Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures

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AP Biology › Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures

Questions 1 - 6
1

Plant and animal cells mostly differ in which way?

Only plant cells have cell walls

Only plant cells have a flagella

Only plant cells have plasma membranes with cholesterol

Only plant cells have ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum

Only plant cells have plasma membranes with cholesterol

Explanation

The correct answer to this question is Only plant cells have cell walls

Animals notably do not have cell walls. Animal cells, not plant cells, have plasma membranes that contain cholesterol. Both animals and plants have cells with mitochondria and have ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. Also only animal cells contain flagella and plant cells do not contain flagella at all.

2

What is not one of the functions of the plant cell wall?

Prevents permeability

Offers structural support

Allows for the passage of and

Maintains fixed cell shape

Explanation

The plant cell wall is made of cellulose, which makes it rigid. The cell wall offers structural support and protection to the cell and it’s rigid nature maintains the regular shape of the cell. The cell wall is also permeable and allows small molecules, proteins, and nutrients to pass, including water and carbon dioxide.

3

What is the role of the vacuole in plant cells?

Stores water and wastes, and maintains turgidity

Maintains turgidity only

Stores water only

Stores waste only

Stores water and waste only

Explanation

Plant cells contain one very large vacuole that occupies a large percentage of the cell space. The central function of this vacuole is to maintain the turgor pressure of the cell through the continual transport of water and ions in and out of the cell, as needed. Vacuoles store and transport water, waste, and ions too.

4

Which of the following best describes the function of stomata?

They allow carbon dioxide in and oxygen out of the leaves

They allow carbon dioxide into the leaf only

They allow oxygen to be released from the leaf only

They allow for the uptake of water on the leaves

Explanation

Stomata are the microscopic pores on the surface of leaves. Their function is to allow carbon dioxide into the plant while also allowing oxygen to leave the plant.

5

What is the main structural component of a plant cell wall?

Cellulose

Collagen

Chitin

Actin and myosin

Peptidoglycan

Explanation

Cellulose, a polymer of glucose, is the main component of plant cell walls.

Collagen is found in the connective tissues of animals. Chitin is found in the cell walls of fungi. Actin and myosin are the proteins responsible for contraction in muscle cells; actin is also a microfilament in the cytoskeleton. Peptidoglycan is found in the cell walls of bacteria.

6

Which of the following structures can be found in a plant cell?

Endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, Golgi apparatus, and cell membrane

Endoplasmic reticulum only

Chloroplast only

Golgi apparatus only

Explanation

Plant cells contain most of the membrane-bound organelles that animal cells do; they do not have cilia, and only some plant cells contain centrioles. Plant cells have additional organelles that animal cells do not, namely chloroplasts and cell walls, for photosynthesis and support, respectively. Virtually all cells have cell membranes.

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