MCQs
1. The basic structural and functional unit of life is:
A. Tissue
B. Organ
C. Cell
D. Organ system
Answer: C
2. Thermophiles are organisms that:
A. Live in cold deserts
B. Love high temperatures
C. Cannot survive in water
D. Are multicellular only
Answer: B
3. Robert Hooke observed cells for the first time in:
A. Onion peel
B. Blood
C. Cork
D. Leaf
Answer: C
4. The limit of resolution of the human eye is about:
A. 1 mm
B. 0.1 mm
C. 10 mm
D. 100 mm
Answer: B
5. Which instrument is used to study cells?
A. Telescope
B. Barometer
C. Microscope
D. Thermometer
Answer: C
6. The total magnification of a microscope depends on:
A. Stage and mirror
B. Eyepiece and objective lens
C. Handle and base
D. Only objective lens
Answer: B
7. Osmosis is:
A. Movement of salts only
B. Diffusion of gases
C. Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
D. Movement of proteins
Answer: C
8. A cell membrane is:
A. Fully permeable
B. Impermeable
C. Selectively permeable
D. Dead layer
Answer: C
9. Which solution causes a cell to shrink?
A. Hypotonic
B. Hypertonic
C. Isotonic
D. Distilled water
Answer: B
10. The plant cell wall is mainly made up of:
A. Protein
B. Lipid
C. Cellulose
D. Chitin
Answer: C
11. Which of the following is absent in animal cells?
A. Cell membrane
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell wall
D. Nucleus
Answer: C
12. Prokaryotic cells lack:
A. Cytoplasm
B. Ribosomes
C. Well-defined nucleus
D. Cell membrane
Answer: C
13. Which cell organelle is known as the “powerhouse of the cell”?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi apparatus
Answer: C
14. Ribosomes are the site of:
A. Photosynthesis
B. Protein synthesis
C. Respiration
D. Digestion
Answer: B
15. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum appears rough because of:
A. Vacuoles
B. Ribosomes
C. DNA
D. Cristae
Answer: B
16. Golgi apparatus mainly functions in:
A. Respiration
B. Protein packaging and transport
C. Photosynthesis
D. Cell division
Answer: B
17. Lysosomes help in:
A. Protein synthesis
B. Food preparation
C. Cleaning and digestion of wastes
D. Cell movement
Answer: C
18. The folds present in the inner membrane of mitochondria are called:
A. Stroma
B. Cristae
C. Grana
D. Vacuoles
Answer: B
19. Chlorophyll is present in:
A. Chromoplast
B. Leucoplast
C. Chloroplast
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
20. Chromoplasts are responsible for:
A. Respiration
B. Bright colours in flowers and fruits
C. Water storage
D. Protein synthesis
Answer: B
21. Vacuoles in plant cells help in:
A. Photosynthesis only
B. Digestion only
C. Storage and maintaining firmness
D. Protein transport
Answer: C
22. Which organelle contains genetic material?
A. Nucleus
B. Vacuole
C. Lysosome
D. Golgi body
Answer: A
23. Chromosomes are composed of:
A. Lipids only
B. DNA and proteins
C. Cellulose
D. ATP only
Answer: B
24. Mitosis produces:
A. Four daughter cells
B. Two genetically identical cells
C. Gametes
D. Spores only
Answer: B
25. Meiosis produces:
A. Two identical cells
B. Four daughter cells with half chromosomes
C. Only body cells
D. Tumours
Answer: B
26. Which process helps in repair of damaged tissues?
A. Meiosis
B. Photosynthesis
C. Mitosis
D. Osmosis
Answer: C
27. Cell theory states that:
A. Cells arise spontaneously
B. Cells are basic units of life
C. Only plants have cells
D. Nucleus is absent in cells
Answer: B
28. Cancer results from:
A. Controlled cell division
B. Loss of control over cell division
C. Lack of mitochondria
D. Osmosis
Answer: B
29. Contact inhibition prevents:
A. Respiration
B. Photosynthesis
C. Uncontrolled cell division
D. Protein synthesis
Answer: C
30. Which scientist stated that cells arise from pre-existing cells?
A. Robert Hooke
B. Schleiden
C. Schwann
D. Rudolf Virchow
Answer: D
Assertion–Reason MCQs
31.
Assertion (A): Plant cells do not shrink completely in concentrated sugar solution.
Reason (R): Plant cells have a rigid cell wall.
A. Both A and R are true, and R explains A
B. Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Answer: A
32.
Assertion (A): Mitochondria are called powerhouse of the cell.
Reason (R): They release energy during cellular respiration.
A. Both A and R are true, and R explains A
B. Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Answer: A
33.
Assertion (A): Ribosomes are called protein factories.
Reason (R): Ribosomes synthesise proteins.
A. Both A and R are true, and R explains A
B. Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Answer: A
34.
Assertion (A): Animal cells usually lack a cell wall.
Reason (R): Animal cells require flexibility for movement.
A. Both A and R are true, and R explains A
B. Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Answer: A
Case-Based MCQs
Case Study 1
A potato piece placed in plain water swells, while another placed in concentrated salt solution shrinks.
35. The swelling of the potato is due to:
A. Respiration
B. Osmosis
C. Digestion
D. Photosynthesis
Answer: B
36. Water moves during osmosis from:
A. High solute concentration to low solute concentration
B. Low water concentration to high water concentration
C. Dilute solution to concentrated solution
D. Cell wall to cytoplasm only
Answer: C
37. Which solution is hypertonic to the potato cell?
A. Plain water
B. Concentrated salt solution
C. Distilled water
D. Rainwater
Answer: B
Case Study 2
A student observed onion peel cells and cheek cells under a microscope.
38. Onion peel cells appear regularly arranged because they have:
A. Lysosomes
B. Cell wall
C. Ribosomes
D. Chromoplasts
Answer: B
39. Cheek cells shrink considerably in concentrated sugar solution because they:
A. Have chloroplasts
B. Lack cell wall
C. Have large vacuoles
D. Have chromoplasts
Answer: B
Competency-Based MCQs
40. Which organelle would be MOST abundant in muscle cells requiring large amounts of energy?
A. Ribosome
B. Golgi body
C. Mitochondria
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
41. A scientist wants to study structures at nanometre scale. Which microscope should be used?
A. Simple microscope
B. Light microscope
C. Electron microscope
D. Hand lens
Answer: C
42. If lysosomes stop functioning, the cell will:
A. Produce more chlorophyll
B. Accumulate wastes and damaged organelles
C. Stop photosynthesis only
D. Lose chromosomes
Answer: B
43. Which plastid stores food materials like starch?
A. Chloroplast
B. Chromoplast
C. Leucoplast
D. Ribosome
Answer: C
44. Which structure helps chromosomes become visible during cell division?
A. Cell wall
B. Chromatin condensation
C. Vacuole formation
D. Osmosis
Answer: B
45. During fertilisation, chromosome number is restored because:
A. Gametes have double chromosomes
B. Gametes combine together
C. Mitosis occurs immediately
D. ATP increases
Answer: B
46. Which statement about viruses is correct?
A. They are multicellular organisms
B. They contain membrane-bound organelles
C. They are acellular infectious agents
D. They perform photosynthesis
Answer: C
47. Which scientist proposed that all plants are made up of cells?
A. Schwann
B. Virchow
C. Schleiden
D. Hooke
Answer: C
48. Cell culture refers to:
A. Growing cells outside the body under controlled conditions
B. Studying cells without microscope
C. Fusion of cells only
D. Preservation of dead cells
Answer: A
49. Which organelle is directly connected with the nuclear membrane?
A. Vacuole
B. Endoplasmic reticulum
C. Lysosome
D. Chromoplast
Answer: B
50. Which statement BEST describes the cell?
A. It is only a structural unit
B. It is only a functional unit
C. It is the basic structural and functional unit of life
D. It is visible only through electron microscope
Answer: C
