Cell Biology Quizzes: Test Your Understanding of the Fundamental Unit of Life

Question 1

What is the selectively permeable barrier that encloses and protects the cell?

Accepted Answer

Cell membrane

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Possession of a nucleus

Answer

Presence of ribosomes

Answer

Existence of a cell membrane

Answer

Absence of organelles

Question 3

What is the process by which a cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells?

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Cytokinesis

Question 4

Which molecule serves as the primary source of energy for cellular processes?

Accepted Answer

ATP

Answer

Glucose

Answer

DNA

Answer

Proteins

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Facilitated diffusion

Question 6

What is the fundamental 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 organelles, while eukaryotic cells do not

Answer

Eukaryotic cells have a cell membrane, while prokaryotic cells do not

Question 7

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of living cells?

Accepted Answer

Ability to reproduce

Answer

Absence of a semipermeable membrane

Answer

Consumption of non-organic matter

Answer

Inorganic composition

Question 8

The organelle responsible for protein synthesis is the:

Accepted Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Nucleus

Question 9

Which process results in the duplication of genetic material?

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Question 10

The fluid-filled space within the nucleus is called:

Accepted Answer

Karyoplasm

Answer

Nucleolus

Answer

Chromatin

Answer

Cytoplasm

Question 11

Which of the following distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of a nucleus

Answer

Presence of mitochondria

Answer

Presence of a cell wall

Answer

Presence of ribosomes

Question 12

The process by which plants utilize sunlight to produce glucose is called:

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Respiration

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the composition and function of cell membranes?

Accepted Answer

Cell membranes are made mostly of lipids and proteins and control what enters and leaves the cell.

Answer

Cell membranes are made mostly of carbohydrates and do not allow anything to pass through.

Answer

Cell membranes contain chlorophyll and are used for photosynthesis.

Answer

Cell membranes are made mostly of proteins and are used for cellular respiration.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a function of the Golgi apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing lipids

Answer

Modifying and packaging proteins

Answer

Transporting and distributing vesicles

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT directly involved in the process of protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Replication

Answer

Transcription

Answer

Translation

Question 16

What type of genetic material is primarily found in cells?

Accepted Answer

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Answer

Polysaccharides

Answer

Lipids

Question 17

Which organelle is responsible for cellular respiration and energy production?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Chloroplast

Answer

Ribosome

Question 18

What process leads to the division of eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Fragmentation

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Being found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms

Answer

Lacking a nucleus

Answer

Having circular DNA

Answer

Possessing ribosomes

Question 20

Where does protein synthesis occur in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Ribosome

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 21

Which of the following is considered a passive transport process?

Accepted Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Exocytosis

Answer

Endocytosis

Answer

Active transport

Question 22

What is the primary function of lysosomes in animal cells?

Accepted Answer

Waste disposal

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Protein synthesis

Question 23

Which organelle is responsible for protein synthesis in cells?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Lysosomes

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 24

What is the basic unit of heredity that carries genetic information?

Accepted Answer

Gene

Answer

Chromosome

Answer

Protein

Answer

Cell

Question 25

Which process involves the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis?

Accepted Answer

Crossing-over

Answer

Transcription

Answer

Translation

Answer

Replication

Question 26

What is the primary role of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

To regulate the exchange of materials between the cell and its surroundings

Answer

To synthesize proteins

Answer

To store genetic information

Answer

To generate energy for the cell

Question 27

Which organelle is responsible for cellular respiration?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 28

What is the process by which green plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Fermentation

Question 29

Which function is NOT performed by the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Stores genetic information

Answer

Controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell

Answer

Provides structural support and protection

Answer

Facilitates communication between cells

Question 30

The process by which proteins are synthesized using information from mRNA by ribosomes is known as:

Accepted Answer

Translation

Answer

Transcription

Answer

Replication

Answer

Meiosis

Question 31

Which organelle is responsible for energy production through cellular respiration?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Lysosomes

Question 32

In eukaryotic cells, where is the majority of genetic material located?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Cell membrane

Answer

Ribosomes

Question 33

Which type of cell division produces daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell?

Accepted Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Budding

Question 34

Which characteristic is NOT found in prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Presence of membrane-bound organelles

Answer

Lack of a nucleus

Answer

Presence of ribosomes

Answer

Presence of a cell wall

Question 35

The metabolic process by which cells utilize organic molecules to generate energy is termed:

Accepted Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Fermentation

Answer

Glycolysis

Question 36

Which organelle synthesizes proteins by reading the genetic code?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Answer

Endoplasmic reticulum

Question 37

Which membrane surrounds the cytoplasm and regulates the entry and exit of substances into and out of the cell?

Accepted Answer

Plasma membrane

Answer

Nuclear membrane

Answer

Mitochondrial membrane

Answer

Lysosomal membrane

Question 38

What is the process by which plants capture light energy and transform it into chemical energy?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Cellular respiration

Answer

Glycolysis

Answer

Krebs cycle

Question 39

What is the primary function of the Golgi apparatus in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Protein modification and sorting

Answer

Lipid synthesis

Answer

Carbohydrate synthesis

Answer

Energy production

Question 40

Who developed the theory that all living things are composed of cells?

Accepted Answer

Schleiden and Schwann

Answer

Charles Darwin

Answer

Gregor Mendel

Answer

Louis Pasteur

Question 41

What is the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions?

Accepted Answer

To increase the rate of reactions

Answer

To provide energy

Answer

To transport molecules

Answer

To regulate gene expression

Question 42

Which of the following describes passive transport across a cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Movement of molecules down a concentration gradient without energy input

Answer

Movement of molecules against a concentration gradient using energy

Answer

Endocytosis of molecules into the cell

Answer

Exocytosis of molecules out of the cell

Question 43

Which of the following is **not** a function of the cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Cell recognition

Answer

Transport

Answer

Protection

Question 44

Which organelle is responsible for protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Lysosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Question 45

The process by which cells divide into two **genetically identical** daughter cells is called:

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Budding

Question 46

Which of the following is a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

Lack a nucleus

Answer

Have a large nucleus

Answer

Are typically larger than eukaryotic cells

Answer

Contain membrane-bound organelles

Question 47

The primary organelle in the cell that produces energy is the:

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Nucleus

Answer

Chloroplasts

Answer

Ribosomes

Question 48

Which of the following is responsible for cellular waste disposal?

Accepted Answer

Lysosomes

Answer

Ribosomes

Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Golgi apparatus

Question 49

The process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored in the form of glucose is:

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Chemosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Question 50

The type of cell division that produces **haploid** gametes (eggs and sperm) is:

Accepted Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Binary fission

Answer

Budding