When an Animal Cell Is Placed in a Hypotonic Solution

Multiple Choice

When an animal cell is placed in a hypotonic solution and water enters the cell via osmosis, the volume of the cell increases until it bursts. This does NOT happen to plant cells, because ________.

A) they have large central vacuoles, which provide abundant space for storage of incoming water
B) the composition of their plasma membranes differs from that of animal-cell plasma membranes in a way that provides much greater strength
C) they have cell walls, which prevent the entry of water by osmosis
D) they have cell walls, which provide pressure to counteract the pressure of the incoming water
E) certain gated channel proteins embedded in their plasma membranes open as osmotic pressure decreases, allowing excess water to leave the cell