomes on the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
E) ribosomes within chloroplasts.

Question 48

Refer to the figure below. The organelle shown is found in all cells but is most numerous in cells requiring a large amount of energy (e.g., liver cells).This organelle is called a(n)

A) mitochondrion.
B) endoplasmic reticulum.
C) nucleus.
D) vacuole.
E) cytoskeleton.

Question 49

Which structure is involved in the breakdown of food particles by an animal cell?

A) Endoplasmic reticulum
B) Cytoskeleton
C) Secondary lysosome
D) Ribosome
E) Mitochondrion

Question 50

Refer to the figure below. Ribosomes can be found in which section of the organelle shown in the figure?

A) Inner membrane
B) Outer membrane
C) Cristae
D) Matrix
E) Intermembrane space

Question 51

In the mitochondria, chemical energy present in energy-rich molecules is captured in the phosphate bonds of ATP by a process known as

A) cellular respiration.
B) metabolism.
C) diffusion.
D) metabolic processing.
E) catabolism.

Question 52

Chromatin is a series of entangled threads composed of

A) microtubules.
B) DNA and protein.
C) fibrous proteins.
D) cytoskeleton.
E) membranes.

Question 53

The rough ER is the portion of the ER that

A) lacks ribosomes.
B) is the oldest and was once the smooth ER.
C) is connected to the Golgi apparatus.
D) is the site of steroid synthesis.
E) has ribosomes attached to it.

Question 54

Cells that are active in movement and growth and require the most chemical energy typically have large numbers or amounts of

A) rough endoplasmic reticulum.
B) mitochondria.
C) ribosomes.
D) smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
E) lysosomes.

Question 55

In what way do mitochondrial membranes differ from the eukaryotic cell membrane?

A) Mitochondrial membranes are not selectively permeable and are easily crossed by multiple molecules.
B) Mitochondrial membranes are composed of collagen instead of phospholipids.
C) Mitochondrial membranes lack protein constituents.
D) Mitochondrial membranes are impermeable to molecules moving in or out.
E) Mitochondrial membranes contain structural components involved in cellular respiration.

Question 56

Which is not a component of the endomembrane system?

A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
B) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
E) Plastid

Question 57

What is the difference between "free" and "attached" ribosomes?

A) Free ribosomes are in the cytoplasm, whereas attached ribosomes are anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum.
B) Free ribosomes produce proteins in the nucleus, whereas attached ribosomes produce proteins in the cytoplasm.
C) Free ribosomes produce proteins that are exported from the cell, whereas attached ribosomes make proteins for mitochondria and chloroplasts.
D) Free ribosomes are found in prokaryotes, whereas attached ribosomes are found in eukaryotes.
E) Free ribosomes function in protein synthesis, whereas attached ribosomes function in protein modification.

Question 58

The DNA of mitochondria

A) is needed to hydrolyze monomers.
B) is used to make some of the proteins needed for cellular respiration.
C) directs photosynthesis.
D) controls the cell's activities.
E) synthesizes polysaccharides for the plant cell wall.

Question 59

Refer to the figure below. It is said that this structure has the ability to "feed the world" because it

A) can convert light energy into chemical energy, thereby providing energy in a form that is usable by its host organism and any organisms that consume it.
B) helps all organisms, both eukaryotic and prokaryotic, convert food particles into energy for cellular function.
C) can travel from cell to cell and break down food particles into simple molecules, thus feeding the entire organism.
D) is capable through cellular respiration of making ATP, an energy-rich molecule needed by all organisms.
E) helps cells engulf and digest food particles from which energy can be made and supplied to the host organism and any organisms that consume it.

Question 60

Refer to the figure below showing tubular sacs that surround an organelle, synthesize lipids and steroids, and modify toxic molecules for removal. These sacs make up the

A) mitochondrion.
B) endoplasmic reticulum.
C) nucleus.
D) vacuole.
E) cytoskeleton.

Question 61

Starch molecules are stored inside

A) chromoplasts.
B) peroxisomes.
C) chloroplasts.
D) glyoxysomes.
E) amyloplasts.

Question 62

The carotenoid pigments that give ripe tomatoes their red color are contained in organelles called

A) chloroplasts.
B) proplastids.
C) protoplasts.
D) leucoplasts.
E) chromoplasts.

Question 63

Chloroplasts are the structures in which

A) proteins are processed for export from the cell.
B) cell division is controlled.
C) genetic information is used to make proteins.
D) light energy is converted into chemical energy.
E) new organelles are made.

Question 64

Refer to the diagram of an animal cell below. Which statement about the diagram is correct?

A) The diagram is accurate as shown.
B) The diagram is inaccurate because it shows the presence of amyloplasts, which are found only in plant cells.
C) The diagram is inaccurate because it shows the presence of a peroxisome, which is found only in plant cells.
D) The diagram is inaccurate because it lacks a vacuole, a structure found in all animal cells.
E) The diagram is inaccurate because it lacks a glyoxysome, a structure found in both animal and plant cells.

Question 65

Researchers observe that while the actin microfilaments in an amoeba seem to be intact, the organism appears incapable of forming pseudopods for movement.They conclude that its immobility may be caused by the absence of the protein

A) dynein.
B) kinesin.
C) tubulin.
D) collagen.
E) myosin.

Question 66

Which plant cell structure likely has the greatest volume?

A) Glyoxysome
B) Lysosome
C) Nucleus
D) Mitochondrion
E) Vacuole

Question 67

Refer to the diagram of a cell below. Based on the presence of the large structure occupying most of the cell, the cell can be classified as a(n) _______ cell.

A) bacterial
B) plant
C) animal
D) archaeal
E) human

Question 68

The microvilli of intestinal cells

A) increase the ability of the intestine to move nutrients through the intestinal tract.
B) slow down the movement of nutrients through the intestinal tract.
C) increase the surface area of the cells to allow increased uptake of nutrients from the intestinal tract.
D) decrease the surface area of the cells relative to their volume to prevent loss of nutrients back into the intestinal tract.
E) increase the movement of nutrients once they are inside cells and into the bloodstream.

Question 69

Which structure is found only in plant cells?

A) Cilium
B) Nucleus
C) Mitochondrion
D) Glyoxysome
E) Peroxisome

Question 70

Which structures are components of chloroplasts?

A) Grana and thylakoids
B) Chromatin and nucleoplasm
C) Cristae and matrix
D) Vacuoles and peroxisomes
E) Lysosomes and phagosomes

Question 71

Which statement about microfilaments and microtubules is false?

A) Both are made of the same protein monomers.
B) Both are involved in movement of cells.
C) Both have a plus end and a minus end.
D) Both are components of the cytoskeleton.
E) Both help maintain and support cellular structures.

Question 72

Which protein is not part of the structure of a cilium?

A) -tubulin
B) Keratin
C) Nexin
D) Dynein
E) -tubulin

Question 73

The _______ is a cell structure with an internal cross section showing a characteristic "9 + 2" morphology.

A) mitochondrion
B) vacuole
C) Golgi apparatus
D) cilium
E) cytoskeleton

Question 74

If an amoeba treated with an experimental drug loses its shape and ability to move, the drug has likely affected the cell's

A) motor protein activity.
B) ability to transport materials to other cells.
C) microfilament assembly.
D) ability to photosynthesize.
E) communication with the environment.

Question 75

If the vacuole in a plant cell experiences a large loss of water,

A) the cell will divide to make smaller cells.
B) the cell will decrease in size proportionally to the amount of water lost.
C) its waste products will be released into the cytoplasm and kill the cell.
D) there will be no effect on the cell, because of the rigidity of the cell wall.
E) the cell will experience a decrease in turgor pressure.

Question 76

The overall shape of an animal cell is determined by its

A) cell membrane.
B) cytoskeleton.
C) nucleus.
D) cytosol.
E) endoplasmic reticulum.

Question 77

In a mixture of ground-up plant cells, one membrane-bound organelle stains positive for hydrogen peroxide.This organelle is probably a

A) peroxisome.
B) vacuole.
C) nucleus.
D) glyoxysome.
E) amyloplast.

Question 78

In which location would you not expect to find RNA?

A) Nucleolus
B) Mitochondrion
C) Vacuole
D) Ribosome
E) Prokaryotic cell

Question 79

The cytoskeleton is composed of three major components, each with distinct functions.Which represents the correct order of these components, from smallest to largest size?

A) Microfilaments, intermediate filaments, microtubules
B) Microtubules, intermediate filaments, microfilaments
C) Microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments
D) Intermediate filaments, microtubules, microfilaments
E) Intermediate filaments, microfilaments, microtubules

Question 80

Proteins packaged by the Golgi apparatus are delivered to the correct location by means of

A) identifying proteins embedded in the vesicle membrane.
B) the general flow of vesicles within the cell.
C) the control provided by the nucleus.
D) motor proteins that direct the Golgi apparatus.
E) microfilaments.